amphitryon(安菲特利翁)-第10章
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heart; too deserving of death; since it has offended an adorable being; will
be happy if; in descending into the place of shades; my death appeases
your anger; and; after this wretched day; it leaves in your soul no
impression of hatred in remembering my love! This is all I ask as a
sovereign favour。
ALC。 Ah! Cruel husband。
JUP。 Speak; Alcmene; speak。
ALC。 Must I still keep some kindness for you; who insult me by so
many indignities?
JUP。 Whatever resentment an outrage causes us; can it hold out against
the remorse of a heart deeply in love?
ALC。 A heart full of passion would rather expose itself to a thousand
deaths; than offend the object beloved。
JUP。 The more one loves; the easier it is
ALC。 No; do not speak to me any longer about it; you deserve my
hatred。
JUP。 You hate me then?
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ALC。 I make every effort to do so; and it annoys me to feel that all
your insults do not yet carry my vengeance so far as yield to it。
JUP。 But why this violence; since I offer to kill myself to satisfy your
revenge? Pronounce the sentence and immediately I will obey。
ALC。 It is impossible to wish for another's death if hatred be absent。
JUP。 I cannot live unless you abandon the wrath that overwhelms me;
and unless you grant me the favour of a pardon which I beg at your feet。
Decide to do one or the other quickly: to punish; or to absolve。
ALC。 Alas! The only resolution I can take is but too clearly apparent。
My heart has too plainly betrayed me; for me to wish to maintain this
anger: is it not to say we pardon; when we say we cannot hate?
JUP。 Ah; charming Alcmene; overwhelmed with delight I must。。。
ALC。 Forbear: I hate myself for such weakness。
JUP。 Go; Sosie; make haste; a sweet joy fills my soul。 See what
officers of the army you can find; and ask them to dine with me。 (Softly
aside。) Mercury can fill his post; while he is away from here。
SCENE VII
CLEANTHIS; SOSIE
SOS。 Come! Now; you see; this couple; Cleanthis。 Will you follow
their example; and let us also make peace? Indulge in some slight
reconciliation?
CLE。 For the sake of your lovely mug; Oh yes! I will; and no mistake。
SOS。 What? You will not?
CLE。 No。
SOS。 It doesn't matter to me。 So much the worse for you。
CLE。 Well; well; come back。
SOS。 No; not; likely! I shall not do anything of the kind; I shall be
angry。 I turn now。
CLE。 Go away; you villain; let me alone; one gets tired now and then
of being an honest woman。
END OF THE SECOND ACT
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ACT III
SCENE I
AMPHITRYON
Yes; so doubt fate hides him purposely from me; at last am I tired of
trying to find him。 I do not know anything that can be more cruel than my
lot。 In spite of all my endeavours; I cannot find him whom I seek; all those
I do not seek I find。 A thousand tiresome bores; who do not think they are
so; drive me mad with their congratulations on our feats of arms; although
they know little of me。 In the cruel embarrassment and anxiety that
troubles me; they all burden me with their attentions; and their rejoicings
make my uneasiness worse。 In vain I try to pass them by; to flee from their
persecutions; their killing friendship stops me on all sides; whilst I reply to
the ardour of their expressions by a nod of the head; I mutter under my
breath a hundred curses on them。 Ah! How little we are flattered by praise;
honour and all that a great victory brings; when inwardly we suffer keen
sorrow! How willingly would I exchange all this glory to have peace of
mind! At every turn my jealousy twits me with my disgrace; the more my
mind ponders over it; the less can I unravel its miserable confusion。 The
theft of the diamonds does not astonish me; seals may be tampered with
unperceived; but my most cruel torment is that she insists I gave the gift to
her personally yesterday。 Nature oftentimes produces resemblances; which
some impostors have adopted in order to deceive; but it is inconceivable
that; under these appearances; a man should pass himself off as a husband;
there are a thousand differences in a relationship such as this which a wife
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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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