lose their lives sooner than
quit their post. As each had stood, so he lies, and keeps
the line unbroken.

hoc ubi Amphitruo erus conspicatust,
ilico equites iubet dextera inducere.
equites parent citi: ab dextera maximo
cum clamore involant impetu alacri,
foedant et proterunt hostium copias
iure iniustas.

When my lord Amphitryon noted this, he straightway ordered
that the cavalry on our right be led to the charge. Swift
they obey, and with terrific yells swooping down from the
right in mad career they mangle and trample underfoot the
forces of our foes and right our wrongs. (_wipes his brow
and meditates_)

_Mer._

Numquam etiam quicquam adhuc verborum est prolocutus perperam:
namque ego fui illi in re praesenti et meus, cum pugnatum est, pater.

(_aside_) Not a single, solitary word of fiction has he
uttered yet: for I was there myself while the battle was
actually going on, and my father too.

_Sos._

Perduelles penetrant se in fugam; ibi nostris animus additust: 250
vortentibus Telobois telis complebantur corpora,
ipsusque Amphitruo regem Pterelam sua obtruncavit manu.
haec illic est pugnata pugna usque a mani ad vesperum--
hoc adeo hoc commemini magis, quia illo die inpransus fui--
sed proelium id tandem diremit nox interventu suo.

(_gathering himself together_) Their warriors take to
flight; at this new courage animates our men. When the
Teloboians turn their backs we stick them full of spears,
and Amphitryon himself cut down King Pterelas with his own
hand. This fight was fought out all through the day there
from morn till eve. (_reflectively_) I remember this
point more distinctly because that noon I went without my
lunch. But darkness at last intervened and terminated the
engagement.

postridie in castra ex urbe ad nos veniunt flentes principes:
velatis manibus orant ignoscamus peccatum suom,
deduntque se, divina humanaque omnia, urbem et liberos
indicionem atque in arbitratum cuncti Thebano poplo.
post ob virtutem ero Amphitruoni patera donata aurea est, 260
qui Pterela potitare solitus est rex. haec sic dicam erae
nunc pergam eri imperium exequi et me domum capessere.

The following day their foremost men come tearfully from the
city to our camp, their hands veiled in suppliant wise, and
entreat us to