With madness.ALCMENAReally I am in my senses, and I pray the Gods that in safety I may bring forth a son; but (to SOSIA) hap-ill shall you be having, if he does his duty: for those ominous words, omen-maker, you shall catch what befits you.SOSIAWhy really an apple An apple: There is a pun here upon the similarity of the two words malum,evil, and malum, an apple, in which latter sense Sosia chooses to take the expression of Alcmena. The version of the pun used in the text is borrowed from Thornton’s Translation. In a Note, he wonders why an apple (or any fruit) should be given to a pregnant woman. Sosia seems to explain the reason, in saying that if she feels faint, she will have something to gnaw. It is not improbable that tension of the muscles may in some degree counteract a tendency to faint. This wretched pun is repeated in l. 1032 ought to be given to the lady thus pregnant, that there may be something for her to gnaw if she should begin to faint.AMPHITRYONDid you see me here yesterday?ALCMENAI did, I say, if you wish it to be ten times repeated.AMPHITRYONIn your sleep, perhaps?ALCMENANo—I, awake, saw you awake. AMPHITRYONWoe to me! SOSIAWhat’s the matter with you? AMPHITRYONMy wife is mad. SOSIAShe’s attacked with black bile; nothing so soon turns people mad.AMPHITRYONWhen, madam, did you first find yourself affected?ALCMENAWhy really, upon my faith, I’m well, and in my senses.AMPHITRYONWhy, then, do you say that you saw me yesterday, whereas we were brought into harbour but last night? There did I dine, and there did I rest the livelong night on board ship, nor have I set my foot even here into the house, since, with the army, I set out hence against the Teleboan foe, and since we conquered them.ALCMENAOn the contrary, you dined with me, and you slept with me.AMPHITRYONHow so? ALCMENAI’m telling the truth.AMPHITRYONOn my honor, not in this matter, really; about other matters I don’t know.ALCMENAAt the very break of dawn you went away to your troops.AMPHITRYONBy what means could I?SOSIAShe says right, according as she remembers; she’s telling you her dream. But, madam, after you arose, you ought to have sacrificed to Jove, the disposer of prodigiesDisposer of prodigies: See the Miles Gloriosus, l. 394, and the Note to the passage., either with a salt cake or with frankincense.ALCMENAA mischief on your head! SOSIAThat’s your own business, if you take due care.ALCMENANow again this fellow is talking rudely to me, and that without punishment.AMPHITRYON(to SOSIA.)You hold your tongue. (To ALCMENA.) Do you tell me now—did I go away hence from you at daybreak?ALCMENAWho then but your own self recounted to me how the battle went there? AMPHITRYONAnd do you know that as well?ALCMENAWhy, I heard it from your own self, how you had taken a very large city, and how you yourself had slain king Pterelas.AMPHITRYONWhat, did I tell you this?