Amphitryon(安菲特利翁)

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Amphitryon

Translated by A.R. Waller, M.A.

Amphitryon

PREFACE

Amphitryon was played for the first time in Paris, at the Theatre du

Palais-Royal, January 13, 1668. It was successfully received, holding the

boards until the 18th of March, when Easter intervened. After the re-

opening of the theatre, it was played half a dozen times more the same

year, and continued to please.

The first edition was published in 1668.

Note: It is perhaps hardly necessary to refer the reader to Amphitryon,

by Plautus, the comedy upon which Moliere's charming play was, in the

main, based. The rendering attempted here can give but a faint reflection

of the original, for hardly any comedy of Moliere's loses more in the

process of translation.

Amphitryon

PROLOGUE

MERCURY, on a cloud; NIGHT, in a chariot drawn by two horses

MERC. Wait! Gentle Night; deign to stay awhile: Some help is needed

from you. I have two words to say to you from Jupiter.

NIGHT. Ah! Ah! It is you, Seigneur Mercury! Who would have

thought of you here, in that position?

MERC. Well, feeling tired, and not being able to fulfil the different

duties Jupiter ordered me, I quietly sat down on this cloud to await your

coming.

NIGHT. You jest, Mercury: you do not mean it; does it become the

Gods to say they are tired?

MERC. Are the Gods made of iron?

NIGHT. No; but one must always have a care for divine decorum.

There are certain words the use of which debases this sublime quality, and

it is meet that these should be left to men, because they are unworthy.

MERC. You speak at your ease, fair lady, from a swiftly rolling chariot,

in which, like a dame free from care; you are drawn by two fine horses

wherever you like. But it is not the same with me. Such is my miserable

fate that I cannot bear the poets too great a grudge for their gross

impertinence in having, by an unjust law, which they wish to retain in

force, given a separate conveyance to each God, for his own use, and left

me to go on foot: me, like a village messenger, though, as everyone knows,

I am the famous messenger of the sovereign of the Gods, on the earth and

in the heavens. Without any exaggeration, I need more than any one else

the means of being carried about, because of all the duties he puts upon

me.

NIGHT. What can one do? The poets do what pleases them. It is not

the only stupidity we have detected in these gentlemen. But surely your

irritation against them is wrong, for the wings at your feet are a friendly

gift of theirs.

MERC. Yes; but does going more quickly tire oneself less?

NIGHT. Let us leave the matter, Seigneur Mercury, and learn what is

Amphitryon

wanted. MERC. Jupiter, as I have told you, wishes the dark aid of your

cloak for a certain gallant adventure, which a new love affair has furnished

him. His custom is not new to you, I believe: often does he neglect the

heavens for the earth; and you are not ignorant that this master of the Gods

loves to take upon himself the guise of man to woo earthly beauties. He

knows a hundred ingenious tricks to entrap the most obdurate. He has felt

the darts of Alcmene's eyes; and, whilst Amphitryon, her husband,

commands the Theban troops on the plains of Boeotia, Jupiter has taken

his form, and assuaged his pains, in the possession of the sweetest of

pleasures. The condition of the couple is propitious to his desire: Hymen

joined them only a few days ago; and the young warmth of their tender

love suggested to Jupiter to have recourse to this fine artifice. His

stratagem proved successful in this case; but with many a cherished object

a similar disguise would not be of any use: it is not always a sure means of

pleasing, to adopt the form, of a husband.

NIGHT. I admire Jupiter, and I cannot imagine all the disguises which

come into his head.

MERC. By these means he wishes to taste all sorts of conditions: that

is the act of a God who is not a fool. However mortals may regard him, I

should think very meanly of him if he never quitted his redoubtable mien,

and were always in the heavens, standing upon his dignity. In my opinion,

there is nothing more idiotic than always to be imprisoned in one's

grandeur; above all, a lofty rank becomes very inconvenient in the

transports of amorous ardour. Jupiter, no doubt, is a connoisseur in

pleasure, and he knows how to descend from the height of his supreme

glory. So that he can enter into everything that pleases him, he entirely

casts aside himself, and then it is no longer Jupiter who appears.

NIGHT. I could overlook seeing him step down from his sublime stage

to that of men, since he wishes to enter into all the transports which their

natures can supply, and join in their jests, if, in the changes which take his

fancy, he would confine himself to nature. But I do not think it fitting to

see Jupiter as a bull, a serpent, a swan, or what not, and it does not

astonish me that it is sometimes talked about.

MERC. Let all the busybodies talk; such changes have their own

Amphitryon

charms and surpass people's understanding. The God knows what he does

in this affair as in everything else: in the movements of their tender

passions, animals are not so loutish as one might think.

NIGHT. Let us return to the lady whose favours he enjoys. If, by his

stratagem, his pursuit is successful, what more can he wish? What can I

do?

MERC. He wishes that you would slacken the pace of your horses, to

satisfy the passion of his amorous heart, and so make of a delightful night

the longest night of all; that you would give him more time for his

transports, and retard the birth of day since it will hasten the return of him

whose place he occupies.

NIGHT. Really the employment which the great Jupiter reserves for

me is a worthy one! The service he requires of me passes under a very

respectable name.

MERC. You are somewhat old-fashioned for a young goddess! Such

an employment is not debasing except among people of mean birth. When

one has the happiness of belonging to lofty rank, whatever one does is

always right and good; things change their names to suit what one may be.

NIGHT. You know more about such matters than I do; I will trust to

your enlightened views and accept this employment.

MERC. Come, come, now, Madam Night, a little gently, I beseech you.

The world gives you the reputation of not being so scrupulous. In a

hundred different climes you are made the confidant of many gallant

adventures; and, if I may speak candidly, we do not owe each other

anything.

NIGHT. Let us cease these reproaches and remain what we are. Let us

not give men cause to laugh by telling each other the truth.

MERC. Adieu. I am going there to play my part in this business,

promptly to strip myself of the form of Mercury and to take in its place the

figure of Amphitryon's valet.

NIGHT. I am going to keep station in this hemisphere with my sombre

train.

MERC. Good day, Night.

NIGHT. Adieu, Mercury.

Amphitryon

(Mercury descends from his cloud to the earth, and Night goes away in

her chariot.)

END OF THE PROLOGUE.

Amphitryon

ACT I

SCENE I

SOSIE

Who goes there? Eh? My fear grows with every step. Gentlemen, I am

a friend to all the world. Ah! What unparalleled boldness, to be out at this

hour! My master is crowned with fame, but what a villainous trick he

plays me here! What? If he had any love for his neighbour, would he have

sent me out in such a black night? Could he not just as well have waited

until it was day before sending me to announce his return and the details

of his victory? To what servitude are thy days subjected, Sosie! Our lot is

far more hard with the great than with the mean. They insist that

everything in nature should be compelled to sacrifice itself for them.

Night and day, hail, wind, peril, heat, cold, as soon as they speak we must

fly. Twenty years of assiduous service do not gain us any consideration

from them. The least little whim draws down upon us their anger.

Notwithstanding this, our infatuated hearts cling to the empty honour

of remaining near them, contented with the false idea, which every one

holds, that we are happy. In vain reason bids us retire; in vain our spite

sometimes consents to this; to be near them is too powerful an influence

on our zeal, and the least favour of a caressing glance immediately re-

engages us. But at last, I see our house through the darkness, and my fear

vanishes.

I must prepare some thought-out speech for my mission. I must give

Alcmene warlike description of the fierce combat which put our enemies

to flight. But how the deuce can I do this since I was not there? Never

mind; let us talk of cut and thrust, as though I were an eyewitness. How

many people describe battles from which they remained far away! In order

to act my part without discredit, I will rehearse it a little.

This is the chamber into which I am ushered as the messenger: this

lantern is Alcmene, to whom I have to speak. (He sets his lantern on the

Amphitryon

ground and salutes it.) 'Madam, Amphitryon, my master and your

husband, ... (Good! that is a fine beginning!) whose mind is ever full of

your charms, has chosen me from amongst all to bring tidings of the

success of his arms, and of his desire to be near you.' 'Ah! Really, my poor

Sosie, I am delighted to see you back again.' 'Madam, you do me too much

honour: my lot is an enviable one.' (Well answered!)

'How is Amphitryon?' 'Madam, as a man of courage should be, when

glory leads him.' (Very good! A capital idea!) 'When will my heart be

charmed and satisfied by his return?' 'As soon as possible, assuredly,

Madam, but his heart desires a speedier return.' (Ah!) 'In what state has

the war left him? What says he? What does he? Ease my anxiety.' He says

less than he does, Madam, and makes his enemies tremble.' (Plague!

where do I get all these fine speeches?) 'What are the rebels doing? Tell

me, what is their condition?' 'They could not resist our efforts, Madam; we

cut them to pieces, put their chief, Pterelas, to death, took Telebos by

assault; and now the port rings with our prowess.' 'Ah! What a success! Ye

Gods! Who could ever have imagined it? Tell me, Sosie, how it happened.'

'I will, gladly, Madam; and, without boasting, I can tell you, with the

greatest accuracy, the details of this victory. Imagine, therefore, Madam,

that Telebos is on this side. (He marks the places on his hand, or on the

ground.) It is a city really almost as large as Thebes. The river is, say, there.

Here, our people encamped; and that space was occupied by our enemies.

On a height, somewhere about here, was their infantry; and, lower down,

on the right side, was their cavalry. After having addressed prayers to the

Gods, and issued all the orders, the signal was given. The enemy, thinking

to turn our flank, divided their horse soldiers into three platoons; but we

soon chilled their warmth, and you shall see how. Here is our vanguard

ready to begin work; there, were the archers of our king, Creon; and here,

the main army (some one makes a slight noise), which was just going

to . . . Stay; the main body is afraid'; I think I hear some noise.

SCENE II

MERCURY, SOSIE

MERC. (Under the form of Sosie.) Under this mask which resembles

Amphitryon

him, I will drive away the babbler from here. His unfortunate arrival may

disturb the pleasures our lovers are tasting together.

SOS. My heart revives a little; perhaps it was nothing. Lest anything

untoward should happen, however, I will go in to finish the conversation.

MERC. I shall prevent your doing that unless you are stronger than

Mercury.

SOS. This night seems to me unusually long. By the time I have been

on the way, either my master has taken evening for morning, or lovely

Phoebus slumbers too long in bed through having taken too much wine.

MERC. With what irreverence this lubber speaks of the Gods! My arm

shall soon chastise this insolence; I shall have a fine game with him,

stealing his name as well as his likeness.

SOS. Ah! upon my word, I was right: I am done for, miserable creature

that I am! I see a man before our house whose mien bodes me no good. I

will sing a little to show some semblance of assurance.

(He sings; and, when Mercury speaks, his voice weakens, little by

little.)

MERC. What rascal is this, who takes the unwarrantable licence of

singing and deafening me like this? Does he wish me to curry his coat for

him?

SOS. Assuredly that fellow does not like music.

MERC. For more than a week, I have not found any one whose bones

I could break; my arm will lose its strength in this idleness. I must look out

for some one's back to get my wind again.

SOS. What the deuce of a fellow is this? My heart thrills with

clutching fear. But why should I tremble thus? Perhaps the rogue is as

much afraid as I am, and talks in this way to hide his fear from me under a

feigned audacity. Yes, yes, I will not allow him to think me a goose. If I

am not bold, I will try to appear so. Let me seek courage by reason; he is

alone, even as I am; I am strong, I have a good master, and there is our

house.

MERC. Who goes there?

SOS. I.

MERC. Who, I?

Amphitryon

SOS. I. Courage, Sosie!

MERC. Tell me, what is your condition?

SOS. To be a man, and to speak.

MERC. Are you a master, or a servant?

SOS. As fancy takes me.

MERC. Where are you going?

SOS. Where I intend to go.

MERC. Ah! This annoys me.

SOS. I am ravished to hear it.

MERC. By hook or by crook, I must definitely know all about you,

you wretch; what you do, whence you come before the day breaks, where

you are going, and who you may be.

SOS. I do good and ill by turns; I come from there; I go there; I belong

to my master.

MERC. You show wit, and I see you think to play the man of

importance for my edification. I feel inclined to make your acquaintance

by slapping your face.

SOS. Mine?

MERC. Yours; and there you get it, sharp. (Mercury gives him a slap.)

SOS. Ah! Ah! This is a fine game!

MERC. No; it is only a laughing matter, a reply to your quips.

SOS. Good heavens! Friend, how you swing out your arm without any

one saying anything to you.

MERC. These are my lightest clouts, little ordinary smacks.

SOS. If I were as hasty as you, we should have a fine ado.

MERC. All this is nothing as yet: it is merely to fill up time; we shall

soon see something else; but let us continue our conversation.

SOS. I give up the game. (He turns to go away.)

MERC. Where are you going?

SOS. What does it matter to you?

MERC. I want to know where you are going.

SOS. I am going to open that door. Why do you detain me?

MERC. If you dare to go near it, I shall rain down a storm of blows on

you.

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摘要：

Amphitryon1AmphitryonTranslatedbyA.R.Waller,M.A.Amphitryon2PREFACEAmphitryonwasplayedforthefirsttimeinParis,attheTheatreduPalais-Royal,January13,1668.Itwassuccessfullyreceived,holdingtheboardsuntilthe18thofMarch,whenEasterintervened.Afterthere-openingofthetheatre,itwasplayedhalfadozentimesmorethesam...

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