330 Specimens of Latin Comedy [MARCH, 



-JAi-Wv/ _ , . They've barred the door! ^imsM 



Tis very fine ! just like their other doings 1 

 But I'll make bold to knock, and soundly too. (Knocks.') 

 Open the door. Hallo, there ! Who's within ? 

 Open the door, I say, Will no one open ? 



Mercury, under the form of Sosia, Amphitryon's servant, appears now 

 on the top of the house, with a chaplet on his head, pretending to be 

 drunk 



MERC. Who's at the door ? 



AMPH. Tis I. 



MERC. I? Who's I? 

 AMPH. 'Tis I, I tell you. 



MERC. Jove and all the gods 

 Owe you a spite, you bang so at the door. 

 AMPH. How ? 



MERC. How ? that you may live a wretch for ever. 

 AMPH. Sosia. 



MERC. Ay, I am Sosia : you don't think 

 That I've forgot my name ? What is't you want ? 

 AMPH. Ask what I want, you villain ? 



MERC. Yes, you fool ! 



You've almost torn our door here off its hinges : 

 Think you we're furnished at the public charge 

 With doors ? You numbskull ! why do you stare so at me? 

 What would you have ? Who are you ? 



AMPH. You whipt knave ! 

 D'ye ask me who I am ? You hell of elm-rods ! 

 I'll make you burn with smart beneath the scourge 

 For these affronts. 



Mercury then offers Amphitryon some insult, which, from its wholly 

 depending on a pun, is untranslateable. Amphitryon says in reply : 

 Slave ! I will have you tortured for this language. 

 MERC. I sacrifice to you. 



AMPH. How ? What d'ye mean ? 

 MERC. I offer a libation of ill luck. 



(Throws a pail of water on him.) 

 AMPH. Is this your offering, rascal ? If the gods 

 Preserve me what I am, your back shall bend 

 With many a leathern thong, laid heavy on it ; 

 Victim of Saturn ! Yes I'll sacrifice you 

 With torture on the gallows. Come you out, 

 You hang-dog. 



MERC. Apparition ! What, you think 

 To fright me with your threats ? But if you don't 

 Take to your heels, if you dare knock, or touch 

 Our door here, even with your little finger, 

 I'll beat about your pate so with this tile, 

 You'll sputter tongue and teeth out altogether. 



AMPH. You rascal ! won't you suffer me to come 

 Into my own house ? Knock at my own door ? 

 I'll pluck it off the hinges. (Beating vehemently.) 



MERC. You persist ? 

 AMPH. I do. 



MERC. Take this, then. (Throwing a tile.) 



AMPH. Villain! at your master ? 

 If I but catch you, to such misery 

 I will reduce you, you shall live a wretch 

 For evermore. 



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