T. Maccius Plautus Amphitruo 1.3

JUPITER

Kindly fare you well, Alcmena; take care, as you are doing, of our common interest,

and pray be sparing of yourself; you see that now your months are completed. It’s necessary for me to go away from here; but the offspring that shall be born do you bring up ¹ .

500

ALCMENA

What business is this, my husband, since you thus suddenly leave your home?

JUPITER

By my troth, ’tis not that I am wearied of you or of my home; but when the chief commander is not with the army,

that is sooner done which ought not to be done than that which needs to be done.

505

MERCURY

(aside.)

This is a very clever counterfeit, who really is my own father. (To the AUDIENCE.) Do you observe him, how blandly he smoothes the lady over.

ALCMENA

I’ faith, I find by experience how much you value your wife.

JUPITER

If there is no one among women whom I love so much, are you satisfied?

MERCURY

(aside.)

Verily, upon my faith, if Juno only knew that you were giving your attention to such matters, I’d warrant that you’d rather be ² Amphitryon than Jupiter.

510

ALCMENA

I would rather that I should find it so by experience, than that it should be told me. You leave me before the spot in the bed where.you have been lying has well grown warm. Yesterday, in the middle of the night, you came, and now you are going away. Is this your pleasure?

MERCURY

(aside.)

I’ll approach, and address her, and play second fiddle to my father. (He approaches ALCMENA.) Never, upon my faith, do I believe that any mortal did so. distractedly love his wife as he distractedly dotes upon you.

515

JUPITER

Scoundrel!—don’t I know you of old? Won’t you be off out of my sight? What business have you in this matter, whip-knave? or why your muttering?

Whom this very instant, with this walking-stick, I’ll—

520

(Shakes his stick over his head.)

ALCMENA

Oh don’t.

JUPITER

Only make a whisper.

MERCURY

(aside.)

My first attempt at playing second fiddle had almost come to an unfortunate conclusion.

JUPITER

But as to what you say, my wife, you ought not to be angry with me. I came away privately from the army: these moments I stole for you, that you the first might know from me the first, how I had managed the common interests.

All this have I related to you. If I had not loved you very much, I should not have done so.

525

MERCURY

(aside.)

Isn’t he doing just as I said? In her alarm, he is smoothing her down.

JUPITER

That the army then mayn’t find it out, I must return there privately, lest they should say that I have preferred my wife before the common interests.

ALCMENA

By your departure you set your wife in tears.

JUPITER

Be quiet; don’t spoil your eyes: I’ll return very shortly.

ALCMENA

That very shortly is a long time.

JUPITER

I do not with pleasure leave you here, or go away from you.

ALCMENA

I am sensible of it; for, the night that you have come to me, on the same you go away.

(She embraces him.)

JUPITER

Why do you hold me? It is time to go: I wish to depart from the city before it dawns. Now, Alcmena, this goblet which has been given me there on account of my valour,

from which king Pterelas used to drink, he whom I slew with my own hand, the same I present to you.

535

(Presents to her the goblet.)

ALCMENA

(taking the goblet.)

You do as you are wont in other things. By heavens, it is a noble gift; like him who gave the gift.

MERCURY

Aye, a noble gift; just like her to whom it has been given as a gift.

JUPITER

What, still going on? Can’t I, you scoundrel, make an end of you?

ALCMENA

Amphitryon, there’s a dear, don’t be angry ³ with Sosia on my account.

540

JUPITER

Just as you wish I’ll do.

MERCURY

(aside.)

From his intriguing, how very savage he does become!

JUPITER

Do you wish for anything else?

ALCMENA

That when I am absent you will love me—me, who am yours, though absent.

MERCURY

Let’s go, Amphitryon; it’s already dawning.

JUPITER

Go you first, Sosia. (Exit MERCURY.) I’ll follow this instant. (To ALCMENA.) Is there anything you wish?

ALCMENA

Yes; that you’ll come back speedily.

JUPITER

I will;

and sooner than you expect will I be here therefore be of good heart. (ALCMENA goes into the house.) Now Night, thou who hast tarried for me, I permit these to give place to Day, that thou mayst shine upon mortals with a bright and brilliant light. And Night, as much as on this last thou wast too long, so much the shorter will I make the Day to be,

545

that a Day of equal disparity may succeed the Night. I’ll go and follow Mercury.

550

(Exit.)