Immortal Gods! do you at least know me, Sosia?SOSIAPretty well.AMPHITRYONDid I not dine yesterday on board ship in the Persian Port?ALCMENAI have witnesses as well, who can confirm that which I say.SOSIAI 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.AMPHITRYONSome magician, I know not who, is bewildering this woman.ALCMENABy 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.AMPHITRYONI could wish that that was true.ALCMENAI speak the truth, but in vain, since you will not believe me.AMPHITRYONYou are a woman; you swear at random.ALCMENAShe who has not done wrong, her it befits to be bold and to speak confidently and positively in her own behalf.AMPHITRYONThat’s very boldly said.ALCMENAJust as befits a virtuous woman.AMPHITRYONSay you so? By your own words you prove it.ALCMENAThat 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.SOSIASurely, 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..AMPHITRYONReally I am so bewildered, that I don’t know myself who I am.SOSIASurely 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.AMPHITRYONMadam, I’m resolved not to omit having this matter enquired into.ALCMENAI’ faith, you’ll do so quite to my satisfaction.AMPHITRYONHow 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 dissolveAt 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?ALCMENAIf I have done wrong, there is no reason.AMPHITRYONAgreed. 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?ALCMENAWon’t you hence away from me, fit servant for your master? SOSIAIf 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.