Why do you hold me? It is time: I wish to get out of the city before daybreak. (_producing a golden bowl_) Here is the bowl they presented me for bravery on the field--the one King Pterelas used to drink from, whom I killed with my own hand--take it as a gift from me, Alcmena.
Facis ut alias res soles. ecastor condignum donum, qualest qui donum dedit.
(_taking bowl eagerly_) That _is_ so like you! Oh, your gift just matches the giver!
Immo sic: condignum donum, qualest cui dono datumst.
Oh no, not the giver--that gift matches the getter.
Pergin autem? nonne ego possum, furcifer, te perdere?
(_savagely_) So? At it again? Is there no choking you off, you jailbird? No? (_advances with upraised cane_)
Noli amabo, Amphitruo, irasci Sosiae causa mea. 540
(_holding him back_) Please, Amphitryon, don’t be angry with Sosia on my account.
(_aside_) Love has made an out-and-out savage of him.
(_kissing Alcmena and turning to go_) Nothing else, then?
Ut quom absim me ames, me tuam te absente tamen.
This,--even though I am not near you, love me still, your own true wife, absent or not.
Let’s go, sir; it is getting light already.
Abi prae, Sosia, Iam ego sequar. numquid vis?
Go ahead, Sosia; I shall be with you in a moment. [EXIT _Mercury._ (_kisses Alcmena again and turns to go_) Nothing further?
Licet, prius tua opinione hic adero: bonum animum habe. nunc te, nox, quae me mansisti, mitto uti cedas die, ut mortalis inlucescat luce clara et candida. atque quanto, nox, fuisti longior hac proxuma, tanto brevior dies ut fiat faciam, ut aeque disparet. sed dies e nocte accedat. ibo et Mercurium sequar. 550
Indeed I will: I shall be here sooner than you think. Come, come, cheer up! (_embraces her and moves away_) [EXIT _Alcmena_ INTO HOUSE, SADLY. Now, Night, who hast tarried for me, I dismiss thee: give place to Day, that he may shine upon mortals in radiance and splendour. And Night, since thou wert longer than the last, I shall make the day so much the shorter, that there may be fair adjustment. But let day issue forth from night. Now to follow after Mercury. [EXIT _Jupiter._
ENTER _Amphitryon_ FOLLOWED BY _Sosia_. SLAVES WITH BAGGAGE IN REAR.
(_to lagging Sosia_) Here you! After me, come!
Quia id quod neque est neque fuit neque futurum est mihi praedicas.