m to dine with you.

NAU. That is true: he has just delivered us this message, and would not
quit us.

AMPH. Who gave you that order?

SOS. You.

AMPH. When?

SOS. After you made your peace, when you were rejoicing at the delight
of having appeased Alcmene's anger.

AMPH. O Heaven! Every instant, every step, adds something to my cruel
martyrdom; I am so utterly confused that I no longer know either what to
believe or what to say.

NAU. All he has just told us, of what has happened at your house,
surpasses what is natural so much, that before doing anything and before
flying into such a passion, you ought to clear up the whole of this
adventure.

AMPH. Come; you can second my efforts; Heaven has brought you here most
opportunely. Let me see what fortune brings me today; let me solve this
mystery, and know my fate. Alas! I burn to learn it, and I dread it more
than death.

SCENE V

JUPITER, AMPHITRYON, NAUCRATES, POLIDAS, SOSIE

JUP. What is this noise that compels me to come down? Who knocks as
though he were master where I am master?

AMPH. Good Gods! What do I see?

NAU. Heaven! What prodigy is this? What? Here are two Amphitryons!

AMPH. My soul is struck dumb. Alas! I cannot do anything more: the
adventure is at an end; my fate is clear; what I see tells me all.

NAU. The more narrowly I watch them, the more I find they resemble each
other.

SOS. Gentlemen, this is the true one; the other is an impostor who ought
to be chastised.

POL. Truly, this marvellous resemblance keeps my judgment in suspense.

AMPH. We have been tricked too long by an execrable rogue; I must break
the spell with this steel.

NAU. Stay.

AMPH. Leave me alone.

NAU. Ye Gods! What would you do?

AMPH. Punish the miserable treachery of an impostor.

JUP. Gently, gently! There is very little need of being carried away
by passion; when a man bursts out in such a rage as this, it makes one
think he has bad reasons.

SOS. Yes; it is an enchanter, who has a talisman that enables him to
resemble the masters of houses.

AMPH. For your share in this insulting language, I shall make you feel a
thousand blows.

SOS. My master is a man of courage: he will not allow his followers to
be thrashed.

AMPH. Let me assuage my deep anger, and wash out my affront in the
scoundrel's blood.

NAU. We shall not suffer this strange combat of Amphitryon against
himself.

AMPH. What? Does my honour receive this treatment from