Philosophical and Literary Miscellany

Wealth

12 ...whom I never knew before then.
You say this? Fine. See how all of life
is laid out; he Zeus, the king of the gods used to say he envied me most of all.
For when I was a youth, I once threatened
13 that I would visit only the just, the wise, and the decent
men. But he made me blind,
so that I might not recognize any of them.
That is how much he envies good men.
Chremylus And yet, it is only through you that men become good,
and the just—I agree with you. Chremylus Tell me then,
14 if you could see again as you did before,
would you now flee the wicked? Wealth I say I would.
Chremylus And would you go to the just? Wealth Absolutely.
For I have not seen them for a long time.
Chremylus And no wonder; for neither have I, and I have my sight!
15 Chremylus Let me go now; for my part in this is finished.
16 Wealth By Zeus, no! We shall hold onto you much more tightly.
17 Chremylus Did I not tell you that he would cause
18 Wealth trouble for me? Chremylus And you, Chremylus, obey me
19 and do not leave me; for you will not find,
20 even if you search, a man of better character.
21 By Zeus, for there is no other besides me.
Everyone says this; but once they truly
chance upon me and become rich,
they simply surpass everyone in their wickedness.
Chremylus It is so; but not everyone is evil.
Wealth By Zeus, no—every single one! Cario You’ll regret saying that!
Chremylus But you, give yourself to me, if you stay with us,

good things will happen. Pay attention, so you may learn.
For I think—I think, and with God’s help it shall be said—
that I shall rid you of this eye-ailment,
making you see again. Wealth By no means do this!
For I do not wish to see again. Cario What are you saying?
This man is wretched by nature.
Chremylus If Zeus knew this, don't you think
he would crush you? Chremylus Does he not do that now,
letting you wander about, stumbling?
Wealth I do not know; but I am very afraid of him.
Chremylus Truly, you most cowardly of all divinities?
Do you think the tyranny of Zeus
and his thunderbolts are worth even three obols original: "τριωβόλου" — an obol was a small, low-value coin; here it means "worthless.",
if you could see, even for a short time?
Wealth Ah! Do not say such things, you rogue! Chremylus Be still.
For I will demonstrate that you are much
more powerful than Zeus. Wealth Me? You? Chremylus By the heavens, yes.
For instance, why does Zeus rule over the gods?
Cario Because of money; for he has the most of it. Chremylus Tell me then,
who is the one who provides this to him? Cario This man here.
Chremylus And why do men sacrifice to Zeus? Is it not because of this god?
Cario And by Zeus, they pray outright to be rich!
Chremylus Therefore, is he Wealth not the cause? And could he not
easily stop these things if he wished? Wealth How so? Tell me.
Chremylus Because not a single man would sacrifice anymore—
not an ox, not a barley cake, nor anything else at all—
if you were unwilling. Wealth How? Chremylus How? There is no way...