Aristophanes, Plutus
Eugene O'Neill, Jr., Ed.

Poverty
My arm shall destroy you, you infamous beings! Such an attempt is not to be borne; [420] neither man nor god has ever dared the like. You shall die!

Chremylus
And who are you? Oh! what a ghastly pallor!

Blepsidemus
Perhaps it's some Erinys, some Fury, from the theater; there's a kind of wild tragic look in her eyes.

Chremylus
[425] But she has no torch.

Blepsidemus
Let's knock her down!

Poverty
Who do you think I am?

Chremylus
Some wine-shop keeper or egg-woman. Otherwise you would not have shrieked so loud at us, who have done nothing to you.

Poverty
Indeed? And have you not done me the most deadly injury [430] 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
[435] Might it be the tavern-keeper in my neighborhood, 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! [440] Are you 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
[445] 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? [450] 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, [455] 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 [460] 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 [465] do mankind a greater harm?

Chremylus
Yes —if I gave up my intention to deliver them from you.