Scene 3.

_Bleph._

Vos inter vos partite; ego abeo, mihi negotium est; neque ego umquam usquam tanta mira me vidisse censeo.

(_disgustedly_) You must untangle your own selves: I’m going: I have an engagement. (_aside_) Never did I see such marvels anywhere, I do believe. (_turns to go_)

_Amph._

Blepharo, quaeso ut advocatus mi adsis neve abeas.

Blepharo! Stand by me, for mercy’s sake, and be my assistant: don’t go!

_Bleph._

Vale. quid opust me advocato, qui utri sim advocatus nescio?

Good-bye. What’s the use of my being an assistant when I don’t know which to be it to? [EXIT _Blepharo_.

_Iup._ _Jup._

Intro ego hinc eo. Alcumena parturit.

(_aside_) I’m going inside myself: Alcmena’s delivery is at hand. [EXIT _Jupiter_ INTO HOUSE, UNSEEN BY _Amphitryon_.

_Amph._

Perii miser. quid ego faciam, quem advocati iam atque amici deserunt? 1040 numquam edepol me inultus istic ludificabit, quisquis est; nam iam ad regem recta me ducam resque ut facta est eloquar.[25] ego pol illum ulciscar hodie Thessalum veneficum, qui pervorse perturbavit familiae mentem meae. sed ubi illest? intro edepol abiit, credo ad uxorem meam.

(_wildly_) Heavens! oh, Heavens! What shall I do now when assistants and friends desert me? By the Lord, that villain shall never make game of me and escape, whoever he is! I’ll go straight to the king this moment and tell him all as it happened. I swear I’ll have my revenge this day on that Thessalian sorcerer who has turned the wits of my household topsy-turvy. (_looking around_) Where is he, though? Good God! He’s gone inside--to my wife, no doubt!

qui me Thebis alter vivit miserior? quid nunc agam? quem omnes mortales ignorant et ludificant ut lubet. certumst, intro rumpam in aedis: ubi quemque hominem aspexero, si ancillam seu servom sive uxorem sive adulterum seu patrem sive avom videbo, obtruncabo in aedibus. 1050 neque me Iuppiter neque di omnes id prohibebunt, si volent, quin sic faciam ut constitui. pergam in aedis nunciam.

Oh, of all miserable men in Thebes! What shall I do now? Disowned and humbugged by every mortal soul to suit their humour! (_pause_) My mind’s made up--I’ll burst into the house, and every human creature there I set my eyes on, maid or man, wife or paramour, father or grandfather, I’ll cut them down in my halls! And not the will of Jupiter and all the gods shall stop my doing as I’ve determined! I’ll in this minute! (_he rushes toward door: a peal of thunder: he falls to ground motionless_)

ACTVS V