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.