Perde 5
[Textpart 1]
Nay but, really, they are all of them sane.
AMPHITRYON
But my wife causes me to be insane
by her own shameful practices.
1085
BROMIA
But I’ll make you, Amphitryon, to be holding other language; that you may understand that your wife is dutiful and chaste, upon that subject I will in a few words discover some tokens and some proofs. In the first place of all, Alcmena has given birth to two sons.
1085
AMPHITRYON
The Gods preserve me!
BROMIA
Allow me to speak,
that you may know that all the Deities are propitious to yourself and to your wife.
1090
BROMIA
After that, this day, your wife began to be in labour, when the pangs of childbirth came on, as is the custom with women in travail, she invoked the immortal Gods to give her aid, with washed handsWith washed hands: The head was covered and the hands made pure by washing, before sacrifice to the Gods. and with covered head. Then forthwith it thundered
with most tremendous crash. At first we thought that your house was falling; all your house shone bright, as though it had been made of gold.
1095
AMPHITRYON
Prithee, relieve me quickly from this, since you have kept me long enough in suspense. What happened then?
BROMIA
While these things were passing, meanwhile, not one of us heard your wife groaning or complaining;
and thus, in fact, without pain was she delivered.
1100
AMPHITRYON
Then do I rejoice at this, whatever she has merited at my hands.
1100
BROMIA
Leave that alone, and hear these things which I shall tell you. After she was delivered, she bade us wash the babes; we commenced to do so. But that child which I washed, how stout, how very powerful he is; and not a person was there, able to wrap him in the swaddling-clothes.
AMPHITRYON
Most wondrous things you tell of. If these things are true, I do not apprehend but that succour has been brought to my wife from heaven.
1105
BROMIA
Now shall I make you own to things more wondrous still. After he was laid in the cradle, two immense crested serpents glided down through the skylight; instantly they both reared their heads.
