ita erae meae hodie contigit. nam ubi parturit, deos sibi invocat, strepitus, crepitus, sonitus, tonitrus: ut subito, ut propere, ut valide tonuit! ubi quisque institerat, concidit crepitu. ibi nescio quis maxuma voce exclamat: “Alcumena, adest auxilium, ne time: et tibi et tuis propitius caeli cultor advenit. exsurgite” inquit “qui terrore meo occidistis prae metu.” The experience mistress did have this day! As soon as her time comes she calls on the gods to help her, and there’s a grumbling and rumbling and smashing and crashing--what a crash, so sudden and quick and heavy it was! Every one fell flat where he stood at the peal. And then some one or other called out in a mighty voice: “Alcmena, help is at hand: be not afraid. To thee and thine the sovereign of the skies comes in kindliness. Rise,” he said, “ye who have fallen in terror, from dread of me.” ut iacui, exsurgo. ardere censui aedis, ita tum confulgebant. ibi me inclamat Alcumena; iam ea res me horrore adficit, erilis praevertit metus: accurro, ut sciscam quid velit. atque illam geminos filios pueros peperisse conspicor; 1070 neque nostrum quisquam sensimus, quom peperit, neque providimus. Having dropped, I got on my feet: I thought the house was afire, the way it was all lit up then. Just then Alcmena calls for me to come. I was trembling already at what happened, but fear of mistress prevailed, and up I run to find out what she wants. And there I see she has given birth to twins, boys, and not a soul of us noticed when it happened, or is ready for it! sed quid hoc? quis hic est senex, qui ante aedis nostras sic iacet? numnam hunc percussit Iuppiter? credo edepol, nam, pro Iuppiter, sepultust quasi sit mortuos. ibo et cognoscam, quisquis est. Amphitruo hic quidem est erus meus. Amphitruo. (_sees prostrate Amphitryon_) But what’s this? Who’s this old man lying like this in front of our house? Why, can it be he’s struck by lightning? Why, mercy me, I do believe so! For, good gracious, he’s as completely disposed of as if he was a corpse! I’ll go find out, whoever it is. (_approaches_) It’s Amphitryon! It’s my master! (_calling_) Amphitryon! _Amph._ Perii. (_feebly_) Heaven help me! _Brom._ Surge. Get up, sir. _Amph._ Interii. I’m dead! _Brom._ Cedo manum. Give me your hand, sir. (_takes it_) _Amph._ Quis me tenet? Who has hold of me? _Brom._ Tua Bromia ancilla. Your servant maid, sir, Bromia. _Amph._ Totus timeo, ita me increpuit Iuppiter. nec secus est, quasi si ab Acherunte veniam. sed quid tu foras egressa es? I’m paralysed with fear! Oh, Jove, what a bolt! I feel as if I were getting back--from the next world. (_he gets up_) But what made you come out? _Brom._