amphitryon(安菲特利翁)-第7章
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ALC。 No； no； it is not； your base insults have ordained it otherwise。
That passionate and tender love does not exist any longer； you have
cruelly killed it in my heart by a hundred keen wounds。 In its place stands
an inflexible wrath； a lively resentment； an invincible indignation； the
despair of a heart justly incensed； which resolves to hate you for this
grievous injury； as much as it was willing to love you； that is to say to hate
as much as possible。
JUP。 Alas！ Your love must have had but little strength； if it can be
killed by so slight a matter！ Can a jest divorce us？ Is there any need to be
so roused at a trifle？
ALC。 Ah！ It is just that which offends me： that which my anger cannot
pardon。 I should have felt less wounded by the justifiable transports of a fit
of jealousy。 Jealousy makes impressions the force of which oftentimes
carries us beyond our control； at such times the most discreet mind； no
doubt； finds it difficult enough to answer for its deeds。 The violence of a
heart which may have been deluded has； in its very delusion； a peace…
offering for an aggrieved soul； and the love that gave birth to its fears；
furnishes； in spite of all its violence； at least some reasons to urge as
excuse。 Outbursts such as these ever have love as an excuse against anger：
for love gave birth to them； and we can easily pardon what we cannot
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control。
But to fly into uncontrollable fury； in gaiety of heart； and so
causelessly and keenly to wound the tenderness and honour of a heart that
dearly loves you； ah！ It is too cruel a blow： my grief can never forget it。
JUP。 Yes； you are right； Alcmene； I admit it。 This action is
unquestionably an odious crime； I do not pretend to justify it longer： yet
allow my heart to defend itself in your eyes； and let it reveal to you who is
to blame for this insulting fury。 To tell you frankly； it is the husband
Alcmene； who has done this wrong； it is the husband whom you must
blame。 The lover has no share in this churlish anger： his heart is not
capable of offending you。 He has too much respect and affection for you
ever to think of it； had he been guilty of the crime of doing aught that
could wound you； he would pierce himself with a hundred stabs before
your eyes。 But the husband has cast aside that humble submission which
should always be yours； by his harsh deeds； the husband has made himself
known； he thought the rights of marriage allowed him everything。 Yes； it
is he no doubt who is guilty towards you； he only has ill…treated your
lovely person。 Hate； detest the husband； I consent to it； I yield him to your
mercy； but； Alcmene； spare the lover from the anger which such an
offence gives you； do not let him suffer； differentiate between him and the
guilty one； and； finally； in order to be just； do not punish him for what he
has not done。
ALC。 Oh！ All these subtleties are but frivolous excuses； such language
only annoys incensed minds。 In vain do you use these ridiculous
prevarications。 I do not make any distinction in him who offends me；
everything in him becomes the object of my anger； the lover and the
husband are alike confounded in its just violence。 Both occupy my
thoughts； both are painted in the same colours by my wounded heart。 Both
are guilty； both have offended me； and both are odious to me。
JUP。 Well！ Then； since you wish it； I must charge myself with the
offence。 Yes； you are right； when you sacrifice me as a guilty victim to
your resentment。 Anger towards me sways you； it is but too just； and all
the terrible wrath you show causes me to suffer only lawful torments。 It is
right you should shun my presence； and in your anger threaten to flee from
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me everywhere。 I must be a detestable object to you； you are right in
thinking ill of me。 My crime in being offensive in your charming eyes
surpasses every horror； it is a crime that offends men and Gods； in short；
as punishment for my insolence I deserve that your hatred should vent its
utmost upon me。 I beg your forgiveness； I beg it upon my knees； I beg it
for the sake of the most lively passion； of the tenderest love for you； which
has ever been kindled in a human breast。 If； charming Alcmene； your heart
refuses me the pardon which I have the audacity to seek； then shall a well…
aimed stroke put an end to my life； and release me from the harsh severity
of a penalty which I can no longer bear。 Yes； this state of things drives me
to despair。 Do not think； Alcmene； that； enamoured as I am of your
celestial charms； I can live a day under your wrath。 Even these moments'
agony is barbarously prolonged and my sad heart sinks under their mortal
blows。 The cruel wounds of a thousand vultures are not comparable in any
way to my lively grief。 Alcmene； you have but to tell me I need not hope
for pardon： and immediately this sword； by a happy thrust； shall pierce the
heart of a miserable wretch before your eyes。 This heart； this traitorous
heart； too deserving of death； since it has offended an adorable being； will
be happy if； in descending into the place of shades； my death appeases
your anger； and； after this wretched day； it leaves in your soul no
impression of hatred in remembering my love！ This is all I ask as a
sovereign favour。
ALC。 Ah！ Cruel husband。
JUP。 Speak； Alcmene； speak。
ALC。 Must I still keep some kindness for you； who insult me by so
many indignities？
JUP。 Whatever resentment an outrage causes us； can it hold out against
the remorse of a heart deeply in love？
ALC。 A heart full of passion would rather expose itself to a thousand
deaths； than offend the object beloved。
JUP。 The more one loves； the easier it is
ALC。 No； do not speak to me any longer about it； you deserve my
hatred。
JUP。 You hate me then？
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ALC。 I make every effort to do so； and it annoys me to feel that all
your insults do not yet carry my vengeance so far as yield to it。
JUP。 But why this violence； since I offer to kill myself to satisfy your
revenge？ Pronounce the sentence and immediately I will obey。
ALC。 It is impossible to wish for another's death if hatred be absent。
JUP。 I cannot live unless you abandon the wrath that overwhelms me；
and unless you grant me the favour of a pardon which I beg at your feet。
Decide to do one or the other quickly： to punish； or to absolve。
ALC。 Alas！ The only resolution I can take is but too clearly apparent。
My heart has too plainly betrayed me； for me to wish to maintain this
anger： is it not to say we pardon； when we say we cannot hate？
JUP。 Ah； charming Alcmene； overwhelmed with delight I must。。。
ALC。 Forbear： I hate myself for such weakness。
JUP。 Go； Sosie； make haste； a sweet joy fills my soul。 See what
officers of the army you can find； and ask them to dine with me。 （Softly
aside。） Mercury can fill his post； while he is away from here。
SCENE VII
CLEANTHIS； SOSIE
SOS。 Come！ Now； you see； this couple； Cleanthis。 Will you follow
their example； and let us also make peace？ Indulge in some slight
reconciliation？
CLE。 For the sake of your lovely mug； Oh yes！ I will； and no mistake。
SOS。 What？ You will not？
CLE。 No。
SOS。 It doesn't matter to me。 So much the worse for you。
CLE。 Well； well； come back。
SOS。 No； not； likely！ I shall not do anything of the kind； I shall be
angry。 I turn now。
CLE。 Go away； you villain； let me alone； one gets tired now and then
of being an honest woman。
END OF THE SECOND ACT
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ACT III
SCENE I
AMPHITRYON
Yes； so doubt fate hides him purposely from me； at last am I tired of
trying to find him。 I do not know anything that can be more cruel than my
lot。 In spite of all my endeavours； I cannot find him whom I seek； all those
I do not seek I find。 A thousand tiresome bores； who do not think they are
so； drive me mad with their congratulations on our feats of arms； although
they know little of me。 In the cruel embarrassment and anxiety that
troubles me； they all burden me with their attentions； and their rejoicings
make my uneasiness worse。 In vain I try to pass them by； to flee from their
persecutions； their killing friendship stops me on all sides； whilst I reply to
the ardour of their expressions by a nod of the head； I mutter under my
breath a hundred curses on them。 Ah！ How little we are flattered by praise；
honour and all that a great victory brings； when inwardly we suffer keen
sorrow！ How willingly would I exchange all this glory to have peace of
mind！ At every turn my jealousy twits me with my disgrace； the more my
mind ponders over it； the less can I unravel its miserable confusion。 The
theft of the diamonds does not astonish me； seals may be tampered with
unperceived； but my most cruel torment is that she insists I gave the gift to
her personally yesterday。 Nature oftentimes produces resemblances； which
some impostors have adopted in order to deceive； but it is inconceivable
that； under these appearances； a man should pass himself off as a husband；
there are a thousand differences in a relationship such as this which a wife
could easily detect。 The marvellous effects of Thess
