so soon, and my arrival will surprise her.

SCENE II

ALCMENE, CLEANTHIS, AMPHITRYON, SOSIE

ALC. Come, Cleanthis, let us attend the Gods, pay them our homage
for my husband's sake, and thank them for the glorious success, of
which Thebes, by his arm, reaps the advantage. O ye Gods!

AMPH. Heaven grant that victorious Amphitryon may be met with
renewed pleasure by his wife: that this day may be favourable to my
passion, and restore you to me with the same heart: may I again find
as much love as my heart brings to you!

ALC. Ah! Have you returned so soon.

AMPH. Really, you give me but a sorry proof of your love; this, 'Ah!
have you returned so soon?' is scarcely the language a heart really
inflamed with love would use on such an occasion as this. I dared to
flatter myself I had remained away from you too long. The
expectation of an ardently longed for return makes each moment seem
of great length; the absence of what we love, however brief it may
be, is always too long.

ALC. I do not see . . .

AMPH. No, Alcmene, time is measured in such cases by one's
impatience; you count the moments of absence as one who does not
love. When we really love, the slightest separation kills us; the