amphitryon(安菲特利翁)-第2章
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to act my part without discredit； I will rehearse it a little。
This is the chamber into which I am ushered as the messenger： this
lantern is Alcmene； to whom I have to speak。 （He sets his lantern on the
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ground and salutes it。） 'Madam； Amphitryon； my master and your
husband； 。。。 （Good！ that is a fine beginning！） whose mind is ever full of
your charms； has chosen me from amongst all to bring tidings of the
success of his arms； and of his desire to be near you。' 'Ah！ Really； my poor
Sosie； I am delighted to see you back again。' 'Madam； you do me too much
honour： my lot is an enviable one。' （Well answered！）
'How is Amphitryon？' 'Madam； as a man of courage should be； when
glory leads him。' （Very good！ A capital idea！） 'When will my heart be
charmed and satisfied by his return？' 'As soon as possible； assuredly；
Madam； but his heart desires a speedier return。' （Ah！） 'In what state has
the war left him？ What says he？ What does he？ Ease my anxiety。' He says
less than he does； Madam； and makes his enemies tremble。' （Plague！
where do I get all these fine speeches？） 'What are the rebels doing？ Tell
me； what is their condition？' 'They could not resist our efforts； Madam； we
cut them to pieces； put their chief； Pterelas； to death； took Telebos by
assault； and now the port rings with our prowess。' 'Ah！ What a success！ Ye
Gods！ Who could ever have imagined it？ Tell me； Sosie； how it happened。'
'I will； gladly； Madam； and； without boasting； I can tell you； with the
greatest accuracy； the details of this victory。 Imagine； therefore； Madam；
that Telebos is on this side。 （He marks the places on his hand； or on the
ground。） It is a city really almost as large as Thebes。 The river is； say； there。
Here； our people encamped； and that space was occupied by our enemies。
On a height； somewhere about here； was their infantry； and； lower down；
on the right side； was their cavalry。 After having addressed prayers to the
Gods； and issued all the orders； the signal was given。 The enemy； thinking
to turn our flank； divided their horse soldiers into three platoons； but we
soon chilled their warmth； and you shall see how。 Here is our vanguard
ready to begin work； there； were the archers of our king； Creon； and here；
the main army （some one makes a slight noise）； which was just going
to 。 。 。 Stay； the main body is afraid'； I think I hear some noise。
SCENE II
MERCURY； SOSIE
MERC。 （Under the form of Sosie。） Under this mask which resembles
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him； I will drive away the babbler from here。 His unfortunate arrival may
disturb the pleasures our lovers are tasting together。
SOS。 My heart revives a little； perhaps it was nothing。 Lest anything
untoward should happen； however； I will go in to finish the conversation。
MERC。 I shall prevent your doing that unless you are stronger than
Mercury。
SOS。 This night seems to me unusually long。 By the time I have been
on the way； either my master has taken evening for morning； or lovely
Phoebus slumbers too long in bed through having taken too much wine。
MERC。 With what irreverence this lubber speaks of the Gods！ My arm
shall soon chastise this insolence； I shall have a fine game with him；
stealing his name as well as his likeness。
SOS。 Ah！ upon my word； I was right： I am done for； miserable creature
that I am！ I see a man before our house whose mien bodes me no good。 I
will sing a little to show some semblance of assurance。
（He sings； and； when Mercury speaks； his voice weakens； little by
little。）
MERC。 What rascal is this； who takes the unwarrantable licence of
singing and deafening me like this？ Does he wish me to curry his coat for
him？
SOS。 Assuredly that fellow does not like music。
MERC。 For more than a week； I have not found any one whose bones
I could break； my arm will lose its strength in this idleness。 I must look out
for some one's back to get my wind again。
SOS。 What the deuce of a fellow is this？ My heart thrills with
clutching fear。 But why should I tremble thus？ Perhaps the rogue is as
much afraid as I am； and talks in this way to hide his fear from me under a
feigned audacity。 Yes； yes； I will not allow him to think me a goose。 If I
am not bold； I will try to appear so。 Let me seek courage by reason； he is
alone； even as I am； I am strong； I have a good master； and there is our
house。
MERC。 Who goes there？
SOS。 I。
MERC。 Who； I？
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SOS。 I。 Courage； Sosie！
MERC。 Tell me； what is your condition？
SOS。 To be a man； and to speak。
MERC。 Are you a master； or a servant？
SOS。 As fancy takes me。
MERC。 Where are you going？
SOS。 Where I intend to go。
MERC。 Ah！ This annoys me。
SOS。 I am ravished to hear it。
MERC。 By hook or by crook； I must definitely know all about you；
you wretch； what you do； whence you come before the day breaks； where
you are going； and who you may be。
SOS。 I do good and ill by turns； I come from there； I go there； I belong
to my master。
MERC。 You show wit； and I see you think to play the man of
importance for my edification。 I feel inclined to make your acquaintance
by slapping your face。
SOS。 Mine？
MERC。 Yours； and there you get it； sharp。 （Mercury gives him a slap。）
SOS。 Ah！ Ah！ This is a fine game！
MERC。 No； it is only a laughing matter； a reply to your quips。
SOS。 Good heavens！ Friend； how you swing out your arm without any
one saying anything to you。
MERC。 These are my lightest clouts； little ordinary smacks。
SOS。 If I were as hasty as you； we should have a fine ado。
MERC。 All this is nothing as yet： it is merely to fill up time； we shall
soon see something else； but let us continue our conversation。
SOS。 I give up the game。 （He turns to go away。）
MERC。 Where are you going？
SOS。 What does it matter to you？
MERC。 I want to know where you are going。
SOS。 I am going to open that door。 Why do you detain me？
MERC。 If you dare to go near it； I shall rain down a storm of blows on
you。
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SOS。 What？ You wish to hinder me from entering our own house by
threats？
MERC。 What do you say； your house？
SOS。 Yes； our house。
MERC。 O； the scoundrel！ You speak of that house？
SOS。 Certainly。 Is not Amphitryon the master of it？
MERC。 Well！ What does that prove？
SOS。 I am his valet。
MERC。 You？
SOS。 I。
MERC。 His valet？
SOS。 Unquestionably。
MERC。 Valet of Amphitryon？
SOS。 Of Amphitryon himself。
MERC。 Your name is？
SOS。 Sosie。
MERC。 Eh？ What？
SOS。 Sosie。
MERC。 Listen： do you realise that my fist can knock you spinning？
SOS。 Why？ What fury has seized you now？
MERC。 Tell me； who made you so rash as to take the name of Sosie？
SOS。 I do not take it； I have always borne it。
MERC。 O what a monstrous lie！ What confounded impudence！ You
dare to maintain that Sosie is your name？
SOS。 Certainly； I maintain it； for the good reason that the Gods have
so ordered it by their supreme power。 It is not in my power to say no； and
to be any one else than myself。
（Mercury beats him。） MERC。 A thousand stripes ought to be the
reward of such audacity。
SOS。 Justice； citizens！ Help！ I beseech you。
MERC。 So； you gallows…bird； you yell out？
SOS。 You beat me down with a thousand blows； and yet do not wish
me to cry out？
MERC。 It is thus that my arm 。 。 。
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SOS。 The action is unworthy。 You gloat over the advantage which my
want of courage gives you over me； that is not fair treatment。 It is mere
bullying to wish to profit by the poltroonery of those whom one makes to
feel the weight of one's arm。 To thrash a man who does not retaliate is not
the act of a generous soul； and to show courage against men who have
none merits condemnation。
MERC。 Well！ Are you still Sosie？ What say you？
SOS。 Your blows have not made any metamorphosis in me； all the
change there is is that in the matter I am Sosie thrashed。
MERC。 Still？ A hundred fresh blows for this fresh impudence。
SOS。 Have mercy； a truce to your blows。
MERC。 Then a truce to your insolence。
SOS。 Anything that pleases you； I will keep silence。 The dispute
between us is too unequal。
MERC。 Are you still Sosie？ Say； villain！
SOS。 Alas！ I am what you wish； dispose of my lot exactly as you
please： your arm 'has made you the master of it。
MERC。 I think you said your name was Sosie？
SOS。 True； until now I thought the matter was clear； but your rod has
made me see that I was mistaken in this affair。
MERC。 I am Sosie： all Thebes avows it。 Amphitryon has never had
other than me。
SOS。 You； Sosie？
MERC。 Yes； Sosie； and if any one trifles with me； he must take care of
himself。
SOS。 Heavens！ Must I thus renounce myself； and see my name stolen
by an impostor。 How lucky I am a poltroon！ Or； by the death 。 。 。！
MERC。 What are you mumbling between your teeth？
SOS。 Nothing。 But； in the name of the Gods； give me leave to speak
one moment with you。
MERC。 Speak。
SOS。 But promise me； I beseech you； that there shall not be any more
strokes。 Let us sign a truce。
MERC。 Let that pass； go on； I grant you this point。
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SOS。 Tell me； who put this fancy into your head？ Wha
