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SCENE I
AMPHITRYON； SOSIE
AMPH。 Come here； you rascal； come here。 Do you know； Master
Villain； that your talk is sufficient to cause me to knock you down； and
that my wrath waits only for a stick to thrash you as I intend？
SOS。 If you take it in that way； Monsieur； I have nothing more to say；
you will be always in the right。
AMPH。 So？ You scoundrel； you wish to impose upon me as truths
tales which I know to be extravagantly far…fetched？
SOS。 No； I am the servant； and you are the master； it shall not be
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otherwise than you wish it； Monsieur。
AMPH。 Come； I will choke down the anger that inflames me； and hear
all you have to say about your mission。 I must unravel this confusion
before I see my wife。 Collect your senses； think well over what you say；
and answer each question word for word。
SOS。 But； lest I make a mistake； tell me； I beseech you； beforehand； in
what way it would please you to have this affair healed。 Shall I speak；
Monsieur； according to my conscience； or as usual when near the great？
Shall I tell the truth or use a certain complaisance？
AMPH。 No； I only wish you to give me a perfectly unvarnished
account。
SOS。 Good。 That is enough； leave it to me； you have； but to interrogate
me。
AMPH。 Upon the order which I lately gave you 。 。 。
SOS。 I set forth under skies veiled in black crape； swearing bitterly
against you for this wretched martyrdom； and cursing twenty times the
order of which you speak。
AMPH。 What do you mean； you villain？
SOS。 You have only to speak； Monsieur； and I shall lie； if you desire it。
AMPH。 That is how a valet shows his zeal for us。 Never mind。 What
happened to you on the way？
SOS。 I had a mortal fright at the least thing I met。
AMPH。 Poltroon！
SOS。 Nature has her caprices in forming us； she gives us differing
inclinations； some find a thousand delights in exposing themselves； I find
them in taking care of myself。
AMPH。 When you arrived at the house。。。？
SOS。 When I reached the door； I wished to rehearse to myself for a
short time； in what tone and in what manner I should give a glorious
account of the battle。
AMPH。 What followed？
SOS。 Some one came to annoy and trouble me。
AMPH。 Who was he？
SOS。 Sosie； another I； jealous of your orders； whom you sent to
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Amphitryon
Alcmene from the port； and who has as full knowledge of our secrets as I
who am speaking to you。
AMPH。 What nonsense！
SOS。 No； Monsieur； it is the simple truth： this I was at your house
sooner than I； and； I swear to you； I was there before I had arrived。
AMPH。 Pray； where does all this cursed nonsense come from？ Is it a
dream？ Is it drunkenness？ Mind…wandering？ Or a sorry joke？
SOS。 No； it is the thing as it is； and by no means an idle tale。 I am a
man of honour； I give you my word； and you must please believe it。 I tell
you； believing I was but one Sosie； I found myself two at your house； and
of these two I's； piqued with jealousy； one is at the house； and the other is
with you； the I who is here； tired out； found the other I fresh； jolly and
active； having no other anxiety than to fight and break bones。
AMPH。 I confess I must be of a very placid temper； very peaceable；
very gentle； to permit a valet to entertain me with such nonsense！
SOS。 If you become angry； no more conference between us： you know
all will be over at once。
AMPH。 No； I will listen to you without being carried away； I promised
it。 But tell me in good earnest； is there any shadow of likelihood in this
new mystery which you have just told me？
SOS。 No； you are right； the matter must appear to everyone past credit。
It is a fact past understanding； an extravagant； ridiculous； far…fetched tale：
it shocks common sense； but it is none the less a fact。
AMPH。 How can anyone believe it； unless he has taken leave of his
senses？
SOS。 I myself did not believe it without extreme difficulty： I thought I
was losing my senses when I saw myself two； and； for a long time； I
treated my other self as an impostor： but he compelled me in the end to
recognise myself； I saw it was I； without any trickery； from head to foot he
is like me…handsome； a noble air； well built； charming manners； in fact；
two peas do not resemble each other more； were it not that his hands are a
little too heavy； I should be perfectly satisfied。
AMPH。 I had need exhort myself to patience！ But did you not in the
end go into the house？
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Amphitryon
SOS。 Good； go in！ Ah！ In what fashion？ Have I never wished to listen
to reason？ Did I not forbid myself to enter our door？
AMPH。 In what way？
SOS。 With a stick； my back still aches from it。
AMPH。 You have been thrashed？
SOS。 Truly。
AMPH。 And by whom？
SOS。 Myself。
AMPH。 You have thrashed yourself？
SOS。 Yes； I； not the I who is here； but the I from the house； who
whacks soundly。
AMPH。 Heaven confound you for talking to me like this！
SOS。 I am not joking； the I whom I have just met has great advantages
over the I who speaks to you。 He has a strong arm and great courage； I
have had proofs of both； this devil of an I has licked me soundly； he is a
fellow who can do wonders。
AMPH。 Let us； cease this。 Have you seen my wife？
SOS。 No。
AMPH。 Why not？
SOS。 For a sufficiently strong reason。
AMPH。 Who hindered you； scoundrel？ Explain yourself。
SOS。 Must I repeat the same thing twenty times？ I； I tell you； this I
who is more robust than I； this I who took possession of the door by force；
this I who made me slope off； this I who wishes to be the only I； this I who
is jealous of myself； this valiant I； whose anger made itself known to this
poltroon of an I； in fact； this I who is at our house； this I who has shown
himself to be my master； this I who has racked me with pain。
AMPH。 His brain must be addled by having had too much to drink this
morning。
SOS。 May I be hanged if I have had anything to drink but water： I take
my oath on it。
AMPH。 Then your senses must have been fast asleep： some silly
dream has shown you all these fairy tales and confused mysteries which
you wish me to take for truths。
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Amphitryon
SOS。 That is just as far away from the truth。 I have not slept； and I do
not even feel inclined that way。 I am speaking to you wide… awake； I was
wide awake this morning； upon my life！ And the other Sosie was also
wide…awake； when he drubbed me so well。
AMPH。 Follow me； I order you to be silent。 You tire my brain too
much； I must be an out…and…out fool to have the patience to listen to the
nonsense a valet has to say。
SOS。 All talk is nonsense that comes from a man who is unknown。 If a
great man were to say it； it would be exquisite language。
AMPH。 Let us go in without waiting any longer。 But here comes
Alcmene clothed in all her charms。 Doubtless she does not expect me so
soon； and my arrival will surprise her。
SCENE II
ALCMENE； CLEANTHIS； AMPHITRYON； SOSIE
ALC。 Come； Cleanthis； let us attend the Gods； pay them our homage
for my husband's sake； and thank them for the glorious success； of which
Thebes； by his arm； reaps the advantage。 O ye Gods！
AMPH。 Heaven grant that victorious Amphitryon may be met with
renewed pleasure by his wife： that this day may be favourable to my
passion； and restore you to me with the same heart： may I again find as
much love as my heart brings to you！
ALC。 Ah！ Have you returned so soon。
AMPH。 Really； you give me but a sorry proof of your love； this； 'Ah！
have you returned so soon？' is scar