Amphitryon, or Jupiter in Disguise (1034_sp117-1034_sp146)

Really, both of you do.

O supreme Jupiter! when this day didst thou take from me my form? I’ll proceed to make enquiry of him; are you Amphitryon?

Do you deny it?

Downright do I deny it, inasmuch as in Thebes there is no other Amphitryon besides myself.

On the contrary, no other besides myself; and, in fact, do you, Blepharo, be the judge.

I’ll make this matter clear by proofs, if I can. (To AMPHITRYON.) Do you answer first.

With pleasure.

Before the battle with the Taphians was begun by you, what orders did you give me?

The ship being in readiness, for you carefully to keep close to the rudder.

That if our people should take to flight, I might betake myself in safety thither.

Anything else as well?

That the bag loaded with treasure should be carefully guarded.

Because the money—

Hold your tongue, you, if you please; it’s my place to ask. Did you know the amount?

Fifty Attic talents.

He tells the truth to a nicety. And you (to AMPHITRYON), how many Philippeans?

Two thousand.

And obols[*] twice as many.

Each of you states the matter correctly. Inside the bag one of you must have been shut up.

Attend, please. With this right hand, as you know, I slew king Pterelas; his spoils I seized, and the goblet from which he had been used to drink I brought away in a casket; I made a present of it to my wife, with whom this day at home I bathed, I sacrificed, and slept.

Ah me! what do I hear? I scarcely am myself. For, awake, I am asleep; awake, I am in a dream; alive and well, I come to destruction. I am that same Amphitryon, the descendant of[*] Gorgophone, the general of the Thebans, and the sole combatant for Creon against the Teleboans; I, who have subdued by my might the Acarnanians and the Taphians, and, by my consummate warlike prowess, their king. Over these have I appointed Cephalus, the son of the great Deioneus.

I am he who by warfare and my valour crushed the hostile ravagers. They had destroyed Electryon and the brothers of my wife. Wandering through the Ionian, the Aegean, and the Cretan seas, with piratical violence they laid waste Achaia, Aetolia, and Phocis.

Immortal Gods! I cannot trust my own self, so exactly does he relate all the things that happened there. Consider, Blepharo.

One thing only remains; if so it is, do you be Amphitryons both of you.

I knew what you would say. The scar that I have on the muscle of my right arm, from the wound which Pterelas gave me—

Well, that.

Quite to the purpose.

See you! look, behold!

Uncover, and I’ll look.

We have uncovered. Look!