Icaromenippus

Hermes So Zeus is in error, and you do not enrich deserving pevsais according to his pleasure?

Plutus My dear fellow, how can he expect it? He knows I am blind, and he sends me groping about for a thing so hard to detect, and so nearly extinct this long time, that a Lynceus would have his work cut out spying for its dubious remains: So you see, as the good are few, and cities are crowded with multitudes of the bad, I am much more likely to come upon me latter in my rambles, and they keep me in their nets.

Hermes But when you are leaving them, how do you find escape so easy? you do not know the way.

Plutus Ah, there is just one occasion which brings me quickass of eye and foot; and that is flight.

Hermes Yet another question. You are not only blind (excuse my frankness), but pallid and decrepit; how comes it, then, that you have so many lovers? All men’s looks are for you; if they get possession of you, they count themselves happy men; if they miss you, life is not worth living. Why, I have known not a few so sick for love of you that they have scaled some skypointing crag, and thence hurled themselves to unplumbed ocean depths,[*](See Apology for ‘The Dependent Scholar,’ 10.) when they thought they were scorned by you, because you would not acknowledge their first salute. I am sure you know yourself well enough to confess that they must be lunatics, to rave about such charms as yours.

Plutus Why, you do not suppose they see me in my true shape, lame, blind, and so forth?

Hermes How else, unless they are all as blind themselves?

Plutus They are not blind, my dear boy; but the ignorant misconceptions now so prevalent obscure their vision. And then I contribute; not to be an absolute fright when they see me, I put on a charming mask, all gilt and jewels, and dress myself up. They take the mask for my face, fall in love with its beauty, and are dying to possess it. If any one were to strip and show me to them naked, they would doubtless reproach themselves for their blindness in being captivated by such an vely misshapen creature.

Hermes How about fruition, then? When they are rich, and have put the mask on themselves, they are still deluded; if any one tries to take it off, they would sooner part with their heads than with it; and it is not likely they do not know by that time that the beautyis adventitious, now that they have aninside view.

Plutus There too I have powerful allies.

Hermes Namely—?

Plutus When a man makes my acquaintance, and opens the door to let me in, there enter unseen by my side Arrogance, Folly,