Amphitryon, or Jupiter in Disguise

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 874 sections

2.2.792c
What do I hear.
2.2.793
That which is the truth.
2.2.793b
But at your peril now, if it does not make its appearance.
2.2.794
Why, it does make its appearance.
2.2.794b
Who then gave it you?
2.2.794c
The person that’s asking me the question.
2.2.795
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.
2.2.798
Ah me! and are you too helping her frenzy as well? (To ALCMENA) Do you say that we arrived here yesterday?
2.2.799b
I do say so, and on your arrival you instantly
2.2.800
greeted me, and I you, and I gave you a kiss.
2.2.801
That beginning now about the kiss doesn’t please me.
2.2.801b
Go on telling it.
2.2.802
Then you bathed.
2.2.802b
What, after I bathed?
2.2.802c
You took your place at table.
2.2.802d
Bravo, capital! Now make further enquiry.
2.2.803b
Don’t you interrupt. (To ALCMENA.) Go on telling me.
2.2.804
The dinner was served; you dined with me; I reclined together with you at the repast.
2.2.805
What, on the same couch?
2.2.805b
On the same.
2.2.805c
Oh dear, I don’t like this banquet.
2.2.806
Now do let her give her proofs. (To ALCMENA.) What, after we had dined?
2.2.807
You said that you were inclined to go to sleep; the table was removed; thence we went to bed.
2.2.808
Where did you lie?
2.2.808b
In the chamber, in the same bed together with your. self.
2.2.809
You have proved my undoing.
2.2.809b
What’s the matter with you?
2.2.809c
This very moment has she sent me to my grave.
2.2.810
How so, pray?
2.2.810b
Don’t address me.
2.2.810c
What’s the matter with you?
2.2.810d
To my sorrow I’m undone, since, in my absence from here, dishonor has befallen her chastity.
2.2.812
In heaven’s name, my lord, why, I beseech you, do I hear this from you?
2.2.813
I, your lord? False one, don’t call me by a false name.
2.2.814
’Tis an odd matter this, if indeed he has been made into my lady from my lord.
2.2.815
What have I done, by reason of which these expressions are uttered to me?
2.2.816
You yourself proclaim your own doings; do you enquire of me in what you have offended?
2.2.817
In what have I offended you, if I have been with you to whom I am married?
2.2.818
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.
2.2.820
That criminality which you lay to my charge befits not my family. If you try to catch me in incontinence, you cannot convict me.
2.2.822
Immortal Gods! do you at least know me, Sosia?
2.2.823
Pretty well.
2.2.823b
Did I not dine yesterday on board ship in the Persian Port?
2.2.824
I have witnesses as well, who can confirm that which I say.
2.2.825
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.
2.2.830
Some magician, I know not who, is bewildering this woman.
2.2.831
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.
2.2.834b
I could wish that that was true.
2.2.835
I speak the truth, but in vain, since you will not believe me.
2.2.836
You are a woman; you swear at random.
2.2.836b
She who has not done wrong, her it befits to be bold and to speak confidently and positively in her own behalf.
2.2.838
That’s very boldly said.
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Just as befits a virtuous woman.
2.2.838c
Say you so? By your own words you prove it.
2.2.839
That which is called a dowry, I do not deem the same my dowry;
2.2.840
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.
2.2.843
Surely, by my troth, if she tells the truth in this, she’s perfect to the very ideal .
2.2.844
Really I am so bewildered, that I don’t know myself who I am.
2.2.845
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.
2.2.847
Madam, I’m resolved not to omit having this matter enquired into.
2.2.848
I’ faith, you’ll do so quite to my satisfaction.
2.2.848b
How say you? Answer me; what if I bring your own kinsman, Naucrates, hither from the ship,
2.2.850
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?
2.2.853
If I have done wrong, there is no reason.
2.2.853b
Agreed. Do you, Sosia, take these people in-doors. I’ll bring Naucrates hither with me from the ship.
2.2.855
Now then, there’s no one here except ourselves; tell me the truth seriously, is there any Sosia in-doors who is like myself?
2.2.857
Won’t you hence away from me, fit servant for your master?
2.2.857b
If you command me, I’m off ,
2.2.858
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.
2.2.860
Whatever it is, I shall now learn it from my kinsman Naucrates.
3.1.861
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.
3.1.865
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
3.1.870
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,
3.1.875
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.
3.1.880
I have ordered Mercury forthwith to follow me, if I should wish to give him any commands. Now will I accost her.
3.2.882
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;
3.2.885
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
3.2.890
that he wishes unsaid the things which he has alleged against me in my innocence.
3.2.891
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
3.2.895
guiltless, why now his wrath and his resentment towards her shall fall on me that am not accused.
3.2.897
And lo! I see him, who just now was accusing wretched me of incontinence and dishonor.
3.2.898b
Wife, I would discourse with you. (She turns from him.) Why turn yourself away?
3.2.899b
Such is my disposition;
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I always hate to look upon my enemies.
3.2.901
Heyday! enemies indeed!
3.2.901b
It is so, I speak the truth; unless you are going to allege that this is falsely said as well.
3.2.903
You are too angry.
3.2.903b
Can’t you keep your hands off? For surely if you were wise, or quite in your senses,
3.2.905
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.
3.2.908
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.
3.2.910
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,
3.2.915
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.
3.2.918
But why don’t you bring here my kinsman, Naucrates, whom you said just now that you would bring as a witness
3.2.920
that you had not come here?
3.2.920b
If anything was said in joke, it isn’t right for you to take it in earnest.
3.2.922
I know how much this has pained me at heart.
3.2.923
Prithee, Alcmena (taking her hand), by your right hand I do entreat you, grant me pardon; forgive me, don’t be angry.
3.2.925
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?
3.2.929b
Are you in your senses?
3.2.929c
If you don’t order them,

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