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SOS。 She needs six grains of hellebore； Monsieur； her brain is turned。
AMPH。 Alcmene； in the name of all the Gods； this discourse will have
a strange ending！ Recollect your senses a little better； and think what you
say。
ALC。 I am indeed thinking seriously； all in the house saw your arrival。
I am ignorant what motive makes you act thus； but； if the thing were in
need of proof； if it were true that such a thing could be forgotten； from
whom； but from you； could I have heard the news of the latest of all your
battles； and of the five diamonds worn by Pterelas； who was plunged into
eternal night by the strength of your arm？ Could one wish for surer
testimony？
AMPH。 What？ I have already given you the cluster of diamonds which
I had for my share； and intended for you？
ALC。 Assuredly。 It is not difficult to convince you thoroughly on that
point。
AMPH。 How？
ALC。 Here it is。
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Amphitryon
AMPH。 Sosie！
SOS。 She is jesting： I have it here； Monsieur； the feint is useless。
AMPH。 The seal is whole。
ALC。 Is it a vision？ There。 Will you think this proof strong enough？
AMPH。 Ah Heaven！ O just Heaven！
ALC。 Come； Amphitryon； you are joking in acting thus： you ought to
be ashamed of it。
AMPH。 Break this seal； quickly。
SOS。 （Having opened the casket。） Upon my word； the casket is empty。
It must have been taken out by witchcraft； or else it came by itself a guide；
to her whom it knew it was intended to adorn。
AMPH。 O Gods； whose power governs all things； what is this
adventure？ What can I augur from it that does not clutch at my heart？
SOS。 If she speaks the truth； we have the same lot； and； like me；
Monsieur； you are double。
AMPH。 Be silent。
ALC。 Why are you so surprised？ What causes all this confusion？
AMPH。 O Heaven！ What strange perplexity！ I see incidents which
surpass Nature； and my honour fears an adventure which my mind does
not understand。
ALC。 Do you still wish to deny your hasty return； when you have this
sensible proof of it？
AMPH。 No； but if it be possible； deign to tell me what passed at this
return。
ALC。 Since you ask an account of the matter； you still say it was not
you？
AMPH。 Pardon me； but I have a certain reason which makes me ask
you to give us this account。
ALC。 Have the important cares which perhaps engross you made you
so quickly lose the remembrance of it？
AMPH。 Perhaps； but； in short； you would please me by telling me the
whole story。
ALC。 The story is not long。 I advanced towards you full of a delighted
surprise； I embraced you tenderly； and showed my joy more than once。
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Amphitryon
AMPH。 （to himself。） Ah！ I could have done without so sweet a
welcome。
ALC。 You first made me this valuable gift； which you destined for me
from the spoils of the conquered。 Your heart vehemently unfolded to me
all the violence of its love； and the annoying duties which had kept it
enchained； the happiness of seeing me again； the torments of absence； all
the care which your impatience to return had given you； never has your
love； on similar occasions； seemed to me so tender and so passionate。
AMPH。 （to himself。） Can one be more cruelly tortured？
ALC。 As you may well believe； these transports and this tenderness
did not displease me； if I must confess it； Amphitryon； my heart found a
thousand charms in them。
AMPH。 What followed； pray？
ALC。 We interrupted each other with a thousand questions concerning
each other。 The table was laid。 We supped together by ourselves； and；
supper over； we went to bed。
AMPH。 Together？
ALC。 Assuredly。 What a question？
AMPH。 Ah； this is the most cruel stroke of all； my jealous passion
trembled to assure itself of this。
ALC。 Why do you blush so deeply at a word？ Have I done something
wrong in going to bed with you？
AMPH。 No； to my great misery； it was not I； whoever says I was here
yesterday； tells； of all falsehoods； the most horrible。
ALC。 Amphitryon！
AMPH。 Perfidious woman！
ALC。 Ah！ What madness is this！
AMPH。 No； no； no more sweetness； no more respect； this rebuff puts
an end to all my constancy； at this ghastly moment； my heart breathes only
fury and； vengeance。
ALC。 On whom then would you be avenged？ What want of faith in me
makes you treat me now as a criminal？
AMPH。 I do not know； but it was not I； this despair makes me capable
of anything。
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Amphitryon
ALC。 Away unworthy husband； the deed speaks for itself； the
imposture is frightful。 It is too great an insult to accuse me of infidelity。 If
these confused transports mean that you seek a pretext to break the nuptial
bonds which hold me enchained to you； all these pretences are superfluous；
for I am determined that this day all our ties shall be broken。
AMPH。 After the unworthy affront； which I now learn has been done
me； that is indeed what you must prepare yourself for； it is the least that
can be expected； and things may not perhaps remain there。 The dishonour
is sure； my misery is made plain to me； and my pride in vain would hide it
from me。 The details are still not clear： My anger is just and I claim to be
enlightened。 Your brother can positively avouch that I did not leave him
until this morning： I will go and seek him； in order that I may confound
you about the return falsely imputed to me。 Afterwards； we will penetrate
to the bottom of a mystery unheard of until now； and； in the fury of a
righteous anger； woe to him who has betrayed me！
SOS。 Monsieur 。 。 。
AMPH。 Do not accompany me； but remain here for me。
CLE。 Must I 。 。 。？
ALC。 I cannot hear anything： leave me alone： do not follow me。
SCENE III
CLEANTHIS； SOSIE
CLE。 Something must have turned his brain； but the brother will soon
finish this quarrel。
SOS。 This is a very sharp blow for my master； his fate is cruel。 I
greatly fear something coming for myself。 I will go softly in enlightening
her。
CLE。 Let me see whether he will so much as speak to me！ I will not
reveal anything。
SOS。 These things are often anno