Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
413. HERCULES AND PLUTUS
Perry 111 (Phaedrus
4.12)
Riches are justly hated by courageous people: coffers of cash put
a stop to honest traffic in praise.
Thanks to his excellent qualities, Hercules was received into heaven.
He saluted the gods who came to congratulate him one after another, but
when he was approached by Plutus, the god of wealth and the son of Fortune,
Hercules turned his eyes aside. Father Jupiter asked him why he did this.
Hercules answered, 'I hate the god of riches: he is a friend to the wicked
who corrupts the entire world by throwing his money around!'
Note: Hercules,
the son of Jupiter and his lover Alcmena, was granted divine honours
after his death and lived in heaven among the gods.
 Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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