AMPH. Do you really dare maintain to my face that I was seen here before this hour? ALC. Have you really the assurance to deny that you came here early yesterday evening? AMPH. I! I came yesterday? ALC. Certainly; and you went away again before dawn. AMPH. Heavens! Was ever such a debate as this heard before? Who would not be astonished at all this? Sosie? SOS. She needs six grains of hellebore, Monsieur; her brain is turned. AMPH. Alcmene, in the name of all the Gods, this discourse will have a strange ending! Recollect your senses a little better, and think what you say. ALC. I am indeed thinking seriously; all in the house saw your arrival. I am ignorant what motive makes you act thus; but, if the thing were in need of proof, if it were true that such a thing could be forgotten, from whom, but from you, could I have heard the news of the latest of all your battles, and of the five diamonds worn by Pterelas, who was plunged into eternal night by the strength of your arm? Could one wish for surer testimony? AMPH. What? I have already given you the cluster of diamonds which I had for my share, and intended for you? ALC. Assuredly. It is not difficult to convince you thoroughly on that point. AMPH. How? ALC. Here it is. AMPH. Sosie! SOS. She is jesting: I have it here; Monsieur, the feint is useless. AMPH. The seal is whole. ALC. Is it a vision? There. Will you think this proof strong enough? AMPH. Ah Heaven! O just Heaven! ALC. Come, Amphitryon, you are joking in acting thus: you ought to be ashamed of it. AMPH. Break this seal, quickly. SOS. (Having opened the casket.) Upon my word, the casket is empty. It must have been taken out by witchcraft, or else it came by itself a guide, to her whom it knew it was intended to adorn. AMPH. O Gods, whose power governs all things, what is this adventure? What can I augur from it that does not clutch at my heart? SOS. If she speaks the truth, we have the same lot, and, like me, Monsieur, you are double. AMPH. Be silent. ALC. Why are you so surprised? What causes all this confusion? AMPH. O Heaven! What strange perplexity! I see incidents which surpass Nature, and my honour fears an adventure which my mind does not understand. ALC. Do you still wish to deny your hasty return, when you have this sensible proof of it? AMPH. No; but if it be possible, deign to tell me what passed at this return. ALC. Since you ask an account of the matter, you still say it was not you? AMPH. Pardon me; but I have a certain reason which makes me ask you to give us this account. ALC. Have the important cares which perhaps engross you made you so quickly lose the remembrance of it? AMPH. Perhaps; but, in short, you would please me by telling me the whole story. ALC. The story is not long. I advanced towards you full of a delighted surprise; I embraced you tenderly, and showed my joy more than once. AMPH. (to himself.) Ah! I could have done without so sweet a welcome.