PLUTUS. 233

ence of the revolution had reached to heaven itself.
Hermes presented himself, complaining that since
Plutus had recovered his sight, no one had offered to
the gods so much as a grain of frankincense, a twig
of laurel, or a cake. “I,” said the god, “am a pecul-
iar sufferer. You know that I am a little friendly to
rogues, and these, in return, used to give me some
perquisites. That is all over now; I go hungry all
day long. Give me,” he went on, addressing the
slave Cario, “a loaf and a piece of the flesh.”
Car. “I can’t. The things are not to be taken -
out.” cf ee

Hermes. “Ah! my man, don’t you remember how
I used to help you when you filched anything of
your master’s?”

Car. “Yes, but only on. condition of having your
share.” ae

Her. “Which share you always ate yourself.”

Car. “And very right. Who got the stripes, if
I was found out?”

Fler. “Well, well, let’s have an amnesty now
that the battle is.over.1 For heaven’s sake, make
me one of your household here!”

1 Literally, “now that Phyle is taken.” The reference is to a
memorable event in Athenian history. The “Thirty Tyrants,” put
in power by the Spartans after the capture of Athens and their over-
throw by Thrasybulus; have been mentioned in the introduction to
this-story. The first step which Thrasybulus and his. followers took
was to seize the frontier fort of Phyle. The end of the struggle was
the proclamation of an amnesty.