Well, and don’t you think that I shall come much wished for to my mistress?(AMPHITRYON advances, at a distance, with SOSIA.)ALCMENA(to herself.)Surely, this is my husband.AMPHITRYON(to SOSIA.)Do you follow me this way.ALCMENA(to herself.)But why has he returned, when just now he said that he was in haste? Is he purposely trying me, and is he desirous to make proof of this, how much I regret his departure? By my faith, against no inclination of mine has he betaken himself home.SOSIAAmphitryon, it were better for us to return to the ship. AMPHITRYONFor what reason?SOSIABecause there’s no person at home to give us a breakfast on our arrival.AMPHITRYONHow comes that now into your mind?SOSIAWhy, because we have come too late.AMPHITRYONHow so? SOSIABecause I see Alcmena standing before the house, with her stomach-full Stomach-full: He is guilty of a vulgar pun on the word saturam, which may either mean having a full stomach or being pregnant. already.AMPHITRYONI left her pregnant here when I went away.SOSIAAlas, to my sorrow, I’m undone! AMPHITRYONWhat’s the matter with you? SOSIAI have come home just in good time to fetch the water To fetch the water: He alludes to the practice among the ancients of bathing immediately after childbirth, and says that he himself, as the servant, will have to fetch the buckets of water in the tenth month after that, according as I understand you to compute the reckoning.AMPHITRYONBe of good heart. SOSIADo you know of how good heart I am? By my troth, do you never after this day entrust to me aught that is sacred, if I don’t draw up all the life of that well, if I do but make a beginning.AMPHITRYONDo you only follow me this way. I’ll appoint another person for that business; don’t you fear.ALCMENA(advancing.)I think that I shall now be doing my duty more, if I go to meet him. (They meet.)AMPHITRYONWith joy, Amphitryon greets his longed for wife—her, whom of all women in Thebes her husband deems by far the most excellent, and whom so much the Theban citizens truthfully extol as virtuous. Have you fared well all along? Do I arrive much wished for by you?SOSIA(aside.)I never saw one more so; for she greets her own husband not a bit more than a dog.AMPHITRYONWhen I see you pregnant, and so gracefully burdened, I am delighted.ALCMENAPrithee, in the name of all that’s good, why, for the sake of mockery, do you thus salute and address me, as though you hadn’t lately seen me—as though now, for the first time, you were betaking yourself homeward here from the enemy? For now you are addressing me just as though you were seeing me after a long time.AMPHITRYONWhy, really for my part, I have not seen you at all this day until now.ALCMENAWhy do you deny it? AMPHITRYONBecause I have learned to speak the truth.ALCMENAHe does not do right, who unlearns the same that he has learned. Are you making trial what feelings I possess? But why are you returning hither so soon?