Amphitryon, or Jupiter in Disguise

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 874 sections

2.2.699b
In what place?
2.2.700
Here, in the house where you yourself dwell.
2.2.700b
It never was the fact.
2.2.700c
Will you not hold your peace? What if the vessel brought us here from the harbour in our sleep?
2.2.702
Are you, too, going to back her as well?
2.2.702b
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;
2.2.705
if you humour her, after one blow you may overcome her?
2.2.705b
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.
2.2.707b
You’ll only be irritating hornets.
2.2.707c
You hold your tongue. Alcmena, I wish to ask you one thing.
2.2.708b
Ask me anything you please.
2.2.709
Is it frenzy that has come upon you, or does pride overcome you?
2.2.710
How comes it into your mind, my husband, to ask me that?
2.2.711
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.
2.2.714
By my faith, indeed, I assuredly did both greet you yesterday, upon your arrival,
2.2.715
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.
2.2.717
What, did you welcome him yesterday?
2.2.717b
And you too, as well, Sosia.
2.2.718
Amphitryon, I did hope that she was about to bring you forth a son; but she isn’t gone with child.
2.2.719b
What then?
2.2.719c
With madness.
2.2.720
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.
2.2.723
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.
2.2.725
Did you see me here yesterday?
2.2.725b
I did, I say, if you wish it to be ten times repeated.
2.2.726
In your sleep, perhaps?
2.2.726b
No—I, awake, saw you awake.
2.2.726c
Woe to me!
2.2.727
What’s the matter with you?
2.2.727b
My wife is mad.
2.2.727c
She’s attacked with black bile; nothing so soon turns people mad.
2.2.729
When, madam, did you first find yourself affected?
2.2.730
Why really, upon my faith, I’m well, and in my senses.
2.2.730b
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.
2.2.735
On the contrary, you dined with me, and you slept with me.
2.2.735b
How so?
2.2.736
I’m telling the truth.
2.2.736b
On my honor, not in this matter, really; about other matters I don’t know.
2.2.737
At the very break of dawn you went away to your troops.
2.2.737b
By what means could I?
2.2.738
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,
2.2.740
either with a salt cake or with frankincense.
2.2.741
A mischief on your head!
2.2.741b
That’s your own business, if you take due care.
2.2.742
Now again this fellow is talking rudely to me, and that without punishment.
2.2.743
You hold your tongue. (To ALCMENA.) Do you tell me now—did I go away hence from you at daybreak?
2.2.744
Who then but your own self recounted to me how the battle went there?
2.2.745
And do you know that as well?
2.2.745b
Why, I heard it from your own self, how you had taken a very large city, and how you yourself had slain king Pterelas.
2.2.747
What, did I tell you this?
2.2.747b
You yourself, this Sosia standing by as well.
2.2.748
Have you heard me telling about this to-day?
2.2.748b
Where should I have heard you?
2.2.749
Ask her.
2.2.749b
In my presence, indeed, it never took place, that I know of.
2.2.750
It would be a wonder if he didn’t contradict you.
2.2.750b
Sosia, come here and look at me.
2.2.751
I am looking at you.
2.2.751b
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?
2.2.753
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?
2.2.755
How now, madam? Do you hear him?
2.2.755b
I do, indeed, and telling an untruth.
2.2.756
Do you believe neither him nor my own self, your husband?
2.2.756b
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.
2.2.758
Do you say that I came yesterday?
2.2.758b
Do you deny that you went away from here to-day?
2.2.759
I really do deny it, and I declare that I have now come home to you for the first time.
2.2.760
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?
2.2.762
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?
2.2.764b
Why, I heard it from yourself, and I received the goblet from your own hand.
2.2.765b
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.
2.2.768
Upon my faith, I have never told her, nor have I ever beheld her except with yourself.
2.2.769
What is the matter with this person?
2.2.769b
Should you like the goblet to be produced?
2.2.769c
I should like it; to be produced.
2.2.770
Be it so. Do you go, Thessala, and bring from indoors the goblet, with which my husband presented me today.
2.2.771b
Sosia, do you step this way. Really, I do wonder extremely at this beyond the other wondrous matters, if she has got this goblet.
2.2.773b
And do you believe it, when it’s carried in this casket, sealed with your own seal.
2.2.774b
Is the seal whole?
2.2.774c
Examine it.
2.2.775
All right, it’s just as I sealed it up.
2.2.775b
Prithee, why don’t you order her to be purified as a frantic person?
2.2.776b
By my troth, somehow there’s need for it, for, i’ faith, she’s certainly filled with sprites.
2.2.777b
What need is there of talking? See, here’s the goblet; here it is.
2.2.778b
Give it me.
2.2.778c
Come, now then, look here, if you please, you who deny what is fact, and whom I shall now clearly convict in this case.
2.2.780
Isn’t this the goblet with which you were presented there?
2.2.780b
Supreme Jupiter! what do I behold? Surely this is that goblet. Sosia, I’m utterly confounded.
2.2.782
Upon my faith, either this woman is a most consummate juggler, or the goblet must be in here (pointing to the casket.)
2.2.783b
Come, then, open this casket.
2.2.784
Why should I open it? It is securely sealed. The thing is cleverly contrived;
2.2.785
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.
2.2.787
I’m determined to open and examine it.
2.2.787b
Look, please, how the seal is, that you may not hereafter throw the blame on me.
2.2.788b
Now do open it. For she certainly is desirous to drive us mad with her talking.
2.2.790
Whence then came this which was made a present to me, but from yourself?
2.2.791
It’s necessary for me to enquire into this.
2.2.791b
Jupiter, O Jupiter!
2.2.792
What is the matter with you?
2.2.792b
There’s no goblet here in the casket.

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