Immortal Gods! do you at least know me, Sosia? SOSIA Pretty well. AMPHITRYON Did I not dine yesterday on board ship in the Persian Port? ALCMENA I have witnesses as well, who can confirm that which I say. SOSIA I don’t know what to say to this matter, unless, perchance, there is another Amphitryon, who, perhaps, though you yourself are absent, takes care of your business, and who, in your absence, performs your duties here. For about that counterfeit Sosia it is very surprising. Certainly, about this Amphitryon, now, it is another matter still more surprising. AMPHITRYON Some magician, I know not who, is bewildering this woman. ALCMENA By the realms of the supreme Sovereign I swear, and by Juno, the matron Goddess, whom for me to fear and venerate it is most especially fitting, that no mortal being No mortal being : Unknowingly, Alcmena has a salvo here for the untruth, which, unconsciously, she would be otherwise telling; Jupiter not being a mortal. except yourself alone has ever touched my person in contact with his so as to render me unchaste. AMPHITRYON I could wish that that was true. ALCMENA I speak the truth, but in vain, since you will not believe me. AMPHITRYON You are a woman; you swear at random. ALCMENA She who has not done wrong, her it befits to be bold and to speak confidently and positively in her own behalf. AMPHITRYON That’s very boldly said. ALCMENA Just as befits a virtuous woman. AMPHITRYON Say you so? By your own words you prove it. ALCMENA That which is called a dowry, I do not deem the same my dowry; but chastity, and modesty, and subdued desires, fear of the Gods, and love of my parents, and concord with my kindred; to be obedient to yourself and bounteous to the good, ready to aid the upright. SOSIA Surely, by my troth, if she tells the truth in this, she’s perfect to the very ideal To the very ideal : Examussim. Literally, by the rule; a term applied to carpenter’s work. . AMPHITRYON Really I am so bewildered, that I don’t know myself who I am. SOSIA Surely you are Amphitryon; take you care, please, that you don’t peradventure lose yourself; people are changing in such a fashion since we came from abroad. AMPHITRYON Madam, I’m resolved not to omit having this matter enquired into. ALCMENA I’ faith, you’ll do so quite to my satisfaction. AMPHITRYON How say you? Answer me; what if I bring your own kinsman, Naucrates, hither from the ship, who, together with me, has been brought on board the same ship; and if he denies that that has happened which you say has happened, what is proper to be done to you? Do you allege any reason. why I should not at your cost dissolve At your cost dissolve : Mulctem matrimonio. He alludes to the custom among the Romans of the husband retaining the marriage-portion of the wife, when she was divorced for adultery. If they separated for any other reason, her portion was returned to her. this our marriage? ALCMENA If I have done wrong, there is no reason. AMPHITRYON Agreed. Do you, Sosia, take these Take these : Hos. It is not known to what this word is intended to apply; but it may possibly refer to some captives which he has brought with him, the fruits of his conquest. people in-doors. I’ll bring Naucrates hither with me from the ship. (Exit.) SOSIA (going close to ALCMENA.) Now then, there’s no one here except ourselves; tell me the truth seriously, is there any Sosia in-doors who is like myself? ALCMENA Won’t you hence away from me, fit servant for your master? SOSIA If you command me, I’m off I’m off : We may suppose him to say so with peculiar alacrity, as abeo, the word used by Alcmena, was the formal word used on the manumission of a slave. , (Goes into the house.) ALCMENA (to herself.) By heavens, it is a very wondrous proceeding, how it has pleased this husband of mine thus to accuse me falsely of a crime so foul. Whatever it is, I shall now learn it from my kinsman Naucrates.