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could easily detect。 The marvellous effects of Thessalian magic have at all
times been renowned； but I have always looked upon as idle tales the
famous stories everyone talks of。 It would be a hard fate if I； after so
glorious a victory elsewhere； should be compelled to believe them at the
cost of my own honour。 I will question her again upon this wretched
mystery； and see if it is not a silly fancy that has taken advantage of her
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disordered brain。 O righteous Heaven； may this thought be true； and may
she even have lost her senses； so that I may be happy！
SCENE II
MERCURY； AMPHITRYON
MERC。 Since love does not offer me any pleasure here； I will at least
enjoy myself in another way； and enliven my dismal leisure by putting
Amphitron out of all patience。 This may not be very charitable in a God；
but I shall not bother myself about that； my planet tells me I am somewhat
given to malice。
AMPH。 How is it that the door is closed at this hour？
MERC。 Hullo！ Gently； gently！ Who knocks？
AMPH。 I。
MERC。 Who； I？
AMPH。 Ah！ Open。
MERC。 What do you mean by 'open'？ Who are you； pray； to make
such a row； and speak like that？
AMPH。 So？ You do not know me？
MERC。 No； nor have I the least wish to。
AMPH。 Is every one losing his senses today？ Is the malady spreading？
Sosie！ Hullo； Sosie！
MERC。 Come； now！ Sosie： that is my name； are you afraid I shall
forget it？
AMPH。 Do you see me？
MERC。 Well enough。 What can possess your arm to make such an
uproar？ What do you want down there？
AMPH。 I； you gallows…bird！ What do I want？
MERC。 What do you not want then？ Speak； if you want to be
understood。
AMPH。 Listen； you villain： I will come up with a stick to make you
understand； and give you a fine lesson。 How dare you speak to me like
that？
MERC。 Softly； softly！ If you make the least attempt to create an uproar；
I shall send you down some messengers who will annoy you。
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Amphitryon
AMPH。 Oh Heavens！ Did anyone ever conceive such insolence？ And
from a servant； from a beggar？
MERC。 Come； now！ What is the matter？ Have you gone over
everything correctly？ Have your big eyes taken everything in？ He glares；
so savage he looks！ If looks could bite； he would have torn me to shreds
by now。
AMPH。 I tremble at what you are bringing upon yourself with all this
impudent talk。 What a frightful storm you are brewing for yourself！ What
a tempest of blows will storm down on your back！
MERC。 If you do not soon disappear from here； my friend； you may
come in for some mauling。
AMPH。 Ah！ You villain； you shall know to your confusion what it is
for a valet to attack his master。
MERC。 You； my master？
AMPH。 Yes； rascal。 Do you dare to say you do not recognise me？
MERC。 I do not recognise any other master than Amphitryon。
AMPH。 And who； besides myself； may this Amphitryon be？
MERC。 Amphitryon？
AMPH。 Certainly。
MERC。 Ah！ What an illusion！ Come； tell me in what decent tavern you
have addled your brain？
AMPH。 What？ Again？
MERC。 Was it a feast…day wine？
AMPH。 Heavens！
MERC。 Was it old or new？
AMPH。 What insults！
MERC。 New goes to one's head； if drunk without water。
AMPH。 Ah！ I shall tear your tongue out soon。
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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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 y