Titus Maccius Plautus — Amphitryo (1519)

So. Is it not allowed to announce to my mistress what my master ordered?
Me. I will not allow you to approach this mistress of ours to announce whatever you wish.
For if you provoke me, you will take away a broken back from here today.
So. I am leaving rather. I beseech the immortal gods for their protection,
Where have I perished? Where have I been changed? Where did I lose my form?
Or did I leave myself behind there, if by chance I forgot?
For this man indeed possesses my whole image, which had been with me.
Something is being done to me alive that no one will ever do to me dead.
I will go to the port, and tell my master how these things have been done,
Unless he too does not recognize me, which is what that Jupiter might do.
So that today with a shaved head I may take the pileus as a bald man.

MERCURY

It has proceeded well and prosperously for me today,
I have removed a great nuisance from the doors,
So that it might be allowed for my father to embrace her safely.
For when he arrives there to his master Amphitryon,
He will tell that the servant Sosia removed himself from the doors here,
And he will believe that he lies to him,
Nor will he believe that he set out here as he had ordered.
I will fill both of them with error and madness,
And the entire household of Amphitryon,
Until the father takes his fill of the god
Whom he loves; then finally everyone will know
What has been done, and finally Jupiter
Will restore Alcumena to the old harmony of her spouse.
For Amphitryon will soon stir up trouble for his wife,