plutus-第4节
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POVERTY
Indeed？ And have you not done me the most deadly injury by seeking
to banish me from every country？
CHREMYLUS
Why； have you not got the Barathrum left？ But who are you？
Answer me quickly！
POVERTY
I am one that will punish you this very day for having wanted to
make me disappear from here。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Might it be the tavern…keeper in my neighbourhood； who is always
cheating me in measure？
POVERTY
I am Poverty； who have lived with you for so many years。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Oh！ great Apollo！ oh； ye gods！ whither shall I fly？
（He starts to run away。）
CHREMYLUS
Here！ what are you doing！ You coward！ Are going to leave me here？
BLEPSIDEMUS （still running）
Not I。
CHREMYLUS
Stop then！ Are two men to run away from one woman？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But； you wretch； it's Poverty； the most fearful monster that
ever drew breath。
CHREMYLUS
Stay where you are； I beg of you。
BLEPSIDEMUS
No no！ a thousand times； no！
CHREMYLUS
Could we do anything worse than leave the god in the lurch and fly
before this woman without so much as ever offering to fight？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But what weapons have we？ Are we in a condition to show fight？
Where is the breastplate； the buckler； that this wretch has not
pawned？
CHREMYLUS
Be at ease。 Plutus will readily triumph over her threats unaided。
POVERTY
Dare you reply； you scoundrels； you who are caught red…handed at
the most horrible crime？
CHREMYLUS
As for you； you cursed jade； you pursue me with your abuse； though
I have never done you the slightest harm。
POVERTY
Do you think it is doing me no harm to restore Plutus to the use
of his eyes？
CHREMYLUS
Is this doing you harm； that we shower blessings on all men？
POVERTY
And what do you think will ensure their happiness？
CHREMYLUS
Ah！ first of all we shall drive you out of Greece。
POVERTY
Drive me out？ Could you do mankind a greater harm？
CHREMYLUS
Yes…if I gave up my intention to deliver them from you。
POVERTY
Well； let us discuss this point first。 I propose to show that I am
the sole cause of all your blessings； and that your safety depends
on me alone。 If I don't succeed； then do what you like to me。
CHREMYLUS
How dare you talk like this； you impudent hussy？
POVERTY
Agree to hear me and I think it will be very easy for me to
prove that you are entirely on the wrong road； when you want to make
the just men wealthy。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Oh！ cudgel and rope's end； come to my help！
POVERTY
Why such wrath and these shouts； before you hear my arguments？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But who could listen to such words without exclaiming？
POVERTY
Any man of sense。
CHREMYLUS
But if you lose your case； what punishment will you submit to？
POVERTY
Choose what you will。
CHREMYLUS
That's all right。
POVERTY
You shall suffer the same if you are beaten！
CHREMYLUS
Do you think twenty deaths a sufficiently large stake？
BLEPSIDEMUS
Good enough for her； but for us two would suffice。
POVERTY
You won't escape； for is there indeed a single valid argument to
oppose me with？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
To beat her in this debate； you must call upon all your wits。 Make
no allowances and show no weakness！
CHREMYLUS
It is right that the good should be happy； that the wicked and the
impious； on the other hand； should be miserable； that is a truth； I
believe； which no one will gainsay。 To realize this condition of
things is a proposal as great as it is noble and useful in every
respect； and we have found a means of attaining the object of our
wishes。 If Plutus recovers his sight and ceases from wandering about
unseeing and at random； he will go to seek the just men and never
leave them again； he will shun the perverse and ungodly； so； thanks to
him； all men will become honest； rich and pious。 Can anything better
be conceived for the public weal？
BLEPSIDEMUS
Of a certainty； no！ I bear witness to that。 It is not even
necessary she should reply。
CHREMYLUS
Does it not seem that everything is extravagance in the world；
or rather madness； when you watch the way things go？ A crowd of rogues
enjoy blessings they have won by sheer injustice； while more honest
folks are miserable； die of hunger； and spend their whole lives with
you。 Now； if Plutus became clear…sighted again and drove out
Poverty； it would be the greatest blessing possible for the human
race。
POVERTY
Here are two old men； whose brains are easy to confuse； who assist
each other to talk rubbish and drivel to their hearts' content。 But if
your wishes were realized； your profit would be great！ Let Plutus
recover his sight and divide his favours out equally to all； and
none will ply either trade or art any longer； all toil would be done
away with。 Who would wish to hammer iron； build ships； sew； turn；
cut up leather； bake bricks； bleach linen； tan hides； or break up
the soil of the earth with the plough and garner the gifts of Demeter；
if he could live in idleness and free from all this work？
CHREMYLUS
What nonsense all this is！ All these trades which you just mention
will be plied by our slaves。
POVERTY
Your slaves！ And by what means will these slaves be got？
CHREMYLUS
We will buy them。
POVERTY
But first say； who will sell them； if everyone is rich？
CHREMYLUS
Some greedy dealer from Thessaly…the land which supplies so many。
POVERTY
But if your system is applied； there won't be a single
slave…dealer left。 What rich man would risk his life to devote himself
to this traffic？ You will have to toil； to dig and submit yourself
to all kinds of hard labour； so that your life would be more
wretched even than it is now。
CHREMYLUS
May this prediction fall upon yourself！
POVERTY
You will not be able to sleep in a bed； for no more will ever be
manufactured； nor on carpets； for who would weave them； if he had
gold？ When you bring a young bride to your dwelling； you will have
no essences wherewith to perfume her； nor rich embroidered cloaks dyed
with dazzling colours in which to clothe her。 And yet what is the
use of being rich； if you are to be deprived of all these
enjoyments？ On the other hand； you have all that you need in
abundance； thanks to me； to the artisan I am like a severe mistress；
who forces him by need and poverty to seek the means of earning his
livelihood。
CHREMYLUS
And what good thing can you give us； unless it be burns in the
bath； and swarms of brats and old women who cry with hunger； and
clouds uncountable of lice； gnats and flies； which hover about the
wretch's head； trouble him； awake him and say； 〃You will be hungry；
but get up！〃 Besides； to possess a rag in place of a mantle； a
pallet of rushes swarming with bugs； that do not let you close your
eyes； for a bed； a rotten piece of matting for a coverlet； a big stone
for a pillow； on which to lay your head； to eat mallow roots instead
of bread； and leaves of withered radish instead of cake； to have
nothing but the cover of a broken jug for a stool； the stave of a
cask； and broken at that； for a kneading…trough； that is the life
you make for us！ Are these the mighty benefits with which you
pretend to load mankind？
POVERTY
It's not my life that you describe；； you are attacking the
existence beggars lead。
CHREMYLUS
Is Beggary not Poverty's sister？
POVERTY
Thrasybulus and Dionysius are one and the same according to you。
No； my life is not like that and never will be。 The beggar； whom you
have depicted to us； never possesses anything。 The poor man lives
thriftily and attentive to his work： he has not got too much； but he
does not lack what he really needs。
CHREMYLUS
Oh！ what a happy life； by Demeter！ to live sparingly； to toil
incessantly and not to leave enough to pay for a tomb！
POVERTY
That's it！ jest； jeer； and never talk seriously！ But what you
don't know is this； that men with me are worth more； both in mind
and body； than with Plutus。 With him they are gouty； big…bellied；
heavy of limb and scandalously stout； with me they are thin；
wasp…waisted； and terrible to the foe。
CHREMYLUS
No doubt it's by starving them that you give them that waspish
waist。
POVERTY
As for behaviour； I will prove to you that modesty dwells with
me and insolence with Plutus。
CHREMYLUS
Oh the sweet modesty of stealing and burglary。
POVERTY
Look at the orators in our republics； as long as they are poor；
both state and people can only praise their uprightness； but once they
are fattened on the public funds； they conceive a hatred for
justice； plan intrigues against the people an
