_Sos._ Then thus I make my addresses to her:--[_Bows._] Madam, my lord has chosen me out, as the most faithful, though the most unworthy, of his followers, to bring your ladyship this following account of our glorious expedition. Then she,--O my poor Sosia, [_In a shrill tone._] how am I overjoyed to see thee! She can say no less.--Madam, you do me too much honour, and the world will envy me this glory:--Well answered on my side. And how does my lord Amphitryon?--Madam, he always does like a man of courage, when he is called by honour.--There I think I nicked it.--But when will he return?--As soon as possibly he can; but not so soon as his impatient heart could wish him with your ladyship. _Merc._ [_Aside._] When Thebes is an university, thou deservest to be their orator. _Sos._ But what does he do, and what does he say? Pr'ythee tell me something more of him.--He always says less than he does, madam; and his enemies have found it to their cost.--Where the devil did I learn these elegancies and gallantries! _Merc._ So, he has all the natural endowments of a fop, and only wants the education. _Sos._ [_Staring up to the sky._] What, is the devil in the night! She's as long as two nights. The seven stars are just where they were seven hours ago! high day--high night, I mean, by my favour. What, has Phœbus been playing the good fellow, and overslept himself, that he forgets his duty to us mortals! _Merc._ How familiarly the rascal treats us gods! but I shall make him alter his tone immediately. [MERCURY _comes nearer, and stands just before him_. _Sos._ [_Seeing him, and starting back, aside._] How now? what, do my eyes dazzle, or is my dark lanthorn false to me! is not that a giant before our door? or a ghost of somebody slain in the late battle? If he be, 'tis unconscionably done, to fright an honest man thus, who never drew weapon wrathfully in all my life. Whatever wight he be, I am devilishly afraid, that's certain; but, 'tis discretion to keep my own counsel; I'll sing, that I may seem valiant. [SOSIA _sings; and_, _as_ MERCURY _speaks_, _by little and little drops his voice_. _Merc._ What saucy companion is this, that deafens us with his hoarse voice? What midnight ballad-singer have we here? I shall teach the villain to leave off catterwauling. _Sos._ I would I had courage, for his sake, that I might teach him to call my singing catterwauling! an illiterate rogue! an enemy to the muses, and to music. _Merc._ There is an ill savour that offends my nostrils and it wafteth this way. _Sos._ He has smelt me out; my fear has betrayed me into this savour. I am a dead man: the bloody villain is at his fee, fa, fum, already. _Merc._ Stand, who goes there? _Sos._ A friend. _Merc._ What friend? _Sos._ Why, a friend to all the world, that will give me leave to live peaceably.