按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have you returned so soon？' is scarcely the language a heart really
inflamed with love would use on such an occasion as this。 I dared to flatter
myself I had remained away from you too long。 The expectation of an
ardently longed for return makes each moment seem of great length； the
absence of what we love； however brief it may be； is always too long。
ALC。 I do not see 。 。 。
AMPH。 No； Alcmene； time is measured in such cases by one's
impatience； you count the moments of absence as one who does not love。
When we really love； the slightest separation kills us； the one whom we
love to see never returns too soon。 I confess that the love I bear you has
22
… Page 23…
Amphitryon
cause to complain of your reception； I expected different expressions of
joy and tenderness from your heart。
ALC。 I cannot understand on what you found the words you have just
uttered； if you complain of me； upon my word I do not know what would
satisfy you。 I think I showed a sufficiently tender joy last night； at your
happy return； my heart responded by every means you could wish to the
claims of your affection。
AMPH。 In what way？
ALC。 Did I not clearly show the sudden transports of a perfect joy？
Could a heart's feelings be better expressed at the return of a husband who
is tenderly loved？
AMPH。 What do you say？
ALC。 That even your affection showed an inconceivable joy at my
reception； and that； as you left me at break of day； I do not see that my
surprise at this sudden return is so guilty。
AMPH。 Did you； in a dream last night； Alcmene； anticipate in idea the
reality of my hastened return； and having； perhaps； treated me kindly in
your sleep； does your heart think it has fully acquitted itself of its duty to
my passion？
ALC。 Has some malignant vapour in your mind； Amphitryon； clouded
the truth of last night's return？ Does your heart pretend to take away from
me the credit of all the gentle affection I showed you in my tender
welcome？
AMPH。 This vapour you attribute to me seems to me somewhat
strange。
ALC。 It is in return for the dream which you attribute to me。
AMPH。 Unless it is because of a dream； what you have just now told
me is entirely inexcusable。
ALC。 Unless it is a vapour which troubles your mind； what I have
heard from you cannot be justified。
AMPH。 Let us leave this vapour for a moment； Alcmene。
ALC。 Let us leave this dream for a moment； Amphitryon。
AMPH。 One cannot jest on the subject in question without being
carried too far。
23
… Page 24…
Amphitryon
ALC。 Undoubtedly； and； as a sure proof of it； I begin to feel somewhat
uneasy。
AMPH。 Is it thus you wish to try to make amends for the welcome of
which I complain？
ALC。 Do you desire to try to amuse yourself by this feint？
AMPH。 For Heaven's； sake； I beseech you； Alcmene！ Let us cease this；
and talk seriously。
ALC。 You carry your amusement too far； Amphitryon： let there be an
end to this raillery。
AMPH。 Do you really dare maintain to my face that I was seen here
before this hour？
ALC。 Have you really the assurance to deny that you came here early
yesterday evening？
AMPH。 I！ I came yesterday？
ALC。 Certainly； and you went away again before dawn。
AMPH。 Heavens！ Was ever such a debate as this heard before？ Who
would not be astonished at all this？ Sosie？
SOS。 She needs six grains of hellebore； Monsieur； her brain is turned。
AMPH。 Alcmene； in the name of all the Gods； this discourse will have
a strange ending！ Recollect your senses a little better； and think what you
say。
ALC。 I am indeed thinking seriously； all in the house saw your arrival。
I am ignorant what motive makes you act thus； but； if the thing were in
need of proof； if it were true that such a thing could be forgotten； from
whom； but from you； could I have heard the news of the latest of all your
battles； and of the five diamonds worn by Pterelas； who was plunged into
eternal night by the strength of your arm？ Could one wish for surer
testimony？
AMPH。 What？ I have already given you the cluster of diamonds which
I had for my share； and intended for you？
ALC。 Assuredly。 It is not difficult to convince you thoroughly on that
point。
AMPH。 How？
ALC。 Here it is。
24
… Page 25…
Amphitryon
AMPH。 Sosie！
SOS。 She is jesting： I have it here； Monsieur； the feint is useless。
AMPH。 The seal is whole。
ALC。 Is it a vision？ There。 Will you think this proof strong enough？
AMPH。 Ah Heaven！ O just Heaven！
ALC。 Come； Amphitryon； you are joking in acting thus： you ought to
be ashamed of it。
AMPH。 Break this seal； quickly。
SOS。 （Having opened the casket。） Upon my word； the casket is empty。
It must have been taken out by witchcraft； or else it came by itself a guide；
to her whom it knew it was intended to adorn。
AMPH。 O Gods； whose power governs all things； what is this
adventure？ What can I augur from it that does not clutch at my heart？
SOS。 If she speaks the truth； we have the same lot； and； like me；
Monsieur； you are double。
AMPH。 Be silent。
ALC。 Why are you so surprised？ What causes all this confusion？
AMPH。 O Heaven！ What strange perplexity！ I see incidents which
surpass Nature； and my honour fears an adventure which my mind does
not understand。
ALC。 Do you still wish to deny your hasty return； when you have this
sensible proof of it？
AMPH。 No； but if it be possible； deign to tell me what passed at this
return。
ALC。 Since you ask an account of the matter； you still say it was not
you？
AMPH。 Pardon me； but I have a certain reason which makes me ask
you to give us this account。
ALC。 Have the important cares which perhaps engross you made you
so quickly lose the remembrance of it？
AMPH。 Perhaps； but； in short； you would please me by telling me the
whole story。
ALC。 The story is not long。 I advanced towards you full of a delighted
surprise； I embraced you tenderly； and showed my joy more than once。
25
… Page 26…
Amphitryon
AMPH。 （to himself。） Ah！ I could have done without so sweet a
welcome。
ALC。 You first made me this valuable gift； which you destined for me
from the spoils of the conquered。 Your heart vehemently unfolded to me
all the violence of its love； and the annoying duties which had kept it
enchained； the happiness of seeing me again； the torments of absence； all
the care which your impatience to return had given you； never has your
love； on similar occasions； seemed to me so tender and so passionate。
AMPH。 （to himself。） Can one be more cruelly tortured？
ALC。 As you may well believe； these transports and this tenderness
did not displease me； if I must confess it； Amphitryon； my heart found a
thousand charms in them。
AMPH。 What followed； pray？
ALC。 We interrupted each other with a thousand questions concerning
each other。 The table was laid。 We supped together by ourselves； and；
supper over； we went to bed。
AMPH。 Together？
ALC。 Assuredly。 What a question？
AMPH。 Ah； this is the most cruel stroke of all； my jealous passion
trembled to assure itself of this。
ALC。 Why do you blush so deeply at a word？ Have I done something
wrong in going to bed with you？
AMPH。 No； to my great misery； it was not I； whoever says I was here
yesterday； tells； of all falsehoods； the most horrible。
ALC。 Amphitryon！
AMPH。 Perfidious woman！
ALC。 Ah！ What madness is this！
AMPH。 No； no； no more sweetness； no more respect； this rebuff puts
an end to all my constancy； at this ghastly moment； my heart breathes only
fury and； vengeance。
ALC。 On whom then would you be avenged？ What want of faith in me
makes you treat me now as a criminal？
AMPH。 I do not know； but it was not I； this despair makes me capable
of anything。
26
…