Before Pluto：Croesus，Midas，and Sardanapalus v. Menippus注
Cr. Pluto，we can stand this snarling Cynic no longer in our neighbourhood；either you must transfer him to other quarters，or we are going to migrate.
Pl. Why，what harm does he do to your ghostly community？
Cr. Midas here，and Sardanapalus and I，can never get in a good cry over the old days of gold and luxury and treasure，but he must be laughing at us，and calling us rude names；‘slaves’ and‘garbage，’ he says we are. And then he sings；and that throws us out .—In short，he is a nuisance.
Pl. Menippus，what.s this I hear？
Me. All perfectly true，Pluto. I detest these abject rascals！ Not content with having lived the abominable lives they did，they keep on talking about it now they are dead，and harping on the good old days. I take a positive pleasure in annoying them.
Pl. Yes，but you mustn.t. They have had terrible losses；they feel it deeply.
Me. Pluto！ you are not going to lend your countenance to these whimpering fools？
Pl. It isn.t that：but I won.t have you quarrelling.
Me. Well，you scum of your respective nations，let there be no misunderstanding；I am going on just the same. Wherever you are，there shall I be also；worrying，jeering，singing you down.
Cr. Presumption！
Me. Not a bit of it. Yours was the presumption，when you expected men to fall down before you，when you trampled on men.s liberty，and forgot there was such a thing as death. Now comes the weeping and gnashing of teeth：for all is lost！
Cr. Lost！ Ah God！ My treasure⁃heaps.
Mid. My gold.
Sar. My little comforts.
Me. That.s right：stick to it！ You do the whining，and I.ll chime in with a string of GNOTHI⁃SAUTONS，best of accompaniments.
注：Pluto，中译名普鲁托，是希腊神话中的冥王。 Croesus（595 BC －约 546 BC）是古代吕底亚国王，以富有著称。他在公元前 546 或 547 年与波斯帝王居鲁士大帝的战争中被击败。这次战役对古希腊历史有重要影响。 Midas，中译名迈达斯或米达斯，是小亚细亚古国佛里吉亚（Phrygia）国王。传说酒神狄奥尼索斯赐予他金手指，即他的手指碰到的东西都会变成黄金。这就是“the golden touch”或“the Midas touch”的典故。 Sardanapalus是古代亚述国（Assyria）的最后一位国王。 Menippus，中译名梅尼普斯，是公元前 3 世纪犬儒派哲学家，善用讽刺手法写作。
