s it old or new?

AMPH. What insults!

MERC. New goes to one's head, if drunk without water.

AMPH. Ah! I shall tear your tongue out soon.

MERC. Pass on, my dear friend; believe me, no one here will listen to
you. I respect wine. Go away, make yourself scarce, and leave Amphitryon
to the pleasures which he is tasting.

AMPH. What! Is Amphitryon in there?

MERC. Rather: covered with the laurels of his fine victory, he is side
by side with the lovely Alcmene enjoying the delights of a charming
tete-a-tete. They are tasting the pleasures of being reconciled, now
their love-tiff has blown over. Take care how you disturb their sweet
privacy, unless you wish him to punish you for your excessive rashness.

SCENE III

AMPHITRYON

Ah! What a frightful blow he has given me! How cruelly has he put me to
confusion! If matters are as this villain says, to what a state are my
honour and my affection reduced? What course can I adopt? Am I to noise
it abroad or keep it secret? Ought I, in my anger, to keep the dishonour
of my house to myself or make it public? Come! Must one even think what
to do in so gross an affront? I have no standing, nothing to hope for;
all my anxiety now shall be how to avenge myself.

SCENE IV

SOSIE, NAUCRATES, POLIDAS, AMPHITRYON

SOS. All I have been able to do, Monsieur, with all my diligence, is to
have brought these gentlemen here.

AMPH. Ah! You are here?

SOS. Monsieur.

AMPH. Insolent, bold rascal!

SOS. What?

AMPH. I shall teach you to treat me thus.

SOS. What is it? What is the matter with you?

AMPH. What is the matter with me, villain?

SOS. Hullo, gentlemen, come here quickly.

NAU. Ah! Stay, I beseech you.

SOS. Of what am I guilty?

AMPH. You ask me that, you scoundrel? Let me satisfy my righteous anger.

SOS. When they hang any one, they tell him why they do it.

NAU. At least condescend to tell us what his crime may be.

SOS. I beseech you, gentlemen, keep a tight hold of me.

AMPH. Yes! He has just had the audacity to shut the door in my face, and
to add threats to a thousand impudent jeers! Ah! You villain!

SOS. I am dead.

NAU. Restrain this anger.

SOS. Gentlemen.

POL. What is it?

SOS. Has he struck me?

AMPH. No, he must have his reward for the language he has made free to
use just now.

SOS. How could that be when I was elsewhere busy carrying out your
orders? These gentlemen here can bear witness that I have just invited
the