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. SCENE II MERCURY, SOSIE MERC. (Under the form of Sosie.) Under this mask which resembles him, I will drive away the babbler from here. His unfortunate arrival may disturb the pleasures our lovers are tasting together. SOS. My heart revives a little; perhaps it was nothing. Lest anything untoward should happen, however, I will go in to finish the conversation. MERC. I shall prevent your doing that unless you are stronger than Mercury. SOS. This night seems to me unusually long. By the time I have been on the way, either my master has taken evening for morning, or lovely Phoebus slumbers too long in bed through having taken too much wine. MERC. With what irreverence this lubber speaks of the Gods! My arm shall soon chastise this insolence; I shall have a fine game with him, stealing his name as well as his likeness. SOS. Ah! upon my word, I was right: I am done for, miserable creature that I am! I see a man before our house whose mien bodes me no good. I will sing a little to show some semblance of assurance. (He sings; and, when Mercury speaks, his voice weakens, little by little.) MERC. What rascal is this, who takes the unwarrantable licence of singing and deafening me like this? Does he wish me to curry his coat for him? SOS. Assuredly that fellow does not like music. MERC. For more than a week, I have not found any one whose bones I could break; my arm will lose its strength in this idleness. I must look out for some one's back to get my wind again. SOS. What the deuce of a fellow is this? My heart thrills with clutching fear. But why should I tremble thus? Perhaps the rogue is as much afraid as I am, and talks in this way to hide his fear from me under a feigned audacity. Yes, yes, I will not allow him to think me a goose. If I am not bold, I will try to appear so. Let me seek courage by reason; he is alone, even as I am; I am strong, I have a good master, and there is our house. MERC. Who goes there? SOS. I. MERC. Who, I? SOS. I. Courage, Sosie! MERC. Tell me, what is your condition? SOS. To be a man, and to speak. MERC. Are you a master, or a servant? SOS. As fancy takes me. MERC. Where are you going? SOS. Where I intend to go. MERC. Ah! This annoys me. SOS. I am ravished to hear it. MERC. By hook or by crook, I must definitely know all about you, you wretch; what you do, whence you come before the day breaks, where you are going, and who you may be. SOS. I do good and ill by turns; I come from there; I go there; I belong to my master. MERC. You show wit, and I see you think to play the man of importance for my edification. I feel inclined to make your acquaintance by slapping your face. SOS. Mine? MERC. Yours; and there you get it, sharp. (Mercury gives him a slap.) SOS. Ah! Ah! This is a fine game!