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fancy while I am he。
SOS。 All this confusion turns me inside out； for reason is against what
I see。 But I must end this by some means； and the shortest way for me is
to go in there。
MERC。 Oh！ You gallows…bird； you want to taste the stick。
SOS。 What is the matter？ Great Gods！ He makes the blows ring again；
my back will ache for a month。 I will leave this devil of a fellow； and
return to the harbour。 O just Heavens； what a fine ambassador I have been！
MERC。 At last； I have made him fly； this treatment has paid him out
for many of his deeds。 But here is Jupiter； gallantly escorting his lover
Alcmene。
SCENE III
JUPITER； ALCMENE； CLEANTHIS； MERCURY
JUP。 My dear Alcmene； forbid the torch…bearers to come near。 They
give me delight in enabling me to see you； but they might betray my being
here； and this were best unrevealed。 Restrained by all the heavy cares with
which the glory of our arms held me bound； my heart has stolen from the
duties of my post the moments it has just given to your charms。 This theft；
which I have consecrated to your beauty； might be blamed by the public
voice； and the only witness I want； is she who can thank me for it。
ALC。 I take great interest； Amphitryon； in the glory which your
illustrious exploits have cast upon you； the fame of your victory moves my
heart to its depths。 But when I see that this disastrous honour keeps my
lover away from me； such is my heart's feeling that I cannot forbear to
think ill of it； and to regret the high order which makes you general of the
Thebans。 It is sweet after a victory to see the glory to which one's lover
has been raised； but； from among the perils attached to this glory； a deadly
blow； alas！ may soon fall。 With how many fears is one's heart wounded at
the report of the least skirmish！ In the horror of such a thought； is there
anything that can console for the threatened stroke？ And with whatever
laurels the victor may be crowned； whatever share one may have in that
supreme honour； is it worth what it costs a tender heart； which trembles
every moment for its lover？
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JUP。 I do not see anything in you but what inflames my passion；
everything shows me a deeply enamoured heart； and； I confess； it is a
great delight to find so much love in a beloved object。 But； if I may dare
say so； one scruple in the tender sentiments which you show me causes me
anxiety； and； in order to enjoy you the more； dear Alcmene； my heart
would rather see love only； and not duty； in the favours which I receive
from you； may they arise solely from affection； and have respect to my
person only； let not my condition as your husband be the reason for them。
ALC。 Yet it is in that name that the ardour which burns me holds the
right to show itself： I do not understand this new scruple which troubles
your heart。
JUP。 The love and tenderness which I have for you far exceeds a
husband's； in these sweet moments； you do not realise its delicacy； You do
not understand that a heart deeply in love studiously attaches itself to a
hundred little trifles； and is restless over the manner of being happy。 In me；
fair and charming Alcmene； you see a lover and a husband； but； to speak
frankly； it is the lover that appeals to me； when near you； I feel the
husband restrains him。 This lover； who is supremely jealous of your love；
wishes your heart to abandon itself solely to him： his passion does not
wish anything the husband gives him。 He wishes to obtain the warmth of
your love from the fountain…head； and not to owe anything to the bonds of
wedlock； or to a duty which palls and makes the heart sad； for by these the
sweetness of the most cherished favours is daily poisoned。 This idea； in
short； tosses him to and fro； and he wishes； in order to satisfy his scruples；
that you would differentiate where the occasion offends him； the husband
to be only for your virtue； and the lover to have the whole affection and
tenderness of a heart known to be full of kindness。
ALC。 In truth； Amphitryon； you must be jesting； to talk thus； I should
be afraid anyone who heard you would think you were not sane。
JUP。 There is more reason in this discourse； Alcmene； than you think。
But a longer stay here would render me guilty； and time presses for my
return to port。 Adieu。 The stern call of duty tears me away from you for a
time； but； lovely Alcmene； I beseech you at least to think of the lover
when you see the husband。
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ALC。 I do not separate what the Gods unite： both husband and lover
are very precious to me。
CLE。 O Heaven！ How delightful are the caresses of an ardently
cherished husband！ How far my poor husband is from all this tenderness！
MERC。 I must tell Night she has but to furl all her sails； the Sun may
now arise from his bed and put out the stars。
SCENE IV
CLEANTHIS； MERCURY （Mercury turns to go away）
CLE。 So？ Is it thus you quit me？
MERC。 What would you have？ Do you wish me not to do my duty；
and follow in Amphitryon's footsteps？
CLE。 To separate from me so rudely as this； you villain！
MERC。 It is a fine subject to make a fuss about！ We have still plenty
of time to live together！
CLE。 But to go in such a churlish manner； without saying a single kind
word to cheer me！
MERC。 Where the deuce shall I dig up silly compliments？ Fifteen
years of married life exhaust nonsense； we said all we had to say to each
other a long time ago。
CLE。 Look at Amphitryon； you rascal； see how his ardour burns for
Alcmene； and then blush for the little passion that you show your wife。
MERC。 But； gracious me！ Cleanthis； they are still lovers。 There comes
a certain age when all this passes away； what suits them well in these early
days would look ridiculous in us； old married people。 It would be it fine
sight to see us embracing each other； and saying sweet nothings！
CLE。 Oh！ You perfidious wretch； must I give up hope that a heart
sighs for me？
MERC。 No； I should be sorry to say that； but I have too long a beard to
dare to sigh； I should make you die of laughter。
CLE。 You brute； do you deserve the good fortune of having a virtuous
woman for your wife？
MERC。 Good Heavens！ You are but too virtuous； this fine virtue is not
worth anything to me。 Do not be quite so honest a woman； and don't
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bother me so much。
CLE。 What？ Do you blame me for being too honest？
MERC。 A woman's gentleness is what charms me most： your virtue
makes a clatter that never ceases to deafen me。
CLE。 You care for hearts full of false tenderness； for those women
with the laudable and fine talent of knowing how to smother their
husbands with caresses in order to make them oblivious of the existence of
lovers。
MERC。 Well！ Shall I tell you what I think？ An imaginary evil
concerns fools only； my device should be： 'Less honour and more peace。'
CLE。 Would you； without any repugnance； suffer me openly to love a
gallant？
MERC。 Yes； if I were no longer worried by your tongue； and if it
changed your temper and your goings…on。 I prefer a convenient vice； to a
fatiguing virtue。 Adieu； Cleanthis； my dear soul； I must follow
Amphitryon。 （He goes away。）
CLE Why has not my heart sufficient resolution to punish this
infamous scoundrel？ Ah； how it maddens me； now； that I am an honest
woman！
END OF THE FIRST ACT
ACT Il
SCENE I
AMPHITRYON； SOSIE
AMPH。 Come he