er._

At ego per Mercurium iuro, tibi Iovem non credere;
nam iniurato scio plus credet mihi quam iurato tibi.

But I swear by Mercury that Jupiter disbelieves you. Why,
man, he will take my bare word against your solemn oath, no
doubt about it.

_Sos._

Quis ego sum saltem, si non sum Sosia? te interrogo.

For mercy's sake who am I, if I'm not Sosia? I ask you that.

_Mer._

Ubi ego Sosia nolim esse, tu esto sane Sosia;
nunc, quando ego sum, vapulabis, ni hinc abis, ignobilis. 440

When I do not wish to be Sosia, be Sosia yourself, by all
means. Now that I am he, you either pack, or take a
thrashing, you unknown riff raff.

_Sos._

Certe edepol, quom illum contemplo et formam cognosco meam,
quem ad modum ego sum--saepe in speculum inspexi--nimis similest mei;
itidem habet petasum ac vestitum: tam consimilest atque ego;
sura, pes, statura, tonsus, oculi, nasum vel labra,
malae, mentum, barba, collus: totus. quid verbis opust?

(_aside, looking him over carefully_) Upon my soul, now I
look him over, and consider my own looks, my own appearance--
I've peeped in a mirror many a time--he is precious like
me. Has on a travelling hat, yes, and clothes the same
as mine. He's as like me as I am myself! Same leg--foot--
height--haircut--eyes--nose--lips, even--jaw-- chin--beard--
neck--everything. Well--well, well, well!

si tergum cicatricosum, nihil hoc similist similius.
sed quom cogito, equidem certo idem sum qui semper fui.
novi erum, novi aedis nostras; sane sapio et sentio.
non ego illi obtempero quod loquitur, pultabo foris.

If he's got a backful of whip scars, you couldn't find a
liker likeness anywhere. (_pause_) But--when I think it
over--I'm positive I'm the same man I always was, of course
I am. (_with growing conviction_) I know master, I know our
house. I'm sane and sound, I've got my senses. I won't take
any notice of what he says, not I. I'll knock at the door
(_moves toward Amphitryon's house_)

_Mer._

Quo agis te?

(_blocking him off_) Where now?

_Sos._

Domum.

Home.

_Mer._

Quadrigas si nunc inscendas Iovis 450
atque hinc fugias, ita vix poteris effugere infortunium.

(_advancing_) And shouldst thou climb into Jupiter's four
horse chariot and seek to f