CHREMYLUS. Why, have you not got the Barathrum[771] 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. Might it be the tavern-keeper in my neighbourhood, 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? CHREMYLUS. Now then! what are you doing? You poltroon! Will you kindly stop here? BLEPSIDEMUS. Not I. CHREMYLUS. Will you have the goodness to stop. Are two men to fly from a woman? BLEPSIDEMUS. But, you wretch, 'tis 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. 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? Where is the breastplate, the buckler, that this wretch has not pledged? CHREMYLUS. Be at ease. Plutus will readily triumph over her threats unaided. POVERTY. Dare you reply, you scoundrels, 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 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 do mankind a greater harm? CHREMYLUS. Yes--if I gave up my intention to deliver them from you. POVERTY. Well, let us discuss this point first. I propose to show that I am the sole cause of all your blessings, and that your safety depends on me alone. If I don't succeed, then do what you like to me. CHREMYLUS. How dare you talk like this, you impudent hussy? POVERTY. Agree to hear me and I think it will be very easy for me to prove that you are entirely on the wrong road, when you want to make the just men wealthy. BLEPSIDEMUS. Oh! cudgel and rope's end, come to my help! POVERTY. Why such wrath and these shouts, before you hear my arguments? BLEPSIDEMUS. But who could listen to such words without exclaiming? POVERTY. Any man of sense. CHREMYLUS. But if you lose your case, what punishment will you submit to? POVERTY. Choose what you will. CHREMYLUS. That's all right. POVERTY. You shall suffer the same if you are beaten! CHREMYLUS. Do you think twenty deaths a sufficiently large stake? BLEPSIDEMUS. Good enough for her, but for us two would suffice. POVERTY. You won't escape, for is there indeed a single valid argument to oppose me with? CHORUS. To beat her in this debate, you must call upon all your wits. Make no allowances and show no weakness!