While this was going on, not one of us heard your wife groan or whimper a bit, sir, the whole time: that’s how she bore those boys, sir--never a pang, that’s plain. _Amph._ Iam istuc gaudeo, 1100 utut erga me merita est. (_heartily_) Well now, I’m glad of that, no matter what her behaviour to me has been. _Brom._ Mitte ista atque haec quae dicam accipe. postquam peperit, pueros lavere iussit nos. occepimus. sed puer ille quem ego lavi, ut magnust et multum valet! neque eum quisquam colligare quivit incunabulis. Do let that be, sir, and listen. After they were born she told us to bathe them. We began. But that boy I bathed! How big and strong he was! Not a soul of us could wrap him in his swaddling clothes. _Amph._ Nimia mira memoras; si istaec vera sunt, divinitus non metuo quin meae uxori latae suppetiae sient. A most astounding story! If it be true, there’s no doubt that my wife received divine aid. _Brom._ Magis iam faxo mira dices. postquam in cunas conditust, devolant angues iubati deorsum in impluvium duo maximi: continuo extollunt ambo capita. You’ll call this more astounding still, sir, I warrant you. After he was tucked in his cradle, two enormous crested serpents came slipping down into the fountain basin: the next second both of them were lifting up their heads. _Amph._ Ei mihi. Heavens and earth! _Brom._ Ne pave. sed angues occulis omnis cirumvisere. 1110 postquam pueros conspicati, pergunt ad cunas citi. ego cunas recessim rursum vorsum trahere et ducere, metuens pueris, mihi formidans; tantoque angues acrius persequi. postquam conspexit angues ille alter puer, citus e cunis exilit, facit recta in anguis impetum: alterum altera prehendit eos manu perniciter. Don’t be scared. Well, the serpents glared around at all of us. As soon as they spied the boys they made for the cradles like a flash. I backed away, fearful for the boys and frightened for myself, pulling and hauling the cradles along after me with the serpents a-chasing us all the angrier. The minute that boy I was telling of sets eyes on the serpents he’s up and out of that cradle in a trice, rushing straight for ’em and grabbing ’em one in each hand quick as a wink. _Amph._ Mira memoras, nimis formidolosum facinus praedicas; nam mihi horror membra misero percipit dictis tuis. quid fit deinde? porro loquere. Astounding! Astounding! A perfectly horrifying tale! Mercy on us! why, your very words palsy me! What then? Go on, go on! _Brom._ Puer ambo angues enicat. dum haec aguntur, voce clara exclamat uxorem tuam-- 1120 The boy chokes both serpents to death. While this is going on, in a clear voice he calls out the name of your wife-- _Amph._ Quis homo?