adeste: erit operae pretium hic spectantibus
Iovem et Mercurium facere histrioniam.

(_looking down street_) But there is Amphitryon’s servant
Sosia--just coming from the harbour with a lantern. I’ll
bustle him away from the house as soon as he gets here.
Watch now! It will be worth your while to attend when Jove
and Mercury take up the histrionic art. (_steps aside_)




ACTVS I

ACT I


(_Time, night._)

_Sos._

Qui me alter est audacior homo aut qui confidentior,
iuventutis mores qui sciam, qui hoc noctis solus ambulem?
quid faciam nunc, si tres viri me in carcerem compegerint?
inde cras quasi e promptaria cella depromar ad flagrum,
nec causam liceat dicere mihi, neque in ero quicquam auxili
nec quisquam sit quin me malo omnes esse dignum deputent.

ENTER _Sosia_, LANTERN IN HAND.