_Sos._ How, a cudgel, said you! the devil take Jupiter for inventing that hard-hearted, merciless, knobby wood. _Amph._ The bitterness is yet to come: thou hast had but a half dose of it. _Sos._ I was never good at swallowing physic; and my stomach wambles at the very thought of it. But, if I must have a second beating, in conscience let me strip first, that I may show you the black and blue streaks upon my sides and shoulders. I am sure I suffered them in your service. _Amph._ To what purpose wouldst thou show them? _Sos._ Why, to the purpose that you may not strike me upon the sore places; and that, as he beat me the last night cross-ways, so you would please to beat me long-ways, to make clean work on't, that at least my skin may look like chequer-work. _Amph._ This request is too reasonable to be refused. But, that all things may be done in order, tell me over again the same story, with all the circumstances of thy commission, that a blow may follow in due form for every lie. To repetition, rogue; to repetition. _Sos._ No; it shall be all a lie, if you please; and I'll eat my words, to save my shoulders. _Amph._ Ay, sirrah, now you find you are to be disproved; but 'tis too late. To repetition, rogue; to repetition. _Sos._ With all my heart, to any repetition but the cudgel. But would you be pleased to answer me one civil question? Am I to use complaisance to you, as to a great person that will have all things said your own way? or am I to tell you the naked truth alone, without the ceremony of a farther beating? _Amph._ Nothing but the truth, and the whole truth; so help thee, cudgel! _Sos._ That's a damned conclusion of a sentence: but, since it must be so--back and sides, at your own peril!--I set out from the port in an unlucky hour; the dusky canopy of night enveloping the hemisphere.-- _Amph._ [Strikes him.] _Imprimis_, for fustian:--now proceed. _Sos._ I stand corrected: In plain prose then,--I went darkling, and whistling to keep myself from being afraid; mumbling curses betwixt my teeth, for being sent at such an unnatural time of night. _Amph._ How, sirrah, cursing and swearing against your lord and master! take-- [_Going to strike._ _Sos._ Hold, sir--pray, consider if this be not unreasonable to strike me for telling the whole truth, when you commanded me: I'll fall into my old dog-trot of lying again, if this must come of plain dealing. _Amph._ To avoid impertinences make an end of your journey, and come to the house;--what found you there, a god's name? _Sos._ I came thither in no god's name at all, but in the devil's name; I found before the door a swinging fellow, with all my shapes and features, and accoutred also in my habit. _Amph._ Who was that fellow? _Sos._ Who should it be, but another Sosia! a certain kind of other me: who knew all my unfortunate commission, precisely to a word, as well as I Sosia; as being sent by yourself from the port upon the same errand to Alcmena.