Now don’t be surprised at this get-up of mine and because I appear here in the character of a slave as I do:  I am going to submit to you a new version of a worn and ancient tale, hence my appearance in a new get-up.

nam meus pater intus nunc est eccum Iuppiter; 120 in Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem omnesque eum esse censent servi qui vident:  ita versipellem se facit quando lubet.

The point is, my father Jupiter is now inside there, mark you.  He has turned himself into the very image of Amphitryon, and all the servants that see him believe that’s who he is.  See how he can change his skin when he likes!

ego servi sumpsi Sosiae mi imaginem, qui cum Amphitruone abiit hinc in exercitum, ut praeservire amanti meo possem patri atque ut ne, qui essem, familiares quaererent, versari crebro hic cum viderent me domi; nunc, cum esse credent servom et conservom suom, haud quisquam quaeret qui siem aut quid venerim. 130

And as for me, I have assumed the form of Amphitryon’s slave Sosia, who went away to the army with him, my idea being to subserve my amorous sire and not have the domestics ask who I am when they see me busy about the house here continually.  As it is, when they think I am a servant and one of their own number, not a soul will ask me who I am or what I’ve come for.

Pater nunc intus suo animo morem gerit:  cubat complexus cuius cupiens maxime est; quae illi ad legionem facta sunt memorat pater meus Alcumenae:  illa illum censet virum suom esse, quae cum moecho est. ibi nunc meus pater memorat, legiones hostium ut fugaverit, quo pacto sit donis donatus plurimis.

So now my father is inside indulging his heart’s desire as he lies there with his arms around the lady-love he particularly dotes on.  He is telling Alcmena what happened during the campaign:  and she all the time thinking him her husband when he’s not.  On he goes there with his stories of putting the legions of the foe to flight and being presented with prizes galore.

ea dona, quae illic Amphitruoni sunt data, abstulimus:  facile meus pater quod volt facit. nunc hodie Amphitruo veniet huc ab exercitu 140 et servos, cuius ego hanc fero imaginem.

The prizes Amphitryon did receive there we stole—­things my father fancies do come easy to him!  Now Amphitryon will return from the army to-day, and the slave I am representing, too.

nunc internosse ut nos possitis facilius, ego has habebo usque in petaso pinnulas; tum meo patri autem torulus inerit aureus sub petaso:  id signum Amphitruoni non erit. ea signa nemo horum familiarium videre poterit:  verum vos videbitis.

To make it easier for you to tell us apart I shall always wear this little plume