Lines 1146–1209

HERMES.
Well, don’t bear malice, if you’ve Phyle got,
But take me in to share your happy lot.

CARIO.
What, leave the Gods, and settle here below?

HERMES.
For things look better here than there, I trow.

CARIO.
Think you Desertion is a name so grand?

HERMES.
Where most I prosper, there’s my father-land.

CARIO.
How could we use you if we took you in?

HERMES.
Install me here, the Turn-god by the door.

CARIO.
The Turn-god? Turns and twists we want no more.

HERMES.
The God of Commerce?

CARIO.
Wealth we’ve got, nor need
A petty-huckstering Hermes now to feed.

HERMES.
The God of Craft?

CARIO.
Craft? quite the other way.
Not craft, but Honesty, we need to-day.

HERMES.
The God of guidance?

CARIO.
Wealth can see, my boy!
A guide no more ’tis needful to employ.

HERMES.
The God of games? Aha, I’ve caught you there.
For Wealth is always highly sympathetic
With literary games, and games athletic.

CARIO.
How lucky ’tis to have a lot of names!
He has gained a living by that “God of games.”
Not without cause our Justices contrive
Their names to enter in more lists than one.

HERMES.
Then on these terms I enter?

CARIO.
Aye, come in.
And take these guts, and wash them at the well,
And so, at once, be Hermes Ministrant.

PRIEST.
O tell me, where may Chremylus be found?

CHREMYLUS.
What cheer, my worthy fellow?

PRIEST.
What but ill?
For ever since this Wealth began to see,
I’m downright famished, I’ve got nought to eat,
And that, although I’m Zeus the Saviour’s priest.

CHREMYLUS.
O, by the Powers, and what’s the cause of that?

PRIEST.
No man will slay a victim now.

CHREMYLUS.
Why not?

PRIEST.
Because they all are wealthy; yet before,
When men had nothing, one, a merchant saved
From voyage-perils, one, escaped from law,
Would come and sacrifice; or else at home
Perform his vows, and summon me, the priest.
But not a soul comes now, or body either,
Except a lot of chaps to do their needs.

CHREMYLUS.
Then don’t you take your wonted toll of that?

PRIEST.
So I’ve myself a mind to cut the service
Of Zeus the Saviour now, and settle here.

CHREMYLUS.
Courage! God willing, all will yet be well.
For Zeus the Saviour is himself within,
Coming unasked.

PRIEST.
O, excellent good news!

CHREMYLUS.
So we’ll at once install—but bide awhile—
Wealth in the place where he was erst installed,
Guarding the Treasury in Athene’s Temple.
Hi! bring me lighted candles. Take them, you,
And march before the God.

PRIEST.
With all my heart.

CHREMYLUS.
Call Wealth out, somebody.

OLD WOMAN.
And I?

CHREMYLUS.
O, you.
Here, balance me these installation pots
Upon your head, and march along in state.
You’ve got your festive robes at all events.

OLD WOMAN.
But what I came for?

CHREMYLUS.
Everything is right.
The lad you love shall visit you to-night.

OLD WOMAN.
O, if you pledge your honour that my boy
Will come to-night, I’ll bear the pots with joy.

CHREMYLUS.
These pots are not like other pots at all.
In other pots the mother is atop,
But here the mother’s underneath the pot.

CHORUS.
’Tis the end of the Play, and we too must delay
our departure no longer, but hasten away,
And follow along at the rear of the throng,
rejoicing and singing our festival song.