us to pardon their transgression:  and one and all they surrender their persons, their entire possessions sacred and profane, their city and their children to the Theban people to have and to hold as they deem fit.  Then, for his valour, my lord Amphitryon was presented with a golden bowl from which King Pterelas was wont to drink. (heaves deep sigh of relief) This is how I will tell it to the mistress.  Now I’ll go finish up the job for master and take myself home. (picks up lantern)

Mer.

Attat, illic huc iturust. ibo ego illi obviam, neque ego huc hominem hodie ad aedis has sinam umquam accedere; quando imago est huius in me, certum est hominem eludere. et enim vero quoniam formam cepi huius in med et statum, decet et facta moresque huius habere me similes item, itaque me malum esse oportet, callidum, astutum admodum atque hunc, telo suo sibi, malitia a foribus pellere. sed quid illuc est? caelum aspectat. observabo quam rem agat. 270

(aside) Oho! about to come this way!  I’ll step up and meet him.  The fellow shall never reach this house at present:  I won’t have it.  Now that I am his double I fully intend to befool the fellow.  And I say, considering I have taken on his looks and dress, it is appropriate for me to ape his ways and general conduct, too.  I must be a sly rapscallion, then, shifty as the deuce, yes, and drive him away from the door with his own weapon, roguery. (looking at Sosia who is gaping at the stars) What’s he at, though?  Staring at the sky!  I must keep an eye on him.

Sos.

Certe edepol, si quicquamst aliud quod credam aut certo sciam, credo ego hac noctu Nocturnum obdormivisse ebrium. nam neque se Septentriones quoquam in caelo commovent, neque se Luna quoquam mutat atque uti exorta est semel, nec Iugulae neque Vesperugo neque Vergiliae occidunt. ita statim stant signa, neque nox quoquam concedit die.

My goodness, if there’s anything I can believe or know for sure, I surely do believe old Nocturnus went to bed this night in liquor.  Why, the Great Bear hasn’t moved a step anywhere in the sky, and the moon’s just as it was when it first rose, and Orion’s Belt, and the Evening Star, and the Pleiades aren’t setting, either.  Yes, the constellations are standing stock still, and no sign of day anywhere.

Mer.

  Perge, Nox, ut occepisti, gere patri morem meo: 
  optumo optume optumam operam das, datam pulchre locas.

      (aside) Go on as you have begun, Night:  oblige my
      father:  you’re doing splendidly in a splendid work for a
      splendid deity:  you’ll find it a fine investment.

Sos.