amphitryon(安菲特利翁)-第12章
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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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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； not Heaven itself can protect you： I shall dog
your footsteps even to Hell。
JUP。 It will not be necessary； you will soon see I shall not fly away。
AMPH。 Now； before he goes away with these； I will make haste to
gather together friends who will aid my cause； they will come to my house
and help me to pierce him with a thousand thrusts。
JUP。 No ceremony； I implore you； let us go quickly into the house。
NAU。 Really； this adventure utterly confounds the senses and the
reason。
SOS。 A truce； gentlemen； to all your surprises； let us joyfully sit down
to feed until the morning。 I intend to feast well； so that I may be in good
condition to relate our valiant deeds！ I am itching to attack the dishes； I
never felt so hungry。
SCENE VI
MERCURY； SOSIE
MERC。 Stop。 What have you come to poke your nose in here for； you
impudent turn…spit？
SOS。 Ah！ Gently； gently； for mercy's sake！
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Amphitryon
MERC。 Ah！ You have come back again！ I shall tan your hide for you。
SOS。 Ah！ Brave and generous I； compose yourself； I beseech you。
Sosie； spare Sosie a little； and do not divert yourself by knocking yourself
down。
MERC。 Who gave you liberty to call yourself by that name？ Did I not
expressly forbid you to do so； under penalty of experiencing a thousand
cuts from the cane？
SOS。 It is a name we both may bear at the same time； under the same
master。 I am recognised as Sosie everywhere； I permit you to be he； permit
me to be so； too。 Let us leave it to the two Amphitryons to give vent to
their jealousies； and； though they contend； let the two Sosies live in the
bonds of peace。
MERC。 No； one is quite enough； I am determined not to allow any
division。
SOS。 You shall have precedence over me； I will be the younger； and
you shall be the elder。
MERC。 No： a brother is a nuisance； and not to my taste； I intend to be
the only son。
SOS。 O barbarous and tyrannical heart！ Allow me at least to be your
shadow。
MERC。 Not at all。
SOS。 Let your soul humanise itself with a little pity！ Allow me to be
near you in that capacity： I shall be everywhere so submissive a shadow
that you will be pleased with me。
MERC。 No quarter； the law is immutable。 If you again have the
audacity to go in there； a thousand blows shall be the fruit。
SOS。 Alas！ Poor Sosie； to what miserable disgrace are you reduced！
MERC。 So？ Your lips presume again to give yourself a name I forbid！
SOS。 No； I did not intend myself； I was speaking of an old Sosie； who
was formerly a relative of mine； and whom； with the utmost barbarity；
they drove out of the house at dinner hour。
MERC。 Take care you do not fall into that idiocy if you wish to remain
among the number of the living。
SOS。 How I would thwack you if I had the courage； for your wretched
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puffed up pride； you double son of a strumpet！
MERC。 What do you say？
SOS。 Nothing。
MERC。 I am sure you muttered something。
SOS。 Ask anyone； I do not breathe。
MERC。 Nevertheless I am absolutely certain that something about a
son of a strumpet struck my ear。
SOS。 It must have been a parrot roused by the beautiful weather。
MERC。 Adieu。 If your back itches for a currying； here is where I live。
SOS。 O Heavens！ What a cursed hour is the dinner hour to be turned
out of doors！ Come； let us yield to fate in our affliction。 Let us today
follow blind caprice； and join the unfortunate Sosie to the unfortunate
Amphitryon： it is a suitable union。 I see he is coming in good company。
SCENE VII
AMPHITRYON； ARGATIPHONTIDAS； POSICLES； SOSIE
AMPH。 Stay here； gentlemen； follow me a little way off； and do not all
advance； I pray you； until there is need for it。
POS。 I quite understand this blow touches you to the heart。
AMPH。 Ah！ My sorrow is bitter through and through： I suffer in my
affection； as much as in my honour。
POS。 If this resemblance is such as is said； Alcmene； without being
guilty 。 。 。
AMPH。 Ah！ In this affair； a simple error becomes a veritable crime；
and； though no way consenting； innocence perishes in it。 Such errors； in
whatever way we look at them； affect us in the most sensit
