4–1
Diogenes
Yes, my Spartan, and here is for the poor. There are a great many of them, very sorry for themselves and resentful of their helplessness. Tell them to dry their tears and cease their cries; explain to them that here one man is as good as another, and they will find those who were rich on earth no better than themselves. As for your Spartans, -you will not mind scolding them, from me, upon their present degeneracy?
Pollux
No, no, Diogenes; leave Sparta alone; that is going too far; your other commissions I will execute.
Diogenes
Oh, well, let them off, if you care about it; but tell all the others what I said.
Before Pluto: Croesus, Midas, and Sardanapalus against Menippus
Croesus
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,
Pluto
Why, what harm does he do to your ghostly community?
Croesus
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,
Pluto
Menippus, what’s this I hear?
Menippus
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,
5
Pluto
Yes, but you mustn’t. They have had terrible losses; they feel it deeply.
