_Merc._ That's but short warning, father Jupiter; having made no former advances of courtship to her, you have need of your omnipotence, and all your godship, if you mean to be beforehand with him. _Phoe._ Then how are we to be employed this evening? Time's precious, and these summer nights are short; I must be early up to light the world. _Jup._ You shall not rise; there shall be no to-morrow. _Merc._ Then the world's to be at an end, I find. _Phoe._ Or else a gap in nature of a day. _Jup._ A day will be well lost to busy man; Night shall continue sleep, and care shall cease. So, many men shall live, and live in peace, Whom sunshine had betrayed to envious sight, And sight to sudden rage, and rage to death. Now, I will have a night for love and me; A long luxurious night, fit for a god To quench and empty his immortal heat. _Merc._ I'll lay on the woman's side for all that, that she shall love longest to-night, in spite of your omnipotence. _Phoe._ I shall be cursed by all the labouring trades, That early rise; but you must be obeyed. _Jup._ No matter for the cheating part of man, They have a day's sin less to answer for. _Phoe._ When would you have me wake? _Jup._ Why, when Jove goes to sleep; when I have finished, Your brother Mercury shall bring you word.-- [_Exit_ PHŒBUS _in his chariot_. Now, Hermes, I must take Amphitryon's form, To enjoy his wife: Thou must be Sosia, this Amphitryon's slave; Who, all this night, is travelling to Thebes, To tell Alcmena of her lord's approach, And bring her joyful news of victory. _Merc._ But why must I be Sosia? _Jup._ Dull god of wit, thou statue of thyself! Thou must be Sosia, to keep out Sosia; Who, by his entrance, might discover Jove, Disturb my pleasures, raise unruly noise, And so distract Alcmena's tender soul, She would not meet my warmth, when I dissolve Into her lap, nor give down half her love. _Merc._ Let me alone, I'll cudgel him away; But I abhor so villainous a shape. _Jup._ Take it, I charge thee on thy duty, take it; Nor dare to lay it down, till I command. I cannot bear a moment's loss of joy.-- NIGHT _appears above in a chariot_. Look up, the Night is in her silent chariot, And rolling just o'er Thebes: Bid her drive slowly, Or make a double turn about the world; While I drop Jove, and take Amphitryon's dress, To be the greater, while I seem the less. [_Exit_ JUPITER. Merc. [_To Night._] Madam Night, a good even to you! Fair and softly, I beseech you, madam; I have a word or two to you from no less a god than Jupiter.