let me go alone; chastity shall I take as my attendant.(Going.)JUPITERStay—at your desire, I’ll give my oath that I believe my wife Believe my wife: Madame Dacier suggests that Jupiter is hem equivocating, and that he is covertly resorting to a salvo, by alluding to the chastity of Juno, his heavenly consort. He is so full of quibbles and subterfuges, that it is not unlikely to be intentional, although Dacier has been ridiculed by Gueudeville and Thornton for the notion. to be chaste. If in that I deceive you, then, thee, supreme Jupiter, do I entreat that thou wilt ever be angered againstEver be angered against: This oath is similar in its absurdity to that of Mercury, in l. 392. Jupiter, personating Amphitryon, says, that if he himself breaks his oath, then may he himself always prove hostile to Amphitryon. Amphitryon.ALCMENAOh! rather may he prove propitious.JUPITERI trust that it will be so; for before you have I taken a truthful oath. Now then, you are not angry?ALCMENAI am not. JUPITERYou act properly. For in the life of mortals many things of this nature come to pass; and now they take their pleasures, again they meet with hardships. Quarrels intervene, again do they become reconciled. But it perchance any quarrels of this nature happen between them, when again they have become reconciled, twofold more loving are they between themselves than they were before.ALCMENAAt the first you ought to have been careful not to say so; but if you excuse yourself to me for the same, it must be put up with.JUPITERBut bid the sacred vessels to be got ready for me, that I may fulfil all those vows which I made when with the army, in case I should return safe home.ALCMENAI’ll take care of that. JUPITER(To a SERVANT.)Call out Sosia hither. Let him fetch Blepharo, the pilot that was on board my ship, to breakfast with us. (Aside.) He shall be fooled this day Be fooled this day: Jupiter save this for the information of the Audience and to raise their expectations of the fun that is to follow so as to go without his breakfast, while I shall drag Amphitryon hence by the throat.ALCMENA(aside.)It’s surprising what he can be arranging alone in secrecy with himself. But the door opens; Sosia’s coming out.

(Enter SOSIA, from the house)SOSIAAmphitryon, I’m here; if any way you have need of me, command me; your commands I will obey.JUPITERVery opportunely are you come.SOSIAHas peace been made then between you two? But since I see you in good humour, I’m delighted, and it is a pleasure to myself. And so does it seem becoming for a trusty servant to conduct himself; just as his superiors are, so should he be likewise; by their countenances he should fashion his own countenance; if his superiors are grave, let him be grave; if they rejoice, let him be merry. But come, answer me; have you two now come to a reconciliation?JUPITERYou are laughing at me, who know full well that these things were just now said by me in joke.SOSIAIn joke did you say it? For my part, I supposed that it was said seriously and in truthfulness.JUPITERStill, I’ve made my excuses; and peace has been made.SOSIA’Tis very good.JUPITERI shall now perform the sacrifice in-doors, and the vows which I have made.SOSIASo I suppose. JUPITERDo you invite hither, in my name, Blepharo, the pilot, from the ship, so that when the sacrifice has been performed, he may breakfast with me.SOSIAI shall be here again, while you’ll be thinking that I’m there.JUPITERReturn here directly.(Exit SOSIA.)ALCMENADo you wish for anything else, but that I should go in-doors now, that the things that are requisite may be got ready?JUPITERGo then, and take care that everything is prepared as soon as possible. ALCMENAWhy, come in-doors whenever you please; I’ll take care that there shall not be any delay.