Perde 4
[Textpart 2a]
What you are going to say, I don’t know; what you’ll have to endure I pretty well guess.
SOSIA
It’s an old adage—Hunger and delay summon anger to the nostrilsTo the nostrils: From their expanding when a person is enraged, the nostrils were said to be peculiarly the seat of anger..
BLEPHARO
Aye, and well suited to the occasion. Let’s address him directly—Amphitryon!
AMPHITRYON
Is it Blepharo I hear? It’s strange why he’s come to me. Still, he presents himself opportunely, for me to prove the guilty conduct of my wife. Why have you come here to me, Blepharo?
BLEPHARO
Have you so soon forgotten how early in the morning you sent Sosia to the ship, that I might take a repast with you to-day?
AMPHITRYON
Never in this world was it done. But where is that scoundrel?
BLEPHARO
See, there he is.
AMPHITRYON
Where? BLEPH. Before your eyes; don’t you see him?
I can hardly see for anger, so distracted has that fellow made me this day. You shall never escape my making a sacrifice of you. (Offers to strike SOSIA, on which BLEPHARO prevents him.) Do let me, Blepharo.
AMPHITRYON
Say on, I’m listening— (gives a blow to SOSIA) you take that.
SOSIA
For what reason? Am I not in good time? I couldn’t have gone quicker, if I had betaken myself on the oar-like wingsOar-like wings: Remigiis. Virgil, and Ovid also, with considerable propriety, call the wings of Daedalus remigia, tiers of oars, from the resemblance which the main feathers of the wing bear to a row of oars. The story of Daedalus and Icarus is beautifully told by Ovid, in the Art of Love Book 2, and in the Metamorphoses, Book 8. of Daedalus.
BLEPHARO
Prithee, do leave him alone; we couldn’t quicken our pace any further.
AMPHITRYON
Whether it was the pace of a man on stilts or that of the tortoise, I’m determined to be the death of this villain. (Striking him at each sentence.) Take that for the roof; that for the tiles; that for closing the door; that for making fun of your master; that for your abusive language.
BLEPHARO
What injury has he been doing to you?
AMPHITRYON
Do you ask? Shut out of doors, from that housetop (pointing to it) he has driven me away from my house.
AMPHITRYON
What did you threaten that you would do if I knocked at that door? Do you deny it, you scoundrel?
