1–3
TRITON
No servant, but a daughter of that Egyptian. She’s another of those fifty sisters, and is called Amymone. I asked after her name and family. Danaus brings up his daughters the hard way, and teaches them to fend for themselves, sending them for water and training them not to shirk hard work.
POSEIDON
Does she come all that long way from Argos to Lerna alone?
TRITON
Indeed she does, and Argos is a pretty thirsty cf. Iliad, IV, 171 etc. place, as you know, so that she must for ever be carrying water.
POSEIDON
My dear fellow, I’m really excited at what you’ve told me about her. Let’s go and find her.
TRITON
Let’s do that. It’s just the time for her to be getting her water. She must be about halfway to Lerna by now.
POSEIDON
Then get the horses into my chariot, or rather, since it takes too long harnessing the horses and getting the chariot ready, fetch me a quick dolphin. Riding on that, I’ll be able to get away most quickly.
5
TRITON
Look, here’s the fastest dolphin you have.
POSEIDON
Capital. Let’s be on our way; you can swim alongside, my good fellow. . . . Well, now that we’re at Lerna, I’ll lie in wait here somewhere, and you’ll have to keep a look-out, and when you see her coming—
TRITON
Here she is now, not far off.
POSEIDON
She is pretty, my dear fellow, a real beauty. We must get hold of her.
AMYMONE
Where are you carrying me off to, fellow? You’re a kidnapper, that’s what you are. I’ve an idea Uncle Egyptus sent you. I’m going to scream for my father.
TRITON
Silence, Amymone, it’s Poseidon.
