Philosophical and Literary Miscellany

Porphyry A marginal reference likely added by a later scholar, perhaps referring to the philosopher Porphyry's commentaries.

Poverty: ...if they are wealthy, why then do they leave them so illiberal and greedy?
Chremylus Chremylus: But didn't Zeus choose to crown the victors with a wild olive wreath? Chremylus argues that if Zeus were truly wealthy, he would give gold wreaths at the Olympics instead of cheap olive leaves.
Poverty Poverty: For you dare to argue that everything is not good for you because of me? Chremylus Chremylus: Zeus keeps the Kotinosoriginal: kotinos; the wild olive wreath awarded to Olympic victors for himself; for why else would these things be honored? But with wealth, things are not entirely better; for he says that a man's fodder is his own, and again, someone seeking wealth lies down before you for you to you while the poor, on the other hand, are consumed by hunger before they are even buried.
But I do not busy myself with cares or the making of tables.
For poverty is not the same for everyone.
Poverty Poverty: O city of Argos, do you hear what he says? This is a parody of a famous line from Euripides' Telephus, used here for comedic effect as Poverty makes a dramatic exit.
Chremylus Chremylus: Stop calling upon Pauson original: bēsation; likely a reference to Pauson, a notoriously poor painter..
Poverty Poverty: What will I, wretched one, suffer?
Chremylus Chremylus: Go to the crows, and get away from us quickly! The phrase "to the crows" was the Ancient Greek equivalent of "go to hell."
Poverty Poverty: If not, then to what part of the earth shall I go?
Chremylus Chremylus: To the pillory! original: kyphōma; a wooden collar used for punishment. You shouldn't delay, but hurry!
Poverty Poverty: Truly, you two will yet send for me to testify...
Chremylus Chremylus: Then you can be whipped. But for now, begone and be damned! For it is best for me to be wealthy, and to let you go off and weep your head off.
Blepsidemus Blepsidemus: By Zeus, I for one wish to be wealthy, to feast with my children and my wife. And having bathed, coming out sleek from the bath-house, I wish to fart at the craftsmen and at Poverty.
Chremylus Chremylus: That wretched woman is finally gone from us.

Chremylus: Now, you and I must first, as quickly as possible, take the God and lay him down in the temple of Asclepius The god of medicine and healing..
Blepsidemus Blepsidemus: Let us not waste any time, lest someone comes along again and prevents us from doing what is necessary.
Chremylus Chremylus: Slave! Cario! You must bring out the bedding, and lead the God of Wealth himself, as is custom, and everything else that is prepared inside.

Cario Cario: Cario returns from the temple to announce the miracle. O you old men who have often swallowed down Theseus’s soup A reference to the meager charity soup given to the poor at the feast of Theseus. for the smallest bit of barley, how lucky you are, how happily you have fared, along with all others who share in a virtuous character!
Chorus Chorus: What is it, O best of men? You appear to us as a messenger of something good.
Cario Cario: My master has fared most successfully—or rather, Wealth himself has. For instead of being blind, his sight has been restored. His pupils have been made bright, having met with the kindly healer, Asclepius.
Chorus Chorus: You tell me of joy! You tell me of a shout!
Cario Cario: It is time to rejoice, whether you want to or not.
Chorus Chorus: I will shout for Asclepius, the one who gives fine children and is a great light to mortals!
Wife Wife: The wife of Chremylus enters from the house. What is this shouting? Is some good news being announced? For I have been sitting inside a long time, longing for this and waiting for him.
Cario Cario: Quickly, quickly, bring wine, mistress, so that you too may learn. It is brought to you indeed! I bring all good things to you in a nutshell.