Amphitryon, or Jupiter in Disguise

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 874 sections

3.2.930
let me go alone; chastity shall I take as my attendant.
3.2.931
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.
3.2.935
Oh! rather may he prove propitious.
3.2.935b
I trust that it will be so; for before you have I taken a truthful oath. Now then, you are not angry?
3.2.937b
I am not.
3.2.937c
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.
3.2.940
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.
3.2.944
At the first you ought to have been careful not to say so;
3.2.945
but if you excuse yourself to me for the same, it must be put up with.
3.2.946
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.
3.2.949
I’ll take care of that.
3.2.949b
Call out Sosia hither.
3.2.950
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.
3.2.954
It’s surprising what he can be arranging alone in secrecy with himself. But the door opens; Sosia’s coming out.
3.3.956
Amphitryon, I’m here; if any way you have need of me, command me; your commands I will obey.
3.3.957
Very opportunely are you come.
3.3.957b
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;
3.3.960
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?
3.3.963
You are laughing at me, who know full well that these things were just now said by me in joke.
3.3.964
In joke did you say it? For my part, I supposed that it was said seriously and in truthfulness.
3.3.965
Still, I’ve made my excuses; and peace has been made.
3.3.965b
’Tis very good.
3.3.966
I shall now perform the sacrifice in-doors, and the vows which I have made.
3.3.966b
So I suppose.
3.3.967
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.
3.3.969
I shall be here again, while you’ll be thinking that I’m there.
3.3.969b
Return here directly.
3.3.970
Do you wish for anything else, but that I should go in-doors now, that the things that are requisite may be got ready?
3.3.971
Go then, and take care that everything is prepared as soon as possible.
3.3.972
Why, come in-doors whenever you please; I’ll take care that there shall not be any delay.
3.3.973
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,
3.3.975
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.
3.3.980
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.
3.4.984
Stand by and make room all of you, get you out of the way.
3.4.985
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.
3.4.990
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.
3.4.995
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.
3.4.1000
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.
3.4.1005
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.
4.1.1009
Naucrates, whom I wanted to find, was not on board ship;
4.1.1010
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.
4.1.1015
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.)
4.1.1020
Open this door; ho there! is there anybody here? Is any one going to open this door?
4.2.1021
Who’s that at the door?
4.2.1021b
’Tis I.
4.2.1021c
Who’s ’tis I?
4.2.1021d
’Tis I that say so.
4.2.1021e
For sure, Jupiter and all the Deities are angered with you who are banging at the door this way.
4.2.1023
In what manner?
4.2.1023b
In this manner, that without a doubt you must be spending a wretched life.
4.2.1024
Sosia.
4.2.1024b
Well; I’m Sosia, unless you think that I’ve forgotten myself.
4.2.1025
What do you want now?
4.2.1025b
What, you rascal, and do you even ask me that, what it is I want?
4.2.1026
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?
4.2.1029
You whip-scoundrel, do you even ask me who I am, you hell of elm-saplings?
4.2.1030
I’ faith, this day I’ll make you burn with smarts of the scourge for these speeches of yours.
4.2.1031
You surely must have formerly been a spendthrift in your young days.
4.2.1032
How so?
4.2.1032b
Because in your old age you come begging a hap-ill of me for yourself.
4.2.1033
Slave! for your own torture do you give vent to these expressions this day.
4.2.1034
Now I’m performing a sacrifice to you.
4.2.1034b
How?
4.2.1034c
Why, because I devote you to ill-luck with this libation.
4.2.1034_sp1
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.
4.2.1034_sp2
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.
4.2.1034_sp3
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.
4.2.1034_sp4
Do you persist?
4.2.1034_sp5
I do persist.
4.2.1034_sp6
Take that, then.
4.2.1034_sp7
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.
4.2.1034_sp8
Surely, you must have been playing the Bacchanal, old gentleman.
4.2.1034_sp9
Why so?
4.2.1034_sp10
Inasmuch as you take me to be your slave.
4.2.1034_sp11
What? I—take you?
4.2.1034_sp12
Plague upon you! I know no master but Amphitryon.
4.2.1034_sp13
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?
4.2.1034_sp14
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.
4.2.1034_sp15
What wife?
4.2.1034_sp16
Alcmena.
4.2.1034_sp17
What man?
4.2.1034_sp18
How often do you want it told? Amphitryon, my master;—don’t be troublesome.
4.2.1034_sp19
Who’s he sleeping with?
4.2.1034_sp20
Take care that you don’t meet with some mishap in trifling with me this way.
4.2.1034_sp21
Prithee, do tell me, my dear Sosia.
4.2.1034_sp22
More civilly said—with Alcmena.
4.2.1034_sp23
In the same chamber?
4.2.1034_sp24
Yes, as I fancy, he is sleeping with her side by side.
4.2.1034_sp25
Alas!—wretch that I am!
4.2.1034_sp26
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.
4.2.1034_sp27
Sosia!
4.2.1034_sp28
What, the plague, about Sosia?
4.2.1034_sp29
Don’t you know me, you whip-scoundrel?
4.2.1034_sp30
I know that you are a troublesome fellow, who have no need to go buy a lawsuit.
4.2.1034_sp31
Still once more—am I not your master Amphitryon?
4.2.1034_sp32
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.
4.2.1034_sp33
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.
4.2.1034_sp34
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.
4.2.1034_sp35
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.
4.2a.1034_sp36
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?

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