Amph._

Tace.
Alcumena, unum rogare te volo.

Silence! (_to Alcmena, sternly_) Alcmena, there is
something I wish to ask you.

_Alc._

Quid vis roga.

Anything you please.

_Amph._

Num tibi aut stultitia accessit aut superat superbia?

Are you obsessed by some foolish notion, or is this pride
running away with you?

_Alc._

Qui istuc in mentemst tibi ex me, mi vir, percontarier? 710

What makes it enter your head to ask me such a question, my
husband?

_Amph._

Quia salutare advenientem me solebas antidhac,
appellare, itidem ut pudicae suos viros quae sunt solent.
eo more expertem te factam adveniens offendi domi.

Because till to-day you used to welcome me on my arrival
and greet me as modest wives generally do their husbands.
Yet here I come home to find you have dropped the habit.

_Alc._

Ecastor equidem te certo heri advenientem ilico,
et salutavi et valuissesne usque exquisivi simul,
mi vir, et manum prehendi et osculum tetuli tibi.

Why mercy me, when you came home yesterday I certainly did
welcome you the moment you appeared, and asked you in the
same breath if you had been well all the time, and seized
your hand and gave you a kiss.

_Sos._

Tun heri hunc salutavisti?

Welcomed him yesterday, did you?

_Alc._

Et te quoque etiam, Sosia.

Yes, and you, too, Sosia.

_Sos._

Amphitruo, speravi ego istam tibi parituram filium;
verum non est puero gravida.

Sir, I hoped she was going to bear you a son; but it's no
child she's got.

_Amph._

Quid igitur?

What, then?

_Sos._

Insania.

A crazy streak.

_Alc._

Equidem sana sum et deos quaeso, ut salva pariam filium. 720
verum tu malum magnum habebis, si his suom officium facit:
ob istuc omen, ominator, capies quod te condecet.

(_angrily_) Indeed I have not, and I pray heaven I may
safely bear a son. But you, sir, shall have an ample supply
of aches and pains, if your master here does his duty! You
shall be well rewarded for that omen, Sir Omener.

_Sos._

Enim vero praegnati oportet et malum et malum dari,
ut quod obrodat sit, animo si male esse occeperit.

Really now, ma'am, it's a lady in your condition ought to
have aches and pains, yes, and an apple supply, too, so as
to have somet