Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
In what place?
ALCMENA
Here, in the house where you yourself dwell.
700
AMPHITRYON
It never was the fact.
700
SOSIA
Will you not hold your peace? What if the vessel brought us here from the harbour in our sleep?
700
AMPHITRYON
Are you, too, going to back her as well?
SOSIA
What do you wish to be done? Don’t you know, if you wish to oppose a raving Bacchanal, from a mad woman you’ll render her more mad—she’ll strike the oftenerStrike the oftener: This is said in allusion to the blows with the thyrsus, which the frantic female votaries of Bacchus inflicted upon all persons that they met.;
if you humour her, after one blow you may overcome her?
705
AMPHITRYON
But, by my troth, this thing is resolved upon, somehow to rate her who this day has been unwilling to greet me on my arrival home.
705
SOSIA
You’ll only be irritating hornets.
AMPHITRYON
You hold your tongue. Alcmena, I wish to ask you one thing.
ALCMENA
Ask me anything you please.
AMPHITRYON
Is it frenzy that has come upon you, or does pride overcome you?
ALCMENA
How comes it into your mind, my husband, to ask me that?
710
AMPHITRYON
Because formerly you used to greet me on my arrival, and to address me in such manner as those women who are virtuous are wont their husbands. On my arrival home I’ve found that you have got rid of that custom.
ALCMENA
By my faith, indeed, I assuredly did both greet you yesterday, upon your arrival,
at that very instant, and at the same time I enquired if you had continued in health all along, my husband, and I took your hand and gave you a kiss.
715
SOSIA
What, did you welcome him yesterday?
ALCMENA
And you too, as well, Sosia.
SOSIA
Amphitryon, I did hope that she was about to bring you forth a son; but she isn’t gone with child.
