(tenderly) That’s the way for an attentive wife to talk.
                                                  [EXIT Alcmena.

iam hisce ambo, et servos et era, frustra sunt duo, qui me Amphitruonem rentur esse:  errant probe. nunc tu divine huc fac adsis Sosia—­ audis quae dico, tam etsi praesens non ades—­ fac Amphitruonem advenientem ab aedibus ut abigas; quovis pacto fac commentus sis.

There we are!  Both of ’em fooled, servant and mistress, took in thinking me Amphitryon.  A sad mistake!  Hark ye, Sosia the divine, appear!  You hear what I say, even though absent in the flesh.  Drive Amphitryon away from the house when he arrives—­any device you please.

volo deludi illunc, dum cum hac usuraria 980 uxore nunc mihi morigero. haec curata sint fac sis, proinde adeo ut velle med intellegis, atque ut ministres mihi, mihi cum sacruficem.

He must be hoodwinked while I proceed to divert myself with my wife on loan.  Kindly see that this is managed precisely as you know I wish it to be, and do me service while I am sacrificing to myself. [EXIT Jupiter.

III. 4.

    Scene 4.

    ENTER Mercury HURRIEDLY WITH BURLESQUE IMPORTANCE.

Mer.

Concedite atque abscedite omnes, de via decedite, nec quisquam tam audax fuat homo, qui obviam obsistat mihi. nam mihi quidem hercle qui minus liceat deo minitarier populo, ni decedat mihi, quam servolo in comoediis? ille navem salvam nuntiat aut irati adventum senis:  ego sum Iovi dicto audiens, eius iussu nunc huc me adfero. quam ob rem mihi magis par est via decedere et concedere. 990

(to imaginary passers-by) Get away, get out, get off the street, every one!  Let no man be so bold as to block my path. (to audience) For damme, just tell me why a god like me hasn’t as much right to hector people that hinder him as your paltry slave in the comedies?  He brings word the ship is safe, or the choleric old man approaching:  (magnificently) as for me, I hearken to the word of Jove and at his bidding do I now hie me hither.  Wherefore ’tis still more seemly to get out, to get off the street for me.

pater vocat me, eum sequor, eius dicto imperio sum audiens; ut filium bonum patri esse oportet, itidem ego sum patri. amanti sub parasitor, hortor, adsto, admoneo, gaudeo. si quid patri volup est, voluptas ea mihi multo maxumast.

My father calls me; I come, obedient to his best and will. (confidingly) I am a good son to my father, as a son should be.  I back him up in his gallantries, encourage him, stand by him, advise him, rejoice with him.  If anything gratifies my father, it gratifies me infinitely more.