University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

JUPITER
addresses himself to the Spectators.
I'm that Amphitryon, whose slave is Sosia:
The same is Mercury, when there's occasion:
My dwelling's in the highest loft; and I
Am also Jupiter, whene'er I please:
But now that I descend, I shift my garb,
And strait I am Amphitryon. For your sakes
I now come hither, that I might not leave
This play imperfect. I am come besides
To bring the innocent Alcmena aid,
Whose husband has accus'd her of dishonour:—
The crime myself contriv'd, to let it fall
Upon her guiltless head, were baseness in me.
Now will I feign me, as I did before,
To be Amphitryon, and confound the house;
The mystery I'll afterwards disclose.
I will afford Alcmena timely aid;
And at the self-same birth the child by me,
And that with which she's pregnant by her husband,
I'll cause her to bring forth without a pang.—
I order'd Mercury to follow me
Forthwith, if haply I should want his service.—
But see, Alcmena comes—I must accost her.

[Jupiter retires back.

SCENE II.

Enter ALCMENA.
I cannot bear to stay here in the house—
O that my husband should accuse me thus
Of wanton prostitution and dishonour!
Facts he avers on facts, and loudly clamours,
Whilst to my charge he lays things never done,
Never by me admitted, or allow'd.
He thinks too I shall bear it with indifference:—
No, by the Gods, I will not: I'll not suffer
The imputation of dishonesty
To lay against me without cause; for I
Will either leave him, or from him receive
Due satisfaction: further, he shall swear,
That he repents him it had e'er been said,
What he alledg'd against me innocent.

Jup.
I must consent to do what she requires,
If I would meet reception as a lover.
And since it is imputed to Amphitryon
What I have acted, and my love for her
Has wrought her trouble although innocent,
I that am innocent must feel th'effects
Of his reproaches and resentment t'wards her.

Alc.
But lo! behold him here,—see, see the man,
That charges me, unhappy as I am,
With shameless prostitution and dishonour.

Jup.
(Advancing.)
Wife, I would hold discourse with you.—Ah why,
Why do you turn away your face thus from me?

Alc.
It is my nature.—I have always loath'd
To look upon my foes.

Jup.
Your foes!

Alc.
So is it,—
I speak the truth,—although you will pretend,
This too is false.

Jup.
(Offering to embrace her.)
Nay, now you are too angry.

Alc.
Keep your hands off:—for sure, if you are wise,
Or in your senses, you would never hold
Parley with her, in earnest or in mirth,
Whom you imagine and pronounce a strumpet;
No, no,—unless of all the fools that are
You are the veriest dolt.

Jup.
It does not make you
A whit the more so, for because I said it:—
Nor do I think you such: and therefore am I
Hither return'd, to clear myself before you.
For nothing ever did I lay to heart
So sore as the report of your displeasure.
Why did you mention it? Yourself shall say,
I can acquit me of design.—By heav'n
I did not think that you was false; 'twas only
To try your temper, see what you would do,
And with what ease you would be brought to bear it.
All that I said indeed was said in mirth,
Only for sport: do but ask Sosia else.

Alc.
But why not bring my kinsman Naucrates,
To testify you was not here before?

Jup.
It is not fair to turn to earnest what
Was only spoke in jest.

Alc.
But yet I know,
And feel, how much it pains me to the heart!

Jup.
By your right hand, Alcmena, I intreat,
Implore, beseech, you'd grant me this request:—
Forgive me, and be angry now no longer.

Alc.
I by my virtue render your reproaches
Vain, and of no effect; and though you now
Acquit me of dishonour, I'd avoid
The very imputation.—Fare you well;
Keep your own things, and give me mine. You'll suffer
My women to attend me?

Jup.
Are you mad?

Alc.
Or if you will not, I will go without them,
Bearing my virtue with me for companion.

(going.)
Jup.
Stay:—I submit this oath to your discretion.
“I do believe my wife is truly virtuous:”—
If I deceive in this, then, highest Jove,
I do beseech you, let your anger fall
With unremitted vengeance on Amphitryon.

Alc.
Ah! may he rather be propitious to him!

Jup.
Trust that he will: The oath, that I have taken,
Is a sincere and true one.—Now, I hope,
You're no more angry.

Alc.
I am not.

Jup.
'Tis well.
For in the life of men full many a chance
Befals them in this wise: and now they take
Their fill of pleasure, then again of misery:
Now quarrels intervene, and now again
They're reconcil'd:—but when these kind of quarrels
Haply arise betwixt two loving souls,
When reconciliation's made again,
Their friendship doubles that they held before.

Alc.
You ought not to have said what late you did:
But, as you clear yourself, I am content.

Jup.
See that the sacred vessels be prepar'd,
To pay the vows I promis'd to perform,
If I return'd in safety.

Alc.
I'll take care.

Jup.
Call Sosia hither. He shall go to Blepharo,
The master of our vessel, and invite him
To come and dine with us.—As for himself, (aside.)

He shall be fool'd so as to lose his dinner;
And when unwittingly Amphitryon comes,
I'll drag him by the throat from hence.

Alc.
I wonder
What he is talking to himself about!
But the door opens—Oh, 'tis Sosia comes.

SCENE III.

Enter SOSIA.
I'm here.—Command me, if you want my service:
I will obey your orders.

Jup.
You are come
Most opportunely.

Sos.
Is it peace betwixt ye?
For I am glad, and 'tis a pleasure to me,
To see ye in good humour. It becomes
A trusty servant still to fashion him
So as to be himself as is his master,
To set his face by his face, to be grave
If he is grave, and merry if he's merry.—
But come now, tell me, are you reconcil'd?

Jup.
You jeer me sure,—as if you did not know,
That what I said before was but in jest.

Sos.
In jest you said it? By my troth I thought
You spoke it seriously in sober sadness.

Jup.
I've clear'd myself: we've made peace.

Sos.
Best of all.

Jup.
I have a solemn business to transact
Within, which I have vow'd.

Sos.
Ay, I suppose so.

Jup.
Go to the vessel, in my name invite
The master, Blepharo, to dine with me
After the sacrifice.

Sos.
I shall be here,
Ere you can think me there.

Jup.
Return with speed.

[Exit Sosia.
Alc.
Would you ought else? or shall I now go in,
That what is needful be prepar'd?

Jup.
Pray go,
And to your best see ev'ry thing be ready.

Alc.
Come in, what time you will: I'll take due care,
That nothing shall be wanting.

Jup.
'Tis well spoken:
Like an observant wife.

[Alcmena goes in.

SCENE IV.

JUPITER
alone.
So—both of these
The servant and the mistress, are deceiv'd,
In thinking me Amphitryon: much they err.
Now, thou immortal Sosia, be at hand:—
(You hear me, though not present:)—You must bar
Amphitryon's entrance, and contrive to fool him,
While I indulge me with this borrow'd wife.
Look to't,—you know my pleasure,—and assist me,
While to myself I offer sacrifice.