Specimens of Latin Comedy [MARCH, 



MERC. What if I stroke him 

 Gently to sleep ? 



Sos. You'll do me a great service ; 

 For I've watched these three whole nights together. 

 MERC. That's but a paltry action. No> my fist, 

 Thou hast not learnt to smite a cheek so poorly. 

 One glance of thine would make a man put on 

 Another form. 



Sos. He'll vamp me up anew, 

 New mould my face. 



MERC. O how my fists 

 Itch to be at it ! 



Sos. If you mean on me 

 To exercise them, prithee cool them first 

 Against the wall. 



Mercury now hears a voice from somewhere, and after listening a 

 moment or two, he says : 



Certainly 'tis some one speaks. 



Sos. I'm safe ; he sees me not. 

 He says, 'tis someone speaks : now, verily, 

 My name is Sosia. 



This pun of Sosia's on the word nescioquis is, of course, copied from 

 Homer and Euripides, though certainly is not the most appropriate in this 

 place. Sosia's pretended pleasure at hearing him say that he heard 

 some one speaking, is soon turned into grief and consternation, when he 

 perceives him making towards him. 



I'm sore afraid : 



I'm numbed all over. Now could I not tell, 

 If any one should ask me, where I am : 

 Nor can I budge a foot, I am so frightened. 

 All's over ; I have lost my master's orders, 

 And Sosia with them. Yet 



Sosia now bethinks himself of Amphitryon's behests, and of the 

 severity with which he will treat him, if he submits thus to be repulsed 

 by a villain stranger, from his home, and from the performance of his 

 master's commissions ; he therefore determines to persist, and ft muster- 

 ing all his might of mind," he says : 



I am resolved 



To face this fellow, and bespeak him boldly ; 

 I'll seem as valiant as I can, that he 

 May keep hands off me. (Advances towards the door.) 

 MERC. Sir, whither go you ? 



Mercury, by persisting in knowing where he is going, makes him say 

 that he is going home, and adds 



Look to't you'll have a drubbing, if you don't 

 Be gone this instant. 



Sos. Would you then desire 

 To drive me from my home, when I am just 

 Arrived here from abroad ? 



MERC. Is this your home ? 



Sosia replies in the affirmative ; and Mercury proceeds to ask who is 

 his master ; he replies, Amphitryon. Mercury makes no answer, but 

 proceeds : 



