Exit
Interlude of dancing by the Chorus.
Plutus
I adore thee, oh! thou divine sun, and thee I greet, thou city, the beloved of Pallas; be welcome, thou land of Cecrops, which hast received me. Alas!
[775]
what manner of men I associated with! I blush to think of it. While, on the other hand, I shunned those who deserved my friendship; I knew neither the vices of the ones nor the virtues of the others. A two-fold mistake, and in both cases equally fatal! Ah! what a misfortune was mine! But I want to change everything;
[780]
and in the future I mean to prove to mankind that, if I gave to the wicked, it was against my will.
Chremylus
To the wings
Get you gone! Oh! what a lot of friends spring into being when you are fortunate! They dig me with their elbows and bruise my shins
[785]
to prove their affection. Each one wants to greet me. What a crowd of old fellows thronged round me on the market-place!
Wife
Oh! thou, who art dearest of all to me, and thou too, be welcome! Allow me, Plutus,
[790]
to shower these gifts of welcome over you in due accord with custom.
Plutus
No. This is the first house I enter after having regained my sight; I shall take nothing from it, for it is my place rather to give.
Wife
Do you refuse these gifts?
Plutus
[795]
I will accept them at your fireside, as custom requires. Besides, we shall thus avoid a ridiculous scene; it is not meet that the poet should throw dried figs and dainties to the spectators; it is a vulgar trick to make them laugh.
Wife
[800]
You are right. Look! yonder's Dexinicus, who was already getting to his feet to catch the figs as they flew past him.