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Amphitryon
him； I will drive away the babbler from here。 His unfortunate arrival may
disturb the pleasures our lovers are tasting together。
SOS。 My heart revives a little； perhaps it was nothing。 Lest anything
untoward should happen； however； I will go in to finish the conversation。
MERC。 I shall prevent your doing that unless you are stronger than
Mercury。
SOS。 This night seems to me unusually long。 By the time I have been
on the way； either my master has taken evening for morning； or lovely
Phoebus slumbers too long in bed through having taken too much wine。
MERC。 With what irreverence this lubber speaks of the Gods！ My arm
shall soon chastise this insolence； I shall have a fine game with him；
stealing his name as well as his likeness。
SOS。 Ah！ upon my word； I was right： I am done for； miserable creature
that I am！ I see a man before our house whose mien bodes me no good。 I
will sing a little to show some semblance of assurance。
（He sings； and； when Mercury speaks； his voice weakens； little by
little。）
MERC。 What rascal is this； who takes the unwarrantable licence of
singing and deafening me like this？ Does he wish me to curry his coat for
him？
SOS。 Assuredly that fellow does not like music。
MERC。 For more than a week； I have not found any one whose bones
I could break； my arm will lose its strength in this idleness。 I must look out
for some one's back to get my wind again。
SOS。 What the deuce of a fellow is this？ My heart thrills with
clutching fear。 But why should I tremble thus？ Perhaps the rogue is as
much afraid as I am； and talks in this way to hide his fear from me under a
feigned audacity。 Yes； yes； I will not allow him to think me a goose。 If I
am not bold； I will try to appear so。 Let me seek courage by reason； he is
alone； even as I am； I am strong； I have a good master； and there is our
house。
MERC。 Who goes there？
SOS。 I。
MERC。 Who； I？
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SOS。 I。 Courage； Sosie！
MERC。 Tell me； what is your condition？
SOS。 To be a man； and to speak。
MERC。 Are you a master； or a servant？
SOS。 As fancy takes me。
MERC。 Where are you going？
SOS。 Where I intend to go。
MERC。 Ah！ This annoys me。
SOS。 I am ravished to hear it。
MERC。 By hook or by crook； I must definitely know all about you；
you wretch； what you do； whence you come before the day breaks； where
you are going； and who you may be。
SOS。 I do good and ill by turns； I come from there； I go there； I belong
to my master。
MERC。 You show wit； and I see you think to play the man of
importance for my edification。 I feel inclined to make your acquaintance
by slapping your face。
SOS。 Mine？
MERC。 Yours； and there you get it； sharp。 （Mercury gives him a slap。）
SOS。 Ah！ Ah！ This is a fine game！
MERC。 No； it is only a laughing matter； a reply to your quips。
SOS。 Good heavens！ Friend； how you swing out your arm without any
one saying anything to you。
MERC。 These are my lightest clouts； little ordinary smacks。
SOS。 If I were as hasty as you； we should have a fine ado。
MERC。 All this is nothing as yet： it is merely to fill up time； we shall
soon see something else； but let us continue our conversation。
SOS。 I give up the game。 （He turns to go away。）
MERC。 Where are you going？
SOS。 What does it matter to you？
MERC。 I want to know where you are going。
SOS。 I am going to open that door。 Why do you detain me？
MERC。 If you dare to go near it； I shall rain down a storm of blows on
you。
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SOS。 What？ You wish to hinder me from entering our own house by
threats？
MERC。 What do you say； your house？
SOS。 Yes； our house。
MERC。 O； the scoundrel！ You speak of that house？
SOS。 Certainly。 Is not Amphitryon the master of it？
MERC。 Well！ What does that prove？
SOS。 I am his valet。
MERC。 You？
SOS。 I。
MERC。 His valet？
SOS。 Unquestionably。
MERC。 Valet of Amphitryon？
SOS。 Of Amphitryon himself。
MERC。 Your name is？
SOS。 Sosie。
MERC。 Eh？ What？
SOS。 Sosie。
MERC。 Listen： do you realise that my fist can knock you spinning？
SOS。 Why？ What fury has seized you now？
MERC。 Tell me； who made you so rash as to take the name of Sosie？
SOS。 I do not take it； I have always borne it。
MERC。 O what a monstrous lie！ What confounded impudence！ You
dare to maintain that Sosie is your name？
SOS。 Certainly； I maintain it； for the good reason that the Gods have
so ordered it by their supreme power。 It is not in my power to say no； and
to be any one else than myself。
（Mercury beats him。） MERC。 A thousand stripes ought to be the
reward of such audacity。
SOS。 Justice； citizens！ Help！ I beseech you。
MERC。 So； you gallows…bird； you yell out？
SOS。 You beat me down with a thousand blows； and yet do not wish
me to cry out？
MERC。 It is thus that my arm 。 。 。
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SOS。 The action is unworthy。 You gloat over the advantage which my
want of courage gives you over me； that is not fair treatment。 It is mere
bullying to wish to profit by the poltroonery of those whom one makes to
feel the weight of one's arm。 To thrash a man who does not retaliate is not
the act of a generous soul； and to show courage against men who have
none merits condemnation。
MERC。 Well！ Are you still Sosie？ What say you？
SOS。 Your blows have not made any metamorphosis in me； all the
change there is is that in the matter I am Sosie thrashed。
MERC。 Still？ A hundred fresh blows for this fresh impudence。
SOS。 Have mercy； a truce to your blows。
MERC。 Then a truce to your insolence。
SOS。 Anything that pleases you； I will keep silence。 The dispute
between us is too unequal。
MERC。 Are you still Sosie？ Say； villain！
SOS。 Alas！ I am what you wish； dispose of my lot exactly as you
please： your arm 'has made you the master of it。
MERC。 I think you said your name was Sosie？
SOS。 True； until no