.

Now I must slip back, so that my men may not get wind of
this and say I put my wife ahead of the public welfare.

_Alc._

Lacrimantem ex abitu concinnas tu tuam uxorem.

(_tearfully_) And make your own wife cry at your leaving her!

_Iup._
_Jup._

Tace,
ne corrumpe oculos, redibo actutum.

(_affectionately_) Hush! Don't spoil your eyes: I shall be
back soon.

_Alc._

Id actutum diu est. 530

That "soon" is a long, long time.

_Iup._
_Jup._

Non ego te hic lubens relinquo neque abeo abs te.

It's not that I like to leave you here and go away.

_Alc._

Sentio,
nam qua nocte ad me venisti, eadem abis.

So I perceive--going away the same night you came to me!
(_clings to him_)

_Iup._
_Jup._

Cur me tenes?
tempus est: exire ex urbe prius quam lucescat volo.
nunc tibi hanc pateram, quae dono mi illi ob virtutem data est,
Pterela rex qui potitavit, quem ego mea occidi manu,
Alcumena, tibi condono.

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.

_Alc._

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!

_Mer._

Immo sic: condignum donum, qualest cui dono datumst.

Oh no, not the giver--that gift matches the getter.

_Iup._
_Jup._

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_)

_Alc._

Noli amabo, Amphitruo, irasci Sosiae causa mea. 540

(_holding him back_) Please, Amphitryon, don't be angry with
Sosia on my account.

_Iup._
_Jup._

Faciam ita ut vis.

(_halting_) Anything you please.

_Mer._

Ex amore hic admodum quam saevos est.

(_aside_) Love has made an out-and-out savage of him.

_Iup._
_Jup._

Numquid vis?

(_kissing Alcmena and turning to go_) Nothing else, then?

_Alc._

Ut quom absim me ames, me tuam te absente tamen.