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Amphitryon
suffer the martyrdom of listening to all that this impostor has just said to
my face； my arms bound； though his words drive me mad？
NAU。 You are wrong to complain。 Let us await the explanation which
shall render resentment seasonable。 I do not know whether he imposes
upon us or not； but he speaks on the matter as though he were right。
AMPH。 Go； you weak…kneed friends； and flatter the imposture。 Thebes
has other friends who will flock round me； different from you。 I will go
and find some who； sharing the insult； will know bow to lend their hand in
my just cause。
JUP。 Ah well！ I await them； I shall know how to decide the discussion
in their presence。
AMPH。 You rogue； you think perhaps to evade justice thus； but
nothing shall shield you from my vengeance。
JUP。 I shall not now condescend to answer this insulting language；
soon I shall be able to confound your fury with two words。
AMPH。 Not Heaven； not Heaven itself can protect you： I shall dog
your footsteps even to Hell。
JUP。 It will not be necessary； you will soon see I shall not fly away。
AMPH。 Now； before he goes away with these； I will make haste to
gather together friends who will aid my cause； they will come to my house
and help me to pierce him with a thousand thrusts。
JUP。 No ceremony； I implore you； let us go quickly into the house。
NAU。 Really； this adventure utterly confounds the senses and the
reason。
SOS。 A truce； gentlemen； to all your surprises； let us joyfully sit down
to feed until the morning。 I intend to feast well； so that I may be in good
condition to relate our valiant deeds！ I am itching to attack the dishes； I
never felt so hungry。
SCENE VI
MERCURY； SOSIE
MERC。 Stop。 What have you come to poke your nose in here for； you
impudent turn…spit？
SOS。 Ah！ Gently； gently； for mercy's sake！
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Amphitryon
MERC。 Ah！ You have come back again！ I shall tan your hide for you。
SOS。 Ah！ Brave and generous I； compose yourself； I beseech you。
Sosie； spare Sosie a little； and do not divert yourself by knocking yourself
down。
MERC。 Who gave you liberty to call yourself by that name？ Did I not
expressly forbid you to do so； under penalty of experiencing a thousand
cuts from the cane？
SOS。 It is a name we both may bear at the same time； under the same
master。 I am recognised as Sosie everywhere； I permit you to be he； permit
me to be so； too。 Let us leave it to the two Amphitryons to give vent to
their jealousies； and； though they contend； let the two Sosies live in the
bonds of peace。
MERC。 No； one is quite enough； I am determined not to allow any
division。
SOS。 You shall have precedence over me； I will be the younger； and
you shall be the elder。
MERC。 No： a brother is a nuisance； and not to my taste； I intend to be
the only son。
SOS。 O barbarous and tyrannical heart！ Allow me at least to be your
shadow。
MERC。 Not at all。
SOS。 Let your soul humanise itself with a little pity！ Allow me to be
near you in that capacity： I shall be everywhere so submissive a shadow
that you will be pleased with me。
MERC。 No quarter； the law is immutable。 If you again have the
audacity to go in there； a thousand blows shall be the fruit。
SOS。 Alas！ Poor Sosie； to what miserable disgrace are you reduced！
MERC。 So？ Your lips presume again to give yourself a name I forbid！
SOS。 No； I did not intend myself； I was speaking of an old Sosie； who
was formerly a relative of mine； and whom； with the utmost barbarity；
they drove out of the house at dinner hour。
MERC。 Take care you do not fall into that idiocy if you wish to remain
among the number of the living。
SOS。 How I would thwack you if I had the courage； for your wretched
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Amphitryon
puffed up pride； you double son of a strumpet！
MERC。 What do you say？
SOS。 Nothing。
MERC。 I am sure you muttered something。
SOS。 Ask anyone； I do not breathe。
MERC。 Nevertheless I am absolutely certain that something about a
son of a strumpet struck my ear。
SOS。 It must have been a parrot roused by the beautiful weather。
MERC。 Adieu。 If your back itches for a currying； here is where I live。
SOS。 O Heavens！ What a cursed hour is the dinner hour to be turned
out of doors！ Come； let us yield to fate in our affliction。 Let us today
follow blind caprice； and join the unfortunate Sosie to the unfortunate
Amphitryon： it is a suitable union。 I see he is coming in good company。
SCENE VII
AMPHITRYON； ARGATIPHONTIDAS； POSICLES； SOSIE
AMPH。 Stay here； gentlemen； follow me a little way off； and do not all
advance； I pray you； until there is need for it。
POS。 I quite understand this blow touches you to the heart。
AMPH。 Ah！ My sorrow is bitter through and through： I suffer in my
affection； as much as in my honour。
POS。 If this resemblance is such as is said； Alcmene； without being
guilty 。 。 。
AMPH。 Ah！ In this affair； a simple error becomes a veritable crime；
and； though no way consenting； innocence perishes in it。 Such errors； in
whatever way we look at them； affect us in the most sensitive parts； reason
often； often pardons them； when honour and love cannot。
ARGAT。 I do not bother my thoughts about that； but I hate your
gentlemen for their disgraceful delay； it is a proceeding which wounds me
to the quick； and one which courageous people will never approve。 When
any man has need of us； we ought to throw ourselves headforemost into
his concerns。 Argatiphontidas is not one for compromising matters。 It is
not seemly for men of honour to listen to the arguments of a friend's
adversary； one should only listen to vengeance at such times。 The
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Amphitryon
proceeding does not please me； in quarrels such as these we ought always
to begin sending the sword through the body； without any nonsense。 Yes；
whatever happens； you shall see that Argatiphontidas goes straight to the
point。 I entreat you not to let the villain die by any other hand than mine。
AMPH。 Come on。
SOS。 I come； Monsieur； to undergo at your knees the just punishment
of cursed audacity。 Strike； beat； drub； overwhelm me with blows； kill me
in your anger； you will do well； I deserve it； I shall not say a single word
against you。
AMPH。 Get up。 What is the matter？
SOS。 I have been turned away unceremoniously； thinking to eat and
rejoice like them； I did not think that； as it turned out； I was waiting there
to thrash myself。 Yes； the other I； valet to the other you； has played the
very devil with me once more。 The same cruel fate seems to pursue us
both today； Monsieur。 In short； they have un…Sosied me； as they un…
Amphitryon'd you。
AMPH。 Follow me。
SOS。 Is it not better to see if anybody is coming？
SCENE VIII
CLEANTHIS； NAUCRATES； POLIDAS； SOSIE；
AMPHITRYON；
ARGATIPHONTIDAS； POSICLES
CLE。 O Heaven！
AMPH。 What frightens you like this？ Why are you afraid of me？
CLE。 Why！ You are up there and I see you here！
NAU。 Do not hurry； here he comes to give； before us all； the
explanation we want。 If we may believe what he has just said about it； it
will banish away your trouble and care。
SCENE IX
MERCURY； CLEANTHIS； NAUCRATES； POLIDAS； SOSIE；
AMPHITRYON； ARGATIPHONTIDAS； POSICLES
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Amphitryon
MERC。 Yes； you shall all see him； know beforehand that it is the grand
master of the Gods； whom； under the cherished features of this
resemblance； Alcmene has caused to