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please： your arm 'has made you the master of it。
MERC。 I think you said your name was Sosie？
SOS。 True； until now I thought the matter was clear； but your rod has
made me see that I was mistaken in this affair。
MERC。 I am Sosie： all Thebes avows it。 Amphitryon has never had
other than me。
SOS。 You； Sosie？
MERC。 Yes； Sosie； and if any one trifles with me； he must take care of
himself。
SOS。 Heavens！ Must I thus renounce myself； and see my name stolen
by an impostor。 How lucky I am a poltroon！ Or； by the death 。 。 。！
MERC。 What are you mumbling between your teeth？
SOS。 Nothing。 But； in the name of the Gods； give me leave to speak
one moment with you。
MERC。 Speak。
SOS。 But promise me； I beseech you； that there shall not be any more
strokes。 Let us sign a truce。
MERC。 Let that pass； go on； I grant you this point。
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Amphitryon
SOS。 Tell me； who put this fancy into your head？ What benefit will it
be to you to take my name？ In short； were you a demon； could you hinder
me from being myself； from being Sosie？
MERC。 What is this； you dare 。 。 。
SOS。 Ah！ Gently： there is a truce to blows。
MERC。 What！ Gallows…bird； impostor； scoundrel 。。。
SOS。 As for abuse； give me as much as you please； it makes but a
slight wound and does not bother me。
MERC。 You say you are Sosie？
SOS。 Yes。 Some ridiculous tale 。 。 。
MERC。 So； I shall break our truce； and take back my word。
SOS。 I can't help it。 I cannot annihilate myself for you； and endure so
improbable a tale。 Is it in your power to be what I am？ Can I cease to be
myself？ Did any one ever hear of such a thing？ And can you give the lie to
a hundred clear indications？ Do I dream？ Do I sleep？ Is my mind troubled
by powerful transports？ Do I not feel I am awake？ Am I not in my right
senses？ Has not my master； Amphitryon； commanded me to come here to
Alcmene his wife？ Am I not； in commending his passion to her； to give
her an account of his deeds against our enemies？ Have I not just come
from the harbour？ Do I not hold a lantern in my hand？ Have I not found
you in front of our house？ Did I not speak to you in a perfectly friendly
manner？ Do you not make use of my poltroonery to hinder me from
entering our house？ Have you not vented your rage upon my back？ Have
you not showered blows on me？ Ah！ All this is but too true： would to
Heaven it were less real！ Cease therefore to jeer at a wretch's lot； and leave
me to acquit myself where my duty calls me。
MERC。 Stop； or the shortest step brings down upon your back
clattering evidence of my just anger。 All you have just said is mine； except
the blows。 It is I； whom Amphitryon sent to Alcmene； who has just arrived
from the Persian port； I； who have come to announce the valour of his arm；
which has gained us a glorious victory； and slain the chief of our enemies。
In short； I am undoubtedly Sosie； son of Dave； an honest shepherd； brother
of Arpage； who died in a foreign land； husband of Cleanthis the prude；
whose temper drives me wild； I； who received a thousand cuts from a
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Amphitryon
whip at Thebes； without ever saying anything about it； and who was once
publicly branded on the back for being too worthy a man。
SOS。 He is right。 If he were not Sosie； he could not know all he says；
all this is so astounding that even I begin to believe him a little。 In fact；
now I look at him； I see he has my figure； looks； and manners。 I wilt ask
him some question； in order to clear up this mystery。 What did
Amphitryon obtain as his share of all the plunder taken from our enemies？
MERC。 Five fine large diamonds； beautifully set in a cluster； which
their chief wore as a rare piece of handicraft。
SOS。 For whom does he intend so rich a present？
MERC。 For his wife； he intends her to wear it。
SOS。 Where have you put it； until you meet her？
MERC。 In a casket sealed with the arms of my master。
SOS。 He does not tell a single lie at any turn： I begin to doubt myself
in earnest。 He has already cowed me into believing him to be Sosie； and
he might even reason me into thinking him so。 Yet； when I touch myself；
and recollect； it seems to me I am myself。 Where can I find some light that
will clearly make my way plain？ What I have done alone； and what no one
has seen； cannot be known to any one else： that； at least； belongs to me。 I
will astonish him by this question： it will confound him； and we shall see。
When they were at close quarters； what were you doing in our tents；
whither you ran to hide yourself away？
MERC。 Off a ham
SOS。 That is it！
MERC。 Which I unearthed； I soon cut two succulent slices： they suited
me nicely。 I added to them a wine which was usually kept dark； and；
gloated over the sight of it before I tasted it。 So I took heart for our
fighters。
SOS。 This unparalleled proof ends matters well in his favour； and；
unless he were in the bottle； there is nothing to be said。 From the proofs
you show me； I cannot deny that you are Sosie： I admit it。 But； if you are
he； tell me whom you wish me to be； for I must be someone。
MERC。 When I shall no longer be Sosie； you may be he； I consent to
that； but I promise you it shall be the death of you if you take up such a
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Amphitryon
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 de