g
for a god to let a mortal take the consequences of his
misdeeds and his indiscretions.

orationem comprimam: crepuit foris.
Amphitruo subditivos eccum exit foras
cum Alcumena uxore usuraria.

(_listening_) Enough of this: there goes the door. Ah, the
counterfeit Amphitryon comes out with his borrowed wife,
Alcmena! (_steps aside_)

I. 3.

Scene 3.

ENTER _Jupiter_ AND _Alcmena_ FROM THE HOUSE.

_Iup._
_Jup._

Bene vale, Alcumena, cura rem communem, quod facis;
atque inperce quaeso: menses iam tibi esse actos vides. 500
mihi necesse est ire hinc; verum quod erit natum tollito.

Good-bye and God bless you, my dear. Continue to look out
for our common interests, and do be sure not to overdo: you
are near your time now, you know. I am obliged to leave
you--but don't expose the child.

_Alc._

Quid istuc est, mi vir, negoti, quod tu tam subito domo abeas?

(_plaintively_) Why, my husband, what is it takes you away
so suddenly?

_Iup._
_Jup._

Edepol haud quod tui me neque domi distaedeat;
sed ubi summus imperator non adest ad exercitum,
citius quod non facto est usus fit quam quod facto est opus.

No weariness of you and home, I swear to that. But when the
commander-in-chief is not with his army, things are much
more liable to go wrong than right.

_Mer._

Nimis hic scitust sycophanta, qui quidem meus sit pater.
observatote eum, quam blande muliori palpabitur.

(_aside_) Ah, he's a sly old dodger--does me[D] credit,
my father does! Notice how suavely he'll smooth her down.

[Footnote D: Mercury was the patron god of roguery.]

_Alc._

Ecastor te experior quanti facias uxorem tuam.

(_pouting_) Oh yes, I'm learning how much you think of your
wife.

_Iup._
_Jup._

Satin habes, si feminarum nulla est quam aeque diligam?

(_fondly_) Isn't it enough that you're the dearest woman in
the world to me? (_embraces her_)

_Mer._

Edepol ne illa si istis rebus te sciat operam dare 510
ego faxim ted Amphitruonem esse malis, quam Iovem.

(_aside_) Now, now, sir! Just let the lady up yonder
(_pointing thumb heavenward_) learn of your performances
here, and I'll guarantee you'd rather be Amphitryon than
Jove.

_Alc._

Experiri istuc mavellem me quam mi memorarier.