 | Amphitryon |  |
SCENE VI.
Remain JUPITER, AMPHITRYON, and BLEPHARO.Jup.
Say'st thou, I lie?
Amph.
Thou liest, I say,—corrupter of my family!
108
Now for these scurvy terms I'll throttle thee.
(Takes him by the collar.)
Amph.
Oh, Oh!
Jup.
You should have look'd to this before.
Amph.
Help, Blepharo!
Bleph.
They are both so like each other,
I know not which to side with; but I'll try
To finish their contention, if I can.—
Amphitryon, do not kill Amphitryon: pray
Let go his collar.
Jup.
Call'st thou Him Amphitryon?
Bleph.
Why not? He was but one, but now he's double.
What though you say you are, the other too
Is still Amphitryon in his form. Then pray
Let go his collar.
Jup.
Well;—but tell me truly,
Does he appear to you to be Amphitryon?
Bleph.
Both verily.
Amph.
O highest Jupiter!
109
But I'll examine him.—Art thou Amphitryon?
Jup.
Dost thou deny it?
Amph.
Surely, since there is
No other of that name in Thebes but I.
Jup.
No, none but I:—then, Blepharo, be thou judge
Betwixt us.
Bleph.
I will make this matter clear
By tokens, if I can. (to Amph.)
You answer first.
Amph.
Most willingly.
Bleph.
What orders did you give me,
Ere you began the battle with the Taphians?
Amph.
To hold the ship in readiness, and stick
Close to the rudder.
Jup.
That in case our troops
Were routed, I might find a safe retreat.
Amph.
And for another reason:—to secure
The bag, well loaded with a store of treasure.
Jup.
What money was there?
Bleph.
Hold, you:—'tis for me
To put the question. (To Jupiter)
Do you know the sum?
110
Yes, fifty Attic talents.
Bleph.
To a jot.
And you— (to Amph.)
how many Philippeans were there?
Amph.
Two thousand.—
Jup.
And of Oboli twice as many.
Bleph.
Both hit the mark so truly, one of them
Must needs have hid him in the bag.
Jup.
Attend.
With this right arm, (as you are not to learn,)
I slew king Pterelas; seiz'd on the spoils,
And in a casket brought the golden cup,
Which he was wont to drink from: This I gave
A present to my wife, with whom to-day
I bath'd, I sacrific'd, I lay.
Amph.
Ah me!
What do I hear?—I scarcely am myself!
Awake I sleep; awake I dream; alive,
111
I am Amphitryon, nephew of Gorgophone,
Commander of the Thebans, favourite
Of Creon, conqueror of the Teleboans,
Who vanquish'd with his might the Acarnanians,
And Taphians, by his warlike prowess slew
Their monarch, and appointed Cephalus
Their governor, son of Dëioneus.
Jup.
I by my bravery in the battle crush'd
Those hostile ravagers, that had destroy'd
Electryon, and the brothers of our wife.
These wand'ring through th'Ionian, the Ægean,
And Cretan seas, with pow'r piratical
Laid waste Achaia, Phocis, and Ætolia.
Amph.
O ye immortal Gods! I scarce can have
Faith in myself, so just is his relation.—
What say you, Blepharo?
Bleph.
One thing yet remains:
If that appear, be double,—both Amphitryons
Jup.
I know what you would say; that scar you mean
Upon my right arm from the wound by Pterelas
112
Bleph.
The same.
Amph.
Well thought on.
Jup.
See you?
Lo! look!
Bleph.
Uncover, and I'll look.
Jup.
We have
Uncover'd: look!
(They both shew their arms.)
Bleph.
O Jupiter supreme!
What do I see?—On both of you most plainly,
Upon the right arm, in the self-same place,
The self-same token does appear,—a scar,
New closing, of a reddish wannish hue!
All reasoning fails, and judgment is struck dumb.
I know not what to do.
[Here ends the supposititious part.]
Between yourselves
You must decide it: I must hence away;
I've business calls me.—Never did I see
Such wonders!
Amph.
I beseech you, Blepharo, stay,
And be my advocate; pray do not go.
Bleph.
Farewell.—An advocate how can I be,
Who know not which to side with?
Jup.
I'll go in:
Alcmena is in labour.
[Blepharo goes off, and Jupiter goes into Amphitryon's house.
| Amphitryon | |