This city here is Thebes. In that house there (_pointing_)
dwells Amphitryon, born in Argos, of an Argive father: and
his wife is Alcmena, Electrus's daughter. At present this
Amphitryon is at the head of the Theban army, the Thebans
being at war with the Teloboians.

is prius quam hinc abut ipsemet in exercitum,
gravidam Alcumenam uxorem fecit suam.
nam ego vos novisse credo iam ut sit pater meus,
quam liber harum rerum multarum siet
quantusque amator sit quod complacitum est semel.

Before he himself left to join his troops, his wife,
Alcmena, was with child by him. (_apologetically_) Now I
think you know already what my father is like--how free he
is apt to be in a good many cases of this sort and what an
impetuous lover he is, once his fancy is taken.

is amare occepit Alcumenam clam virum
usuramque eius corporis cepit sibi,
et gravidam fecit is eam compressu suo.
nunc de Alcumena ut rem teneatis rectius, 110
utrimque est gravida, et ex viro et ex summo Iove.

Well, Alcmena caught his fancy, without her husband knowing
it, and he enjoyed her and got her with child. So now
Alcmena, that you may see it quite clearly, is with child
by both of them, by her husband and by almighty Jove.

et meus pater nunc intus hic cum illa cubat,
et haec ob eam rem nox est facta longior,
dum cum illa quacum volt voluptatem capit;
sed ita adsimulavit se, quasi Amphitruo siet.

And my father is there inside this very moment with her in
his arms, and it is on this account that the present night
has been prolonged while he enjoys the society of his
heart's delight. All this in the guise of Amphitryon, you
understand.

Nunc ne hunc ornatum vos meum admiremini,
quod ego huc processi sic cum servili schema:
veterem atque antiquam rem novam ad vos proferam,
propterea ornatus in novom incessi modum.

Now don't be surprised at this get-up of mine and because I
appear here in the character of a slave as I do: I am going
to submit to you a new version of a worn and ancient tale,
hence my appearance in a new get-up.

nam meus pater intus nunc est eccum Iuppiter; 120
in Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem
omnesque eum esse censent servi qui vident:
ita versipellem se facit quando lubet.

The point is, my father Ju