looked upon as idle tales the famous stories everyone talks of. It
would be a hard fate if I, after so glorious a victory elsewhere,
should be compelled to believe them at the cost of my own honour. I
will question her again upon this wretched mystery, and see if it is
not a silly fancy that has taken advantage of her disordered brain.
O righteous Heaven, may this thought be true, and may she even have
lost her senses, so that I may be happy!

SCENE II

MERCURY, AMPHITRYON

MERC. Since love does not offer me any pleasure here, I will at
least enjoy myself in another way, and enliven my dismal leisure by
putting Amphitron out of all patience. This may not be very
charitable in a God; but I shall not bother myself about that; my
planet tells me I am somewhat given to malice.

AMPH. How is it that the door is closed at this hour?

MERC. Hullo! Gently, gently! Who knocks?

AMPH. I.

MERC. Who, I?

AMPH. Ah! Open.

MERC. What do you mean by 'open'? Who are you, pray, to make such a
row, and speak like that?