A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

PLUTUS;

the God of Riches; Aristopha∣nes in a Comedy thus cailed, says, that this God having at first a good Eye-sight, stuck to no Bo∣dy but to the Just. But Jupiter taking his Sight from him, Riches afterwards fell indifferently to the Share of the Good and Bad: They formed a Design for the recovering of Plutus his Sight, but Penia, which is Poverty, opposed it, and made it appear that Poverty was the Mistress of Arts, Sciences and Vertues which would be in Danger of being lost if all Men were rich: They gave her no Credit, or seemed not to believe her, so that Plutus recovered his Sight in Aeseulapius his Temple, and from thence forward the Tem∣ples and Altars of other Gods, and those of Jupiter himself were abandoned, every Body sacrificing to no other than to God Plutus. Lu∣cian in Timon or Misanthropos brings Jupiter and Plutus talking together thus.

Jup.

I am amazed to find you angry, because you are left at Liberty, seeing you former∣ly complain'd of Usurers, who shut you up under Lock and Key, without letting you as much as see the Light, and made you endure a Thousand Torments. You said, that 'twas it which made you pale and disfigured and was the

Cause that you did endeavour to make your E∣scape. You also blamed the Covetous, who died for Love of you, and in the mean time durst not enjoy you, like the Dog in the Fable, who being tied to the Rock, could not himself eat Hay, and would not suffer the Horse to do it: You said, that they were jealous, and debarred themselves of all Recreations, without consider∣ing that what they loved would one Day be the Prey of a Thief or some unworthy Heir: Are not you ashamed thus to swerve from your old Maxims.

Plutus.

If you will hear me, you shall find I have Reason for what I do. For some let me go through Negligence, and others spare me through Stupidity, for want of knowing that if they used me not I should be of no Benefit to them, and that they will be forced to leave me, before they are advantaged by me.

Jupit.

They are sufficiently punished for their Fault, without your troubling of me to punish them, seeing the one like Tantalus die of Thirst in the midst of the Waters, and the other like Phineus see Harpies carrying away their Victuals, before they have tasted of it.

Mercury.

Let us go, why do you halt? Are you lame as well as blind?

Plutus.

I go always in this manner, when I am sent to any Body and there I come very late, and many times when there is nothing for me to do; but when the Business of my Return is in Agitation, I go as fast as the Wind, and they are much astonished that they cannot see me more.

Mercury.

That is not always true, for there are some People who grow rich while they sleep.

Plutus.

I do not go then upon my Feet, but I am carried; and 'tis not Jupiter that sends me, but Pluto who is also the God of Riches, as his Name imports; for he on a sudden makes great Riches to pass from one Person to ano∣ther, &c.....

Mercury.

That happens frequently, but when you go alone, how can you find the Way seeing you are blind?

Plutus.

I mistake also sometimes and often take one for another.

Mercury.

I believe it, but what do you do then?

Plutus.

I turn up and down, to the Right and Left, till I find some Body that seizes me by the Collar, and who goes to render you Thanks for his good Fortune, or some other God that shall never think of it.

Mercury.

Was not Jupiter therefore mistaken, when he thought you did enrich Men of Merit.

Plutus.

How could he think that one blind as I am, could find out a meritorious Person which is so rare a Thing? But as the Wicked are very numerous, I meet with them sooner than others.

Mercury.

Why is it that you run so fast in your Return, since you do not know the Way?

Plutus.

They said I never saw well but then, and that Fate gave me Legs for no other End than to flee away.

Mercury.

Tell me farther, why it is, since you are blind, pale, meager and lame, that you have so many Admirers who die for Love of you, and who place their Happiness in the Enjoyment of you.

Plutus.

'Tis because Love hinders them to see my Deformity, and that they are blinded with the Lustre which does surround me.