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Act 4 · Amphitryon; or, Jupiter in Disguise

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Act four of Amphitryon or Jupiter in Disguise by Titus Machis Plotos, translated by
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Henry Thomas Riley. This is a LibriVox recording. A LibriVox recordings are in
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the public domain. For more information or to volunteer this visit LibriVox dot org.
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Act for scene one, enter Mercury running at the end of the stage.
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Stand by and make room all of you. Get you out of the
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way. And let not any person now be so presumptuous as to stand before
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me in the road. For surely, why by my wrath, should I,
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a god be any less allowed to threaten the public if it does not
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get out of my way than a slave In comedies, he is bringing news
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that the ship is safe, or else the approach of some angry old blade.
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Whereas I am obeying the bidding of Jove, and by his command,
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do I now hie me? For this reason it is more fitting to get
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out of the road and to make room for me. My father calls me,
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I am following him to his orders. So given am I obedient,
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As it befits a son to be dutiful to his father, Just so am
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I to my father. In his amours. I play second fiddle to him.
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I encourage him, assist him, advise him, rejoice with him.
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If anything is pleasing to my father, that pleasure is an extremely great one
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for myself. Is he amorously disposed, he is wise. He does right
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inasmuch as he follows his inclination, a thing that all men ought to do,
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as long as it is done in a proper manner. Now, my
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father wishes Mfatrion to be cajoled. I'll take care, spectators, that he
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shall be rarely cajoled. While you look on, I'll place a chaplet on
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my head and pretend that I am drunk, and up there, pointing to
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the top of the house, will I get from that spot at the top
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of the house. I'll cleverly drive this person off. When he comes hither,
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I'll take care that sober he shall be drenched. Afterwards, his own
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servant, Sosia, will presently be suffering the punishment for it. He'll be
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accusing him of doing this day the things which I myself have done. What's
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that to me? It's proper for me to be obedient to my father.
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It's right to be subservient to his pleasure. But see here is Inftrion.
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He's coming. Now, shall he be rarely fooled? If indeed to the
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audience you are willing by listening to lend your attention. I'll go indoors and
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assume a garb that more becomes me. Then I'll go up upon the roof
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that I may drive him off from Hence goes into the house and fastens the
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door. Scene to enter amphitryon amphytryon to himself. Nocrates, whom I wanted
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to find, was not on board ship, either at home or in the
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city. Do I meet with anyone that has seen him? For through all
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the streets have I crawled the wrestling rings and the perfumers's shops, to the
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market too, and in the shambles, the school for exercise, and the
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forum, the doctors's shops, the barbers' shops, and among all the sacred
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buildings. I'm wearied out with seeking him, And yet I know where meet
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with Nocrates. Now I'll go home, and from my wife, will I
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continue to make inquiry into this matter? Who the person was by the side
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of whom she submitted her body to dishonor for were better that I was dead
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than that I this day should leave this inquirying complete. Goes up to the
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door, but the house is closed. A pretty thing. Indeed, this
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is done just like the other things have been done. I'll knock at the
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door, open this door? Ho, there is there anybody here? Is
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there anyone going to open this door? Scene three? Mercury appears on the
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top of the house with a chaplet on his head, pretending to be drunk.
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Ohs that at the door to say? Who's desire to siy? That?
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Say so for sure? Jupiter, and all the day and teas are
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angered with you? Who are banging at the door this way? In what
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manner? In this manner that, without a doubt you must be spending a
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wretched life. Socia, Well, I'm Socia, unless you think that I've
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forgotten myself. What do you want now? What? You rascal? Do
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you even ask me that? What is it I want? Oh? I
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do so ask you, you blockhead? You've almost broken the hinges off the
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door. Did you fancy that doors were supplied us at the public charge?
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Why are you looking up at me, you stupid? What do you want
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now for yourself? Oh? What fellow are you? You whip scoundrel,
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Do you even ask me who I am? You held elm saplings my faith?
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This dy'll make you burn with smarts of the scourges. For these speeches
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of yours. You surely must have formerly been a spendthrift in your young days.
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How So, because in your old age you come begging a hap ill
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for me for yourself slave, fair and torture? Do you give vent to
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these expressions this day? Now I'm performing a sacrifice to you. How why
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because I devote you to ill? Luck with this libation throws water on him
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what you devote me, you villain. If the gods have not this day
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take away my usual form, I'll take care that you shall be laden with
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bull's high thongs, you victim of Saturn. So surely will I devote you
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to the cross and to torture. Come out of doors, you whip,
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nave, you shadow, we ghost. You frighten me with your threats.
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If you don't be taking yourself off from here this instant, If you knock
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once more, if the door makes a noise with your little finger, even
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I'll break your head with this tile, so that with your teeth you may
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sputter out your tongue. What rascal would you be for driving me away from
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my own home? What would you hinder me from knocking at my own door?
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Or this instant tear it from off all its hinges? Do you persist?
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I do persist? Take that then throws a tie at him, scoundrel
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at your master. If I lay hands upon you this day, I'll bring
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you to that pitch of misery that you shall be miserable for evermore. Sure
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they you must have been playing the barcanal, old gentleman. Why so inasmuch
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as you take me to be your slave, what I take you plague upon
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you? I know no master, but Amfi try on and phytryon to himself?
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Have I lost my form? It's strange that associate shouldn't know me.
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I'll make trial, calling out, how now tell me who I appear to
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be? Am I not really? Ampha? Try on an for tryon?
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Are you and your senses? Has it not been told you before, old
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fellow, that you have been playing the barcanal to be asking another person who
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you are? Get away? I recommend you don't be troublesome while Amphi Tryon,
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who has just come back from the enemy, is indulging himself with a
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company of his What wife, Alcmenna? What man? How often do you
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want it told? Then't you try on, my master? Don't be troublesome.
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Who is he sleeping with? Take care that you don't meet with some
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mishap in trifling with me this way? Prithee, do tell me, my
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dear Circia more civilly said with Alcmena in the same chamber. Yes, says
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I fancy he is sleeping with her side by side, alas fritch that I
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am Mercury to the audience, it really is a gain, which he imagines
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to be a misfortune. For to lend one's wife to another is just as
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though you were to let out baron land to be plowed. Circia, what
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the plague about? Solcia? Don't you know me, you whip scoundrel.
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I know that you are a troublesome fellow who have no need to go buy
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a lawsuit. Still, once more, am I your master? And for
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tryon you are Bacchus himself, and not am Vitrion. How often do you
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want to be told? Many times more my master, and Vitrion in the
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same chamber is holding Acmenna in his embraces. If you persist, I'll produce
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him here, and not without your great discomfiture. I wish him to be
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fetched. Aside, I pray that this day, in return for my services,
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I may not lose housewife and household together with my figure. I'll fetch
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him. But in the meantime, do you mind about the door? Please?
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Aside? I suppose that by this he has brought the sacrifice that he
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was intending as far as the banquet. If you are troublesome, you shan't
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escape without my making a sacrifice of you. He retires into the house.
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Ye, Gods, by my trust in you? What madness is distracting my
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household? What wondrous things have I seen since I arrived from abroad? Why
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it's true? Surely what was once heard? Tell of how the men of
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Attica were transformed in Arcadia and remained as savage wild beasts, and would not
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ever afterwards known unto their parents. Scene four, enter Blepharoo and Cissia at
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a distance? Was this socior? Great marbles? Are these that you were
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telling off? Do you say that you found another socire at home exactly like
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yourself? I do say so that argue since I have produced a socia am
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for trial and am for trial. Do you know whether you perchance might not
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be producing another blefero? Oh, that the gods would grant that you as
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well, belabored with fists and with your teeth knocked out, going without your
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breakfast, might credit this for I that other associa, that is to say,
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who am yonder has mauled me in a dreadful manner? Really it is
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wonderful, but it s as well to mend our pace, For as I
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perceive Amphytrion is waiting for us, and my empty stomach is grumbling amphibriyan apart.
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And why do I mention foreign legends or wondrous things they relate to have
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happened among our theban race in former days, that mighty searcher for Europe's attacking
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the monster sprung from Mars, suddenly produced his enemies from the serpent seed,
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and in that battle fort brother pressed on brother with lance and helm. The
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epiote land too beheld the author of our race, together with the daughter of
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Venus, lighting his serpents from on high. Supreme Jove thus willed it.
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Thus Destiny directs or the noblest of our country return for their bride. Achievements
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are pursued with die for woes. This fatality is pressing hard on me.
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Still, I could endure disasters so great and submit to its hardly to be
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endured blephoro watch the man or don't know or suspect something wrong? Why nor
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look please our master? Like an humble courtier is walking before the door bolted
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fast. It's nothing walking to and fro. He's looking for an appytite after
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a singular fashion. Indeed, for he has shut the door that it made
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escape out of the house. You do go yelping on. I'll go neither
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yelping on nor barking on. If you listen to me observe him. I
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don't know why he's by himself alone. He's making some calculation. I suppose
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I can hear from this spot what he's don't be in a nurry amphi tryan
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apart. How much I fear lest the gods had blot out the glory I've
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acquired in the conquest of the foe. In wondrous manner? Do I see
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the whole of my household in commotion? And then my wife so full of
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viciousness, incontinence and dishonor kills me outright, But about the goblet in a
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singular thing, yet the seal was properly affixed. And what besides, She
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accounted to me the battles I had fought Peterelee too besieged and bravely slain by
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my own hand. I I now I know the trick. This was done
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by Sosia's contrivance, who as well has disgracefully presumed today to get before me
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on my arrival. Cissia to Blefaroo. He's talking about me and in terms
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that I'd rather not pray. They don't. Let's accost this man till he's
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disclosed his wrath. Just if you please, Amphi, tryan apart. If
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it is granted to me the state to lay hold of that whip scoundrel,
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I'll show him what it is to deceive his master and to sell me with
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threats and tricks. Do you hear him? I hear him they had implement
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pointing to Amphibrayon's walking stick is a burden from my shoulder blades and to cost
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the men. If you please, do you know what seas in the habit
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of being commonly said, Why you're going to say I don't know. Won't
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you will have to endure I pretty well guess it's an old adage hunger and
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delay summon anger to the nostrils. I am well suited to the occasion.
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Less address him directly, am fihrion Amphibrayon? Looking around? Is it Blafaro?
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I hear? It's strange way he has come to me. Still he
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presents himself opportunely for me to prove the guilty conduct of my wife. Why
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have you come here to me? Blefaro? Have you so soon forgotten?
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Now? Early in the morning, you sent Socio to this ship that I
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might take a repast with you to day? Never in this world was it
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done? Where is that scoundrel who Sosia? She there? He is,
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points at him and Phedryan looking about where before your eyes? Don't you see
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him? I can hardly see for anger. So distracted as that fellow made
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me this day, you should never escape my making a sacrifice of you.
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Offers to strike Sisia, on which Blefaro prevents him. Do let me,
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Bufaro listen, I pray, say on, I'm listening. Gives a blow
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to Sisia. You take that for what reason? More? And good time?
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I couldn't have gone quicker if I'd be taken myself from the all light
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wings of needless aphidryon tries to strike him again, Really, do leave him
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alone. We couldn't quicken our pace any further, whether it was the pace
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of a man on stilts or that of the tortoise, and determined to be
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the death of this villain, striking him at each sentence. Take that for
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the roof, that for the tiles, that for closing the door, that
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for making fun of your master, that for your abusive language. What injury
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has he been doing to you? Do you ask? Shut out of doors
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from that housetop, pointing to it, he's driving me away from my house?
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What I What did you threaten that you would do if I knocked at
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that door? Do you deny it, you scoundrel? Why shouldn't I deny
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it? See, he's sufficiently or witness with whom I've just now come.
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I was sent on purpose that, by your invitation or might bring him to
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your else? Who sent you, villain? He who asks me the question?
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When of all things? Some little time since, not long since just
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now, when you were reconciled home to your wife, Bacchus must have tormented
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you. May I not be paying my respects to Bacchus this day, nor
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yet to Siah's. You ordered the vessels to be made clean that you might
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perform a sacrifice, and you sent me to fetch him, pointing to Blefaro,
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that he might breakfast with you. Blefaro, may I perish outright?
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If I have either been in the house, or if I have sent him
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to Saissia? Tell me where did you leave me at home with your wife
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Alchmina. Leaving you, I flew towards the arbor and invited him in your
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name. We have come and have not seen you since till now. Villain
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as fellow with my wife. Say you, he shall never go away without
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getting a beating, gives him a blow bleforo Ampatrian. Do let him alone
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for my sake and listen to me. Well, then I'll let him alone.
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What do you want? Stay on? He has just now been telling
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me most extraordinary marbles, A juggler, more a sorcerer, perhaps as enchanting
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all this household of yours. Do inquire in other quarters and examine now he
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is, and don't cause this poor fellow to be tortured. Before you understand
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the matter, you give good advice. Let's go in. I want you
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also to be my advocate against my wife. Knocks at the door. Scene
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five. Enter Jupiter from the house, who, with such weighty blows,
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has been shaking this door on all the hinges, who has been making such
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a great disturbance for this long while before the house. If I find him
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out, I'll sacrifice him to the shades of the Telbeians. There's nothing,
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as the common saying is, that goes on well with me. To day,
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I left Lefaro and Sosia that I might find my kinsmen. No crates
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him. I have not found in them. I have lost, but I
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espy them. I'll go meet them to inquire if they have any news.
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Blethoro, that's our master that's coming out of the house. But this man's
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the sorcerer, Oh Ju Fishier, What do I beyond? This is not
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but that is Amftrion. If this is why, relieve they cannot be And
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this indeed you should do. See now here's Sosia with Biffaro. I'll cost
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them the first well, Sosia come to us at last. I'm quite hungry,
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did not I tell you, Bleffero, that this one was the sorcerer,
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Nay theven citizens. I say that this is the pointing to Jupiter,
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who in my house has made my wife guilty of incontinence, through whom I
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find a store of unchastity laid up for me, Cissia, to Jupiter,
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Master, if now you were hungry, crammed full of fisticuffs, I'll betake
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me to you. Do you persist, whip scoundrel? Hi? They doaccheron
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sorcerer? What I a sorcerer strikes him? Take that? What madness possesses
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you? Stranger for you to be beating my servant, your servant mine?
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You lie, Sosia, go indoors and take care of the breakfast is got
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ready. While I'm sacrificing this fellow, I'll go aside, Empha Troyon,
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I suppose will receive the other Ampha Trin as courteously as I that other Sosia
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did me Sosia a while ago. Meantime, while they're contending, I'll turn
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aside into the vittling department. I'll clean out all the dishes and all the
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vessels. I'll drain goes into the house. Seam six Jupiter, Amphiitryon and
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Blefaro, do you say that I lie? You lie? I say you
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corruptor of my family. For that disgraceful speech, I'll drag you along here,
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seizing you by the throat, ciss him by the throat. Ah wretched
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me. But you should have had a care of this beforehand, Buffaro ape
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Blefaro aside the tw exactly alike that I don't know which to side with.
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Still, so far as possible, I'll put an end to their contention.
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Allowed, Ampatrian, don't slay Amfatrian in fight. Let go OF's throat?
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I pray, are you calling this fellow aunt for Tryon? Why not?
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Formerly he was but one, but now he has become double while you are
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wanting to be he the other two doesn't cease to be of his form.
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Meanwhile, Prithee, do leave go Ofy's neck. I will leave. God,
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let's go off, Amphidriyan. But tell me, does that fellow appear
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to you to be Amphi try On? Really? Both of you do?
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Oh, Supreme Jupiter. When this date dies, stout, take me from
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my form. I proceed to make inquiry of him? Are you Ampha try
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On? Do you deny it? Don't right? Do I deny it?
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Inasmuch as in thieves there is no other ampha Trian besides myself. On the
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contrary, no other besides myself. And in fact, do you LaFaro be
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the judge. I'll make this matter clear my proofs if I can to Amphidrian,
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do you answer first with pleasure? Before the battle with the champions was
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begun by you, whatorders did you give me? The ship being in readiness,
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are you carefully to keep close to the rudder, that if our people
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shall take to flight, I might be take myself in safety thither anything else
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as well, that the backloaded with treasure should be carefully guarded, because the
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money, oh your tengue you if you please. It's my place to ask,
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did you know the amount? Fifty attic talents? He tells the truth
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to a nicety and you to Amphitryan. How many Philippians two thousand and obars
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twice as many? Each of youtinks the manica correctly inside the bag? One
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of you must have been shut up. Attend please with this right hand.
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As you know, I slew King Terelaeus. His spoils I seized, and
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the goblet from which he had been used to drink. I brought away in
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a casket. I made a present of it to my wife, with whom
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this day at home I bathed, I sacrificed and slept. Ah me,
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What do I hear? I scarcely am myself for awake, I am asleep,
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awake, I am in a dream, alive and well I come to
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destruction. I am that same and for Tryon, the descendant of Gorgophone,
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the general of the Thebans and the sole combatant for Crayon against the Tellaboans,
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I who have subdued by my might, the Acarnanians and the Tafians, and
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by my consummate warlike prowess their king over these have I appointed Cephalus, the
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son of the great Dionius. I am he who, by warfare and my
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valor crushed the hostile ravagers. They had destroyed Electrion and the brothers of my
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wife. Wandering through the Ionian, the Aegean, and the Cretan Sees with
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piratical violence, they laid waste Uchaya, Etolia and phocists. And what of
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God? I cannot trust my own self? So exactly does he relate all
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the things that happened there considerable, Faro. One thing only remains. If
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so it is do you be amphytrions, both of you? I knew what
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you would say. The scar that I have on the muscle of my right
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arm from the wound which Terrelius gave me, well, then quite to the
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purpose. See you look, behold un cover, and I'll look we have
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uncovered. Look they show their naked arms, Lefaro, looking at the right
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arm of each supreme Jupiter, What do I behold on the right arm muscle
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of each in the same spot. The scar clearly appears with the same mark,
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reddish and somewhat livid, just as it has first commenced to close.
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Reasoning is in a standstill. All judgment is struck dumb. I don't know
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what to do. Do you sell the matter between yourselves? I'm off for
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I have business, and I do not think that I have ever anywhere beheld
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such extraordinary wonders the faro, I pray that you'll stay as advocate and not
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go away farewell. What need is there for me for an advocate who don't
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know wish of the two of you to side with. I am going Hence
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indoors Alkmanna is in labor exit Blefaro, and Jupiter goes into Fidryan's house.
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Amphidrayan allowed to himself. I'm undone, wretch that I am. For What
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am I to do when my advocates and friends are now forsaking me? Never,
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by heavens shall he deride me unrevenged, whoever he is. Nor will
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I betake myself straight to the king and tell him of the matter as it
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has happened. By my faith, I will this day take vengeance on the
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Thasalian sorcerer who has wrongfully distracted the minds of my household. But where is
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he? Looking around? By my troth, He's off into the house to
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my wife. I suppose what if a person lives in thieves more wretched than
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myself? What now shall I do? Ay whom all men deny and to
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ride just as they please. I'm resolved. I'll burst into the house there,
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But of a person I perceive, whether maid servant or man servant,
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whether wife or whether paramour, whether father or whether grandfather, I'll be head
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that person in the house. Either tubes nor the derty shall hinder me from
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this, even if they would. But that'll do just as I have resolved.
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As he advances to the door, it thunders, and he falls in
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a swoon upon the ground, And of Act four