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MERC。 Pass on； my dear friend； believe me； no one here will listen to
you。 I respect wine。 Go away； make yourself scarce； and leave Amphitryon
to the pleasures which he is tasting。
AMPH。 What！ Is Amphitryon in there？
MERC。 Rather： covered with the laurels of his fine victory； he is side
by side with the lovely Alcmene enjoying the delights of a charming tete…
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Amphitryon
a…tete。 They are tasting the pleasures of being reconciled； now their love…
tiff has blown over。 Take care how you disturb their sweet privacy； unless
you wish him to punish you for your excessive rashness。
SCENE III
AMPHITRYON
Ah！ What a frightful blow he has given me！ How cruelly has he put
me to confusion！ If matters are as this villain says； to what a state are my
honour and my affection reduced？ What course can I adopt？ Am I to noise
it abroad or keep it secret？ Ought I； in my anger； to keep the dishonour of
my house to myself or make it public？ Come！ Must one even think what to
do in so gross an affront？ I have no standing； nothing to hope for； all my
anxiety now shall be how to avenge myself。
SCENE IV
SOSIE； NAUCRATES； POLIDAS； AMPHITRYON
SOS。 All I have been able to do； Monsieur； with all my diligence； is to
have brought these gentlemen here。
AMPH。 Ah！ You are here？
SOS。 Monsieur。
AMPH。 Insolent； bold rascal！
SOS。 What？
AMPH。 I shall teach you to treat me thus。
SOS。 What is it？ What is the matter with you？
AMPH。 What is the matter with me； villain？
SOS。 Hullo； gentlemen； come here quickly。
NAU。 Ah！ Stay； I beseech you。
SOS。 Of what am I guilty？
AMPH。 You ask me that； you scoundrel？ Let me satisfy my righteous
anger。
SOS。 When they hang any one； they tell him why they do it。
NAU。 At least condescend to tell us what his crime may be。
SOS。 I beseech you； gentlemen； keep a tight hold of me。
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Amphitryon
AMPH。 Yes！ He has just had the audacity to shut the door in my face；
and to add threats to a thousand impudent jeers！ Ah！ You villain！
SOS。 I am dead。
NAU。 Restrain this anger。
SOS。 Gentlemen。
POL。 What is it？
SOS。 Has he struck me？
AMPH。 No； he must have his reward for the language he has made
free to use just now。
SOS。 How could that be when I was elsewhere busy carrying out your
orders？ These gentlemen here can bear witness that I have just invited
them to dine with you。
NAU。 That is true： he has just delivered us this message； and would
not quit us。
AMPH。 Who gave you that order？
SOS。 You。
AMPH。 When？
SOS。 After you made your peace； when you were rejoicing at the
delight of having appeased Alcmene's anger。
AMPH。 O Heaven！ Every instant； every step； adds something to my
cruel martyrdom； I am so utterly confused that I no longer know either
what to believe or what to say。
NAU。 All he has just told us； of what has happened at your house；
surpasses what is natural so much； that before doing anything and before
flying into such a passion； you ought to clear up the whole of this
adventure。
AMPH。 Come； you can second my efforts； Heaven has brought you
here most opportunely。 Let me see what fortune brings me today； let me
solve this mystery； and know my fate。 Alas！ I burn to learn it； and I dread
it more than death。
SCENE V
JUPITER； AMPHITRYON； NAUCRATES； POLIDAS； SOSIE
JUP。 What is this noise that compels me to come down？ Who knocks
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Amphitryon
as though he were master where I am master？
AMPH。 Good Gods！ What do I see？
NAU。 Heaven！ What prodigy is this？ What？ Here are two
Amphitryons！
AMPH。 My soul is struck dumb。 Alas！ I cannot do anything more： the
adventure is at an end； my fate is clear； what I see tells me all。
NAU。 The more narrowly I watch them； the more I find they resemble
each other。
SOS。 Gentlemen； this is the true one； the other is an impostor who
ought to be chastised。
POL。 Truly； this marvellous resemblance keeps my judgment in
suspense。
AMPH。 We have been tricked too long by an execrable rogue； I must
break the spell with this steel。
NAU。 Stay。
AMPH。 Leave me alone。
NAU。 Ye Gods！ What would you do？
AMPH。 Punish the miserable treachery of an impostor。
JUP。 Gently； gently！ There is very little need of being carried away by
passion； when a man bursts out in such a rage as this； it makes one think
he has bad reasons。
SOS。 Yes； it is an enchanter； who has a talisman that enables him to
resemble the masters of houses。
AMPH。 For your share in this insulting language； I shall make you feel
a thousand blows。
SOS。 My master is a man of courage： he will not allow his followers to
be thrashed。
AMPH。 Let me assuage my deep anger； and wash out my affront in the
scoundrel's blood。
NAU。 We shall not suffer this strange combat of Amphitryon against
himself。
AMPH。 What？ Does my honour receive this treatment from you？ Do
my friends undertake the defence of a rogue？ Far from being the first to
take up my vengeance； they themselves place obstacles in the way of my
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Amphitryon
resentment？
NAU。 What do you wish us to decide； when two Amphitryons are
before us and all the warmth of our friendship is in suspense？ If we were
now to show towards you； we fear we might make a mistake； and not
recognise you。 Truly we see in you the appearance of Amphitryon； the
glorious support of the Thebans' well…being； but we also see the same
appearance in him； and we cannot judge which he is。 Our duty is not
doubtful； the impostor ought to bite the dust at our hands； but this perfect
resemblance hides him between you two； and it is too hazardous a stroke
to undertake in the dark。 Let us find out quietly on which side the
imposture may be； then； as soon as we have unravelled the adventure； it
will not be necessary for you to tell us our duty。
JUP。 Yes； you are right； this resemblance authorises you to doubt both
of us。 I am not offended to see you cannot make up your minds： I am more
reasonable； and excuse you。 The eye cannot differentiate between us。 I see
one can easily be mistaken。 You do not see me give way to anger； nor
draw my sword： that is a bad way to enlighten a mystery； I can find one
more gentle and more certain。 One of us is Amphitryon； and both of us
may seem so in your eyes。 It is for me to end this confusion。 I intend to
make myself so well known to all； that； at the overwhelming proofs I shall
bring forward to show who I am； be himself shall agree concerning the
blood from which I sprang； and he shall no longer have occasion to say
anything。 Before all the Thebans I will reveal the truth to you； the affair is；
unquestionably； of sufficient importance to justify my seeking to clear it
up in the sight of all。 Alcmene expects this public testimony from me； her
virtue； which is outraged by the noise of this mischance； demands
justification； and I will see justice is done it。 My love for her compels me
to it。 I shall call together an assembly of the noblest chiefs； for the
explanation her honour requires。 While waiting with you for these
desirable witnesses； I pray you to condescend to honour the table to which
Sosie has invited you。
SOS。 I was not mistaken； gentlemen； this word puts an end to all
irresolution： the real Amphitryon is the Amphitryon who gives dinners。
AMPH。 O Heaven！ Can my humiliation go further？ Must I indeed
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Amphitryon
suffer the martyrdom of listening to all