The Portable Roman Reader (Portable Library) Read Online Free Page B

cloaks
To be security to meet the charge.
And so those actors who have sought to arrange,
Whether by letter written, or themselves,
Or intermediaries, to have the palm,
Or that the magistrates should act unfairly,
Then Jove has granted that the law apply
The same as if they had conspired to get
An office for themselves, or some one else.
You victors, he has said, must fairly win,
And not by canvassing and treachery.
Why should not that be law to actors too
As is to greatest men? By merit we
Should seek to win, and not by hired applause.
Virtue’s its own reward to well-doers,
If those who are in power act fairly by them.
And he has further given a command,
That there shall be detectives, who shall see
If any actor has arranged for men
To applaud himself, or to prevent some other
Receiving his applause, that they shall flay
His dress and hide in pieces with a scourge.
I would not ye should wonder that Jove cares
For the actor’s welfare; he’ll be one himself.
Why be amazed, as though ’twere something new
For Jove to turn an actor? Even last year
When the actors did invoke him on the stage
He came and helped them out; in tragedy
He certainly appears. And so today
He’ll act in this and I will do the same.
And now attend: I will relate the plot.
This city’s Thebes; and in that house there dwells
Amphitryon, of Argive blood, and born
At Argos; he is wedded to a wife,
Alcmena, daughter of Electryon.
He was the leader of the army when
The Thebans and the Teloboans fought.
But ere he joined the army in the field,
He left Alcmena pregnant; now you know,
I think, by this time that my father is
In these same matters somewhat free, and when
The fancy takes him, loves with all his strength;
Thus he began to love Alcmena, and
Borrowed her, as it were, all unbeknown,
And left her pregnant too. So, as you see,
Alcmena has a double progeny.
My father now is in the house with her;
And for that reason this night has been made
Longer than usual, that he may take
His pleasure with her as he will. And then
He has disguised himself, so that he’s like
Amphitryon. And do not wonder at
This dress of mine, and that I’ve come today
In likeness of a slave; believe me ‘tis
A novel rendering of an ancient theme;
And therefore I come dressed in novel garb.
My father is within, in likeness of
Amphitryon; all the servants think ’tis he;
So clever is he to transform himself,
Just as he chooses. I have taken the form
Of Sosia, who went with him to the war.
In this way I can serve my father; and
The servants do not ask me who I am,
When thus they see me passing to and fro.
For when they think I am their fellow-slave
No one will ask my name, or why I came.
My father now within enjoys himself
Just as he will, with her he loveth most;
He tells her what has happened at the war;
She thinks it is her husband. So he tells
What forces of the foe he’s put to rout,
What costly gifts he has received from them.
The things thus given to Amphitryon
We carried off; an easy task for him
Who can do as he likes. But now today
Amphitryon will return, and he whose form
I’ve taken as a slave; and that you may
Distinguish ‘tween us I will wear a plume
Upon my hat; while with the same intent
My father wears a tassel under his;
Amphitryon will not have one, but these marks
No one will see, but only you alone.
But see, here’s Sosia, Amphitryon’s slave,
Fresh from the port, his lantern in his hand.
I’ll keep him from the house—and see, he’s there.
’Twill be worth while, I think, to the spectators here
As actors to see Jove and Mercury appear.

ACT I, SCENE I
    (Enter Sosia from the harbour, holding a lantern .)
    SOSIA (to himself): Is there a bolder or more valiant man
Than I, who know the habits of our youth,
Yet walk abroad by night and all alone?
And what if the night-watchmen in their rounds
Put me in jail, and from the prison’s cell
Tomorrow I was handed over to
The whipping-post, no one to take my part,
And no help from my master; none to