---
title: "Amphitryon · Amphitruo"
author: "Plautus"
translator: "Henry Thomas Riley"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/
cite: "Plautus, tr. Henry Thomas Riley, Amphitryon · Amphitruo. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/"
---

# Amphitryon · Amphitruo

*Plautus, tr. Henry Thomas Riley*

Jupiter takes the shape of a husband home from war, and Mercury that of his slave.

> Latin: ed. Friedrich Leo, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0119.phi001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Henry Thomas Riley, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0119.phi001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–418](https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/1.md)
2. [Lines 419–784](https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/2.md)
3. [Lines 785–1146](https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/3.md)

## 1. Lines 1–418

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/1/#p-N

[¶0] MERCURY:
As, in purchasing and selling your merchandize, you are desirous to render me propitious to your bargains, and that I should assist you in all things; and as both in foreign countries and at home, you desire me to turn to the best advantage the business and the accounts of you all,
and that with fair and ample profit, without end, I should crown the venture both which you have begun, and which you shall begin; and as you wish me to delight you and all yours with joyous news —these tidings will I bring, that I may announce them to you, things which in especial are for your common interest
(for already do you know, indeed, that it has been given and assigned to me by the other Divinities, to preside over news and profit): as you would wish me to favour and promote these things, that lasting gain may ever be forthcoming for you,
so shall you give silence for this play, and so shall you be fair and upright judges here, all of you. Now, by whose command, and for what reason I am come, I’ll tell you, and at the sane time, myself, I will disclose my name. By the command of Jupiter I am come; my name is Mercury.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Vt vos in vostris voltis mercimoniis
emundis vendundisque me laetum lucris
adficere atque adiuvare in rebus omnibus
et ut res rationesque vostrorum omnium
bene ⟨me⟩ expedire voltis peregrique et domi
bonoque atque amplo auctare perpetuo lucro
quasque incepistis res quasque inceptabitis,
et uti bonis vos vostrosque omnis nuntiis
me adficere voltis, ea adferam, ea uti nuntiem
quae maxime in rem vostram communem sient
(nam vos quidem id iam scitis concessum et datum
mi esse ab dis aliis, nuntiis praesim et lucro):
haec ut me voltis adprobare adnitier,
[lucrum ut perenne vobis semper suppetat]
ita huic facietis fabulae silentium
itaque aequi et iusti hic eritis omnes arbitri.
Nunc cuius iussu venio et quam ob rem venerim
dicam simulque ipse eloquar nomen meum.
Iovis iússu venio, nomen Mercurio est mihi.

[¶1] My father has sent me hither to you to entreat, although, what should as his commands be enjoined on you, he knew that you would do, inasmuch as he knew full well that you venerate and fear himself, as is befitting Jupiter.

> Latin: pater huc me misit ad vos oratum meus,
tam etsi, pro imperio vobis quod dictum foret,
scibat facturos, quippe qui intellexerat
vereri vos se et metuere, ita ut aequom est Iovem;

[¶2] But, certainly, he bade me ask this of you with entreaty, in gentle tones, and in bland accents. For, in fact, this Jupiter, by whose command I am come, dreads a mishap not less than any one of you. Born of a mortal mother, a mortal sire, it is not reasonable to be surprised if he has apprehensions for himself.

> Latin: verum profecto hoc petere me precario
a vobis iussit, leniter, dictis bonis.
etenim ille, cuius huc iussu venio, Iuppiter
non minus quam vostrum quivis formidat malum:
humana matre natus, humano patre,
mirari non est aequom, sibi si praetimet;

[¶3] And I too, as well, who am the son of Jupiter, through my relationship to my father, stand in dread of ill. Therefore, in peace am I come to you, and peace do I bring. I wish a thing to be asked of you that’s reasonable and feasible; for, reasonable things to ask of the reasonable, a reasonable mediator have I been sent.

> Latin: atque ego quoque etiam, qui Iovis sum filius,
contagione mei patris metuo malum.
propterea pace advenio et pacem ad vos affero:†
iustam rem et facilem esse oratam a vobis volo,
nam iusta ab iustis iustus sum orator datus.

[¶4] For from the reasonable it is not right to ask things unreasonable; whereas from the unreasonable to ask things reasonable, is sheer folly, since these unrighteous persons are ignorant of what is right, and observe it not. Now then, all lend your attention here to the things which I shall say. What we wish, you ought to wish as well:
both I and my father have well deserved of you and of your state. But why should I mention how in Tragedies I have seen others, such as Neptune, Valour, Victory, Mars, Bellona, making mention of the good services which they had done you? Of all these benefits, the ruler of the Deities, my sire, was the founder.

> Latin: nam iniusta ab iustis impetrari non decet,
iusta autem ab iniustis petere insipientia est;
quippe illi iniqui ius ignorant neque tenent.
nunc iam huc animum omnes quae loquar advortite.
debetis velle quae velimus: meruimus
et ego et pater de vobis et re publica;
nam quid ego memorem (ut alios in tragoediis
vidi, Neptunum Virtutem Victoriam
Martem Bellonam, commemorare quae bona
vobis fecissent) quis bene factis meus pater,
deorum regnator … architectus omnibus?

[¶5] But this has never been the habit of my father, to throw in your teeth what good he has done unto the good. He thinks that this is gratefully returned by you to him, and that he bestows these blessings on you deservedly, which he does bestow.

> Latin: sed mos numquam illi fuit patri meo,†
ut exprobraret quod bonis faceret boni;
gratum arbitratur esse id a vobis sibi
meritoque vobis bona se facere quae facit.

[¶6] Now, the matter which I came here to ask, I’ll first premise, after that I’ll tell the subject of this Tragedy. Why have you contracted your brows? Is it because I said that this would be a Tragedy? I am a God, and I’ll change it. This same, if you wish it, from a Tragedy I’ll make to be
a Comedy, with all the lines the same. Whether would ye it were so, or not? But I’m too foolish; as though I didn’t know, who am a God, that you so wish it; upon this subject I understand what your feelings are. I’ll make this to be a mixture—a Tragi-comedy.

> Latin: Nunc quam rem oratum huc veni primum proloquar,
post argumentum huius eloquar tragoediae.
quid? contraxistis frontem, quia tragoediam
dixi futuram hanc? deus sum, commutavero.
eandem hánc, si voltis, faciam ex tragoedia
comoedia ut sit omnibus isdem vorsibus.
utrum sit an non voltis? sed ego stultior,
quasi nesciam vos velle, qui divos siem.
teneo quid animi vostri super hac re siet:
faciam ut commixta sit: ⟨sit⟩ tragicomoedia.

[¶7] For me to make it entirely to be a Comedy, where Kings and Gods appear, I do not deem right. What then? Since here the servant has a part as well, just as I said, I’ll make it to be a Tragi-comedy. Now Jupiter has ordered me to beg this of you,
that the inspectors should go among each of the seats throughout the whole theatre, amid the spectators, that, if they should see any suborned applauders of any actor, there should in the theatre be taken away from them the pledge of their coats, as a security for their good behaviour.

> Latin: nam me perpetuo facere ut sit comoedia,
reges quo veniant et di, non par arbitror.
quid igitur? quoniam hic servos quoque partes habet,
faciam sit, proinde ut dixi, tragicomoedia.
nunc hoc me orare a vobis iussit Iuppiter,
ut conquaestores singula in subsellia
eant per totam caveam spectatoribus,
si cui favitores delegatos viderint,
ut is in cavea pignus capiantur togae;

[¶8] But if any should solicit the palm of victory for the actors, or if for any artist, whether by written letters, or whether any person himself should solicit personally, or whether by messenger; or if the Aediles, too, should unfairly adjudge to any one the reward; Jupiter has commanded the law to be the same as if he had sought by solicitation an appointment for himself or for another.

> Latin: sive quí ambissint palmam histrionibus
sive cuíquam artifici, si per scriptas litteras
sive qui ípse ambissit seu per internuntium,
sive adeo aediles perfidiose cui duint,
sirempse legem iussit esse Iuppiter,
quasi mágistratum sibi alterive ambiverit.

[¶9] By valour has he declared that you exist as victors, not by canvassing or unfair dealing. Why any the less should there be the same principle for the player, which there is for the greatest man? By merit, not by favourers, ought we to seek our ends. He who does aright has ever favourers enough, if there is honesty in them in whose disposal this matter rests.

> Latin: virtute dixit vos victores vivere,
non ambitione neque perfidia: qui minus
eadem histrioni sit lex quae summo viro?
virtute ambire oportet, non favitoribus.
sat habet favitorum semper qui recte facit,
si illis fides est quibus est ea res in manu.

[¶10] This, too, he directed me likewise in his injunctions, that there should be inspectors over the players; that, he who should have procured suborned persons to applaud himself, or he who should have contrived for another give less satisfaction,
from the same they might strip off his dress and leather mask. I don’t wish you to be surprised, for what reason Jupiter now concerns himself about actors. Don’t be surprised, Jupiter himself is about to take part in this play. Why are you wondering at this? As though, indeed, a new thing were now mentioned, that Jupiter takes to the calling of a player.

> Latin: hoc quoque etiam mihi ⟨pater⟩ in mandatis dedit,
ut conquaestores fierent histrionibus:
qui sibi mandasset delegati ut plauderent
quive quo placeret alter fecisset minus,
eius órnamenta et corium uti conciderent.
mirari nolim vos, quapropter Iuppiter
nunc histriones curet; ne miremini:
ipse hanc acturust Iuppiter comoediam.
quid? admirati estis? quasi vero novom
nunc proferatur, Ióvem facere histrioniam;

[¶11] But a year since, when here on the stage the actors invoked Jupiter, he came; he aided them. Besides, surely in Tragedy he has a place. This play, I say, Jupiter himself will take a part in this day,
and I together with him. Now do you give attention while I shall relate to you the subject of this Comedy.

> Latin: etiam, histriones anno cum in proscaenio hic
Iovem invocarunt, venit, auxilio is fuit.
[praeterea certo prodit in tragoedia.]
hanc fabulam, inquam, hic Iuppiter hodie ipse aget,
et ego una cum illo. nunc ⟨vos⟩ animum advortite,
dum huius argumentum éloquar comoediae.

[¶12] This city is Thebes; in that house there (pointing), Amphitryon dwells, born at Argos, of an Argive sire; whose wife is Alcmena, daughter of Electryon.

> Latin: Haec urbs est Thebae. in illisce habitat aedibus
Amphitruo, natus Argis ex Argo patre,
quicum Alcumena est nupta, Electri filia.

[¶13] This Amphitrvon is now the general of the Theban troops; for between the Teleboans and the Theban people there is war. He, before he departed hence for the expedition, left his wife Alcmena pregnant. But I believe that you already know how my father is disposed how free in these affairs he has been,
and how great a lover of many a woman, if any object once has captivated him. Unknown to her husband, he began to love Alcmena, and took temporary possession of her person for himself, and made her pregnant, too, by his embrace.

> Latin: is nunc Amphitruo praefectust legionibus,
nam cum Telobois bellum est Thebano poplo.
is prius quam hinc abiit ipsemet in exercitum,
gravidam Alcumenam úxorem fecit suam.
nam ego vos novisse credo iam ut sit páter meus,
quam liber harum rerum multarum siet
quantusque amator sit quod complacitum est semel.
is amare occepit Alcumenam clam virum
usuramque eius corporis cepit sibi,
et gravidam fecit is eam compressu suo.

[¶14] Now, that more fully you may understand the matter with respect to Alcmena, she is pregnant by both; both by her husband and by supreme Jupiter And my father is now lying here (he points to the house) in-doors with her; and for this reason is this night made longer, while he is taking this pleasure with her whom he desires.

> Latin: nunc de Alcumena ut rem teneatis rectius,
utrimque est gravida, et ex viro et ex summo Iove.
et meus pater nunc intus hic cum illa cubat,
et haec ob eam rem nox est facta longior,
dum ⟨cum⟩ illa quacum volt voluptatem capit;

[¶15] But he has so disguised himself, as though he were Amphitryon. Now, that you may not be surprised at this dress of mine, inasmuch as I have come out here this way in servile garb, an ancient and an antique circumstance, made new, will I relate to you, by reason of which I have come to you attired in this new fashion;

> Latin: sed ita adsimulavit se, quasi Amphitruo siet.
nunc ne hunc ornatum vos meum admiremini,
quod ego huc processi sic cum servili schema:
veterem atque antiquam rem novam ad vos proferam,
propterea ornatus in novom incessi modum.

[¶16] for lo! my father Jupiter, now in the house, changes himself into the likeness of Amphitryon, and all the servants who see him think it is he, so shifting in his shape does he render himself when he chooses. I have taken on myself the form of the servant Sosia,
who has gone hence together with Amphitryon on the expedition, that I may be able to serve my father in his amour, and that the servants may not be enquiring who I am, when they see me here frequenting oft the house. Now, as they will suppose me a servant and their fellow-servant,
not any one will enquire who I am, or why I’m come. My father, now in-doors, is gratifying his inclination, and is embracing her of whom he is especially enamoured. What has been done there at the army, my father is now relating to Alcmena. She, who really is with a paramour, thinks that he is her own husband. There, my father is now
relating how he has routed the legions of the enemy; how he has been enriched with abundant gifts. Those gifts which there were given to Amphitryon, we have carried off; what he pleases, my father easily performs.

> Latin: nam méus pater intus núnc est eccum Iuppiter;
in Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem
omnesque eum esse censent servi qui vident:
ita versipellem se facit quando lubet.
ego servi sumpsi Sosiae mi imaginem,
qui cum Amphitruone abiit hinc in exercitum,
ut praeservire amanti meo possem patri
atque ut ne, qui essem, familiares quaererent,
versari crebro hic cum viderent me domi;
nunc, cum esse credent servom et conservom suom,
haud quisquam quaeret qui siem aut quid venerim.
pater nunc intus suo animo morem gerit:
cubat complexus cuius cupiens maxime est;
quae illi ad legionem facta sunt memorat pater
meus Alcumenae: ílla illum censet virum
suom esse, quae cum moecho est. ibi nunc meus pater
memorat, legiones hostium ut fugaverit,
quo pacto sit donis donatus plurimis.
ea dona, quae illic Amphitruoni sunt data,
abstulimus: facile meus pater quod volt facit.

[¶17] Now will Amphitryon come hither this day from the army, his servant too, whose form I am bearing. Now, that you may be able the more easily to distinguish between us, I always shall carry these little wings here (pointing) upon my broad-brimmed cap; then besides, for my father there will be a golden tuft
beneath his cap; that mark will not be upon Amphitryon. These marks no one of these domestics will be able to see; but you will see them. But yonder is Sosia, the servant of Amphitryon; he is now coming yonder from the harbour, with a lantern.

> Latin: nunc hodie Amphitruo veniet huc ab exercitu
et servos, cuius ego hanc feró imaginem.
nunc internosse ut nos possitis facilius,
ego has habebo úsque in petaso pinnulas;
tum meo patri autem torulus inerit aureus
sub petaso: id signum Amphitruoni non erit.
ea signa nemo hórum familiarium
videre poterit: verum vos videbitis.
sed Amphitruonis illic est servos Sosia:
a portu illíc nunc cum lanterna ádvenit.

[¶18] I will now drive him, as he arrives, away from the house. Attend, it will be worth the while of you spectators, for Jupiter and Mercury to perform here the actors’ part.
(Enter SOSIA, with a Lantern.)
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: abigam iam ego illum advenientem ab aedibus.
adeste: erit operae pretium híc spectantibus
Iovem et Mercurium facere hístrioniam.

[¶19] What other person is there more bold than I, or who more stout of heart, who know the humours of young men, and who am walking at this hour of night alone?

> Latin: Sosia:
Qui me álter est audácior homo aút qui confidéntior,
iuventútis mores qui sciam, qui hoc noctis solus ambulem?

[¶20] What shall I do, if now the officers of the watch should thrust me into prison. To-morrow shall I be dealt out from there, just as though from a store-closet, for a whipping; nor will it be allowed me to plead my cause, nor will there be a bit of aid from my master; nor will there be a person but that they will imagine, all of them, that I am deserving.
And so will eight sturdy fellows be thumping on wretched me just like an anvil; in this way, just come from foreign parts, I shall be received with hospitality by the public. The inconsiderateness of my master compels me to this, who has packed me off from the harbour at this time of night whether I would or no.

> Latin: quid faciam nunc, si tres viri me in carcerem compegerint?
inde crás quasi e promptaria cella depromar ad flagrum,
nec causam liceat dicere mihi, néque in ero quicquam auxili
nec quisquam sit quin me ⟨malo⟩ omnes esse dignum deputent.
íta quasi incudém me miserum hómines octo válidi caedant:
ita peregre adveniens hospitio publicitus accipiar.
haéc eri immodéstia
coegit, me qui hoc noctis a portu ingratiis excitavit.

[¶21] Couldn’t he as well have sent me here by daylight? For this reason, is servitude to a man of high station a greater hardship; for this reason is the servant of a wealthy man the more wretched: both night and day, without ceasing, there is enough, and more than enough of work for him; for doing or for saying occasion is ever arising, so that you can’t be at rest.

> Latin: nonne ídem hoc luci me míttere potuit?
opulénto homini hoc servitús dura est,
hoc mágis miser est divítis servos:
nóctesque diésque assiduó satis superque est
quód facto aut dícto adeost ópus, quietus ne sis.

[¶22] The master, abounding in servants, and free from labour himself; thinks that whatever he happens to choose, can be done; he thinks that just, and reckons not what the labour is; nor will he ever consider whether he commands a thing that’s reasonable or unreasonable. Wherefore, in servitude many hardships do befall us;

> Latin: ípse dominus díves, operis ét laboris expers,
quódcumque homini áccidit libére, posse retur:
aéquom esse putát, non reputát laboris quid sit.
[nec aéquom anne iníquom imperét cogitábit.]
ergo ín servitúte expetúnt multa iníqua:

[¶23] in pain this burden must be borne and endured.
MERCURY: (to the AUDIENCE.)

> Latin: habéndum et ferúndum hoc onúst cum labóre.

[¶24] ’Twere with better reason for me to complain of servitude after this fashion; I, who to-day was free, and whom my father is now employing as a slave: this fellow is complaining, who was born a slave.
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Satiúst me queri íllo modó servitútem:
hodié qui fuerim líber,
eúm nunc potívit patér servitútis,
hic qui verna natus est queritur.

[¶25] Really I am a rascal beyond a doubt; for only this moment it has suggested itself to me, that on my arrival I should give thanks, and address the Gods for their kindnesses vouchsafed. For surely, by my troth, if they were only desirous to give me a return according to my deserts, they would commission some person on my arrival soundly to box my ears, since those kindnesses which they have done me I have held as worthless and of no value.
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Sum véro verna vérbero: num número mi in mentém fuit,
dis advenientem gratias pro meritis agere atque alloqui?
ne illi edepol si merito meo referre studeant gratiam,
aliquem hominem allegent qui mihi advenienti os occillet probe,
quoniam bene quae in me fecerunt ingrata ea habui atque inrita.

[¶26] He does what people are not generally in the habit of doing, in knowing what his deserts are.
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Facit ille quod volgo haud solent, ut quid se sit dignum sciat.

[¶27] What I never expected, nor any one else of my townsmen, to befall him, that same has come to pass, for us to come home safe and sound. Victorious, the enemy conquered, the troops are returning home, this very mighty war brought to an end, and the enemy slain.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quod numquam opinatus fui neque alius quisquam civium
sibi eventurum, id contigit, ut salvi poteremur domi.
victores victis hostibus legiones reveniunt domum,
duelló exstincto maximo atque internecatis hostibus.

[¶28] A city that has caused many a bitter death for the Theban people, that same has been conquered by the strength and valour of our soldiers, and taken by storm, under the command and conduct of my master Amphitryon in especial. With booty, territory, and glory, too, has he loaded his fellow-citizens, and for Creon, King of Thebes, has he firmly fixed his sway.

> Latin: quod multa Thebano poplo acerba obiecit funera,
id vi et virtute militum victum atque expugnatum oppidum est
imperio atque auspicio eri mei Amphitruonis maxime.
praeda atque agro adoriaque adfecit populares suos
regique Thebano Creoni regnum stabilivit suom.

[¶29] From the harbour he has sent me before him to his house that I may bear these tidings to his wife, how he has promoted the public good by his guidance, conduct, and command. This now will I consider, in what manner I shall address her, when I’ve arrived there. If I tell a falsehood. I shall be doing as I am accustomed after my usual wont; for when they were fighting with all their might, then with all my might I ran away.

> Latin: me a portu praemisit domum, ut haec nuntiem uxori suae,
ut gesserit rem publicam ductu imperio auspicio suo.
ea nunc meditabor quo modo illi dicam, cum illo advenero.
si dixero mendacium, solens meo more fecero.
nam cum pugnabant maxume, ego tum fugiebam maxume;

[¶30] But still I shall pretend as though I was present, and I’ll tell her what I heard. But in what manner and with what expressions it is right for me to tell my story, I still wish first to consider here with myself. (He assumes an attitude of thought.) In these terms will I give this narrative. “In the first place, when we arrived there, when first we made land, Amphitryon immediately made choice of the powerful men among the chieftains.”

> Latin: verum quasi adfuerim tamen simulabo atque audita eloquar.
sed quo modo et verbis quibus me deceat fabularier,
prius ipse mecum etiam volo hic meditari. sic hoc proloquar.
Principio ut illo advenimus, ubi primum terram tetigimus,
continuo Amphitruo delegit viros primorum principes;

[¶31] “Those he despatched on the embassy, and bade them tell his mind to the Teleboans; that if without constraint and without warfare they should be ready to deliver up what was plundered and the plunderers, and if they should be ready to restore what they had carried off, he would immediately conduct the army homewards, that the Greeks would depart from their territory, and that he would grant peace and quietness to them: but if they should be otherwise disposed, and not concede the things which he demanded,”
“he, in consequence, would attack their city with extreme violence and with his men. When the embassadors had repeated these things, which Amphitryon had enjoined, in order to the Teleboans, being men stout of heart, relying on their valour, and confident in their prowess, they rebuked our embassadors very rudely. They answered that they were able in warfare to protect themselves and theirs, and that at once they must lead the army with all haste out of their territories.”

> Latin: eos legat, Telobois iubet sententiam ut dicant suam:
si sine vi et sine bello velint rapta et raptores tradere,
si quae asportassent redderent, se exercitum extemplo domum
reducturum, abituros agro Argivos, pacem atque otium
dare illis; sin aliter sient animati neque dent quae petat,
sese igitur summa vi virisque eorum oppidum oppugnassere.
haec ubi Telobois ordine iterarunt quos praefecerat
Amphitruo, magnanimi viri freti virtute et viribus
superbe nimis ferociter legatos nostros increpant,
respondent bello se et suos tutari posse, proinde uti
propere ⟨irent⟩, de suis finibus exercitus deducerent.

[¶32] “When the embassadors brought back this message, straightway Amphitryon drew out all his army from the encampment; on the other side, the Teleboans led forth their legions from the town, furnished with most gorgeous arms. After they had gone forth on either side in full array,”
“the soldiers were marshalled, the ranks were formed. We, after our manner and usage, drew up our legions; the enemy, too, drew up their legions facing us. Then either general went forth into the mid-space beyond the throng of the ranks, and they parleyed together.”

> Latin: haec ubi legati pertulere, Amphitruo castris ilico
producit omnem exercitum. Teloboae contra ex oppido
legiones educunt suas nimis pulcris armis praeditas.
póstquam utrimque éxitum est máxima cópia,
dispertiti viri, dispertiti ordines,
nos nostras more nostro et modo instruximus
légiones, item hóstes contra légiones suas ínstruont.
deínde utrique ímperatóres in medium éxeunt,
éxtra turbam órdinum cólloquontúr simul.

[¶33] “It was agreed between them, that, which ever side should be conquered in that battle, they should surrender up their city, lands, altars, hearths. and theraselves. After that was done, the trumpets on either side gave the signal; the earth re-echoed, they raised a shout on either side. Each general, both upon this side and on that, offered vows to Jupiter, and then encouraged his troops.”

> Latin: convenit, victi utri sint eo proelio,
urbem agrum aras focos seque uti dederent.
postquam id actum est, tubae contra utrimque occanunt,
consonat terra, clamorem utrimque efferunt.
imperator utrimque, hinc et illinc, Iovi
vota suscipere, ⟨utrimque⟩ hortari exercitum.

[¶34] “Each man according to his ability does that which each one can and has the strength to do; he smites with his falchion; the weapons crash; the welkin bellows with the uproar of the men; of breaths and pantings a cloud is formed; men fall by wounds inflicted by men.”

> Latin: ⟨tum⟩ pro se quisque id quod quisque potest et valet
edit, ferro ferit, tela frangunt, boat
caélum fremitú virum, ex spíritu atque anhélitu
nébula constát, cadunt vólnerum ví viri.

[¶35] “At length, as we desired, our troops conquered; the foe fell in numbers; ours, on the other hand, pressed on; firm in our strength, we were victorious. But still not one betook himself to flight, nor yet gave way at his post, but standing there he waged the combat.”

> Latin: denique, ut voluimus, nostra superat manus:
hostes crebri cadunt, nostri contra ingruont
[vicimus] ví feroces.
sed †fugam in se tamen nemo convortitur
nec recedit loco quin statim rem gerat;

[¶36] “Sooner than quit the spot, they parted with their lives; each, as he stood, lay there and kept his rank in death. When my master Amphitryon saw this, at once he ordered the cavalry on the right to charge. The cavalry obeyed directly; from the right wing,”
“with a tremendous shout, with brisk onset they rushed on; and rightfully did they slaughter and trample down the impious forces of the foe.”
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: animam omittunt prius quam loco demigrent:
quisque ut steterat iacet optinetque ordinem.
hóc ubi Amphítruo erus cónspicatust,
ílico equités iubet déxtera indúcere.
equites parent citi: ab dextera maximo
cúm clamore involant ímpetu alacri,
foédant et próterunt hóstium cópias
iúre iniustas.

[¶37] Not even one word of these has he yet uttered correctly; for I was there in the battle personally, and my father too, when it was fought.
SOSIA: (continuing.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Numquam étiam quicquam adhúc verborum est prólocutus pérperam:
namque ego fui illi in re praesenti et meus, cum pugnatum est, pater.

[¶38] “The enemy betook themselves to flight. Then was new spirit added to our men, the Teleboans flying, with darts were their bodies filled, and Amphitryon himself, with his own hand, struck off the head of Pterelas their king. This battle was being fought there even from the morning till the evening. This do I the better remember for this reason; because on that day I went without my breakfast.”
“But night at last, by its interposing, cut short this combat. The next day, the chiefs came weeping from the city to us at the camp. With covered hands, they entreated us to pardon their offences; and they all surrendered rendered up themselves. and all things divine and human, their city and their children, into the possession and unto the disposal of the Theban people.”

> Latin: Sosia:
Perduelles penetrant se in fugam; ibi nostris animus additust:
vortentibus Telobois telis complebantur corpora,
ipsusque Amphitruo regem Pterelam sua obtruncavit manu.
haec illic est pugnata pugna úsque a mani ad vesperum
(hoc adeo hoc commemini magis, quia illo die inpransus fui),
sed proelium id tandem diremit nox interventu suo.
postridie in castra ex urbe ad nos veniunt flentes principes:
velatis manibus orant ignoscamus peccatum suom,
deduntque se, divina humanaque omnia, urbem et liberos
in dicionem atque in arbitratum cuncti Thebano poplo.

[¶39] “Lastly, by reason of his valour, a golden goblet was presented to my master Amphitryon, from which king Pterelas had been used to drink.” These things I’ll thus tell my mistress. I’ll now proceed to obey my master’s order and to betake me home.
(He moves.)
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: post ob virtutem ero Amphitruoni patera donata aurea est,
qui Pterela potitare solitus est rex. haec sic dicam erae.
nunc pergam eri imperium exequi et me domum capessere.

[¶40] Heyday! he’s about to come this way; I’ll go meet him; and I’ll not permit this fellow at any time to-day to approach this house.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Áttat, illic húc iturust. íbo ego illi óbviam,
neque ego huc hominem hodie ad aedis has sinam umquam accedere;

[¶41] Since I have his form upon myself, I’m resolved to play the fellow off. And indeed, since I have taken upon me his figure and his station, it is right for me likewise to have actions and manners like to his. Therefore it befits me to be artful, crafty, very cunning, and by his own weapon, artfulness, to drive him from the door.

> Latin: quando imago est huius in me, certum est hominem eludere.
et enim vero quoniam formam cépi huius ín med et statum,
decet et facta moresque huius habere me similes item.
itaque me malum esse oportet, callidum, astutum admodum
atque hunc, telo suo sibi, malitia a foribus pellere.

[¶42] But what means this? He is looking up at the sky. I’ll watch what scheme he’s about.
SOSIA: (looking up at the sky.)

> Latin: sed quid illúc est? caelum aspectat. observabo quam rem agat.

[¶43] Upon my faith, for sure, if there is aught besides that I believe, or know for certain, I do believe that this night the God of Night has gone to sleep drunk; for neither does the Wain move itself in any direction in the sky, nor does the Moon bestir herself anywhere from where she first arose;
nor does Orion, or the Evening Star, or the Pleiades, set. In such a fashion are the stars standing stock-still, and the night is yielding not a jot to the day.
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Certe edepol, si quicquamst aliud quod credam aut certo sciam,
credo ego hac noctu Nocturnum óbdormivisse ebrium.
nam neque se Septentriones quoquam in caelo commovent,
neque se Luna quoquam mutat atque uti exorta est semel,
nec Iugulae neque Vesperugo neque Vergiliae óccidunt.
ita statim stant signa, neque nox quoquam concedit die.

[¶44] Go on, Night, as you’ve begun, and pay obedience to my father. In best style, the best of services are you performing for the best of beings; in giving this, you reap a fair return.
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Perge, Nox, ut occepisti, gere patri morem meo:
optumo optume optumam operam das, datam pulchre locas.

[¶45] I do not think that I have ever seen a longer night than this,
except one of like fashion, which livelong night I was hanging up, having been first whipped. Even that as well, by my troth, does this one by far exceed in its length. I’ faith, I really do believe that the Sun’s asleep, and is thoroughly drenched. It’s a wonder to me if he hasn’t indulged himself a little too much at dinner.
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Neque ego hac nocte longiorem me vidisse censeo,
nisi item unam, verberatus quam pependi perpetem;
eam quoque edepol etiam multo haec vicit longitudine.
credo edepol equidem dormire Solem, atque adpotum probe;
mira sunt nisi invitavit sese in cena plusculum.

[¶46] Do you really say so, you scoundrel? Do you think that the Gods are like yourself?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ain vero, verbero? deos esse tui similis putas?

[¶47] I’ faith, you hang-dog, I’ll entertain you for these speeches and misdeeds of yours; only come this way, will you, and you’ll find your ruin.
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: ego pol te istis tuis pro dictis et male factis, furcifer,
accipiam; modo sis veni huc: invenies infortunium.

[¶48] Where are those wenchers, who unwillingly lie a-bed alone? A rare night this for making the best of what was a bad bargain at first.
MERCURY: (apart.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Vbi sunt isti scortatores, qui soli inviti cubant?
haec nox scita est exercendo scorto conducto male.

[¶49] My father then, according to this fellow’s words, is doing rightly and wisely, who in his amorousness, indulging his passion, is lying in the embraces of Alcmena.
SOSIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Meus pater nunc pro huius verbis recte et sapienter facit,
qui complexus cum Alcumena cubat amans animo obsequens.

[¶50] I’ll go tell Alcmena, as my master ordered me. (Advancing, he discovers MERCURY.) But who is this fellow that I see before the house at this time of night? I don’t like it.
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Ibo ut erus quod imperavit Alcumenae nuntiem.
sed quis hic ést homo, quem ante aedis video hoc noctis? non placet.

[¶51] There is not in existence another such cowardly fellow as this.
SOSIA: (aside.)
Now, when I think of it, this fellow wishes to take my mantle off once more.
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Nullust hoc metuculosus aeque.
Sosia:
Mi in mentem venit,
illic homó hoc dé umero volt pallium detexere.

[¶52] The fellow’s afraid; I’ll have some sport with him.
SOSIA: (aside.)
I’m quite undone, my teeth are chattering. For sure, on my arrival, he is about to receive me with the hospitality of his fist. He’s a merciful person, I suppose; now, because my master has obliged me to keep awake, with his fists just now he’ll be making me go to sleep. I’m most confoundedly undone. Troth now, prithee, look, how big and how strong he is.
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Timet homo: deludam ego illum.
Sosia:
Perii, dentes pruriunt;
certe advenientem hic me hospitio pugneo accepturus est.
credo misericors est: nunc propterea quod me meus erus
fecit ut vigilarem, hic pugnis faciet hodie ut dormiam.
oppido interii. obsecro hercle, quantus et quam validus est.

[¶53] I’ll talk at him aloud, he shall hear what I say. Therefore indeed, in a still greater degree, shall he conceive fears within himself. (In a loud voice, holding up his fists.) Come, fists, it’s a long time now since you found provision for my stomach; it seems to have taken place quite a long time ago, when yesterday you laid four men asleep, stript naked.
SOSIA: (aside.)
I’m dreadfully afraid
lest I should be changing my name here, and become a Quintus instead of a Sosia. He declares that he has laid four men asleep; I fear lest I should be adding to that number.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Clare advorsum fabulabor, ⟨ut⟩ hic auscultet quae loquar;
igitur magis demum maiorem in sese concipiet metum.
agite, pugni, iam diu est quom ventri victum non datis:
iam pridem videtur factum, heri quod homines quattuor
in soporem collocastis nudos.
Sosia:
Formido male,
né ego hic nomen meum commutem et Quintus fiam e Sosia;
quattuor nudos sopori se dedisse hic autumat:
metuo ne numerum augeam illum.

[¶54] MERCURY: (throwing about his arms.)
Well, now then for it. This is the way I intend.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
em, nunciam ergo: sic volo.

[¶55] He is girded tight; for sure, he’s getting himself ready.
MERCURY:
He shan’t get off without getting a thrashing.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Cingitur: certe expedit se.
Mercvrivs:
Non feret quin vapulet.

[¶56] What person, I wonder?
MERCURY:
Beyond a doubt, whatever person comes this way, he shall eat my fists.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Quis homo?
Mercvrivs:
Quisquis homo huc profecto venerit, pugnos edet.

[¶57] Get out with you, I don’t wish to eat at this time of night; I’ve lately dined. Therefore do you, if you are wise, bestow your dinner on those who are hungry.

> Latin: Sosia:
Apage, non placet me hoc noctis esse: cenavi modo;
proin tu istam cenam largire, si sapis, esurientibus.

[¶58] MERCURY:
The weight of this fist is no poor one.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Haud malum huic est pondus pugno.

[¶59] SOSIA: (aside.)
I’m done for; he is poising his fists.

> Latin: Sosia:
Perii, pugnos ponderat.

[¶60] MERCURY:
What if I were to touch him, stroking him down, so that he may go to sleep?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid si ego illum tractim tangam, ut dormiat?

[¶61] SOSIA: (aside.)
You would be proving my salvation; for I’ve been watching most confoundedly these three nights running.

> Latin: Sosia:
Servaveris,
nam continuas has tris noctes pervigilavi.

[¶62] MERCURY:
My hand refuses to learn to strike his cheek; it cannot do a disgraceful action.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Pessumest,
facimus nequiter, ferire malam male discit manus;

[¶63] Hand of mine, of a changed form must he become whom you smite with this fist.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: alia forma ésse oportet quem tu pugno legeris.

[¶64] This fellow will be furbishing me up, and be moulding my face anew.
MERCURY: (to his fist.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Illic homo me interpolabit meumque os finget denuo.

[¶65] The man that you hit full, his face must surely be boned.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Exossatum os esse oportet quem probe percusseris.

[¶66] It’s a wonder if this fellow isn’t thinking of boning me just like a lamprey. Away with a fellow that bones people! If he sees me, I’m a dead man.

> Latin: Sosia:
Mirum ni hic me quasi murenam éxossare cogitat.
ultro istunc qui exossat homines. perii, si me aspexerit.

[¶67] MERCURY:
Some fellow is stinking to his destruction.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Olet homo quidam malo suo.

[¶68] SOSIA: (aside.)
Woe to me! Is it I that stink?

> Latin: Sosia:
ei, numnam ego óbolui?

[¶69] MERCURY:
And he cannot be very far off; but he has been a long way off from here.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Atque haud longe abesse oportet, verum longe hinc afuit.

[¶70] This person’s a wizard.
MERCURY:
My fists are longing.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Illic homo superstitiosust.
Mercvrivs:
Gestiunt pugni mihi.

[¶71] If you are going to exercise them upon me, I beg that you’ll first cool them down against the wall.

> Latin: Sosia:
Si in me exercituru's exerciturus es, quaeso in parietem ut primum domes.

[¶72] MERCURY:
A voice has come flying to my ears.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Vox mi ad aures advolavit.

[¶73] SOSIA: (aside.)
Unlucky fellow, for sure, was I, who didn’t clip its wings. I’ve got a voice with wings, it seems.

> Latin: Sosia:
Né ego homo infelix fui,
qui non alas intervelli: volucrem vocem gestito.

[¶74] MERCURY:
This fellow is demanding of me for himself a heavy punishment for his beast’s back.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Illic homo a me sibi malam rem arcessit iumento suo.

[¶75] As for me, I’ve got no beast’s back.
MERCURY:
He must be well loaded with my fists.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Non equidem ullum habeo iumentum.
Mercvrivs:
Onerandus est pugnis probe.

[¶76] I’ faith, I’m fatigued, coming from board ship, when I was brought hither; even now I’m sea-sick.

> Latin: Sosia:
Lassus sum hercle, navi ut vectus huc sum: etiam nunc nauseo;

[¶77] Without a burden, I can hardly creep along, so don’t think that with a load I can go.

> Latin: vix incedo inanis, ne ire posse cum onere existimes.

[¶78] MERCURY:
Why, surely, somebody is speaking here.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Certe enim hic nescio quis loquitur.

[¶79] SOSIA: (aside.)
I’m all right, he doesn’t see me; he thinks it’s “Somebody” speaking: Sosia is certainly my name.

> Latin: Sosia:
Salvos sum, non me videt:
nescioquem loqui autumat; mihi certo nomen Sosiaest.

[¶80] MERCURY:
But here, from the right-hand side, the voice, as it seems, strikes upon my ear.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Hinc enim míhi dextra vox auris, ut videtur, verberat.

[¶81] I’m afraid that I shall be getting a thrashing here this day, in place of my voice, that’s striking him.
(Moves.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Metuo, vocis ne vicem hodie hic vapulem, quae hunc verberat.

[¶82] MERCURY:
Here he is—he’s coming towards me, most opportunely.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Optume eccum incedit ad me.

[¶83] SOSIA: (aside.)
I’m terrified—I’m numbed all over. Upon my faith, I don’t know where in the world I now am, if any one should ask me; and to my misfortune, I cannot move myself for fright. It’s all up with me; the orders of his master and Sosia are lost together. But I’m determined boldly to address this fellow to his face,
so that I may be able to appear valiant to him; that he may keep his hands off me.
(Advances towards the door.)
MERCURY: (accosting him.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Timeo, totus torpeo.
non edepol nunc ubi terrarum sim scio, si quis roget,
neque miser me commovere possum prae formidine.
ilicet, mandata eri perierunt una et Sosia.
verum certum est confidenter hominem contra conloqui,
qui possim videri huic fortis, a me ut abstineat manum.

[¶84] Where are you going, you that are carrying Vulcan enclosed in your horn?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quo ambulas tu, qui Volcanum in cornu conclusum geris?

[¶85] SOSIA:
Why do you make that enquiry, you who are boning men’s heads with your fists?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid id exquiris tu, qui pugnis os exossas hominibus?

[¶86] MERCURY:
Are you slave or free man?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Servosne ⟨es⟩ an liber?

[¶87] SOSIA:
Just as it suits my inclination.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vtcumque animo conlibitum est meo.

[¶88] MERCURY:
Do you really say so?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ain vero?

[¶89] SOSIA:
I really do say so.

> Latin: Sosia:
Aio enim vero.

[¶90] MERCURY:
Whip-scoundrel!

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Verbero.

[¶91] SOSIA:
Now you are telling a lie.

> Latin: Sosia:
Mentiris nunc.

[¶92] MERCURY:
But I’ll soon make you own that I’m telling the truth.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
At iam faciam ut verum dicas dicere.

[¶93] SOSIA:
What necessity is there for it?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid eo est opus?

[¶94] MERCURY:
Can I know whence you have set out, whose you are, or why you are come?
SOSIA: (pointing.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Possum scire, quo profectus, cuius sis aut quid veneris?

[¶95] This way I’m going, and I’m the servant of my master. Are you any the wiser now?

> Latin: Sosia:
Húc eo, eri ⟨iussu, eius⟩ sum servos. numquid nunc es certior?

[¶96] MERCURY:
I’ll this day make you be holding that foul tongue of yours.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ego tibi istam hodie, sceleste, comprimam linguam.

[¶97] SOSIA:
You can’t; it is kept pure and becomingly.

> Latin: Sosia:
Haud potes:
bene pudiceque adservatur.

[¶98] MERCURY:
Do you persist in chattering?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Pergin argutarier?

[¶99] What business now have you at this house?
(Points to the house.)
SOSIA:
Aye, and what business have you?

> Latin: quid apud hasce aedis negoti ést tibi?
Sosia:
Immo quid tibi est?

[¶100] MERCURY:
King Creon always sets a watch every night.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Rex Creo vigiles nocturnos singulos semper locat.

[¶101] SOSIA:
He does right; because we were abroad, he has been protecting our house. But however, do go in now, and say that some of the family servants have arrived.

> Latin: Sosia:
Bene facit: quia nos eramus peregre, tutatust domi;
at nunc abi sane, advenisse familiares dicito.

[¶102] MERCURY:
How far you are one of the family servants I don’t know. But unless you are off from here this instant,
family servant as you are, I’ll make you to be received in no familiar style.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Nescio quam tu familiaris sis: nisi actutum hinc abis,
familiaris accipiere faxo haud familiariter.

[¶103] SOSIA:
Here, I say, I live, and of these people I am the servant.

> Latin: Sosia:
Hic inquam habito ego atque horunc servos sum.

[¶104] MERCURY:
But do you understand how it is? Unless you are off, I’ll make you to be exalted this day.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
At scin quo modo?
faciam ego hodie te superbum, nisi hinc abis.

[¶105] SOSIA:
In what way, pray?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quonam modo?

[¶106] MERCURY:
You shall be carried off, you shan’t walk away, if I take up a stick.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Auferere, non abibis, sí ego fustem sumpsero.

[¶107] SOSIA:
But I declare that I am one of the domestics of this family.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quin me esse huius familiai familiarem praedico.

[¶108] MERCURY:
Consider, will you, how soon you want a drubbing, unless you are off from here this instant.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Vide sis quam mox vapulare vis, nisi actutum hinc abis.

[¶109] SOSIA:
Do you want, as I arrive from foreign parts, to drive me from my home?

> Latin: Sosia:
Tun domo prohibere peregre me advenientem postulas?

[¶110] MERCURY:
Is this your home?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Haecine tua domust?

[¶111] SOSIA:
It is so, I say.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ita inquam.

[¶112] MERCURY:
Who is your master, then?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quis erus est igitur tibi?

[¶113] SOSIA:
Amphitryon, who is now the general of the Theban forces, to whom Alcmena is married.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruo, qui nunc praefectust Thebanis legionibus,
quicum nupta est Alcumena.

[¶114] MERCURY:
How say you? What’s your name?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid ais? quid nomen tibi est?

[¶115] SOSIA:
The Thebans call me Sosia, the son of my father Davus.

> Latin: Sosia:
Sosiam vocant Thebani, Davo prognatum patre.

[¶116] MERCURY:
Assuredly, at your peril have you come here this day, with your trumped-up lies, your patched-up knaveries, you essence of effrontery.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ne tu istic hodie malo tuo compositis mendaciis
advenisti, audaciai columen, consutis dolis.

[¶117] SOSIA:
Why no, it’s rather with garments patched-up that I’m arrived here, not with knaveries.

> Latin: Sosia:
Immo equidem tunicis consutis huc advenio, non dolis.

[¶118] MERCURY:
Why, you are lying again; you come with your feet, surely, and not with your garments.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
At mentiris etiam: certo pedibus, non tunicis venis.

[¶119] SOSIA:
Yes, certainly.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ita profecto.

[¶120] MERCURY:
Then certainly take that for your lie.
(He strikes him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Nunc profecto vapula ob mendacium.

[¶121] SOSIA:
By my troth, I certainly don’t wish for it of course.

> Latin: Sosia:
Non edepol volo profecto.

[¶122] MERCURY:
But by my faith, you certainly shall have it of course, whether you wish or not: for, in fact, this is certainly my determination, and it is not at your own option.
(He strikes him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
At pol profecto ingratiis.
hoc quidem profecto certum est, non est arbitrarium.

[¶123] SOSIA:
Mercy, I entreat of you.

> Latin: Sosia:
Tuam fidem obsecro.

[¶124] MERCURY:
Do you dare to say that you are Sosia, when I myself am he?
(Strikes him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Tun te audes Sosiam esse dicere,
quí ego sum?

[¶125] SOSIA: (crying at the top of his voice.)
I’m being murdered.

> Latin: Sosia:
Perii.

[¶126] MERCURY:
Why, you are crying out for a trifle as yet, compared with what it will be.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Parum etiam, praeut futurum est, praedicas.

[¶127] Whose are you now?
SOSIA:
Your own; for with your fists you have laid hands on me. Help, help, citizens of Thebes.
(MERCURY striking him.)

> Latin: quoius nunc es?
Sosia:
Tuos, nam pugnis usu fecisti tuom.
pro fidem, Thebani cives.

[¶128] MERCURY:
What, still bawling, you scoundrel? Speak—what have you come for?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Etiam clamas, carnifex?
loquere, quid venisti?

[¶129] SOSIA:
For there to be somebody for you to belabour with your fists.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vt esset quem tu pugnis caederes.

[¶130] MERCURY:
Whose are you?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Cuius es?

[¶131] SOSIA:
Amphitryon’s Sosia, I tell you.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruonis, inquam, Sosia.

[¶132] MERCURY:
For this reason then you shall be beaten the more, because you prate thus idly; I am Sosia, not you.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ergo istoc magis,
quia vaniloquo's vaniloquus es, vapulabis: ego sum, non tu, Sosia.

[¶133] I wish the Gods would have it so, that you were he in preference, and that I were thrashing you.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ita di faciant, ut tu potius sis atque ego te ut verberem.

[¶134] MERCURY:
What, muttering still?
(Strikes him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Etiam muttis?

[¶135] SOSIA:
I’ll hold my tongue then.

> Latin: Sosia:
Iam tacebo.

[¶136] MERCURY:
Who is your master?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quis tibi erust?

[¶137] SOSIA:
Whoever you like.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quem tu voles.

[¶138] MERCURY:
How then? What’s your name now?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid igitur? qui nunc vocare?

[¶139] SOSIA:
Nothing but what you shall command.

> Latin: Sosia:
Nemo nisi quem iusseris.

[¶140] MERCURY:
You said that you were Amphitryon’s Sosia.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Amphitruonis te esse aiebas Sosiam.

[¶141] SOSIA:
I made a mistake; but this I meant to say, that I was Amphitryon’s associate.

> Latin: Sosia:
Peccaveram,
nam Amphitruonis †socium ne me esse volui dicere.

[¶142] MERCURY:
Why, I was sure that we had no servant called Sosia except myself. Your senses are forsaking you.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Scibam equidem nullum esse nobis nisi me servom Sosiam.
fugit te ratió.

[¶143] SOSIA:
I wish that those fists of yours had done so.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vtinam istuc pugni fecissent tui.

[¶144] MERCURY:
I am that Sosia, whom you were just now telling me that you are.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ego sum Sosia ille quem tu dudum esse aiebas mihi.

[¶145] SOSIA:
I pray that I may be allowed to discourse with you in quietness, so as not to be beaten.

> Latin: Sosia:
Obsecro ut per pacem liceat te alloqui, ut ne vapulem.

[¶146] MERCURY:
Well then, let there be a truce for a short time, if you want to say anything.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Immo indutiae parumper fiant, si quid vis loqui.

[¶147] SOSIA:
I’ll not speak unless peace is concluded, since you are the stronger with your fists.

> Latin: Sosia:
Non loquar nisi pace facta, quando pugnis plus vales.

[¶148] MERCURY:
If you wish to say anything, speak; I’ll not hurt you.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Dic si quid vis, non nocebo.

[¶149] SOSIA:
Am I to trust in your word?

> Latin: Sosia:
Tuae fide credo?

[¶150] MERCURY:
Yes, in my word.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Meae.

[¶151] SOSIA:
What, if you deceive me?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid si falles?

[¶152] MERCURY:
Why, then may Mercury be angry with Sosia.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Tum Mercurius Sosiae iratus siet.

[¶153] SOSIA:
Then give attention: now I’m at liberty to say in freedom anything I please. I am Sosia, servant of Amphitryon.

> Latin: Sosia:
Animum advorte. nunc licet mihi libere quidvis loqui.
Amphitruonis ego sum servos Sosia.

[¶154] MERCURY:
What, again?
(Offering to strike him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Etiam denuo?

[¶155] SOSIA:
I have concluded the peace, ratified the treaty—I speak the truth.

> Latin: Sosia:
Pacem feci, foedus feci. vera dico.

[¶156] MERCURY:
Take that, then.
(He strikes him.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Vapula.

[¶157] SOSIA:
As you please, and what you please, pray do, since you are the stronger with your fists. But whatever you shall do, still, upon my faith, I really shall not be silent about that.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vt libet quid tibi libet fac, quoniam pugnis plus vales;
verum, utut es facturus, hoc quidem hercle haud reticebo tamen.

[¶158] MERCURY:
So long as you live, you shall never make me to be any other than Sosia at this moment.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Tu me vivos hodie numquam facies quin sim Sosia.

[¶159] SOSIA:
I’ faith, you certainly shall never make me to be any other person than my own self;

> Latin: Sosia:
Certe edepol tu me alienabis numquam quin noster siem;

[¶160] and besides myself we have no other servant of the name of Sosia—myself, who went hence on the expedition together with Amphitryon.

> Latin: nec nobis praeter med alius quisquam est servos Sosia.
[qui cum Amphitruone hinc una ieram in exercitum.]

[¶161] MERCURY:
This fellow is not in his senses.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Hic homo sanus non est.

[¶162] SOSIA:
The malady that you impute to me, you have that same yourself. How, the plague, am I not Sosia, the servant of Amphitryon? Has not our ship, which brought me, arrived here this night from the Persian port?
Has not my master sent me here? Am I not now standing before our house? Have I not a lantern in my hand? Am I not talking? Am I not wide awake? Has not this fellow been thumping me with his fists? By my troth, he has been doing so; for even now, to my pain, my cheeks are tingling. Why, then, do I hesitate? Or why don’t I go in-doors into our house?
(He makes towards the door.)
MERCURY: (stepping between.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Quod mihi praedicas vitium, id tibi est.
quid, malum, non súm ego servos Amphitruonis Sosia?
nonne hac noctu nostra navis ⟨huc⟩ ex portu Persico
venit, quae me advexit? nonne me huc erus misit meus?
nonne ego nunc sto ante aedes nostras? non mi est lanterna in manu?
non loquor, nón vigilo? nonne hic homo módo me pugnis contudit?
fecit hercle, nam etiam misero nunc ⟨mihi⟩ malae dolent.
quid igitur ego dubito, aut cur non intro eo in nostram domum?

[¶163] How—your house?
SOSIA:
Indeed it really is so.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid, domum vostram?
Sosia:
Ita enim vero.

[¶164] MERCURY:
Why, all that you have been saying just now, you have trumped up; I surely am Amphitryon’s Sosia. For in the night this ship of ours weighed anchor from the Persian port, and where king Pterelas reigned, the city we took by storm, and the legions of the Teleboans in fighting we took by arms,
and Amphitryon himself cut off the head of king Pterelas in battle.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quin quae dixisti modo
omnia ementitu's ementitus es: equidem Sosia Amphitruonis sum.
nam noctu hac soluta est navis nostra e portu Persico,
et ubi Pterela rex regnavit oppidum expugnavimus,
et legiones Teloboarum vi pugnando cepimus,
et ipsus Amphitruo optruncavit regem Pterelam in proelio.

[¶165] I do not trust my own self, when I hear him affirm these things; certainly, he really does relate exactly the things that were done there. (Aloud.) But how say you? What spoil from the Teleboans was made a present to Amphitryon?

> Latin: Sosia:
Egomet mihi non credo, cum illaec autumare illum audio;
hic quidem cérte quae illic sunt res gestae memorat memoriter.
sed quid ais? quid Amphitruoni ⟨doni⟩ a Telobois datum est?

## 2. Lines 419–784

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/2/#p-N

[¶0] MERCURY:
A golden goblet, from which king Pterelas used to drink.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Pterela rex qui potitare solitus est patera aurea.

[¶1] He has said the truth. Where now is this goblet?
MERCURY:’Tis in a casket, sealed with the seal of Amphitryon.
SOSIA:
Tell me, what is the seal?

> Latin: Sosia:
Elocutus est. ubi patera nunc est?
Mercvrivs:
⟨Est⟩ in cistula;
Amphitruonis obsignata signo est.
Sosia:
Signi dic quid est?

[¶2] MERCURY:
The Sun rising with his chariot. Why are you on the catch for me, you villain?
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Cum quadrigis Sol exoriens. quid me captas, carnufex?

[¶3] He has overpowered me with his proofs. I must look out for another name. I don’t know from whence he witnessed these things. I’ll now entrap him finely;

> Latin: Sosia:
Argumentis vicit, aliud nomen quaerundum est mihi.
nescio unde haec hic spectavit. iám ego hunc decipiam probe;

[¶4] for what I did alone by myself, and when not another person was present in the tent, that, he certainly will never be able this day to tell me. (Aloud.) If you are Sosia, when the armies were fighting most vigorously, what were you doing in the tent? If you tell me that, I’m vanquished.

> Latin: nam quod egomet solus feci, nec quisquam alius affuit,
in tabernaclo, id quidem hodie numquam poterit dicere.
si tu Sosia es, legiones cum pugnabant maxume,
quid in tabernaclo fecisti? victus sum, si dixeris.

[¶5] MERCURY:
There was a cask of wine; from it I filled an earthen pot.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Cadus erat vini, inde implevi hírneam.

[¶6] SOSIA: (aside.)
He has got upon the track.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ingressust viam.

[¶7] MERCURY:
That I drew full of pure wine, just as it was born from the mother grape.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Eam ego, ut matre fuerat natum, vini éduxi meri.

[¶8] It’s a wonder if this fellow wasn’t lying hid inside of that earthen pot. It is the fact, that there I did drink an earthen pot full of wine.

> Latin: Sosia:
Factum est illud, ut ego illíc vini hirneam ebiberim meri.
mira sunt nisi latuit intus illic in illac hirnea.

[¶9] MERCURY:
Well—do I now convince you by my proofs that you are not Sosia?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid nunc? vincon argumentis, te non esse Sosiam?

[¶10] SOSIA:
Do you deny that I am?

> Latin: Sosia:
Tu negas med esse?

[¶11] MERCURY:
Why should I not deny it, who am he myself?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid ego ni negem, qui egomet siem?

[¶12] SOSIA:
By Jupiter I swear that I am he, and that I do not say false.

> Latin: Sosia:
Per Iovem iuro med esse neque me falsum dicere.

[¶13] MERCURY:
But by Mercury, I swear that Jupiter does not believe you; for I am sure that he will rather credit me without an oath than you with an oath.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
At ego per Mercurium iuro, tibi Iovem non credere;
nam iniurato scio plus credet mihi quam iurato tibi.

[¶14] SOSIA:
Who am I, at all events, if I am not Sosia? I ask you that.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quis ego sum saltem, si non sum Sosia? te interrogo.

[¶15] MERCURY:
When I choose not to be Sosia, then do you be Sosia; now, since I am he, you’ll get a thrashing, if you are not off hence, you fellow without a name.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Vbi ego Sosia nolim esse, tu esto sane Sosia;
nunc, quando ego sum, vapulabis, ni hinc abis, ignobilis.

[¶16] Upon my faith, for sure, when I examine him and recollect my own figure, just in such manner as I am (I’ve often looked in a glass ):, he is exactly like me. He has the broad-brimmed hat and clothing just the same; he is as like me as I am myself. His leg, foot, stature, shorn head, eyes, nose, even his lips,
cheeks, chin, beard, neck—the whole of him. What need is there of words? If his back is marked with scars, than this likeness there is nothing more like. But when I reflect, really, I surely am the same person that I always was. My master I know, I know our I house; I am quite in my wits and senses. I’m not going to I obey this fellow in what he says; I’ll knock at the door.
(Goes towards the door.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Certe edepol, quom illum contemplo et formam cognosco meam,
quem ad modum ego sum (saepe in speculum inspexi), nimis similest mei;
itidem habet petasum ac vestitum: tam consimilest atque ego;
sura, pes, statura, tonsus, oculi, nasum vel labra,
malae, mentum, barba, collus: totus. quid verbis opust?
si tergum cicatricosum, nihil hoc similist similius.
sed quom cogito, equidem certo idem sum qui semper fui.
novi erum, novi aedis nostras; sane sapio et sentio.
non ego illi obtempero quod loquitur. pultabo foris.

[¶17] MERCURY:
Whither are you betaking yourself?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quó agis te?

[¶18] SOSIA:
Home.

> Latin: Sosia:
Domum.

[¶19] MERCURY:
If now you were to ascend the chariot of Jove and fly away from here, then you could hardly be able to escape destruction.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quadrigas si nunc inscendas Iovis
atque hinc fugias, ita vix poteris effugere infortunium.

[¶20] SOSIA:
Mayn’t I be allowed to deliver the message to my mistress that my master ordered me to give?

> Latin: Sosia:
Nonne erae meae nuntiare quod erus meus iussit licet?

[¶21] MERCURY:
If you want to deliver any message to your own mistress; this mistress of mine I shall not allow you to approach. But if you provoke me, you’ll be just now taking hence your loins broken.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Tuae si quid vis nuntiare: hanc nostram adire non sinam.
nam si me inritassis, hodie lumbifragium hinc auferes.

[¶22] SOSIA:
In preference, I’ll be off. (Aside.) Immortal Gods, I do beseech your mercy. Where did I lose myself? Where have I been transformed? Where have I parted with my figure? Or have I left myself behind there, if perchance I have forgotten it? For really this person has possession of all my figure, such as it formerly was. While living, that is done for me, which no one will ever do for me when dead.

> Latin: Sosia:
Abeo potius. di immortales, obsecro vostram fidem,
ubi ego perii? ubi immutatus sum? ubi ego formam perdidi?
an egomet me illic reliqui, si forte oblitus fui?
nám hic quidem omnem imaginem meam, quae antehac fuerat, possidet.
vivo fit quod numquam quisquam mortuo faciet mihi.

[¶23] I’ll go to the harbour, and I’ll tell my master these things as they have happened—unless even he as well shall not know me, which may Jupiter grant, so that this day, bald, with shaven crown, I may assume the cap of freedom.
(Exit.) (MERCURY, alone)
MERCURY:
Well and prosperously has this affair gone on for me; from the door have I removed the greatest obstacle,
so that it may be allowed my father to embrace her in security. When now he shall have reached his master, Amphitryon there, he will say that the servant Sosia has repulsed himself from the door here; and then the other will suppose that he is telling him a lie, and will not believe that he has come here as he had ordered him.

> Latin: ibo ad portum atque haec uti sunt facta ero dicam meo;
nisi etiam is quoque me ignorabit: quod ille faxit Iuppiter,
ut ego hodie ráso capite calvos capiam pilleum.—
Mercvrivs:
Bene próspere hoc hodie operis processit mihi:
amovi a foribus maximam molestiam,
patri ut liceret tuto illam amplexarier.
iam ille illuc ad erum cum Amphitruonem advenerit,
narrabit servom hinc sese a foribus Sosiam
amovisse; ille adeo illum mentiri sibi
credet, neque credet huc profectum, ut iusserat.

[¶24] Both of them and the whole household of Amphitryon I will fill with mistakes and distraction, even until my father shall have had full enjoyment of her whom he loves; then at last all shall know what has been done. In the end Jupiter shall restore Alcmena
to the former affection of her husband. For Amphitryon will just now be beginning a quarrel with his wife, and will be accusing her of incontinence; then will my father change for her this strife into tranquillity. Now, inasmuch as yet I’ve said but little about Alcmena,
this day will she bring forth two sons, twins; the one will be born in the tenth month after he was begotten, the other in the seventh month; of these the one is the son of Amphitryon, the other of Jupiter. But of the younger son the father is the superior,
of the elder the inferior. (To the AUDIENCE.) Now do you comprehend this how it is? But for the sake of the honor of this Alcmena, my father will take care that it shall happen at one birth, so that in one travail she may complete her double pangs, and not be laid under suspicion of unchastity,
and that the clandestine connexion may remain concealed. Although, as I have said just now, Amphitryon shall still know all the matter in the end. What then? No one surely will impute it to Alcmena as a disgrace; for it does not seem that a God is acting justly
to permit his own offences and his own faultiness to fall upon a mortal. I’ll cut short my talk: the door makes a noise. See, the counterfeit Amphitryon is coming out of doors, and together with him Alcmena, the wife that he has taken the loan of.
(Enter JUPITER and ALCMENA, from the house.)

> Latin: erroris ambo ego illos et dementiae
complebo atque omnem Amphitruonis familiam,
adeo usque, satietatem dum capiet pater
illius quám amat. igitur demum omnes scient
quae facta. denique Alcumenam Iuppiter
redigét antiquam coniugi in concordiam.
nam Amphitruo actutum uxori turbas conciet
atque insimulabit eam probri; tum meus pater
eam séditionem illi in tranquillum conferet.
nunc de Alcumena dudum quod dixi minus,
hodie illa pariet filios geminos duos
alter decumo post mense nascetur puer
quam seminatust, alter mense septumo;
eorum Ámphitruonis alter est, alter Iovis:
verum minori puero maior est pater,
minor maiori. iamne hoc scitis quid siet?
sed Alcumenae huius honoris gratia
pater curavit uno ut fetu fieret,
uno ut labore absolvat aerumnas duas.
[et ne in suspicione ponatur stupri]
[et clandestina ut celetur consuetio.]
quamquam, ut iam dudum dixi, resciscet tamen
Amphitruo rem omnem. quid igitur? nemo id probro
profecto ducet Alcumenae; nam deum
non par videtur facere, delictum suom
suamque ut culpam expetere in mortalem ut sinat.
orationem comprimam: crepuit foris.
Amphitruo subditivos eccum exit foras
cum Alcumena uxore usuraria.

[¶25] JUPITER:
Kindly fare you well, Alcmena; take care, as you are doing, of our common interest,
and pray be sparing of yourself; you see that now your months are completed. It’s necessary for me to go away from here; but the offspring that shall be born do you bring up.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Béne vale, Alcumena, cura rem communem, quod facis;
atque inperce quaeso: menses iam tibi esse actos vides.
mihi necesse est ire hinc; verum quod erit natum tollito.

[¶26] ALCMENA:
What business is this, my husband, since you thus suddenly leave your home?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid istuc est, mi vir, negoti, quod tu tam subito domo
abeas?

[¶27] JUPITER:
By my troth,’tis not that I am wearied of you or of my home; but when the chief commander is not with the army,
that is sooner done which ought not to be done than that which needs to be done.
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Edepol haud quod tui me neque domi distaedeat;
sed ubi summus imperator non adest ad exercitum,
citius quod non facto est usus fit quam quod facto est opus.

[¶28] This is a very clever counterfeit, who really is my own father. (To the AUDIENCE.) Do you observe him, how blandly he smoothes the lady over.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Nimis hic scitust sycophanta, qui quidem meus sit pater.
observatote ⟨eum⟩, quam blande mulieri palpabitur.

[¶29] ALCMENA:
I’ faith, I find by experience how much you value your wife.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ecastor te experior quanti facias uxorem tuam.

[¶30] JUPITER:
If there is no one among women whom I love so much, are you satisfied?
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Satin habes, si feminarum nulla est quam aeque diligam?

[¶31] Verily, upon my faith, if Juno only knew that you were giving your attention to such matters, I’d warrant that you’d rather be Amphitryon than Jupiter.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Edepol ne illa si istis rebus te sciat operam dare,
ego faxim ted Amphitruonem esse malis, quam Iovem.

[¶32] ALCMENA:
I would rather that I should find it so by experience, than that it should be told me. You leave me before the spot in the bed where.you have been lying has well grown warm. Yesterday, in the middle of the night, you came, and now you are going away. Is this your pleasure?
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Experiri istuc mavellem me quam mi memorarier.
prius abis quam lectus ubi cubuisti concaluit locus.
heri venisti media nocte, nunc abis. hocin placet?

[¶33] I’ll approach, and address her, and play second fiddle to my father. (He approaches ALCMENA.) Never, upon my faith, do I believe that any mortal did so. distractedly love his wife as he distractedly dotes upon you.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Accedam atque hanc appellabo et subparasitabor patri.
numquam edepol quemquam mortalem credo ego uxorem suam
sic ecflictim amare, proinde ut hic te ecflictim deperit.

[¶34] JUPITER:
Scoundrel!—don’t I know you of old? Won’t you be off out of my sight? What business have you in this matter, whip-knave? or why your muttering?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Carnufex, non ego te novi? ábin e conspectu meo?
quid tibi hanc curatio est rem, verbero, aut muttitio?

[¶35] Whom this very instant, with this walking-stick, I’ll—
(Shakes his stick over his head.)
ALCMENA:
Oh don’t.

> Latin: quoii ego iam hoc scipione—
Alcvmena:
Ah noli.

[¶36] JUPITER:
Only make a whisper.
MERCURY: (aside.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Muttito modo.

[¶37] My first attempt at playing second fiddle had almost come to an unfortunate conclusion.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Nequiter paene expedivit prima parasitatio.

[¶38] JUPITER:
But as to what you say, my wife, you ought not to be angry with me. I came away privately from the army: these moments I stole for you, that you the first might know from me the first, how I had managed the common interests.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Verum quod tu dicis, mea uxor, non te mi irasci decet.
clanculum abii a legione: operam hanc subrupui tibi,
ex me primo ⟨ut⟩ prima scires, rem ut gessissem publicam.

[¶39] All this have I related to you. If I had not loved you very much, I should not have done so.
MERCURY: (aside.)
Isn’t he doing just as I said? In her alarm, he is smoothing her down.

> Latin: ea tibi omnia enarravi. nisi te amarem plurimum,
non facerem.
Mercvrivs:
Facitne ut dixi? timidam palpo percutit.

[¶40] JUPITER:
That the army then mayn’t find it out, I must return there privately, lest they should say that I have preferred my wife before the common interests.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Nunc, ne legio persentiscat, clam illuc redeundum est mihi,
ne me uxorem praevertisse dicant prae re publica.

[¶41] ALCMENA:
By your departure you set your wife in tears.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Lacrimantem ex abitu concinnas tu tuam uxorem.

[¶42] JUPITER:
Be quiet; don’t spoil your eyes: I’ll return very shortly.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Tace,
ne corrumpe oculos, redibo actutum.

[¶43] ALCMENA:
That “very shortly” is a long time.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Id actutum diu est.

[¶44] JUPITER:
I do not with pleasure leave you here, or go away from you.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Non ego te hic lubens relinquo neque abeo abs te.

[¶45] ALCMENA:
I am sensible of it; for, the night that you have come to me, on the same you go away.
(She embraces him.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Sentio,
nam qua nocte ad me venisti, eadem abis.

[¶46] JUPITER:
Why do you hold me? It is time to go: I wish to depart from the city before it dawns. Now, Alcmena, this goblet which has been given me there on account of my valour,
from which king Pterelas used to drink, he whom I slew with my own hand, the same I present to you.
(Presents to her the goblet.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Cur me tenes?
tempus ⟨est⟩: exire ex urbe prius quam lucescat volo.
nunc tibi hanc pateram, quae dono mi illi ob virtutem data est,
Pterela rex qui potitavit, quem ego mea occidi manu,
Alcumena, tibi condono.

[¶47] ALCMENA: (taking the goblet.)
You do as you are wont in other things. By heavens, it is a noble gift; like him who gave the gift.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Facis ut alias res soles.
ecastor condignum donum, qualest qui donum dedit.

[¶48] MERCURY:
Aye, a noble gift; just like her to whom it has been given as a gift.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Immo sic: condignum donum, qualest cui dono datumst.

[¶49] JUPITER:
What, still going on? Can’t I, you scoundrel, make an end of you?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Pergin autem? nonne ego possum, furcifer, te perdere?

[¶50] ALCMENA:
Amphitryon, there’s a dear, don’t be angry with Sosia on my account.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Noli amabo, Amphitruo, irasci Sosiae causa mea.

[¶51] JUPITER:
Just as you wish I’ll do.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Faciam ita ut vis.

[¶52] MERCURY: (aside.)
From his intriguing, how very savage he does become!

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ex amore hic admodum quam saevos est.

[¶53] JUPITER:
Do you wish for anything else?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Numquid vis?

[¶54] ALCMENA:
That when I am absent you will love me—me, who am yours, though absent.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vt quom absim mé ames, me tuam te absente tamen.

[¶55] MERCURY:
Let’s go, Amphitryon; it’s already dawning.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Eamus, Amphitruo. lucescit hoc iam.

[¶56] JUPITER:
Go you first, Sosia. (Exit MERCURY.) I’ll follow this instant. (To ALCMENA.) Is there anything you wish?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Abi prae, Sosia,
iam ego sequar. numquid vis?

[¶57] ALCMENA:
Yes; that you’ll come back speedily.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Etiam: ut actutum advenias.

[¶58] JUPITER:
I will;
and sooner than you expect will I be here therefore be of good heart. (ALCMENA goes into the house.) Now Night, thou who hast tarried for me, I permit these to give place to Day, that thou mayst shine upon mortals with a bright and brilliant light. And Night, as much as on this last thou wast too long, so much the shorter will I make the Day to be,
that a Day of equal disparity may succeed the Night. I’ll go and follow Mercury.
(Exit.) (Enter AMPHITRYON and SOSIA, at the end of the stage.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Licet,
prius tuá opinione híc adero: bonum ánimum habe.—
nunc te, nox, quae me mansisti, mitto uti cedas die,
ut mortalis inlucescat luce clara et candida.
atque quanto, nox, fuisti longior hac proxuma,
tanto brevior dies ut fiat faciam, ut aeque disparet.
sed dies e nocte accedat. ibo et Mercurium sequar.—

[¶59] AMPHITRYON:
Come, do you follow after me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Age í tu secúndum.

[¶60] SOSIA:
I’m following; I’m following close after you.

> Latin: Sosia:
Sequór, subsequór te.

[¶61] AMPHITRYON:
I think that you are the veriest rogue—

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Scelestissimum te arbitror.

[¶62] SOSIA:
But for what reason?

> Latin: Sosia:
Nam quam ob rem?

[¶63] AMPHITRYON:
Because that which neither is, nor ever was, nor will be, you declare to me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quia id quod neque est neque fuit neque futurum est
mihi praedicas.

[¶64] SOSIA:
Look at that; you are now acting according to
your usual fashion, to be putting no trust in your servants.

> Latin: Sosia:
Eccere, iam tuatim
facis ⟨tu⟩, ut tuis nulla apud te fides sit.

[¶65] AMPHITRYON:
Why is it so? For what reason? Surely now, by the powers, I’ll cut out that villanous tongue of yours, you villain.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid est? quo modo? iam quidem hercle ego tibi istam
scelestam, scelus, linguam abscidam.

[¶66] SOSIA:
I am yours; do each thing just as it is agreable and as it pleases you.

> Latin: Sosia:
Tuos sum,
proinde ut commodumst et lubet quidque facias;

[¶67] Still you never can, by any method, hinder me from saying these things just as they took place here.

> Latin: tamen quin loquar haec uti facta sunt hic,
numquam ullo modo me potes deterrere.

[¶68] AMPHITRYON:
You consummate villain, do you dare tell me this, that you are now at home, who are here present?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Scelestissime, audes mihi praedicare id,
domi te esse nunc, qui hic ades?

[¶69] SOSIA:
I speak the truth.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vera dico.

[¶70] AMPHITRYON:
A mishap shall the Gods send upon you, and I this day will send it as well.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Malum quod tibi di dabunt, atque ego hodie
dabo.

[¶71] SOSIA:
That’s in your power, for I am your property.

> Latin: Sosia:
Istuc tibist in manu, nam tuos sum.

[¶72] AMPHITRYON:
Do you dare, you whip-scoundrel, to play your tricks with me, your master? Do you dare affirm that which no person ever yet before this has seen, and which cannot possibly happen, for the same man to be in two places together at the same time?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tun me, verbero, audes erum ludificari?
tune id dicere audes, quod nemo umquam homo antehac
vidit nec potest fieri, tempore uno
homo idem duobus locis ut simul sit?

[¶73] SOSIA:
Undoubtedly, such as I say is the fact.

> Latin: Sosia:
Profecto ut loquor res ita est.

[¶74] AMPHITRYON:
May Jupiter confound you!

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Iuppiter te
perdat.

[¶75] SOSIA:
What evil, master, have I been deemed deserving of in your service?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid mali súm, ere, tua ex re promeritus?

[¶76] AMPHITRYON:
Do you ask me, you rogue, who are even making sport of me?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Rogasne, improbe, etiam, qui ludos facis me?

[¶77] SOSIA:
With reason might you curse me, if it had not so happened. But I tell no lie, and I speak as the thing really did happen.

> Latin: Sosia:
Meritó maledicás mihi, si id ita factum est.†
verum haud mentior, resque uti facta dico.

[¶78] AMPHITRYON:
This fellow’s drunk, as I imagine.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Homo hic ébrius est, ut opínor.

[¶79] SOSIA:
What, I?

> Latin: Sosia:
Útinam ita essem.

[¶80] AMPHITRYON:
Yes—you there.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Optás quae facta.

[¶81] SOSIA:
I wish I were so.

> Latin: Sosia:
Égone?

[¶82] AMPHITRYON:
You are wishing for that which is fact; where have you been drinking?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tu istic. úbi bibisti?

[¶83] SOSIA:
Nowhere, indeed.

> Latin: Sosia:
Nusquam equidem bibi.

[¶84] AMPHITRYON:
What is this, that is the matter with the fellow?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid hoc sit hominis?

[¶85] SOSIA:
Really I have told you ten times over. I am both at home now, I say (do you mark me?), and I, Sosia, am with you likewise. Don’t I appear, master, to have told you quite distinctly, and quite circumstantially, that this is so.

> Latin: Sosia:
equidem decies dixi:
domi ego sum, inquam, écquid audis? et apud te adsum Sosia idem.
satin hoc plane, satin diserte, ere, nunc videor
tibi locutus esse?

[¶86] AMPHITRYON:
Avaunt,
get away with you from me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vah,
ápage te a me.

[¶87] SOSIA:
What’s the matter?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quíd est negoti?

[¶88] AMPHITRYON:
A pestilence possesses you.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Péstis te tenet.

[¶89] SOSIA:
But why do you say so to me? I really am quite well and in perfect health, Amphitryon.

> Latin: Sosia:
Nám quor istuc
dicis? equidem valeo et salvos
sum recte, Amphitruo.

[¶90] AMPHITRYON:
But I’ll make you this very day, just as you have deserved, not to be quite so well, and to be miserable instead of your perfect health, if I return home.
Follow me, you who in this fashion are making sport of your master with your crack-brained talk; you, who, since you have neglected to perform what your master ordered, are now come even of your own accord to laugh at your master. Things which neither can happen, and which no one ever yet heard of in talk, you are telling of, you villain; on your back I’ll take care and make those lies to tell this very day.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
At te ego faciam
hodie proinde ac meritus es,
ut minus valeas et miser sis,
salvos domum si rediero: iam
sequere sis, erum qui ludificas
dictis delirantibus,
qui quoniam erus quod imperavit neglexisti persequi,
nunc venis etiam ultro inrisum dominum: quae neque fieri
possunt neque fando umquam accepit quisquam profers, carnifex;
quoius ego hodie in tergum faxo ista expetant mendacia.

[¶91] SOSIA:
Amphitryon, this is the most wretched of wretchedness to a good servant, who is telling the truth to his master, if that same truth is overpowered by violence.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruo, miserrima istaec miseria est servo bono,
apud erum qui vera loquitur, si id vi verum vincitur.

[¶92] AMPHITRYON:
Discuss it with me by proofs. Why, how the plague can such a thing happen, for you now to be both here and at home? That I want to be told.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quo id, malum, pacto potest nam (mecum argumentis puta)
fieri, nunc uti tu ⟨et⟩ hic sis et domi? id dici volo.

[¶93] SOSIA:
I really am both here and there; this any person has a right to wonder at; nor, Amphitryon, does this seem more. strange to you than to myself.

> Latin: Sosia:
Sum profecto et hic et illíc. hoc cuivis mirari licet,
neque tibi istuc mirum … mágis videtur quam mihi.

[¶94] AMPHITRYON:
In what way?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quo modo?

[¶95] SOSIA:
In no degree, I say, is this more strange to you than to myself; nor, so may the Deities love me, did I at first credit Sosia—me myself, until that Sosia, I myself, made me to believe me myself. In order did he relate everything, as each thing came to pass, when we sojourned with the enemy;
and then besides, he has carried off my figure together with my name. Not even is milk more like to milk than is that I myself like to me myself. For when some time since, before daybreak, you sent me from the harbour home before you—

> Latin: Sosia:
Nihilo, inquam, mirum magis tibi istuc quam mihi;
neque, ita me di ament, credebam primo mihimet Sosiae,
donec Sosia illic egomet fecit sibi uti crederem.
ordine omne, uti quicque actum est, dúm apud hostis sedimus,
edissertavit. tum formam una abstulit cum nomine.
neque lac lactis magis est simile quam ille ego similest mei.
nam ut dudum ante lucem a portu me praemisisti domum—

[¶96] AMPHITRYON:
What then?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid igitur?

[¶97] SOSIA:
I had been standing a long time at the door before I had got there.

> Latin: Sosia:
Prius multo ante aedis stabam quam illo adveneram.

[¶98] AMPHITRYON:
Plague on it, what nonsense! Are you quite in your senses?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quas, malum, nugás? satin tu sanus es?

[¶99] SOSIA:
I’m just as you see me.

> Latin: Sosia:
Sic sum ut vides.

[¶100] AMPHITRYON:
Some mischief, I know not what, has befallen this fellow from an evil hand since he left me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Huic homini nescio quid est mali mala obiectum manu,
postquam a me abiit.

[¶101] SOSIA:
I confess it; for I have been most shockingly bruised with his fists.

> Latin: Sosia:
Fateor, nam sum obtusus pugnis pessume.

[¶102] AMPHITRYON:
Who has been beating you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis te verberavit?

[¶103] SOSIA:
I myself, who am now at home, beat me myself.

> Latin: Sosia:
Egomet memet, qui nunc sum domi.

[¶104] AMPHITRYON:
Take you care to say nothing but what I shall ask you. Now, do you answer me. First of all, who this Sosia is, of that I want to be informed.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Cave quicquam, nisi quod rogabo te, mihi responderis.
omnium primum iste qui sit Sosia, hoc dici volo.

[¶105] SOSIA:
He is your servant.

> Latin: Sosia:
Tuos est servos.

[¶106] AMPHITRYON:
Really I have even more than I desire by your own one self. Never, too, since I was born, had I a servant Sosia besides yourself.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Mihi quidem uno te plus etiam est quam volo,
neque postquam sum natus habui nisi te servom Sosiam.

[¶107] SOSIA:
But now, Amphitryon, I say this; I’ll make you, I say, on your arrival, meet with another Sosia at home, a servant of yours, besides myself, a son of Davus, the same father with myself, of figure and age as well
just like myself. What need is there of words? This Sosia of yours is become twofold.

> Latin: Sosia:
At ego nunc, Amphitruo, dico: Sosiam servom tuom
praeter me alterum, inquam, adveniens faciam ut offendas domi,
Davo prognatum patre eodem quo égo sum, forma, aetate item
qua égo sum. quid opust verbis? geminus Sosia hic factust tibi.

[¶108] AMPHITRYON:
You talk of things extremely wonderful. But did you see my wife?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Nimia memoras mira. sed vidistin uxorem meam?

[¶109] SOSIA:
Nay, but it was never allowed me to go in-doors into the house.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quin intro ire in aedis numquam licitum est.

[¶110] AMPHITRYON:
Who hindered you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis te prohibuit?

[¶111] SOSIA:
This Sosia, whom I was just now telling of, he who thumped me.

> Latin: Sosia:
Sosia ille, quem iam dudum dico, is qui me contudit.

[¶112] AMPHITRYON:
Who is this Sosia?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis istic Sosia est?

[¶113] SOSIA:
Myself, I say; how often must it be told you?

> Latin: Sosia:
Ego, inquam. quotiens dicendum est tibi?

[¶114] AMPHITRYON:
But how say you? Have you been sleeping the while?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sed quid ais? num obdormivisti dudum?

[¶115] SOSIA:
Not the slightest in the world.

> Latin: Sosia:
Nusquam gentium.

[¶116] AMPHITRYON:
Then, perhaps, you might perchance have seen some Sosia in your dreams.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ibi forte istum si vidisses quendam in somnis Sosiam—

[¶117] SOSIA:
I am not in the habit of performing the orders of my master in a sleepy fashion. Awake I saw him, awake I now see you, awake I am talking, awake did he, a little while since, thump me about with his fists.

> Latin: Sosia:
Non soleo ego somniculose éri imperia persequi.
vigilans vidi, vigilans nunc ⟨te⟩ video, vigilans fabulor,
vigilantem ille me iam dudum vigilans pugnis contudit.

[¶118] AMPHITRYON:
What person did so?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis homo?

[¶119] SOSIA:
Sosia, that I myself,—he, I say. Prithee, don’t you understand?

> Latin: Sosia:
Sosia, inquam, ego ille. quaeso, nonne intellegis?

[¶120] AMPHITRYON:
How, the plague, can any one possibly understand? You are jabbering such nonsense.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qui, malum, intellegere quisquam potis est? ita nugas blatis.

[¶121] SOSIA:
But you’ll know him shortly.
AMPHITRYON:
Whom?
SOSIA:
You’ll know this servant Sosia.

> Latin: Sosia:
Verum actutum nosces, quom illum nosces servom Sosiam.

[¶122] AMPHITRYON:
Follow me this way, then; for it is necessary for me first to enquire into this. But take care that all the things that I ordered are now brought from the ship.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sequere hac igitur me, nam mi istuc primum exquisito est opus.
[sed vide ex navi efferantur quae imperavi iam omnia.]

[¶123] SOSIA:
I am both mindful and diligent that what you order shall be performed; together with the wine, I have not drunk up your commands.

> Latin: Sosia:
[Et memor sum et diligens, ut quae imperes compareant;]
[non ego cum vino simitu ébibi imperium tuom.]

[¶124] AMPHITRYON:
May the Gods grant, that, in the event, what you have said may prove untrue.
(They stand apart.) (Enter ALCMENA, from the house, attended by THESSALA.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
[Vtinam di faxint, infecta dicta re eveniant tua.]

[¶125] ALCMENA:
Is not the proportion of pleasures in life and in passing our existence short in comparison with what is disagreable? So it is allotted to each man in life;

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Satín parva rés est volúptatum in víta atque in aétate agúnda
praequám quod moléstum est? ita cuíque comparátum est in aétate hominum;

[¶126] so has it pleased the Gods that Sorrow should attend on Pleasure as her companion; but if aught of good befalls us, more of trouble and of ill forthwith attends us. For this do I now feel by experience at home and in relation to myself, to whom delight has been imparted for a very short time, while I had the opportunity of seeing my husband for but one night; and now has he suddenly gone away hence from me before the dawn.

> Latin: ita dívis est plácitum, volúptatem ut maéror comés consequátur:
quin íncommodí plus malíque ilico ádsit, boní si optigít quid.
nam ego íd nunc expérior domo átque ipsa dé me sció, cui volúptas
parúmper datást, dum virí mei míhi potéstas vidéndi fuit
noctem únam modo; átque is repénte abiit á me hinc ánte lucem.

[¶127] Deserted do I now seem to myself, because he is absent from here, he whom before all I love. More of grief have I felt from the departure of my husband, than of pleasure from his arrival. But this, at least, makes me happy, that he has conquered the foe, and has returned home loaded with glory. Let him be absent, if only with fame acquired
he betakes himself home. I shall bear and ever endure his absence with mind resolved and steadfast; if only this reward is granted me, that my husband shall be hailed the conqueror in the warfare, sufficient for myself will I deem it. Valour is the best reward; valour assuredly surpasses all things:

> Latin: sola híc mihi nunc vídeor, quia ílle hinc abést quem ego amó praeter omnes.
plus aégri ex ábitu virí, quam ex advéntu volúptatis cépi. sed hóc me beát
saltém, quom perduéllis vicít et domúm laudis cómpos revénit:
id sólacio est.
absít, dum modó laude párta
domúm recipiát se; feram ét perferam úsque
abitum éius ánimo forti átque offirmáto, id módo si mercédis
datúr mi, ut meús victor vír belli clúeat.
satis mi esse ducam.
virtús praemium ést optimúm;
virtús omnibús rebus ánteit profécto:

[¶128] liberty, safety, life, property and parents, country too, and children, by it are defended and preserved. Valour comprises everything in itself: all blessings attend him in whose possession is valour.
AMPHITRYON: (apart.)

> Latin: libértas salús vita rés et paréntes, patria ét prognáti
tutántur, servántur:
virtús omnia ín sese habét, omnia ádsunt
bona quém penest vírtus.

[¶129] By my troth, I do believe that I shall come much wished for by my wife,
who loves me, and whom, in return, I love: especially, our enterprise crowned with success, the enemy vanquished, whom no one had supposed to be able to be conquered: these, under my conduct and command, at the first meeting, have we vanquished; but I know for sure that I shall come to her much wished for.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Édepol me uxori éxoptatum crédo adventurúm domum,
quae me amat, quam contra amo, praesertim re gesta bene,
victis hostibus: quos nemo posse superari ratust,
eos auspicio meo atque ductu primo coetu vicimus.
certe enim méd illi expectatum optato venturum scio.

[¶130] Well, and don’t you think that I shall come much wished for to my mistress?
(AMPHITRYON advances, at a distance, with SOSIA.)
ALCMENA: (to herself.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid? me non rere expectatum amicae venturum meae?

[¶131] Surely, this is my husband.
AMPHITRYON: (to SOSIA.)
Do you follow me this way.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Meus vir hic quidem est.
Amphitrvo:
Séquere hac tu me.

[¶132] ALCMENA: (to herself.)
But why has he returned, when just now he said that he was in haste? Is he purposely trying me, and is he desirous to make proof of this, how much I regret his departure? By my faith, against no inclination of mine has he betaken himself home.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Nam quid ille revortitur
qui dudum properare se aibat? án ille me temptat sciens
atque id se volt experiri, suom abitum ut desiderem?
ecastor med haud invita se domum recipit suam.

[¶133] SOSIA:
Amphitryon, it were better for us to return to the ship.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruo, redire ad navem meliust nos.

[¶134] AMPHITRYON:
For what reason?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qua gratia?

[¶135] SOSIA:
Because there’s no person at home to give us a breakfast on our arrival.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quia domi daturus nemo est prandium advenientibus.

[¶136] AMPHITRYON:
How comes that now into your mind?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qui tibi nunc istuc in mentemst?

[¶137] SOSIA:
Why, because we have come too late.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quia enim sero advenimus.

[¶138] AMPHITRYON:
How so?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qui?

[¶139] SOSIA:
Because I see Alcmena standing before the house, with her stomach-full already.

> Latin: Sosia:
Quia Alcumenam ante aedis stare saturam intellego.

[¶140] AMPHITRYON:
I left her pregnant here when I went away.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Gravidam ego illanc hic reliqui quóm abeo.

[¶141] SOSIA:
Alas, to my sorrow, I’m undone!

> Latin: Sosia:
Ei perii miser.

[¶142] AMPHITRYON:
What’s the matter with you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid tibi est?

[¶143] SOSIA:
I have come home just in good time to fetch the water
in the tenth month after that, according as I understand you to compute the reckoning.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ad aquam praebendam commodum adveni domum,
decumo post mense, ut rationem te putare intellego.

[¶144] AMPHITRYON:
Be of good heart.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Bono animo es.

[¶145] SOSIA:
Do you know of how good heart I am? By my troth, do you never after this day entrust to me aught that is sacred, if I don’t draw up all the life of that well, if I do but make a beginning.

> Latin: Sosia:
Scin quam bono animo sim? si situlam cepero,
numquam edepol tu mihi divini creduis post hunc diem,
ní ego illi puteo, si occepso, ánimam omnem intertraxero.

[¶146] AMPHITRYON:
Do you only follow me this way. I’ll appoint another person for that business; don’t you fear.
ALCMENA: (advancing.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sequere hac me modo; alium ego isti rei allegabo, ne time.

[¶147] I think that I shall now be doing my duty more, if I go to meet him.
(They meet.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Magis nunc ⟨me⟩ meum officium facere, si huic eam advorsum, arbitror.

[¶148] AMPHITRYON:
With joy, Amphitryon greets his longed for wife—her, whom of all women in Thebes her husband deems by far the most excellent, and whom so much the Theban citizens truthfully extol as virtuous. Have you fared well all along? Do I arrive much wished for by you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Amphitruo uxorem salutat laetus speratam suam,
quam omnium Thebis vir unam esse optimam diiudicat,
quamque adeo cives Thebani vero rumiferant probam.
valuistin usque? exspectatun advenio?

[¶149] SOSIA: (aside.)
I never saw one more so;

> Latin: Sosia:
Haud vidi magis.

[¶150] for she greets her own husband not a bit more than a dog.

> Latin: exspectatum eum salutat magis haud quicquam quam canem.

[¶151] AMPHITRYON:
When I see you pregnant, and so gracefully burdened, I am delighted.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Et quom te †gravidam et quom te pulchre plenam aspicio, gaudeo.

[¶152] ALCMENA:
Prithee, in the name of all that’s good, why, for the sake of mockery, do you thus salute and address me, as though you hadn’t lately seen me—as though now, for the first time, you were betaking yourself homeward here from the enemy?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Obsecro ecastor, quid tu me deridiculi gratia
sic salutas atque appellas, quasi dudum non videris
quasique nunc primum recipias te domum huc ex hostibus?

[¶153] For now you are addressing me just as though you were seeing me after a long time.

> Latin: [atque me nunc proinde appellas quasi multo post videris?]

[¶154] AMPHITRYON:
Why, really for my part, I have not seen you at all this day until now.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Immo equidem te nisi nunc hodie nusquam vidi gentium.

[¶155] ALCMENA:
Why do you deny it?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Cur negas?

[¶156] AMPHITRYON:
Because I have learned to speak the truth.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quia vera didici dicere.

[¶157] ALCMENA:
He does not do right, who unlearns the same that he has learned. Are you making trial what feelings I possess? But why are you returning hither so soon?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Haud aequom facit
qui quod didicit id dediscit. an periclitamini
quid animi habeam? sed quid huc vos revortimini tam cito?

[¶158] Has an ill omen delayed you, or does the weather keep you back, you who have not gone away to your troops, as you were lately speaking of?

> Latin: an te auspicium commoratum est an tempestas continet
qui non abiisti ad legiones, ita uti dudum dixeras?

[¶159] AMPHITRYON:
Lately? How long since was this “lately?”

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Dudum? quam dudum istuc factum est?

[¶160] ALCMENA:
You are trying me; but very lately, just now.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Temptas. iam dudum, modo.

[¶161] AMPHITRYON:
Prithee, how can that possibly be as you say?—“but very lately, just now.”

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qui istuc potis est fieri, quaeso, ut dicis: iam dudum, modo?

[¶162] ALCMENA:
Why, what do you imagine? That I, on the other hand, shall trifle with you who are playing with me,
in saying that you are now come for the first time, you who but just now went away from here?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid enim censes? te ut deludam contra lusorem meum,
qui nunc primum te advenisse dicas, modo qui hinc abieris.

[¶163] AMPHITRYON:
Surely she is talking deliriously.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Haec quidem deliramenta loquitur.

[¶164] SOSIA:
Stop a little while, until she has slept out this one sleep.

> Latin: Sosia:
Paulisper mane,
dum edormiscat unum somnum.

[¶165] AMPHITRYON:
Is she not dreaming with her eyes open?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quaene vigilans somniat?

[¶166] ALCMENA:
Upon my faith, for my part I really am awake, and awake I am relating that which has happened; for, but lately, before daybreak, I saw both him (pointing at SOSIA) and yourself.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Equidem ecastor vigilo, et vigilans id quod factum est fabulor.
nam dudum ante lucem et istunc et te vidi.

[¶167] AMPHITRYON:
In what place?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quo in loco?

[¶168] ALCMENA:
Here, in the house where you yourself dwell.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Hic in aedibús ubi tu habitas.

[¶169] AMPHITRYON:
It never was the fact.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Numquam factum est.

[¶170] SOSIA:
Will you not hold your peace? What if the vessel brought us here from the harbour in our sleep?

> Latin: Sosia:
Non taces?
quid si e portu navis huc nos dormientis detulit?

[¶171] AMPHITRYON:
Are you, too, going to back her as well?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Etiam tu quoque adsentaris húic?

[¶172] SOSIA: (aside to AMPHITRYON.)
What do you wish to be done? Don’t you know, if you wish to oppose a raving Bacchanal, from a mad woman you’ll render her more mad—she’ll strike the oftener;

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid vis fieri?
non tu scis? Bacchae bacchanti si velis advorsarier,
ex insana insaniorem facies, feriet saepius;

[¶173] if you humour her, after one blow you may overcome her?
AMPHITRYON:
But, by my troth, this thing is resolved upon, somehow to rate her who this day has been unwilling to greet me on my arrival home.

> Latin: si obsequare, una resolvas plaga.
Amphitrvo:
At pol qui certa res
hanc est obiurgare, quae me hódie advenientem domum
noluerit salutare.

[¶174] SOSIA:
You’ll only be irritating hornets.

> Latin: Sosia:
Inritabis crabrones.

[¶175] AMPHITRYON:
You hold your tongue. Alcmena, I wish to ask you one thing.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tace.
Alcumena, unum rogare te volo.

[¶176] ALCMENA:
Ask me anything you please.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid vis roga.

[¶177] AMPHITRYON:
Is it frenzy that has come upon you, or does pride overcome you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Num tibi aut stultitia accessit aut superat superbia?

[¶178] ALCMENA:
How comes it into your mind, my husband, to ask me that?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Qui istuc in mentemst tibi ex me, mi vir, percontarier?

[¶179] AMPHITRYON:
Because formerly you used to greet me on my arrival, and to address me in such manner as those women who are virtuous are wont their husbands. On my arrival home I’ve found that you have got rid of that custom.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quia salutare advenientem me solebas antidhac,
appellare, itidem ut pudicae suos viros quae sunt solent.
eo more expertem te factam adveniens offendi domi.

[¶180] ALCMENA:
By my faith, indeed, I assuredly did both greet you yesterday, upon your arrival,
at that very instant, and at the same time I enquired if you had continued in health all along, my husband, and I took your hand and gave you a kiss.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ecastor equidem te certo heri advenientem ílico,
et salutavi et valuissesne usque exquisivi simul,
mi vir, et manum prehendi et osculum tetuli tibi.

[¶181] SOSIA:
What, did you welcome him yesterday?

> Latin: Sosia:
Tun heri hunc salutavisti?

[¶182] ALCMENA:
And you too, as well, Sosia.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Et te quoque etiam, Sosia.

[¶183] SOSIA:
Amphitryon, I did hope that she was about to bring you forth a son; but she isn’t gone with child.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruo, speravi ego istam tibi parituram filium;
verum non est puero gravida.

[¶184] AMPHITRYON:
What then?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid igitur?

[¶185] SOSIA:
With madness.

> Latin: Sosia:
Insania.

[¶186] ALCMENA:
Really I am in my senses, and I pray the Gods that in safety I may bring forth a son; but (to SOSIA) hap-ill shall you be having, if he does his duty: for those ominous words, omen-maker, you shall catch what befits you.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Equidem sana sum et deos quaeso, ut salva pariam filium.
verum tu malum mágnum habebis, si hic suom officium facit:
ob istuc omen, ominator, capies quod te condecet.

[¶187] SOSIA:
Why really an apple ought to be given to the lady thus pregnant, that there may be something for her to gnaw if she should begin to faint.

> Latin: Sosia:
Enim vero praegnati oportet et malum et malum dari,
ut quod obrodat sit, animo si male esse occeperit.

[¶188] AMPHITRYON:
Did you see me here yesterday?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tu me heri hic vidisti?

[¶189] ALCMENA:
I did, I say, if you wish it to be ten times repeated.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego, inquam, si vis decies dicere.

[¶190] AMPHITRYON:
In your sleep, perhaps?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
In somnis fortasse.

[¶191] ALCMENA:
No—I, awake, saw you awake.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Immo vígilans vigilantem.

[¶192] AMPHITRYON:
Woe to me!

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ei misero mihi.

[¶193] SOSIA:
What’s the matter with you?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid tibi est?

[¶194] AMPHITRYON:
My wife is mad.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Delirat uxor.

[¶195] SOSIA:
She’s attacked with black bile; nothing so soon turns people mad.

> Latin: Sosia:
Atra bili percita est.
nulla res tam delirantis homines concinnat cito.

[¶196] AMPHITRYON:
When, madam, did you first find yourself affected?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vbi primum tibi sensisti, mulier, impliciscier?

[¶197] ALCMENA:
Why really, upon my faith, I’m well, and in my senses.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Equidem ecastor sana et salva sum.

[¶198] AMPHITRYON:
Why, then, do you say that you saw me yesterday, whereas we were brought into harbour but last night? There did I dine, and there did I rest the livelong night on board ship, nor have I set my foot even here into the house, since, with the army, I set out hence against the Teleboan foe, and since we conquered them.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quor igitur praedicas,
té heri me vidisse, qui hac noctu in portum advecti sumus?
ibi cenavi atque ibi quievi in navi noctem perpetem,
neque meum pedem huc íntuli etiam in aedis, ut cum exercitu
hinc profectus sum ad Teloboas hostis eosque ut vicimus.

[¶199] ALCMENA:
On the contrary, you dined with me, and you slept with me.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Immo mecum cenavisti et mecum cubuisti.

[¶200] AMPHITRYON:
How so?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid est?

[¶201] ALCMENA:
I’m telling the truth.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vera dico.

[¶202] AMPHITRYON:
On my honor, not in this matter, really; about other matters I don’t know.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Non de hac quidem hercle re; de áliis nescio.

[¶203] ALCMENA:
At the very break of dawn you went away to your troops.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Primulo diluculo abiisti ad legiones.

[¶204] AMPHITRYON:
By what means could I?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quo modo?

[¶205] SOSIA:
She says right, according as she remembers; she’s telling you her dream. But, madam, after you arose, you ought to have sacrificed to Jove, the disposer of prodigies,
either with a salt cake or with frankincense.

> Latin: Sosia:
Recte dicit, ut commeminit: somnium narrat tibi.
sed, mulier, postquam experrecta es, te prodigiali Iovi
aut mola salsa hodie aut ture comprecatam oportuit.

[¶206] ALCMENA:
A mischief on your head!

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vae capiti tuó.

[¶207] SOSIA:
That’s your own business, if you take due care.

> Latin: Sosia:
Tua istuc refert—si curaveris.

[¶208] ALCMENA:
Now again this fellow is talking rudely to me, and that without punishment.
AMPHITRYON: (to SOSIA.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Iterum iám hic in me inclementer dicit, atque id sine malo.

[¶209] You hold your tongue. (To ALCMENA.) Do you tell me now—did I go away hence from you at daybreak?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tace tu. tu dic: egone abs te abii hinc hodie cum diluculo?

[¶210] ALCMENA:
Who then but your own self recounted to me how the battle went there?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quis igitur nisi vos narravit mi, illi ut fuerit proelium?

[¶211] AMPHITRYON:
And do you know that as well?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
An etiam id tu scis?

[¶212] ALCMENA:
Why, I heard it from your own self, how you had taken a very large city, and how you yourself had slain king Pterelas.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quippe qui éx te audivi, ut urbem maximam
expugnavisses regemque Pterelam tute occideris.

[¶213] AMPHITRYON:
What, did I tell you this?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Egone istuc dixi?

[¶214] ALCMENA:
You yourself, this Sosia standing by as well.
AMPHITRYON: (to SOSIA.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Tute istic, etiam adstante hoc Sosia.

[¶215] Have you heard me telling about this to-day?
SOSIA:
Where should I have heard you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Audivistin tu me narrare haec hodie?
Sosia:
Vbi ego audiverim?

[¶216] AMPHITRYON:
Ask her.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Hanc roga.

[¶217] SOSIA:
In my presence, indeed, it never took place, that I know of.

> Latin: Sosia:
Me quidem praesente numquam factum est, quod sciam.

[¶218] ALCMENA:
It would be a wonder if he didn’t contradict you.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Mirum quin te adversus dicat.

[¶219] AMPHITRYON:
Sosia, come here and look at me.
SOSIA: (looks at him.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sosia, age me huc aspice.

[¶220] I am looking at you.
AMPHITRYON:
I wish you to tell the truth, and I don’t want you to humour me. Have you heard me this day sav to her these things which she affirms?

> Latin: Sosia:
Specto.
Amphitrvo:
Vera volo loqui te, nolo adsentari mihi.
audivistin tu hodie me illi dicere ea quae illa autumat?

[¶221] SOSIA:
Prithee now, by my troth, are you, too, mad as well, when you ask me this, me, who, for my part, my own self now behold her in company with you for the first time?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quaeso edepol, num tu quoque etiam insanis, quom id me interrogas,
qui ipsus equidem nunc primum istanc tecum conspicio simul?

[¶222] AMPHITRYON:
How now, madam? Do you hear him?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid nunc, mulier? audin illum?

[¶223] ALCMENA:
I do, indeed, and telling an untruth.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego véro, ac falsum dicere.

[¶224] AMPHITRYON:
Do you believe neither him nor my own self, your husband?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Neque tu illi neque mihi viro ipsi credis?

[¶225] ALCMENA:
No; for this reason it is, because I most readily believe myself, and I am sure that these things took place just as I relate them.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Eo fit quia mihi
plurimum credo et scio istaec facta proinde ut proloquor.

[¶226] AMPHITRYON:
Do you say that I came yesterday?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tun me heri advenisse dicis?

[¶227] ALCMENA:
Do you deny that you went away from here to-day?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Tun te abiisse hodie hinc negas?

[¶228] AMPHITRYON:
I really do deny it, and I declare that I have now come home to you for the first time.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Nego enim vero, et me advenire nunc primum aio ad te domum.

[¶229] ALCMENA:
Prithee, will you deny this too, that you to-day made me a present of a golden goblet, with which you said that you had been presented?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Obsecro, etiamne hoc negabis, te auream pateram mihi
dédisse dono hodié, qua te illi donatum esse dixeras?

[¶230] AMPHITRYON:
By heavens, I neither gave it nor told you so: but I had so intended, and do so now, to present you with that goblet. But who told you this?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Neque edepol dedi neque dixi; verum ita animatus fui
itaque nunc sum, ut ea te patera donem. sed quis istúc tibi
dixit?

[¶231] ALCMENA:
Why, I heard it from yourself, and I received the goblet from your own hand.
(She moves as if going.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego equidem ex te audivi et ex tua accepi manu
pateram.

[¶232] AMPHITRYON:
Stay, stay, I entreat you. Sosia, I marvel much how she knows that I was presented there with this golden goblet, unless you have lately met her and told her all this.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Mane, mane, obsecro te. nimis demiror, Sosia,
qui illaec illic me donatum esse aurea patera sciat,
nisi tu dudum hanc convenisti et narravisti haec omnia.

[¶233] SOSIA:
Upon my faith, I have never told her, nor have I ever beheld her except with yourself.

> Latin: Sosia:
Neque edepol ego dixi neque istam vidi nisi tecum simul.

[¶234] AMPHITRYON:
What is the matter with this person?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid hoc sit hominis?

[¶235] ALCMENA:
Should you like the goblet to be produced?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vin proferri pateram?

[¶236] AMPHITRYON:
I should like it; to be produced.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Proferri volo.

[¶237] ALCMENA:
Be it so. Do you go, Thessala, and bring from indoors the goblet, with which my husband presented me today.
(THESSALA goes into the house, and AMPHITRYON and SOSIA walk on one side.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Fiat. ⟨heus⟩ tu, Thessala, intus pateram proferto foras,
qua hódie meus vir donavit me.

[¶238] AMPHITRYON:
Sosia, do you step this way. Really, I do wonder extremely at this beyond the other wondrous matters, if she has got this goblet.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Secede huc tu, Sosia,
enim vero illud praeter alia mira miror maxime,
si haec habet páteram illam.

[¶239] SOSIA:
And do you believe it, when it’s carried in this casket, sealed with your own seal.
(He shows the casket.)

> Latin: Sosia:
An etiam credis id, quae in hac cistellula
tuo signo obsignata fertur?

[¶240] AMPHITRYON:
Is the seal whole?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Salvom signum est?

[¶241] SOSIA:
Examine it.
AMPHITRYON: (examining it.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Inspice.

[¶242] All right, it’s just as I sealed it up.
SOSIA:
Prithee, why don’t you order her to be purified as a frantic person?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Recte, ita est ut obsignavi.
Sosia:
Quaeso, quin tu istanc iubes
pro cerrita circumferri?

[¶243] AMPHITRYON:
By my troth, somehow there’s need for it, for, i’ faith, she’s certainly filled with sprites.
(ALCMENA.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Edepol qui facto est opus;
nam haec quidem edepol laruarum plenast.

[¶244] ALCMENA:
What need is there of talking? See, here’s the goblet; here it is.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid verbis opust?
em tibi pateram, eccam.

[¶245] AMPHITRYON:
Give it me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Cedo mi.

[¶246] ALCMENA:
Come, now then, look here, if you please, you who deny what is fact, and whom I shall now clearly convict in this case.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Age aspice huc sis nunciam
tu qui quae facta infitiare; quem égo iam hic convincam palam.

[¶247] Isn’t this the goblet with which you were presented there?
AMPHITRYON:
Supreme Jupiter! what do I behold? Surely this is that goblet. Sosia, I’m utterly confounded.

> Latin: estne haec patera, qua donatu's donatus es illi?
Amphitrvo:
Summe Iuppiter,
quid ego video? haec ea est profecto patera. perii, Sosia.

[¶248] SOSIA:
Upon my faith, either this woman is a most consummate juggler, or the goblet must be in here (pointing to the casket.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Aut pol haec praestigiatrix multo mulier maxima est
aut pateram hic inesse oportet.

[¶249] AMPHITRYON:
Come, then, open this casket.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Agedum, exsolve cistulam.

[¶250] SOSIA:
Why should I open it? It is securely sealed. The thing is cleverly contrived;

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid ego istam exsolvam? obsignatast recte, res gesta est bene:

## 3. Lines 785–1146

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plautus-amphitruo/3/#p-N

[¶0] you have brought forth another Amphitryon, I have brought forth another Sosia; now if the goblet has brought forth a goblet, we have all produced our doubles.

> Latin: tu peperisti Ámphitruonem, ego alium peperi Sosiam;
nunc si patera pateram peperit, omnes congeminavimus.

[¶1] AMPHITRYON:
I’m determined to open and examine it.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Certum est aperire atque inspicere.

[¶2] SOSIA:
Look, please, how the seal is, that you may not hereafter throw the blame on me.

> Latin: Sosia:
Vide sis signi quid siet,
ne posterius in me culpam conferas.

[¶3] AMPHITRYON:
Now do open it. For she certainly is desirous to drive us mad with her talking.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Aperi modo;
nam haec quidem nos delirantis facere dictis postulat.

[¶4] ALCMENA:
Whence then came this which was made a present to me, but from yourself?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vnde haec igitur est nisi abs te quae mihi dono data est?

[¶5] AMPHITRYON:
It’s necessary for me to enquire into this.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Opus mi est istuc exquisito.

[¶6] SOSIA: (opening the casket.)
Jupiter, O Jupiter!

> Latin: Sosia:
Iuppiter, pro Iuppiter.

[¶7] AMPHITRYON:
What is the matter with you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid tibi est?

[¶8] SOSIA:
There’s no goblet here in the casket.

> Latin: Sosia:
Hic patera nulla in cistulast.

[¶9] AMPHITRYON:
What do I hear.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid ego audio?

[¶10] SOSIA:
That which is the truth.

> Latin: Sosia:
Id quod verúmst.

[¶11] AMPHITRYON:
But at your peril now, if it does not make its appearance.
ALCMENA: (showing it.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
At cum cruciatu iam, nisi apparet, tuo.

[¶12] Why, it does make its appearance.
AMPHITRYON:
Who then gave it you?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Haec quidem apparet.
Amphitrvo:
Quis igitur tibi dedit?

[¶13] ALCMENA:
The person that’s asking me the question.
SOSIA: (to AMPHITRYON.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Qui me rogat.

[¶14] You are on the catch for me, inasmuch as you yourself have secretly run before me hither from the ship by another road, and have taken the goblet away from here and given it to her, and afterwards you have secretly sealed it up again.

> Latin: Sosia:
Me captas, quia tute ab navi clanculum huc alia via
praecucurristi, atque hinc pateram tute exemisti atque eam
huic dedisti, post hanc rursum óbsignasti clanculum.

[¶15] AMPHITRYON:
Ah me! and are you too helping her frenzy as well? (To ALCMENA) Do you say that we arrived here yesterday?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ei mihi, iam tu quoque huius adiuvas insaniam?
ain heri nos advenisse huc?

[¶16] ALCMENA:
I do say so, and on your arrival you instantly
greeted me, and I you, and I gave you a kiss.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Aio, adveniensque ilico
me salutavisti, et ego te, et osculum tetuli tibi.

[¶17] That beginning now about the kiss doesn’t please me.
AMPHITRYON:
Go on telling it.

> Latin: Sosia:
Iam illud non placet principium de osculo.
Amphitrvo:
Perge exsequi.

[¶18] ALCMENA:
Then you bathed.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Lavisti.

[¶19] AMPHITRYON:
What, after I bathed?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid postquam lavi?

[¶20] ALCMENA:
You took your place at table.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Accubuisti.

[¶21] SOSIA:
Bravo, capital! Now make further enquiry.

> Latin: Sosia:
Euge optime.
nunc exquire.

[¶22] AMPHITRYON: (to SOSIA.)
Don’t you interrupt. (To ALCMENA.) Go on telling me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ne interpella. perge porro dicere.

[¶23] ALCMENA:
The dinner was served; you dined with me; I reclined together with you at the repast.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Cena adposita est; cenavisti mecum, ego accubui simul.

[¶24] AMPHITRYON:
What, on the same couch?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
In eodem lectó?

[¶25] ALCMENA:
On the same.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
In eodem.

[¶26] SOSIA:
Oh dear, I don’t like this banquet.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ei, non placet convivium.

[¶27] AMPHITRYON:
Now do let her give her proofs. (To ALCMENA.) What, after we had dined?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sine modo argumenta dicat. quid postquam cenavimus?

[¶28] ALCMENA:
You said that you were inclined to go to sleep; the table was removed; thence we went to bed.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Te dormitare aibas; mensa ablata est, cubitum hinc abiimus.

[¶29] AMPHITRYON:
Where did you lie?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vbi tu cubuisti?

[¶30] ALCMENA:
In the chamber, in the same bed together with your. self.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
In eodem lectó tecum una in cubiculo.

[¶31] AMPHITRYON:
You have proved my undoing.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Perdidisti.

[¶32] SOSIA:
What’s the matter with you?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid tibi est?

[¶33] AMPHITRYON:
This very moment has she sent me to my grave.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Haec me modo ad mortem dedit.

[¶34] ALCMENA:
How so, pray?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid iam, amabo?

[¶35] AMPHITRYON:
Don’t address me.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ne me appella.

[¶36] SOSIA:
What’s the matter with you?

> Latin: Sosia:
Quid tibi est?

[¶37] AMPHITRYON:
To my sorrow I’m undone, since, in my absence from here, dishonor has befallen her chastity.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Perii miser,
quia pudicitiae huius vitium me hinc absente est additum.

[¶38] ALCMENA:
In heaven’s name, my lord, why, I beseech you, do I hear this from you?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Obsecro ecastor, cur istuc, mi vir, ex ted audio?

[¶39] AMPHITRYON:
I, your lord? False one, don’t call me by a false name.
SOSIA: (aside.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vir ego tuos sim? ne me appella, falsa, falso nomine.

[¶40] ’Tis an odd matter this, if indeed he has been made into my lady from my lord.

> Latin: Sosia:
Haeret haec res, si quidem haec iam mulier facta est ex viro.

[¶41] ALCMENA:
What have I done, by reason of which these expressions are uttered to me?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid ego feci, qua istaec propter dicta dicantur mihi?

[¶42] AMPHITRYON:
You yourself proclaim your own doings; do you enquire of me in what you have offended?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tute edictas facta tua, ex me quaeris quid deliqueris.

[¶43] ALCMENA:
In what have I offended you, if I have been with you to whom I am married?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quid ego tibi deliqui, si, cui nupta sum, tecum fui?

[¶44] AMPHITRYON:
You, been with me? What is there of greater effrontery than this impudent woman? At least, if you were wanting in modesty of your own, you might have borrowed it.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Tun mecum fueris? quid illac impudente audacius?
saltem, tute si pudoris egeas, sumas mutuom.

[¶45] ALCMENA:
That criminality which you lay to my charge befits not my family. If you try to catch me in incontinence, you cannot convict me.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Istuc facinus, quod tu insimulas, nostro generi non decet.
tu si me inpudicitiai captas, capere non potes.

[¶46] AMPHITRYON:
Immortal Gods! do you at least know me, Sosia?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Pro di immortales, cognoscin tu me saltem, Sosia?

[¶47] SOSIA:
Pretty well.

> Latin: Sosia:
Propemodum.

[¶48] AMPHITRYON:
Did I not dine yesterday on board ship in the Persian Port?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Cenavin ego heri in navi in portu Persico?

[¶49] ALCMENA:
I have witnesses as well, who can confirm that which I say.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Mihi quoque adsunt testes, qui illud quod ego dicam adsentiant.

[¶50] SOSIA:
I don’t know what to say to this matter, unless, perchance, there is another Amphitryon, who, perhaps, though you yourself are absent, takes care of your business, and who, in your absence, performs your duties here. For about that counterfeit Sosia it is very surprising. Certainly, about this Amphitryon, now, it is another matter still more surprising.

> Latin: Sosia:
Nescio quid istúc negoti dicam, nisi si quispiam est
Amphitruó alius, qui forte ted hinc absenti tamen
tuam rem curet teque absente hic munus fungatur tuom.
nam quod de illo subditivo Sosia mirum nimis,
certe de istoc Amphitruone iam alterum mirum est magis.

[¶51] AMPHITRYON:
Some magician, I know not who, is bewildering this woman.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Nescio quis praestigiator hanc frustratur mulierem.

[¶52] ALCMENA:
By the realms of the supreme Sovereign I swear, and by Juno, the matron Goddess, whom for me to fear and venerate it is most especially fitting, that no mortal being except yourself alone has ever touched my person in contact with his so as to render me unchaste.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Per supremi regis regnum iuro et matrem familias
Iunonem, quam me vereri et metuere est par maxume,
ut mi extra unum te mortalis nemo corpus corpore
contigit, quo me impudicam faceret.

[¶53] AMPHITRYON:
I could wish that that was true.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vera istaec velim.

[¶54] ALCMENA:
I speak the truth, but in vain, since you will not believe me.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vera dico, sed nequiquam, quoniam non vis credere.

[¶55] AMPHITRYON:
You are a woman; you swear at random.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Mulier es, audacter iuras.

[¶56] ALCMENA:
She who has not done wrong, her it befits to be bold and to speak confidently and positively in her own behalf.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quae non deliquit, decet
audacem esse, confidenter pro se et proterve loqui.

[¶57] AMPHITRYON:
That’s very boldly said.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Satis audacter.

[¶58] ALCMENA:
Just as befits a virtuous woman.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Vt pudicam decet.

[¶59] AMPHITRYON:
Say you so? By your own words you prove it.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
†In verbis probas.

[¶60] ALCMENA:
That which is called a dowry, I do not deem the same my dowry;
but chastity, and modesty, and subdued desires, fear of the Gods, and love of my parents, and concord with my kindred; to be obedient to yourself and bounteous to the good, ready to aid the upright.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Non ego illam mihi dotem duco esse, quae dos dicitur,
sed pudicitiam et pudorem et sedatum cupidinem,
deum metum, parentum amorem et cognatum concordiam,
tibi morigera atque ut munifica sim bonis, prosim probis.

[¶61] SOSIA:
Surely, by my troth, if she tells the truth in this, she’s perfect to the very ideal.

> Latin: Sosia:
Ne ista edepol, si haec vera loquitur, examussim est optima.

[¶62] AMPHITRYON:
Really I am so bewildered, that I don’t know myself who I am.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Delenitus sum profecto ita, ut me qui sim nesciam.

[¶63] SOSIA:
Surely you are Amphitryon; take you care, please, that you don’t peradventure lose yourself; people are changing in such a fashion since we came from abroad.

> Latin: Sosia:
Amphitruo es profecto, cave sis ne tu te usu perduis:
ita nunc homines immutantur, postquam peregre advenimus.

[¶64] AMPHITRYON:
Madam, I’m resolved not to omit having this matter enquired into.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Mulier, istam rem inquisitam certum est non amittere.

[¶65] ALCMENA:
I’ faith, you’ll do so quite to my satisfaction.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Edepol me libente facies.

[¶66] AMPHITRYON:
How say you? Answer me; what if I bring your own kinsman, Naucrates, hither from the ship,
who, together with me, has been brought on board the same ship; and if he denies that that has happened which you say has happened, what is proper to be done to you? Do you allege any reason. why I should not at your cost dissolve this our marriage?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quid ais? responde mihi,
quid si adduco tuom cognatum húc a navi Naucratem,
qui mecum una vectust una navi, atque is si denegat
facta quae tu facta dicis, quid tibi aequom est fieri?
numquid causam dicis, quin te hoc multem matrimonio?

[¶67] ALCMENA:
If I have done wrong, there is no reason.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Si deliqui, nulla causa est.

[¶68] AMPHITRYON:
Agreed. Do you, Sosia, take these people in-doors. I’ll bring Naucrates hither with me from the ship.
(Exit.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Convenit. tu, Sosia,
duc hos intro. ego huc ab navi mecum adducam Naucratem.—

[¶69] SOSIA: (going close to ALCMENA.)
Now then, there’s no one here except ourselves; tell me the truth seriously, is there any Sosia in-doors who is like myself?

> Latin: Sosia:
Nunc quidem praeter nos nemo est. dic mihi verum serio:
ecquis alius Sosia intust, qui mei similis siet?

[¶70] ALCMENA:
Won’t you hence away from me, fit servant for your master?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Abin hinc a me dignus domino servos?

[¶71] SOSIA:
If you command me, I’m off,
(Goes into the house.)

> Latin: Sosia:
Abeo, si iubes.—

[¶72] ALCMENA: (to herself.)
By heavens, it is a very wondrous proceeding, how it has pleased this husband of mine thus to accuse me falsely of a crime so foul.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Nimis ecastor facinus mirum est, qui illi conlibitum siet
meo viro sic me insimulare falso facinus tam malum.

[¶73] Whatever it is, I shall now learn it from my kinsman Naucrates.
(Goes into the house.) (Enter JUPITER.)
JUPITER:
I am that Amphitryon, whose servant Sosia is the same that becomes Mercury when there is occasion—I, who dwell in the highest story, who sometimes, when it pleases me, become Jupiter.

> Latin: quidquid est, iam ex Naucrate cognato id cognoscam meo.—
Ivppiter:
Ego sum ille Amphitruo, cui est servos Sosia,
idem Mercurius qui fit, quando commodumst,
in superiore quí habito cenaculo,
qui interdum fio Iuppiter, quando lubet;

[¶74] But, hither soon as ever I turn my steps, I become Amphitryon that moment, and I change my garb. Now hither am I come for the sake of a compliment to you, that I may not leave this Comedy incomplete. I’ve come as well to bring assistance to Alcmena, whom, guiltless woman, her husband
Amphitryon is accusing of dishonor. For what I myself have brought about, if that undeservedly should fall as an injury upon her in her innocence, it would be my blame. Now, as I have already begun, I’ll again pretend that I am Amphitryon,
and this day will I introduce extreme confusion into this household. Then afterwards, at last, I’ll cause the matter to be disclosed, and to Alcmena timely aid will I bring, and will cause that at one birth she shall bring forth, without pangs, both the child with which she is pregnant by her husband and that with which she is pregnant by myself.

> Latin: huc autem quom extemplo adventum adporto, ilico
Amphitruo fio et vestitum immuto meum.
nunc huc honoris vostri venio gratia,
ne hanc incohatam transigam comoediam;
simul Alcumenae, quam vir insontem probri
Amphitruo accusat, veni ut auxilium feram:
nam mea sit culpa, quod egomet contraxerim,
si id Alcumenae innocenti expetat.
nunc Amphitruonem memet, út occepi semel,
esse adsimulabo, atque in horum familiam
frustrationem hodie iniciam maxumam;
post igitur demum faciam res fiat palam
atque Alcumenae in tempore auxilium feram
faciamque ut uno fetu et quod gravida est viro
et me quod gravidast pariat sine doloribus.

[¶75] I have ordered Mercury forthwith to follow me, if I should wish to give him any commands. Now will I accost her.
(He stands apart.) (Enter ALCMENA, from the house.)

> Latin: Mercurium iussi me continuo consequi,
si quid vellem imperare. nunc hanc adloquar.

[¶76] ALCMENA:
I cannot remain in the house. That I should be thus accused by my husband of dishonor, incontinence, and disgrace! he cries aloud that things which have been done, have really not been done;
and of things which have not been done, and of which I have not been guilty, he accuses me, and supposes that I shall treat it with indifference. By heavens, I will not do so, nor will I allow myself to be falsely charged with dishonor; but rather I’ll either leave him, or make him give satisfaction and swear as well
that he wishes unsaid the things which he has alleged against me in my innocence.
JUPITER: (apart.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Durare nequeo in aedibus. ita me probri,
stupri, dedecoris a viro argutam meo!
ea quae sunt facta infecta ut reddat clamitat,
quae neque sunt facta neque ego in me admisi arguit;
atque id me susque deque esse habituram putat.
non edepol faciam, neque me perpetiar probri
falso insimulatam, quin ego illum aut deseram
aut sátis faciat mi ille átque adiuret insuper,
nolle esse dicta quae in me insontem protulit.

[¶77] This must be done by me, which she requires to be done, if I wish for her to receive me into her company as loving her: since that which I have done, that same conduct has proved to the detriment of Amphitryon, and since my love has already created trouble for him who is really
guiltless, why now his wrath and his resentment towards her shall fall on me that am not accused.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Faciundum est mi illud, fieri quód illaec postulat,
si me illam amantem ad sese studeam recipere,
quando ego quod feci, id factum Amphitruoni offuit
atque illi dudum meus amor negotium
insonti exhibuit, nunc autem insonti mihi
illius ira in hanc et male dicta expetent.

[¶78] ALCMENA:
And lo! I see him, who just now was accusing wretched me of incontinence and dishonor.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Sed eccum video qui me miseram arguit
stupri, dedecoris.

[¶79] JUPITER: (advancing.)
Wife, I would discourse with you. (She turns from him.) Why turn yourself away?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Te volo, uxor, conloqui.
quo te avortisti? …

[¶80] ALCMENA:
Such is my disposition;

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ita ingenium meumst:

[¶81] I always hate to look upon my enemies.

> Latin: inimicos semper osa sum optuerier.

[¶82] JUPITER:
Heyday! enemies indeed!

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Heia autem inimicos?

[¶83] ALCMENA:
It is so, I speak the truth; unless you are going to allege that this is falsely said as well.
JUPITER: (offering to embrace her.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Sic est, vera praedico;
nisi etiam hoc falso dici insimulaturus es.

[¶84] You are too angry.
ALCMENA: (repulsing him.)
Can’t you keep your hands off? For surely if you were wise, or quite in your senses,
with her, whom you deem and pronounce to be unchaste, you would neither hold discourse, in mirth or in seriousness, unless, indeed, you are more foolish than the most foolish.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Nimis iracunda es.
Alcvmena:
Potin ut abstineas manum?
nam certo, si sis sanus aut sapias satis,
quam tu impudicam esse arbitrere et praedices,
cum ea tú sermonem nec ioco nec serio
tibi habeas, nisi sis stultior stultissimo.

[¶85] JUPITER:
If I did say so, not a bit the more are you so, nor do I think you so, and therefore have I returned hither that I might excuse myself to you.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Si dixi, nihilo magis es, neque ego esse arbitror,
et id huc revorti uti me purgarem tibi.

[¶86] For never has anything proved more grievous to my feelings than when I heard that you were angry with me. “Why did you charge me?” you will say. I’ll tell you; by my troth, not that I deemed you to be unchaste; but I was trying your feelings,
what you would do, and in what manner you would bring yourself to bear it. Really, I said these things to you just now in jest, for the sake of the joke. Do but ask Sosia this.

> Latin: nam numquam quicquam meo animo fuit aegrius,
quam postquam audivi ted esse iratam mihi.
cur dixisti? inquies. ego expediam tibi.
non edepol quo te esse impudicam crederem;
verum periclitatus súm animum tuom,
quid faceres et quo pacto id ferre induceres.
equidem ioco illa dixeram dudum tibi,
ridiculi causa. vél hunc rogato Sosiam.

[¶87] ALCMENA:
But why don’t you bring here my kinsman, Naucrates, whom you said just now that you would bring as a witness
that you had not come here?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quin huc adducis meum cognatum Naucratem,
testem quem dudum te adducturum dixeras,
te huc non venisse?

[¶88] JUPITER:
If anything was said in joke, it isn’t right for you to take it in earnest.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Si quid dictum est per iocum,
non aequom est id te serio praevortier.

[¶89] ALCMENA:
I know how much this has pained me at heart.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego illúd scio quam doluerit cordi meo.

[¶90] JUPITER:
Prithee, Alcmena (taking her hand), by your right hand I do entreat you, grant me pardon; forgive me, don’t be angry.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Per dexteram tuam te, Alcumena, oro obsecro,
da mihi hanc veniam, ignosce, irata ne sies.

[¶91] ALCMENA:
By my virtue have I rendered these accusations vain. Since then I eschew conduct that’s unchaste, I would wish to avoid imputations of unchastity. Fare you well, keep your own property to yourself, return me mine. Do you order any maids to be my attendants?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego istaec feci verba virtute irrita;
nunc, quando factis me impudicis abstini,
ab impudicis dictis avorti volo.
valeas, tibi habeas res tuas, reddas meas.
iuben mi íre comites?

[¶92] JUPITER:
Are you in your senses?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Sanan es?

[¶93] ALCMENA:
If you don’t order them,
let me go alone; chastity shall I take as my attendant.
(Going.)

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Si non iubes,
ibo egomet; comitem mihi Pudicitiam duxero.†

[¶94] JUPITER:
Stay—at your desire, I’ll give my oath that I believe my wife to be chaste. If in that I deceive you, then, thee, supreme Jupiter, do I entreat that thou wilt ever be angered against Amphitryon.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Mane. arbitratu tuo ius iurandum dabo,
me meam pudicam esse uxorem arbitrarier.
id ego si fallo, tum te, summe Iuppiter,
quaeso, Amphitruoni ut semper iratus sies.

[¶95] ALCMENA:
Oh! rather may he prove propitious.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
A, propitius sit potius.

[¶96] JUPITER:
I trust that it will be so; for before you have I taken a truthful oath. Now then, you are not angry?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Confido fore;
nam ius iurandum verum te advorsum dedi.
iam nunc irata non es?

[¶97] ALCMENA:
I am not.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Non sum.

[¶98] JUPITER:
You act properly. For in the life of mortals many things of this nature come to pass; and now they take their pleasures, again they meet with hardships.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Bene facis.
nam in hominum aetate multa eveniunt huius modi:
capiunt voluptátes, capiunt rursum miserias;

[¶99] Quarrels intervene, again do they become reconciled. But it perchance any quarrels of this nature happen between them, when again they have become reconciled, twofold more loving are they between themselves than they were before.

> Latin: irae interveniunt, redeunt rursum in gratiam.
verum irae si quae forte eveniunt huius modi
inter eos, rursum si reventum in gratiam est,
bis tanto amici sunt inter se quam prius.

[¶100] ALCMENA:
At the first you ought to have been careful not to say so;
but if you excuse yourself to me for the same, it must be put up with.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Primum cavisse oportuit ne diceres,
verum eadem si isdem purgas mi, patiunda sunt.

[¶101] JUPITER:
But bid the sacred vessels to be got ready for me, that I may fulfil all those vows which I made when with the army, in case I should return safe home.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Iube véro vasa pura adornari mihi,
ut quae ápud legionem vota vovi, si domum
rediissem salvos, ea ego exsolvam omnia.

[¶102] ALCMENA:
I’ll take care of that.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Ego istuc curabo.

[¶103] JUPITER: (To a SERVANT.)
Call out Sosia hither.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Evocate huc Sosiam;

[¶104] Let him fetch Blepharo, the pilot that was on board my ship, to breakfast with us. (Aside.) He shall be fooled this day so as to go without his breakfast, while I shall drag Amphitryon hence by the throat.
ALCMENA: (aside.)

> Latin: gubernatorem qui in mea navi fuit
Blepharonem arcessat, qui nobiscum prandeat.
is adeo … inpransus ludificabitur,
cum ego Amphitruonem collo hinc obstricto traham.

[¶105] It’s surprising what he can be arranging alone in secrecy with himself. But the door opens; Sosia’s coming out.
(Enter SOSIA, from the house)
SOSIA:
Amphitryon, I’m here; if any way you have need of me, command me; your commands I will obey.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Mirum quid solus secum secreto ille agat.
atque aperiuntur aedes. exit Sosia.
Sosia:
Ámphitruo, assum. sí quid opus est, impera, imperium éxequar.

[¶106] JUPITER:
Very opportunely are you come.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
⟨Sosia,⟩ optume advenis.

[¶107] SOSIA:
Has peace been made then between you two? But since I see you in good humour, I’m delighted, and it is a pleasure to myself. And so does it seem becoming for a trusty servant to conduct himself;

> Latin: Sosia:
Iam pax est inter vos duos?
nam quia vos tranquillos video, gaudeo et volup est mihi.
atque ita servom par videtur frugi sese instituere:

[¶108] just as his superiors are, so should he be likewise; by their countenances he should fashion his own countenance; if his superiors are grave, let him be grave; if they rejoice, let him be merry. But come, answer me; have you two now come to a reconciliation?

> Latin: proinde eri ut sint, ipse item sit; voltum e voltu comparet:
tristis sit, si eri sint tristes; hilarus sit, si gaudeant.
sed age responde: iam vos rediistis in concordiam?

[¶109] JUPITER:
You are laughing at me, who know full well that these things were just now said by me in joke.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Derides, qui scis haec dudum me dixisse per iocum.

[¶110] SOSIA:
In joke did you say it? For my part, I supposed that it was said seriously and in truthfulness.

> Latin: Sosia:
An id ioco dixisti? équidem serio ac vero ratus.

[¶111] JUPITER:
Still, I’ve made my excuses; and peace has been made.
SOSIA:’Tis very good.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Habui expurigationem; facta pax est.
Sosia:
Optume est.

[¶112] JUPITER:
I shall now perform the sacrifice in-doors, and the vows which I have made.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Ego rem divinam intus faciam, vota quae sunt.

[¶113] SOSIA:
So I suppose.

> Latin: Sosia:
Censeo.

[¶114] JUPITER:
Do you invite hither, in my name, Blepharo, the pilot, from the ship, so that when the sacrifice has been performed, he may breakfast with me.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Tu gubernatorem a navi huc evoca verbis meis
Blepharonem, qui re divina facta mecum prandeat.

[¶115] SOSIA:
I shall be here again, while you’ll be thinking that I’m there.

> Latin: Sosia:
Iam hic ero, cum illic censebis esse me.—

[¶116] JUPITER:
Return here directly.
(Exit SOSIA.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Actutum huc redi.

[¶117] ALCMENA:
Do you wish for anything else, but that I should go in-doors now, that the things that are requisite may be got ready?

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Numquid vis, quin abeam iam intro, ut apparentur quibus opust?

[¶118] JUPITER:
Go then, and take care that everything is prepared as soon as possible.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
I sane, et quantum potest parata fac sint omnia.

[¶119] ALCMENA:
Why, come in-doors whenever you please; I’ll take care that there shall not be any delay.

> Latin: Alcvmena:
Quin venis quando vis intro? faxo haud quicquam sit morae.—

[¶120] JUPITER:
You say well, and just as befits an attentive wife. (ALCMENA goes into the house.) Now both of these, both servant and mistress, are, the pair of them, deceived,
in taking me to be Amphitryon; egregiously do they err. Now, you immortal Sosia, take you care and be at hand for me. You hear what I say, although you are not present here. Take care that you contrive to drive away Amphitryon, on his arrival just now, by some means or other, from the house.

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Recte loquere et proinde diligentem ut uxorem decet.
iam hisce ambo, et servos et era, frustra sunt duo,
qui me Amphitruonem rentur esse: errant probe.
nunc tu divine húc fac adsis Sosia
(audis quae dico, tam etsi praesens non ades),
fac Amphitruonem ádvenientem ab aedibus
ut abigas; quovis pacto fac commentus sis.

[¶121] I wish him to be cajoled, while with this borrowed wife I now indulge myself. Please, take care that this is attended to just in such way as you know that I desire, and that you assist me while to myself I am offering sacrifice.
(Goes into AMPHITRYON’S house.) (Enter MERCURY, running, at the end of the stage.)

> Latin: volo déludi illunc, dum cum hac usuraria
uxore nunc mihi morigero. haec curata sint
fac sis, proinde adeo ut velle med intellegis,
atque ut ministres mihi, mihi cum sacruficem.

[¶122] MERCURY:
Stand by and make room all of you, get you out of the way.
And let not any person now be so presumptuous as to stand before me in the road. For surely, why, by my troth, should I, a God, be any less allowed to threaten the public, if it does not get out of my way, than a slave in Comedies? He is bringing news that the ship is safe, or else the approach of some angry old blade; whereas I am obeying the bidding of Jove, and by his command do I now hie me.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Concédite atque abscédite omnes, dé via decédite,
nec quísquam tam audax fúat homo, qui óbviam obsistát mihi.
nam mihi quidem hercle qui minus liceat deo minitarier
populo, ni decedat mihi, quam servolo in comoediis?
ille návem salvam nuntiat aut irati adventum senis:
ego sum Iovi dicto audiens, eius iussu nunc huc me adfero.

[¶123] For this reason, it is more fitting to get out of the road and to make room for me. My father calls me, I am following him, to his orders so given am I obedient. As it befits a son to be dutiful to his father, just so am I to my father; in his amours I play second fiddle to him, I encourage him, assist him, advise him, rejoice with him. If anything is pleasing to my father, that pleasure is an extremely great one for myself.

> Latin: quam ob rem mihi magis par est via decedere et concedere.
pater vocat me, eum sequor, eius dicto imperio sum audiens;
ut filium bonum patri esse oportet, itidem ego sum patri.
amanti subparasitor, hortor, adsto, admoneo, gaudeo.
si quid patri volup est, voluptas ea mi multo maxumast.

[¶124] Is he amorously disposed? He is wise; he does right, inasmuch as he follows his inclination; a thing that all men ought to do, so long as it is done in a proper manner. Now, my father wishes Amphitryon to be cajoled; I’ll take care, Spectators, that he shall be rarely cajoled, while you look on. I’ll place a chaplet on my head, and pretend that I am drunk.

> Latin: amat: sapit; recte facit, animo quando obsequitur suo,
quod omnis homines facere oportet, dum id modo fiat bono.
nunc Amphitruonem volt deludi meus pater: faxo probe
iam hic deludetur, spectatores, vobis inspectantibus.
capiam coronam mi in caput, adsimulabo me esse ebrium;

[¶125] And up there (pointing to the top of the house) will I get; from that spot, at the top of the house, I’ll cleverly drive this person off when he comes hither: I’ll take care that, sober, he shall be drenched. Afterwards, his own servant Sosia will presently be suffering the punishment for it; he’ll be accusing him of doing, this day, the things which I myself have done what’s that to me? It’s proper for me to be obedient to my father; it’s right to be subservient to his pleasure.

> Latin: atque illuc sursum escendero: inde optume aspellam virum
de supero, cum huc accesserit; faciam ut sit madidus sobrius.
deinde illi actutum sufferet suos servos poenas Sosia:
eum fécisse ille hodie arguet quae ego feceró hic. quid mea?
meo me aéquomst morigerum patri, eius studio servire addecet.

[¶126] But see! here is Amphitryon; he’s coming. Now shall he be rarely fooled, if, indeed, (to the AUDIENCE) you are willing, by listening, to lend your attention. I’ll go in-doors, and assume a garb that more becomes me; then I’ll go up upon the roof, that I may drive him off from hence.
(Goes into the house, and fastens the door.) (Enter AMPHITRYON.)
AMPHITRYON: (to himself.)

> Latin: sed eccum Amphitruonem, advenit; iam ille hic deludetur probe,
siquidém vos voltis auscultando operam dare.
ibo intro, ornatum capiam qui potis decet;
dein susum ascendam in tectum, ut illum hinc prohibeam.

[¶127] Naucrates, whom I wanted to find, was not on board ship;
neither at home nor in the city do I meet with any one that has seen him; for through all the streets have I crawled, the wrestling-rings and the perfumers’ shops, to the market, too, and in the shambles, the school for exercise, and the Forum, the doctors’ shops, the barbers’ shops, and among all the sacred buildings. I’m wearied out with seeking him, and yet I nowhere meet with Naucrates.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Naúcratem quem cónvenire vólui, in navi nón erat,
neque domi neque in urbe invenio quemquam qui illum viderit.
nam omnis plateas perreptavi, gymnasia et myropolia;
apud emporium atque in macello, ín palaestra atque in foro,
in medicinis, in tonstrinis, apud omnis aedis sacras
sum defessus quaeritando: nusquam invenio Naucratem.

[¶128] Now I’ll go home, and from my wife will I continue to make enquiry into this matter, who the person was, by the side of whom she submitted her body to dishonor. For it were better that I was dead, than that I this day should leave this enquiry incomplete. (Goes up to the door.) But the house is closed. A pretty thing indeed! This is done just like the other things have been done: I’ll knock at the door. (Knocks.)

> Latin: nunc domum ibo atque ex uxore hánc rem pergam exquirere,
quis fuerit quem propter corpus suom stupri compleverit.
nam me, quam illam quaestionem inquisitam hodie amittere,
mortuom satiust. sed aedis occluserunt. eugepae,
pariter hoc fit atque ut alia facta sunt. feriam foris.

[¶129] Open this door; ho there! is there anybody here? Is any one going to open this door?
(MERCURY appears on the top of the house, with a chaplet on his head, pretending to be drunk.)

> Latin: aperite hoc. heus, ecquis hic est? ecquis hoc aperit ostium?

[¶130] MERCURY:
Who’s that at the door?
AMPHITRYON:’Tis I.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quís ad fores est?
Amphitrvo:
Égo sum.

[¶131] MERCURY:
Who’s “’tis I?”
AMPHITRYON:’Tis I that say so.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quid ego sum.
Amphitrvo:
Íta loquor.

[¶132] MERCURY:
For sure, Jupiter and all the Deities are angered with you who are banging at the door this way.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Tibi Iúppiter
dique omnes irati certo sunt, qui sic frangas fores.

[¶133] AMPHITRYON:
In what manner?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quo modo?

[¶134] MERCURY:
In this manner, that without a doubt you must be spending a wretched life.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Eo modo, ut profecto vivas aetatem miser.

[¶135] AMPHITRYON:
Sosia.
MERCURY:
Well; I’m Sosia, unless you think that I’ve forgotten myself.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Sosia.
Mercvrivs:
Ita, sum Sosia, nisi me esse oblitum existimas.

[¶136] What do you want now?
AMPHITRYON:
What, you rascal, and do you even ask me that, what it is I want?

> Latin: quid nunc vis?
Amphitrvo:
Sceleste, at etiam quid velim, id tu me rogas?

[¶137] MERCURY:
I do so ask you; you blockhead, you’ve almost broken the hinges from off the door. Did you fancy that doors were supplied us at the public charge? Why are you looking up at me, you stupid? What do you want now for yourself, or what fellow are you?

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Ita, rogo. paene effregisti, fatue, foribus cardines.
an foris censebas nobis publicitus praeberier?
quid me aspectas, stolide? quid nunc vis tibi? aut quis tu es homo?

[¶138] AMPHITRYON:
You whip-scoundrel, do you even ask me who I am, you hell of elm-saplings?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Verbero, etiam quis ego sim me rogitas, ulmorum Acheruns?

[¶139] I’ faith, this day I’ll make you burn with smarts of the scourge for these speeches of yours.

> Latin: quem pol ego hodie ob istaec dicta faciam ferventem flagris.

[¶140] MERCURY:
You surely must have formerly been a spendthrift in your young days.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Prodigum te fuisse oportet olim in adulescentia.

[¶141] AMPHITRYON:
How so?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quidum?

[¶142] MERCURY:
Because in your old age you come begging a hap-ill of me for yourself.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quia senecta aetate á me mendicas malum.

[¶143] AMPHITRYON:
Slave! for your own torture do you give vent to these expressions this day.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Cum cruciatu tuo istaec hodie, verna, verba funditas.

[¶144] MERCURY:
Now I’m performing a sacrifice to you.

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Sacrufico ego tibi.

[¶145] AMPHITRYON:
How?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Qui?

[¶146] MERCURY:
Why, because I devote you to ill-luck with this libation.
(Throws water on him.) …

> Latin: Mercvrivs:
Quia enim te macto infortunio.

[¶147] AMPHITRYON:
What, you, devote me, you villain? If the Gods have not this day taken away my usual form, I’ll take care that you shall be laden with bull’s hide thongs, you victim of Saturn. So surely will I devote you to the cross and to torture. Come out of doors, you whip-knave.
MERCURY:
You shadowy ghost—you, frighten me with your threats? If you don’t betake yourself off from here this instant, if you knock once more, if the door makes a noise with your little finger even, I’ll break your head with this tile, so that with your teeth you may sputter out your tongue.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
At ego te cruce et cruciatu mactabo, mastigia.
(Mercvrivs):
Érus Amphitruo⟨st⟩ occupatus.
(Mercvrivs):
abiendi nunc tibi etiam occasiost.
(Mercvrivs):
Optimo iure infringatur aula cineris in caput.
(Mercvrivs):
Ne tu postules matulam unam tibi aquae ínfundi in caput.
(Mercvrivs):
Laruatu's laruatus es. edepol hominem miserum. medicum quaerita.
(Alcvmena):
Exiúravisti te mihi dixe per iocum.
(Alcvmena):
Quaeso advenienti morbo medicari iube:
tu certe aut laruatus aut cerritus es.
(Alcvmena):
Nisi hoc ita factum est, proinde ut factum esse autumo,
non causam dico quin vero insimules probri
(Amphitrvo):
Cuius? quaé me absente corpus volgavit suom.
(Amphitrvo):
Quíd minitabas te facturum, si istas pepulissem fores?
(Amphitrvo):
Ibi scrobes ecfodito ⟨tu⟩ plus sexagenos in die.
(Amphitrvo):
Noli pessimo precari.
(Blepharo):
animam comprime
(Ivppiter):
Mánifestum hunc optorto collo teneo furem flagiti.
(Amphitrvo):
Immo ego hunc, Thebani cives, qui domi uxorem meam
impudicitia impedivit, teneo, thensaurum stupri.
(Amphitrvo):
Nilne te pudet, sceleste, populi in conspectum ingredi?
(Amphitrvo):
clandestino
(Amphitrvo sive Ivppiter):
Qui nequeas nostrorum uter sit Amphitruo decernere.
(Blepharo):
Vós inter vos partite; ego abeo, mihi negotium est;
neque ego umquam usquam tanta mira me vidisse censeo.

[¶148] AMPHITRYON:
What, rascal, would you be for driving me away from my own house? What, would you hinder me from knocking at my own door? I’ll this instant tear it from off all its hinges.
MERCURY:
Do you persist?
AMPHITRYON:
I do persist.
MERCURY:
Take that, then.
(Throws a tile at him.)
AMPHITRYON:
Scoundrel! at your master? If I lay hands upon you this day, I’ll bring you to that pitch of misery, that you shall be miserable for evermore.
MERCURY:
Surely, you must have been playing the Bacchanal, old gentleman.
AMPHITRYON:
Why so?
MERCURY:
Inasmuch as you take me to be your slave.
AMPHITRYON:
What? I—take you?
MERCURY:
Plague upon you! I know no master but Amphitryon.
AMPHITRYON: (to himself.)
Have I lost my form? It’s strange that Sosia shouldn’t know me. I’ll make trial. (Calling out.) How now! Tell me who I appear to be? Am I not really Amphitryon?
MERCURY:
Amphitryon? Are you in your senses? Has it not been told you before, old fellow, that you have been playing the Bacchanal, to be asking another person who you are? Get away, I recommend you, don’t be troublesome while Amphitryon, who has just come back from the enemy, is indulging himself with the company of his wife.
AMPHITRYON:
What wife?
MERCURY:
Alcmena.
AMPHITRYON:
What man?
MERCURY:
How often do you want it told? Amphitryon, my master;—don’t be troublesome.
AMPHITRYON:
Who’s he sleeping with?
MERCURY:
Take care that you don’t meet with some mishap in trifling with me this way.
AMPHITRYON:
Prithee, do tell me, my dear Sosia.
MERCURY:
More civilly said—with Alcmena.
AMPHITRYON:
In the same chamber?
MERCURY:
Yes, as I fancy, he is sleeping with her side by side.
AMPHITRYON:
Alas!—wretch that I am!
MERCURY: (to the AUDIENCE.)
It really is a gain which he imagines to be a misfortune. For to lend one’s wife to another is just as though you were to let out barren land to be ploughed.
AMPHITRYON:
Sosia!
MERCURY:
What, the plague, about Sosia?
AMPHITRYON:
Don’t you know me, you whip-scoundrel?
MERCURY:
I know that you are a troublesome fellow, who have no need to go buy a lawsuit.
AMPHITRYON:
Still once more—am I not your master Amphitryon?
MERCURY:
You are Bacchus himself, and not Amphitryon. How often do you want to be told? Any times more? My master Amphitryon, in the same chamber, is holding Alcmena in his embraces. If you persist, I’ll produce him here, and not without your great discomfiture.
AMPHITRYON:
I wish him to be fetched. (Aside.) I pray that this day, in return for my services, I may not lose house, wife, and household, together with my figure.
MERCURY:
Well, I’ll fetch him; but, in the meantime, do you mind about the door, please. (Aside.) I suppose that by this he has brought the sacrifice that he was intending, as far as the banquet. (Aloud.) If you are troublesome, you shan’t escape without my making a sacrifice of you.
(He retires into the house.)
AMPHITRYON:
Ye Gods, by my trust in you, what madness is distracting my household? What wondrous things have I seen since I arrived from abroad! Why, it’s true, surely, what was once heard tell of, how that men of Attica were transformed in Arcadia, and remained as savage wild beasts, and were not ever afterwards known unto their parents.
(Enter BLEPHARO and SOSIA, at a distance.)
BLEPHARO:
What’s this, Sosia? Great marvels are these that you are telling of. Do you say that you found another Sosia at home exactly like yourself?
SOSIA:
I do say so—but, hark you, since I have produced a Sosia, Amphitryon an Amphitryon, how do you know whether you, perchance, may not be producing another Blepharo? O that the Gods would grant that you as well, belaboured with fists, and with your teeth knocked out, going without your breakfast, might credit this. ForI, that other Sosia, that is to say, who am yonder, has mauled me in a dreadful manner.
BLEPHARO:
Really, it is wonderful; but it’s as well to mend our pace; for, as I perceive, Amphitryon is waiting for us, and my empty stomach is grumbling.
AMPHITRYON: (apart.)
—And why do I mention foreign legends? More wondrous things they relate to have happened among our Theban race in former days; that mighty searcher for Europa, attacking the monster sprung from Mars, suddenly produced his enemies from the serpent-seed; and in that battle fought, brother pressed on brother with lance and helm; the Epirote land, too, beheld the author of our race, together with the daughter of Venus, gliding as serpents. From on high supreme Jove thus willed it; thus destiny directs. All the noblest of our country, in return for their bright achievements, are pursued with direful woes. This fatality is pressing hard on me—still I could endure disasters so great, and submit to woes hardly to be endured—
SOSIA:
Blepharo.
BLEPHARO:
What’s the matter?
SOSIA:
I don’t know; I suspect something wrong.
BLEPHARO:
Why?
SOSIA:
Look, please, our master, like an humble courtier, is walking before the door bolted fast.
BLEPHARO:
It’s nothing; walking to and fro, he’s looking for an appetite.
SOSIA:
After a singular fashion, indeed; for he has shut the door, that it mayn’t escape out of the house.
BLEPHARO:
You do go yelping on.
SOSIA:
I go neither yelping on nor barking on; if you listen to me, observe him. I don’t know why he’s by himself alone; he’s making some calculation, I suppose. I can hear from this spot what he says— don’t be in a hurry.
AMPHITRYON: (apart.)
How much I fear lest the Gods should blot out the glory I have acquired in the conquest of the foe. In wondrous manner do I see the whole of my household in commotion. And then my wife, so full of viciousness, incontinence, and dishonor, kills me outright. But about the goblet, it is a singular thing; yet the seal was properly affixed. And what besides? She recounted to me the battles I had fought; Pterelas, too, besieged and bravely slain by my own hand, Aye, aye—now I know the trick; this was done by Sosia’s contrivance, who as well has disgracefully presumed to-day to get before me on my arrival.
SOSIA: (to BLEPHARO.)
He’s talking about me, and in terms that I had rather not. Prithee, don’t let’s accost this man until he has disclosed his wrath.
BLEPHARO:
Just as you please.
AMPHITRYON: (apart.)
If it is granted me this day to lay hold of that whip-scoundrel, I’ll show him what it is to deceive his master, and to assail me with threats and tricks.
SOSIA:
Do you hear him?
BLEPHARO:
I hear him.
SOSIA:
That implement (pointing to AMPHITRYON’S walkingstick) is a burden for my shoulder-blades. Let’s accost the man, if you please. Do you know what is in the habit of being commonly said?
BLEPHARO:
What you are going to say, I don’t know; what you’ll have to endure I pretty well guess.
SOSIA:
It’s an old adage—“Hunger and delay summon anger to the nostrils.”
BLEPHARO:
Aye, and well suited to the occasion. Let’s address him directly—Amphitryon!
AMPHITRYON: (looking round.)
Is it Blepharo I hear? It’s strange why he’s come to me. Still, he presents himself opportunely, for me to prove the guilty conduct of my wife. Why have you come here to me, Blepharo?
BLEPHARO:
Have you so soon forgotten how early in the morning you sent Sosia to the ship, that I might take a repast with you to-day?
AMPHITRYON:
Never in this world was it done. But where is that scoundrel?
BLEPHARO:
Who?
AMPHITRYON:
Sosia.
BLEPHARO:
See, there he is.
(Points at him.)
AMPHITRYON: (looking about.)
Where? BLEPH. Before your eyes; don’t you see him?
AMPHITRYON:
I can hardly see for anger, so distracted has that fellow made me this day. You shall never escape my making a sacrifice of you. (Offers to strike SOSIA, on which BLEPHARO prevents him.) Do let me, Blepharo.
BLEPHARO:
Listen, I pray.
AMPHITRYON:
Say on, I’m listening— (gives a blow to SOSIA) you take that.
SOSIA:
For what reason? Am I not in good time? I couldn’t have gone quicker, if I had betaken myself on the oar-like wings of Daedalus.
(AMPHITRYON tries to strike him again.)
BLEPHARO:
Prithee, do leave him alone; we couldn’t quicken our pace any further.
AMPHITRYON:
Whether it was the pace of a man on stilts or that of the tortoise, I’m determined to be the death of this villain. (Striking him at each sentence.) Take that for the roof; that for the tiles; that for closing the door; that for making fun of your master; that for your abusive language.
BLEPHARO:
What injury has he been doing to you?
AMPHITRYON:
Do you ask? Shut out of doors, from that housetop (pointing to it) he has driven me away from my house.
SOSIA:
What, I?
AMPHITRYON:
What did you threaten that you would do if I knocked at that door? Do you deny it, you scoundrel?
SOSIA:
Why shouldn’t I deny it? See, he’s sufficiently a witness with whom I have just now come; I was sent on purpose that by your invitation I might bring him to your house.
AMPHITRYON:
Who sent you, villain?
SOSIA:
He who asks me the question.
AMPHITRYON:
When, of all things?
SOSIA:
Some little time since-not long since—just now. When you were reconciled at home to your wife.
AMPHITRYON:
Bacchus must have demented you.
SOSIA:
May I not be paying my respects to Bacchus this day, nor yet to Ceres. You ordered the vessels to be made clean, that you might perform a sacrifice, and you sent me to fetch him (pointing to BLEPHARO), that he might breakfast with you.
AMPHITRYON:
Blepharo, may I perish outright if I have either been in the house, or if I have sent him. (To SOSIA.) Tell me—where did you leave me?
SOSIA:
At home, with your wife Alcmena. Leaving you, I flew towards the harbour, and invited him in your name. We are come, and I’ve not seen you since till now.
AMPHITRYON:
Villanous fellow! With my wife, say you? You shall never go away without getting a beating.
(Gives him a blow.)
SOSIA: (crying out.)
Blepharo!
BLEPHARO:
Amphitryon, do let him alone, for my sake, and listen to me.
AMPHITRYON:
Well then, I’ll let him alone. What do you want? Say on.
BLEPHARO:
He has just now been telling me most extraordi nary marvels. A juggler, or a sorcerer, perhaps, has enchanted all this household of yours. Do enquire in other quarters, and examine how it is. And don’t cause this poor fellow to be tortured, before you understand the matter.
AMPHITRYON:
You give good advice; let’s go in, I want you also to be my advocate against my wife.
(Knocks at the door.) (Enter JUPITER, from the house.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Blepharo, quaeso ut advocatus mi adsis neve abeas.
Blepharo:
Vale.
quid opust me advocato, quí utri sim advocatus nescio?—

[¶149] JUPITER:
Who with such weighty blows has been shaking this door on all the hinges? Who has been making such a great disturbance for this long while before the house? If I find him out, I’ll sacrifice him to the shades of the Teleboans. There’s nothing, as the common saying is, that goes on well with me to-day. I left Blepharo and Sosia that I might find my kinsman Naucrates; him I have not found, and them I have lost. But I espy them; I’ll go meet them, to enquire if they have any news.
SOSIA:
Blepharo, that’s our master that’s coming out of the house; but this man’s the sorcerer.
BLEPHARO:
O Jupiter! What do I behold? This is not, but that is, Amphitryon; if this is, why really that cannot be he, unless, indeed, he is double.
JUPITER:
See now, here’s Sosia with Blepharo; I’ll accost them the first. Well, Sosia, come to us at last? I’m quite hungry.
SOSIA:
Didn’t I tell you, Blepharo, that this one was the sorcerer?

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Intro ego hinc eo. Alcumena parturit.—

[¶150] AMPHITRYON:
Nay, Theban citizens, I say that this is he (pointing to JUPITER) who in my house has made my wife guilty of incontinence, through whom I find a store of unchastity laid up for me.
SOSIA: (to JUPITER)
Master, if now you are hungry, crammed full of fisticuffs, I betake me to you.
AMPHITRYON:
Do you persist, whip-scoundrel?
SOSIA:
Hie thee to Acheron, sorcerer.
AMPHITRYON:
What, I a sorcerer? (Strikes him.) Take that.
JUPITER:
What madness possesses you, stranger, for you to be beating my servant?
AMPHITRYON:
Your servant?
JUPITER:
Mine.
AMPHITRYON:
You lie.
JUPITER:
Sosia, go in-doors, and take care the breakfast is got ready while I’m sacrificing this fellow.
SOSIA:
I’ll go. (Aside.) Amphitryon, I suppose, will receive the other Amphitryon as courteously as I, that other Sosia, did me, Sosia, a while ago. Meantime, while they are contending, I’ll turn aside into the victualling department: I’ll clean out all the dishes, and all the vessels I’ll drain.
(Goes into the house.) (JUPITER, AMPHITRYON, and BLEPHARO.)
JUPITER:
Do you say that I lie?
AMPHITRYON:
You lie, I say, you corrupter of my family.
JUPITER:
For that disgraceful speech, I’ll drag you along here, seizing you by the throat.
(Seizes him by the throat.)
AMPHITRYON:
Ah wretched me!
JUPITER:
But you should have had a care of this beforehand.
AMPHITRYON:
Blepharo, aid me!
BLEPHARO: (aside.)
The two are so exactly alike that I don’t know which to side with. Still, so far as possible, I’ll put an end to their contention. (Aloud.) Amphitryon, don’t slay Amphitryon in fight; let go his throat, I pray.
JUPITER:
Are you calling this fellow Amphitryon?
BLEPHARO:
Why not? Formerly he was but one, but now he has become double. While you are wanting to be he, the other, too, doesn’t cease to be of his form. Meanwhile, prithee, do leave go of his neck.
JUPITER:
I will leave go. (Lets go of AMPHITRYON.) But tell me, does that fellow appear to you to be Amphitryon?
BLEPHARO:
Really, both of you do.
AMPHITRYON:
O supreme Jupiter! when this day didst thou take from me my form? I’ll proceed to make enquiry of him; are you Amphitryon?
JUPITER:
Do you deny it?
AMPHITRYON:
Downright do I deny it, inasmuch as in Thebes there is no other Amphitryon besides myself.
JUPITER:
On the contrary, no other besides myself; and, in fact, do you, Blepharo, be the judge.
BLEPHARO:
I’ll make this matter clear by proofs, if I can. (To AMPHITRYON.) Do you answer first.
AMPHITRYON:
With pleasure.
BLEPHARO:
Before the battle with the Taphians was begun by you, what orders did you give me?
AMPHITRYON:
The ship being in readiness, for you carefully to keep close to the rudder.
JUPITER:
That if our people should take to flight, I might betake myself in safety thither.
BLEPHARO:
Anything else as well?
AMPHITRYON:
That the bag loaded with treasure should be carefully guarded.
JUPITER:
Because the money—
BLEPHARO:
Hold your tongue, you, if you please; it’s my place to ask. Did you know the amount?
JUPITER:
Fifty Attic talents.
BLEPHARO:
He tells the truth to a nicety. And you (to AMPHITRYON), how many Philippeans?
AMPHITRYON:
Two thousand.
JUPITER:
And obols twice as many.
BLEPHARO:
Each of you states the matter correctly. Inside the bag one of you must have been shut up.
JUPITER:
Attend, please. With this right hand, as you know, I slew king Pterelas; his spoils I seized, and the goblet from which he had been used to drink I brought away in a casket; I made a present of it to my wife, with whom this day at home I bathed, I sacrificed, and slept.
AMPHITRYON:
Ah me! what do I hear? I scarcely am myself. For, awake, I am asleep; awake, I am in a dream; alive and well, I come to destruction. I am that same Amphitryon, the descendant of Gorgophone, the general of the Thebans, and the sole combatant for Creon against the Teleboans; I, who have subdued by my might the Acarnanians and the Taphians, and, by my consummate warlike prowess, their king. Over these have I appointed Cephalus, the son of the great Deioneus.
JUPITER:
I am he who by warfare and my valour crushed the hostile ravagers. They had destroyed Electryon and the brothers of my wife. Wandering through the Ionian, the Aegean, and the Cretan seas, with piratical violence they laid waste Achaia, Aetolia, and Phocis.
AMPHITRYON:
Immortal Gods! I cannot trust my own self, so exactly does he relate all the things that happened there. Consider, Blepharo.
BLEPHARO:
One thing only remains; if so it is, do you be Amphitryons both of you.
JUPITER:
I knew what you would say. The scar that I have on the muscle of my right arm, from the wound which Pterelas gave me—
BLEPHARO:
Well, that.
AMPHITRYON:
Quite to the purpose.
JUPITER:
See you! look, behold!
BLEPHARO:
Uncover, and I’ll look.
JUPITER:
We have uncovered. Look!
(They show their naked arms.)
BLEPHARO: (looking at the right arm of each.)
Supreme Jupiter, what do I behold? On the right-arm muscle of each, in the same spot, the scar clearly appears with the same mark, reddish and somewhat livid, just as it has first commenced to close. Reasoning is at a standstill, all judgment is struck dumb; I don’t know what to do.
BLEPHARO:
Do you settle these matters between yourselves; I’m off, for I have business; and I do not think that I have ever anywhere beheld such extraordinary wonders.
AMPHITRYON:
Blepharo, I pray that you’ll stay as my advocate, and not go away.
BLEPHARO:
Farewell. What need is there of me for an advocate, who don’t know which of the two to side with?
JUPITER:
I’m going hence in-doors: Alcmena is in labour.
(Exit BLEPHARO, and JUPITER goes into AMPHITRYON’S house.)
AMPHITRYON: (aloud to himself.)
I’m undone, wretch that I am;
for what am I to do, when my advocates and friends are now forsaking me? Never, by heavens, shall he deride me unrevenged, whoever he is. Now will I betake myself straight to the king, and tell him of the matter as it has happened. By my faith, I will this day take vengeance on this Thessalian sorcerer, who has wrongfully distracted the minds of my household.
But where is he? (Looking around.) By my troth, he’s off into the house, to my wife, I suppose. What other person lives in Thebes more wretched than myself? What now shall I do? I, whom all men deny and deride just as they please. I am resolved; I’ll burst into the house; there, whatever person I perceive, whether maid-servant or man-servant, whether wife or whether paramour,
whether father or whether grandfather, I’ll behead that person in the house; neither Jupiter nor all the Deities shall hinder me from this, even if they would, but that I’ll do just as I have resolved.
(As he advances to the door, it thunders, and he falls in a swoon upon the ground.) (Enter BROMIA, from the house, AMPHITRYON lying on the ground.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Perii miser.
quid ego ⟨faciam,⟩ quem advocati iam atque amici deserunt?
numquam edepol me inultus istic ludificabit, quisquis est;
nam iam ad regem recta me ducam resque ut facta est eloquar.†
ego pol illum ulciscar hodie Thessalum veneficum,
qui pervorse perturbavit familiae mentem meae.
sed ubi illest? intro edepol abiit, credo ad uxorem meam.
qui me Thebis alter vivit miserior? quid nunc agam,
quem omnes mortales ignorant et ludificant ut lubet.
certumst, intro rumpam in aedis: ubi quemque hominem aspexero,
si ancillam seu servom sive uxorem sive adulterum
seu patrem sive ávom videbo, óbtruncabo in aedibus.
neque me Iuppiter neque di omnes id prohibebunt, si volent,
quin sic faciam ut constitui. pergam in aedis nunciam.

[¶151] BROMIA: (to herself.)
The hopes and resources of my life lie buried in my breast, nor is there any boldness in my heart, but what I have lost it.
So much to me do all things seem, the sea, the earth, the heavens, to be conspiring, that now I may be crushed, that I may be destroyed. Ah, wretched me! I know not what to do. Prodigies so great have come to pass within the house. Ah! woe is me! I’m sick at heart, some water I could wish! I’m overpowered and I’m utterly undone. My head is aching, and I cannot hear, nor do I see well with my eyes.
No woman is there more wretched than myself, nor can one seem to be more so. Thus has it this day befallen my mistress; for when she invoked for herself the Deities of travail, what rumblings and grumblings, crashes and flashes; suddenly, how instantaneously did it thunder, and how woundy loud. On the spot where each one stood, at the peal he fell; then some one, I know not who, exclaimed in a mighty voice, “Alcmena, succour is at hand, fear not:”
“propitious both to thee and thine, the Ruler of the Heavens comes. Arise,” it said, “ye who have fallen down in your terror through dread of me.” As I lay, I arose; I fancied that the house was in flames. Then Alcmena called me; and then did that circumstance strike me with horror. Fears for my mistress took possession of me; I ran to her to enquire what she wanted;
and then I beheld that she had given birth to two male children; not yet did any one of us perceive when she was delivered, or indeed expect it. (Sees AMPHITRYON.) But what’s this? Who’s this old man that’s lying thus before our house? Has Jupiter then smitten him with his thunders? By my troth, I think so; for, oh Jupiter! he is in a lethargy just like one dead.
I’ll approach, that I may learn who it is. (She advances.) Surely, this is my master Amphitryon. (Calls aloud.) Ho! Amphitryon!

> Latin: Bromia:
Spes átque opes vitaé meae iacént sepultae in pectore,
neque ullast confidentia iam in corde, quin amiserim;
ita mihi videntur omnia, mare terra caelum, consequi,
iam ut opprimar, ut enicer. me miseram, quid agam nescio.
ita tanta mira in aedibus sunt facta. vae miserae mihi,
animo malest, aquam velim. corrupta sum atque absumpta sum.
caput dolet, neque audio, nec oculis prospicio satis,
nec me miserior femina est neque ulla videatur magis.
ita erae meae hodie contigit. nam ubi parturit, deos síbi invocat,
strepitús, crepitus, sonitús, tonitrus: ut subito, ut propere, ut valide tonuit!
ubi quísque institerat, cóncidit crepitu. íbi nescio quis máxuma
vóce exclamat: “Alcumena, adest auxilium, ne time:
et tibi et tuis propitius caeli cultor advenit.
exsúrgite” inquit “qui terrore meo occidistis prae metu.”
ut iácui, exsurgo. ardére censui aédis, ita tum cónfulgebant.
íbi me inclamat Álcumena; iam éa res me horrore ádficit,
erílis praevertít metus: accúrro, ut sciscam quíd velit.
atque illam geminos filios pueros peperisse conspicor;
neque nostrum quisquam sensimus, quom peperit, neque providimus.
séd quid hoc? quis hic ést senex, qui ante aédis nostras síc iacet?
numnam húnc percussit Iúppiter?
credo édepol, nam, pro Iúppiter, sepúltust quasi sit mórtuos.
ibo et cognoscam, quisquis est. Amphitruo híc quidem ⟨est⟩ érus meus.
Amphítruo.

[¶152] AMPHITRYON:
I’m dead.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Perii.

[¶153] BROMIA:
Arise.

> Latin: Bromia:
Súrge.

[¶154] AMPHITRYON:
I’m slain outright.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Interii.

[¶155] BROMIA:
Give me your hand.
(Takes his hand.)

> Latin: Bromia:
Cédo manum.

[¶156] AMPHITRYON: (recovering.)
Who is it that has hold of me?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis mé tenet?

[¶157] BROMIA:
Bromia, your maid-servant.

> Latin: Bromia:
Tua Bromia ancilla.

[¶158] AMPHITRYON: (rising.)
I tremble all over, to such a degree has Jove pealed against me. And no otherwise is it than if I had come hither from Acheron. But why have you come out of the house?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Totus timeo, íta me increpuit Iuppiter.
nec secus est, quasi si ab Acherunte veniam. sed quid tu foras
egressa es?

[¶159] BROMIA:
The same alarm has scared ourselves, affrighted with horror;
in the house where you yourself dwell, have I seen astounding prodigies. Woe to me, Amphitryon; even now do my senses fail me to such a degree.

> Latin: Bromia:
Eadem nos formido timidas terrore impulit
in aedibus, tu ubi habitas. nimia mira vidi. vae mihi,
Amphitruo, íta mihi animus etiam nunc abest.

[¶160] AMPHITRYON:
Come now, tell me; do you know me to be your master Amphitryon?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Agedum expedi:
scin me tuom esse erum Amphitruonem?

[¶161] BROMIA:
I do know it.

> Latin: Bromia:
Scio.

[¶162] AMPHITRYON:
Look even once again.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Vide etiam nunc.

[¶163] BROMIA:
I do know it.

> Latin: Bromia:
Scio.

[¶164] AMPHITRYON:
She alone of all my household has a sane mind.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Haec sola sanam mentem gestat meorum familiarium.

[¶165] BROMIA:
Nay but, really, they are all of them sane.

> Latin: Bromia:
Immo omnes sani sunt profecto.

[¶166] AMPHITRYON:
But my wife causes me to be insane
by her own shameful practices.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
At me uxor insanum facit
suis foedis factis.

[¶167] BROMIA:
But I’ll make you, Amphitryon, to be holding other language; that you may understand that your wife is dutiful and chaste, upon that subject I will in a few words discover some tokens and some proofs. In the first place of all, Alcmena has given birth to two sons.

> Latin: Bromia:
At ego faciam, tu idem ut aliter praedices,
Ámphitruo, piam et pudicam ésse tuam uxorem ut scias.
de ea re signa atque argumenta paucis verbis eloquar.
omnium primum: Alcumena geminos peperit filios.

[¶168] AMPHITRYON:
Two, say you?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ain tu, geminos?

[¶169] BROMIA:
Two.

> Latin: Bromia:
Geminos.

[¶170] AMPHITRYON:
The Gods preserve me!

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Di me servant.

[¶171] BROMIA:
Allow me to speak,
that you may know that all the Deities are propitious to yourself and to your wife.

> Latin: Bromia:
Sine me dicere,
ut scias tibi tuaeque uxori deos esse omnis propitios.

[¶172] AMPHITRYON:
Say on.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Loquere.

[¶173] BROMIA:
After that, this day, your wife began to be in labour, when the pangs of childbirth came on, as is the custom with women in travail, she invoked the immortal Gods to give her aid, with washed hands and with covered head. Then forthwith it thundered
with most tremendous crash. At first we thought that your house was falling; all your house shone bright, as though it had been made of gold.

> Latin: Bromia:
Postquam parturire hodie uxor occepit tua,
ubi utero exorti dolores, ut solent puerperae
invocat deos immortales, ut sibi auxilium ferant,
manibus puris, capite operto. íbi continuo contonat
sonitu maxumo; aedes primo ruere rebamur tuas.
aedes totae confulgebant tuae, quasi essent aureae.

[¶174] AMPHITRYON:
Prithee, relieve me quickly from this, since you have kept me long enough in suspense. What happened then?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quaeso absolvito hinc me extemplo, quando satis deluseris.
quid fit deinde?

[¶175] BROMIA:
While these things were passing, meanwhile, not one of us heard your wife groaning or complaining;
and thus, in fact, without pain was she delivered.

> Latin: Bromia:
Dum haec aguntur, interea uxorem tuam
neque gementem neque plorantem nostrum quisquam audivimus;
ita profecto sine dolore peperit.

[¶176] AMPHITRYON:
Then do I rejoice at this, whatever she has merited at my hands.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Iam istuc gaudeo,
utut erga me merita est.

[¶177] BROMIA:
Leave that alone, and hear these things which I shall tell you. After she was delivered, she bade us wash the babes; we commenced to do so. But that child which I washed, how stout, how very powerful he is; and not a person was there, able to wrap him in the swaddling-clothes.

> Latin: Bromia:
Mitte ista atque haec quae dicam accipe.
postquam peperit, pueros lavere iussit nos. occepimus.
sed puer ille quém ego lavi, ut magnust et multum valet!
neque eum quisquam colligare quivit incunabulis.

[¶178] AMPHITRYON:
Most wondrous things you tell of. If these things are true, I do not apprehend but that succour has been brought to my wife from heaven.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Nimia mira memoras; si istaec vera sunt, divinitus
non metuo quin méae uxori latae suppetiae sient.

[¶179] BROMIA:
Now shall I make you own to things more wondrous still. After he was laid in the cradle, two immense crested serpents glided down through the skylight; instantly they both reared their heads.

> Latin: Bromia:
Magis iam faxo mira dices. postquam in cunas conditust,
devolant angues iubati deorsum in impluvium duo
maximi: continuo extollunt ambo capita.

[¶180] AMPHITRYON:
Ah me!

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Ei mihi.

[¶181] BROMIA:
Be not dismayed—but the serpents began to gaze upon all around. After they beheld the children, quickly they made towards the cradle; I, fearing for the children, alarmed for myself, going backwards, began to draw and pull the cradle to and fro, and so much the more fiercely did the serpents pursue. After that one of the children caught sight of the serpents,
he quickly leapt from the cradle, straightway he made an attack upon them, ana suddenly he grasped them, one in each hand.

> Latin: Bromia:
Ne pave. sed angues oculis omnis circumvisere.
postquam pueros conspicati, pergunt ad cunas citi.
ego cunas recessim rursum vorsum trahere et ducere,
metuens pueris, mihi formidans; tantoque angues acrius
persequi. postquam conspexit angues ille alter puer,
citus e cunis exilit, facit recta in anguis impetum:
alterum altera prehendit eos manu perniciter.

[¶182] AMPHITRYON:
You tell of wondrous things; a very fearful exploit do you relate; for at your words horror steals upon the limbs of wretched me. What happened then? Say on.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Mira memoras, nimis formidolosum facinus praedicas;
nam mihi horror membra misero percipit dictis tuis.
quid fit deinde? porro loquere.

[¶183] BROMIA:
The child slew both the serpents. While these things are passing, in a loud voice there calls upon your wife—

> Latin: Bromia:
Puer ambo angues enicat.
dum haec aguntur, voce clara exclamat uxorem tuam—

[¶184] AMPHITRYON:
What person—?

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Quis homo?

[¶185] BROMIA:
Jupiter, the supreme Ruler of Gods and men. He said that he had secretly enjoyed Alcmena in his embraces, and that he was his own son who had overcome those serpents; the other, he said, was your child.

> Latin: Bromia:
Summus imperator divom atque hominum Iuppiter.
is se dixit cum Alcumena clam consuetum cubitibus,
eumque filium suom esse qui illos angues vicerit;
alterum tuom esse dixit puerum.

[¶186] AMPHITRYON:
By my troth, I am not sorry
if I am allowed to take my half of a blessing in partnership with Jupiter. Go home, and bid the sacred vessels to be at once prepared for me, that with many victims I may seek my peace with supreme Jove. I will apply to Tiresias the soothsayer, and consult him what he considers ought to be done; at the same time I’ll relate to him this matter just as it has happened. (It thunders.)
But what means this? How dreadfully it thunders! Ye Gods, your mercy, I do entreat.
(JUPITER appears, in his own character, above.)

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Pol me haud paenitet,
si licet boni dimidium mihi dividere cum Iove.
abi domum, iube vasa pura actutum adornari mihi,
ut Iovis supremi multis hostiis pacem expetam.
ego Teresiam coniectorem ádvocabo et consulam
quid faciundum censeat; simul hanc rem ut facta est eloquar.
sed quid hoc? quam valide tonuit. di, obsecro vostram fidem.

[¶187] JUPITER:
Be of good cheer, Amphitryon; I am come to thy aid: thou hast nothing to fear; all diviners and soothsayers let alone. What is to be, and what has past, I will tell thee; and so much better than they can, inasmuch as I am Jupiter.
First of all, I have made loan of the person of Alcmena, and have caused her to be pregnant with a son. Thou, too, didst cause her to be pregnant, when thou didst set out upon the expedition; at one birth has she brought forth the two together. One of these, the one that is sprung from my parentage,
shall bless thee with deathless glory by his deeds. Do thou return with Alcmena to your former affection; she merits not that thou shouldst impute it to her as her blame; by my power has she been compelled thus to act. I now return to the heavens.
(He ascends.)

> Latin: Ivppiter:
Bono ánimo es, adsum auxílio, Amphitruo, tíbi et tuis:
nihil est quod timeas. hariolos, haruspices
mitte omnes; quae futura et quae facta eloquar,
multo adeo melius quam illi, quom sum Iuppiter.
primum omnium Alcumenae usuram corporis
cepi, et concubitu gravidam feci filio.
tu gravidam item fecisti, cúm in exercitum
profectu's profectus es: uno partu duos peperit simul.
eorum alter, nostro qui est susceptus semine,
suis factis te immortali adficiet gloria.
tu cum Alcumena uxore antiquam in gratiam
redi: haud promeruit quam ob rem vitio vorteres;
mea vi subactast facere. ego in caelum migro.—

[¶188] AMPHITRYON:
I’ll do as thou dost command me; and I entreat thee to keep thy promises.
I’ll go in-doors to my wife. I dismiss the aged Tiresias from my thoughts.
An ACTOR:
Spectators, now, for the sake of supreme Jove, give loud applause.

> Latin: Amphitrvo:
Fáciam ita ut iubés et te oro, prómissa ut servés tua.
ibo ad uxorem intro, missum facio Teresiam senem.
nunc, spectatores, Iovis súmmi causa clare plaudite.