You’ll call this more astounding still, sir, I warrant you.  After he was tucked in his cradle, two enormous crested serpents came slipping down into the fountain basin:  the next second both of them were lifting up their heads.

Amph.

  Ei mihi.

      Heavens and earth!

Brom.

Ne pave. sed angues occulis omnis cirumvisere. 1110 postquam pueros conspicati, pergunt ad cunas citi. ego cunas recessim rursum vorsum trahere et ducere, metuens pueris, mihi formidans; tantoque angues acrius persequi. postquam conspexit angues ille alter puer, citus e cunis exilit, facit recta in anguis impetum:  alterum altera prehendit eos manu perniciter.

Don’t be scared.  Well, the serpents glared around at all of us.  As soon as they spied the boys they made for the cradles like a flash.  I backed away, fearful for the boys and frightened for myself, pulling and hauling the cradles along after me with the serpents a-chasing us all the angrier.  The minute that boy I was telling of sets eyes on the serpents he’s up and out of that cradle in a trice, rushing straight for ’em and grabbing ’em one in each hand quick as a wink.

Amph.

  Mira memoras, nimis formidolosum facinus praedicas;
  nam mihi horror membra misero percipit dictis tuis.
  quid fit deinde? porro loquere.

      Astounding!  Astounding!  A perfectly horrifying tale!  Mercy
      on us! why, your very words palsy me!  What then?  Go on, go
      on!

Brom.

  Puer ambo angues enicat.
  dum haec aguntur, voce clara exclamat uxorem tuam—­ 1120

      The boy chokes both serpents to death.  While this is going
      on, in a clear voice he calls out the name of your wife—­

Amph.

  Quis homo?

      Who does?

Brom.

Summus imperator divom atque hominum Iuppiter. is se dixit cum Alcumena clam consuetum cubitibus, eumque filium suom esse qui illos angues vicerit; alterum tuom esse dixit puerum.

The almighty ruler of gods and men, Jupiter.  He said that he himself had secretly shared Alcmena’s bed and that that was his son who had crushed the serpents:  the other one, he said, was your own child.

Amph.

Pol me haud paenitet, si licet boni dimidium mihi dividere cum Iove. abi domum, iube vasa pura actutum adornari mihi, ut Iovis supremi multis hostiis pacem expetam.

Well, well, well!  I make no complaint at being permitted to have Jove as partner in my blessings.  In with you, girl!  Have sacrificial vessels made ready for me instantly so that I may seek the favour of omnipotent Jove with ample offerings. [EXIT Bromia.

  ego Teresiam coniectorem advocabo et consulam
  quid faciundum censeat; simul hanc rem ut facta est eloquar.
  sed quid hoc? quam valide tonuit. di, obsecro vostram fidem. 1130