Jup.' Think me jealous, then.

Alc. O that I could, for that's a noble crime;
And which a lover can, with ease, forgive:
'Tis the high pulfe of paffion, in a fever;
A fickly draught but fhews a burning thirst:
Thine was a furfeit, not a jealoufy:

And in that loathing of thy fatiate love,
Thou faw'ft the odious object with disdain.
Jup. O think not that: for you are ever new-
Your fruits of love, like thofe of endless fpring
In happy climes, where fome are in the bud,
Some green, and ripening fome, while others fall.
Alc. Ay, now you tell me this. Your puny paffion,
Like the deprav'd defires of fretful fickness,

Raves in fhort fits of craving and difguft:

This morn at break of day you wou'd be gone; Then chang'd your purpose and came back; then raged

Because th' effect of chance was not forefeen;

Then left me in disgust, with infult too;

And now, return'd again, you talk of love.
But never hope to be receiv'd again :
You would again deny you were receiv'd,
And brand my spotlefs fame.'

Jup. I will not dare to justify my crime:
No, I confess I have deferv'd your hate.

Too charming fair, I kneel for your forgiveness:
I beg by thofe fair eyes,

[Kneeling. Which gave me wounds that time can never cure; Receive my forrows, and restore my joys.

Alc. Unkind and cruel! I can speak no more.
Jap. O give it vent, Alcmena, give it vent;

I merit your reproach, I wou'd be curs'd:

Let your tongue curfe me, while your heart forgives. Alc. Can I forget fuch ufage?

Jup. Can you hate me?

Alc. I'll do my beft: for fure I ought to hate you.
Jup.That word was only hatch'd upon your tongue

It came not from your heart. But try again;

And if, once more, you can but fay, I hate you, My fword fhall do you justice.

Alc.

◄ Alc. Then, I hate you——

Jup. Then you pronounce the fentence of my death? Alc. I hate you much ;-but yet I love you more. Jup. To prove that love, then fay, that you forFor there remains but this alternative; [give me :

Refolve to pardon, or to punifh me.

Alc. Alas, what I refolve, arpears too plain : In faying that I cannot hate, I pardon.

Jup. But what's a pardon worth, without a feal? Permit me, in this tranfport of my joy

Kiffes her band. Alc. Forbear; I am offended with myself,

[Putting him gently away with her hand. That I have fhewn this weaknefs- Let me go.

But come not you;

[Going and looking back on him.

Left I fhould spoil you with excefs of fondness,
And let you love again--
[Exit Alcmena.
Jup. Forbidding me to follow, fhe invites me.

I

[Afide.

This is the mould of which I made the fex :
gave 'em but one tongue, to fay us nays
And two kind eyes, to grant. Be fure that none

Approach, to interrupt us.

[To Merc.

[Exit Jupiter after Alcmena. Mercury and Phædra remain.

Mere. Your lady has made the challenge of reconciliation to my lord: here's a fair example for us two, Phædra.

Phad. No example at all, Sofia: for my lady had the diamonds before-hand, and I have none of the gold goblet.

Merc. The goblet fhall be forth-coming, if thou wilt give me weight for weight.

Phad. Yes, and measure for meafure too, Sofia: that is, for a thimble-full of gold, a thimble-full of love.

Merc. What think you now, Phædra? Here's a weighty argument of love for you!

[Pulling out the goblet in a cafe from under his cloak. C

Phad.

Phad. Now Jupiter of his mercy, let me kifs thee, O thou dear metal! [Taking it in both hands. Merc. And Venus, of her mercy, let me kifs thee, dear, dear Phædra.

Phad. Not fo faft, Sofia ! there's an unlucky proverb in your way-Many things happen betwixt the cup and the lip, you know.

Merc. Why, thou wilt not cheat me of my goblet ? Phad. Yes; 6 as fure as you would cheat me of my maidenhead :' I am yet but juft even with you, for the last trick you play'd me. And, befides, this is but a bare retaining fee; you must give me another before the cause is open'd.

Merc. Shall I not come to your bed-fide to-night? Phad. No, nor to-morrow night neither: but this fhall be my fweetheart in your place: 'tis a better bedfellow, and will keep me warmer in cold weather. [Exit Phædra.

Mercury alone.

Merc. Now, what's the God of Wit in a woman's hand? This very goblet I ftole from Gripus; and he got it out of bribes too. But this is the common fate of ill-gotten goods, that, as they came in by covetoufnefs, they go out by whoring.- [Enter Amphitryon.] O here's Amphitryon again, but I'll manage him above in the balcony.' [Exit Merc. Amph. Not one of those I look'd for, to be found! Has fome enchantment hid 'em from my fight? Perhaps, as Sofia fays, 'tis witchcraft all: Seals may be open'd, diamonds may be ftoln; But how I came in perfon, yesterday, And gave that prefent to Alcmena's hands, That which I never gave, nor ever came, O there's the rock, on which my reason splits. Wou'd that were all! I fear my honour, too! I'll try her once again: fhe may be mad :A wretched remedy! but all I have, To keep me from despair.

How now! what means the locking up of my
Doors at this time of day?

[Knocks.

Merc. [Above.] Softly, friend, foftly! You knock

as

Is loud, and as faucily, as a lord's footman, that was fent before him, to warn the family of his lordship's vifit. Sure, you think the doors have no feeling! What the devil are you that rap with fuch authority? Amph. Look out, and fee: 'tis I.

Merc. You? what you?

Amph. No more, I fay, but open.
Merc. I'll know to whom first.

Amph. I am one that can command the doors open. Merc. Then you had beft command them, and try whether they will obey you.

Amph. Doft thou not know me ?

Merc. Pr'ythee, how fhould I know thee? doft thou take me for a conjurer?

Amph. What's this, midfummer-moon? Is all the world gone a madding? Why Sofia!

Merc. That's my name indeed: didst thou think I had forgot it?

Amph. Doft thou fee me?

Merc. Why, doft thou pretend to go invisible? If thou haft any bufinefs here, difpatch it quickly; I have no leifure to throw away upon fuch prattling companions.

Amph. Thy companion, flave? How dar'ft thou ufe this infolent language to thy mafter?

Merc. How! Thou my mafter? By what title? I never had any other master, but Amphitryon.

Amph. Well and for whom doft thou take me? Merc. For fome rogue or other; but what rogue I know not.

Amph. Doft thou not know me for Amphitryon, flave!

Merc. How fhou'd I know thee, when I fee thou doft not know thyself? Thou Amphitryon? In what tavern haft thou been? and how many bottles did thy bufinefs, to metamorphofe thee into my lord?

Amph. I will fo drub thee for this infolence!

Merc. How now, impudence! are you threatening your betters? I fhou'd bring you to condign punishment, but that I have a great refpect for the good wine, tho' I find it in a fool's noddle.

Amph. What, none to let me in? Why Phædra! Bromia!

Merc. Peace, fellow; if my wife hears thee, we are both undone. At a word, Phædra and Bromia are very bufy; and my lady and my lord must not be disturbed.

Amph. Amazement feizes me!

Merc. At what art thou amaz'd? My Lord Amphitryon and my Lady Alcmena had a falling out, and are retir'd, without feconds, to decide the quarrel. If thou wert not a meddlefome fool, thou wouldst not be thrusting thy nofe into other peoples matters. Get thee about thy bufinefs, if thou haft any; for I'll hear no more of thee. [Exit Mercury from above. Amph. Brav'd by my flave, difhonour'd by my wife! To what a defp'rate plunge am I reduc'd, If this be true the villain fays? But why

That feeble If? It must be true; fhe owns it.
Now, whether to conceal, or blaze th' affront?
One way, I fpread my infamy abroad;
And, 'tother, hide a burning coal within,
That preys upon my vitals: I can fix
On nothing, but on vengeance.

Enter to him Sofia, Polidas, Gripus, and Tranio. Grip. Yonder he is; walking haftily to and fro, before his door; like a citizen, clapping his fides before his fhop, in a frofty morning: 'tis to catch a ftomach, I believe.

Sof. I begin to be afraid, that he has more ftomach to my fides and fhoulders, than to his own victuals. How he fhakes his head! and ftamps! and what ftrides he fetches! He's in one of his damn'd moods again I don't like the looks of him.

Amph. Oh, my mannerly, fair spoken, obedient flave, are you there! I can reach you now, without climbing: Now we fhall try who's drunk, and who's fober.

Sof. Why this is as it fhould be: I was somewhat fufpicious that you were in a peftilent humour. Yes, we will have a crash at the bottle, when your lordship pleafes: I have fummon'd 'em, you fee: and they are notable topers, especially Judge Gripus.