_Jup._ Fate is, what I, By virtue of omnipotence, have made it; And power omnipotent can do no wrong: Not to myself, because I will it so; Nor yet to men, for what they are is mine.-- This night I will enjoy Amphitryon's wife; For, when I made her, I decreed her such As I should please to love. I wrong not him Whose wife she is; for I reserved my right, To have her while she pleased me; that once past, She shall be his again. _Merc._ Here's omnipotence with a vengeance! to make a man a cuckold, and yet not to do him wrong! Then I find, father Jupiter, that when you made fate, you had the wit to contrive a holiday for yourself now and then; for you kings never enact a law, but you have a kind of an eye to your own prerogative. _Phoe._ If there be no such thing as right and wrong Of an eternal being, I have done; But if there be,---- _Jup._ Peace, thou disputing fool!-- Learn this; If thou could'st comprehend my ways, Then thou wert Jove, not I; yet thus far know, That, for the good of human kind, this night I shall beget a future Hercules, Who shall redress the wrongs of injured mortals, Shall conquer monsters, and reform the world. _Merc._ Ay, brother Phœbus; and our father made all those monsters for Hercules to conquer, and contrived all those vices on purpose for him to reform too, there's the jest on't. _Phoe._ Since arbitrary power will hear no reason, 'Tis wisdom to be silent. _Merc._ Why that's the point; this same arbitrary power is a knock-down argument; 'tis but a word and a blow. Now methinks, our father speaks out like an honest bare-faced god, as he is; he lays the stress in the right place, upon absolute dominion: I confess, if he had been a man, he might have been a tyrant, if his subjects durst have called him to account. But you, brother Phœbus, are but a mere country gentleman, that never comes to court; that are abroad all day on horseback, making visits about the world; are drinking all night; and, in your cups are still railing at the government. O, these patriots, these bumpkin patriots, are a very silly sort of animal! _Jup._ My present purpose and design you heard, To enjoy Amphitryon's wife, the fair Alcmena: You two must be subservient to my love. _Merc._ [_To Phœbus._] No more of your grumbletonian morals, brother; there's preferment coming; be advised, and pimp dutifully. _Jup._ Amphitryon, the brave Theban general, Has overcome his country's foes in fight, And, in a single duel, slain their king: His conquering troops are eager on their march Returning home; while their young general, More eager to review his beauteous wife, Posts on before, winged with impetuous love, And, by to-morrow's dawn, will reach this town.