Ubi ego Sosia nolim esse, tu esto sane Sosia;
  nunc, quando ego sum, vapulabis, ni hinc abis, ignobilis. 440

      When I do not wish to be Sosia, be Sosia yourself, by all
      means.  Now that I am he, you either pack, or take a
      thrashing, you unknown riff raff.

Sos.

Certe edepol, quom illum contemplo et formam cognosco meam, quem ad modum ego sum—­saepe in speculum inspexi—­nimis similest mei; itidem habet petasum ac vestitum:  tam consimilest atque ego; sura, pes, statura, tonsus, oculi, nasum vel labra, malae, mentum, barba, collus:  totus. quid verbis opust?

(aside, looking him over carefully) Upon my soul, now I look him over, and consider my own looks, my own appearance—­ I’ve peeped in a mirror many a time—­he is precious like me.  Has on a travelling hat, yes, and clothes the same as mine.  He’s as like me as I am myself!  Same leg—­foot—­ height—­haircut—­eyes—­nose—­lips, even—­jaw—­ chin—­beard—­ neck—­everything.  Well—­well, well, well!

si tergum cicatricosum, nihil hoc similist similius. sed quom cogito, equidem certo idem sum qui semper fui. novi erum, novi aedis nostras; sane sapio et sentio. non ego illi obtempero quod loquitur, pultabo foris.

If he’s got a backful of whip scars, you couldn’t find a liker likeness anywhere. (pause) But—­when I think it over—­I’m positive I’m the same man I always was, of course I am. (with growing conviction) I know master, I know our house.  I’m sane and sound, I’ve got my senses.  I won’t take any notice of what he says, not I. I’ll knock at the door (moves toward Amphitryon’s house)

Mer.

  Quo agis te?

      (blocking him off) Where now?

Sos.

  Domum.

      Home.

Mer.

  Quadrigas si nunc inscendas Iovis 450
  atque hinc fugias, ita vix poteris effugere infortunium.

      (advancing) And shouldst thou climb into Jupiter’s four
      horse chariot and seek to flee, e’en so thou canst hardly
      fly misfortune.

Sos.

  Nonne erae meae nuntiare quod erus meus iussit licet?

      I can tell my own mistress what my own master ordered me to
      tell her, can’t I?

Mer.

  Tuae si quid vis nuntiare:  hanc nostram adire non sinam.
  nam si me inritassis, hodie lumbifragium hinc auferes.

      Thy own mistress, aye,—­whatever likes thee:  but never shalt
      thou approach ours here.  Yea, provoke me, and thou draggest
      hence a shipwreck of a man. (advancing)

Sos.