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not quit us。
AMPH。 Who gave you that order？
SOS。 You。
AMPH。 When？
SOS。 After you made your peace； when you were rejoicing at the
delight of having appeased Alcmene's anger。
AMPH。 O Heaven！ Every instant； every step； adds something to my
cruel martyrdom； I am so utterly confused that I no longer know either
what to believe or what to say。
NAU。 All he has just told us； of what has happened at your house；
surpasses what is natural so much； that before doing anything and before
flying into such a passion； you ought to clear up the whole of this
adventure。
AMPH。 Come； you can second my efforts； Heaven has brought you
here most opportunely。 Let me see what fortune brings me today； let me
solve this mystery； and know my fate。 Alas！ I burn to learn it； and I dread
it more than death。
SCENE V
JUPITER； AMPHITRYON； NAUCRATES； POLIDAS； SOSIE
JUP。 What is this noise that compels me to come down？ Who knocks
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Amphitryon
as though he were master where I am master？
AMPH。 Good Gods！ What do I see？
NAU。 Heaven！ What prodigy is this？ What？ Here are two
Amphitryons！
AMPH。 My soul is struck dumb。 Alas！ I cannot do anything more： the
adventure is at an end； my fate is clear； what I see tells me all。
NAU。 The more narrowly I watch them； the more I find they resemble
each other。
SOS。 Gentlemen； this is the true one； the other is an impostor who
ought to be chastised。
POL。 Truly； this marvellous resemblance keeps my judgment in
suspense。
AMPH。 We have been tricked too long by an execrable rogue； I must
break the spell with this steel。
NAU。 Stay。
AMPH。 Leave me alone。
NAU。 Ye Gods！ What would you do？
AMPH。 Punish the miserable treachery of an impostor。
JUP。 Gently； gently！ There is very little need of being carried away by
passion； when a man bursts out in such a rage as this； it makes one think
he has bad reasons。
SOS。 Yes； it is an enchanter； who has a talisman that enables him to
resemble the masters of houses。
AMPH。 For your share in this insulting language； I shall make you feel
a thousand blows。
SOS。 My master is a man of courage： he will not allow his followers to
be thrashed。
AMPH。 Let me assuage my deep anger； and wash out my affront in the
scoundrel's blood。
NAU。 We shall not suffer this strange combat of Amphitryon against
himself。
AMPH。 What？ Does my honour receive this treatment from you？ Do
my friends undertake the defence of a rogue？ Far from being the first to
take up my vengeance； they themselves place obstacles in the way of my
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Amphitryon
resentment？
NAU。 What do you wish us to decide； when two Amphitryons are
before us and all the warmth of our friendship is in suspense？ If we were
now to show towards you； we fear we might make a mistake； and not
recognise you。 Truly we see in you the appearance of Amphitryon； the
glorious support of the Thebans' well…being； but we also see the same
appearance in him； and we cannot judge which he is。 Our duty is not
doubtful； the impostor ought to bite the dust at our hands； but this perfect
resemblance hides him between you two； and it is too hazardous a stroke
to undertake in the dark。 Let us find out quietly on which side the
imposture may be； then； as soon as we have unravelled the adventure； it
will not be necessary for you to tell us our duty。
JUP。 Yes； you are right； this resemblance authorises you to doubt both
of us。 I am not offended to see you cannot make up your minds： I am more
reasonable； and excuse you。 The eye cannot differentiate between us。 I see
one can easily be mistaken。 You do not see me give way to anger； nor
draw my sword： that is a bad way to enlighten a mystery； I can find one
more gentle and more certain。 One of us is Amphitryon； and both of us
may seem so in your eyes。 It is for me to end this confusion。 I intend to
make myself so well known to all； that； at the overwhelming proofs I shall
bring forward to show who I am； be himself shall agree concerning the
blood from which I sprang； and he shall no longer have occasion to say
anything。 Before all the Thebans I will reveal the truth to you； the affair is；
unquestionably； of sufficient importance to justify my seeking to clear it
up in the sight of all。 Alcmene expects this public testimony from me； her
virtue； which is outraged by the noise of this mischance； demands
justification； and I will see justice is done it。 My love for her compels me
to it。 I shall call together an assembly of the noblest chiefs； for the
explanation her honour requires。 While waiting with you for these
desirable witnesses； I pray you to condescend to honour the table to which
Sosie has invited you。
SOS。 I was not mistaken； gentlemen； this word puts an end to all
irresolution： the real Amphitryon is the Amphitryon who gives dinners。
AMPH。 O Heaven！ Can my humiliation go further？ Must I indeed
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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；