§75virtute dixit vos victores vivere,
He said that you live as victors through virtue, not through ambition or treachery.
Why should the same law be any less for an actor than for the greatest man?
§78virtute ambire oportet, non favitoribus.
One ought to canvass through virtue, not through hired supporters.
He who acts rightly always has supporters enough, if those in whose hands the matter lies have honesty.
§81hoc quoque etiam mihi pater in mandatis dedit, §82ut conquaestores fierent histrionibus: §83qui sibi mandasset delegati ut plauderent §84quive quo placeret alter fecisset minus, §85eius órnamenta et corium uti conciderent.
My father also gave me this among his commands, that inspectors should be appointed for the actors: whoever has arranged for hired supporters to applaud him, or whoever has prevented another from pleasing the audience, that his costumes and his skin should be cut to pieces.
§86mirari nolim vos, quapropter Iuppiter §87nunc histriones curet; ne miremini: §88ipse hanc acturust Iuppiter comoediam.
I would not have you wonder why Jupiter now cares for actors; do not wonder: Jupiter himself is going to act in this comedy.
§89quid? admirati estis? quasi vero novom §90nunc proferatur, Ióvem facere histrioniam; §91etiam, histriones anno cum in proscaenio hic §92Iovem invocarunt, venit, auxilio is fuit.
What? Are you amazed? As if indeed it were something new now brought forward, that Jove should act a play; indeed, when last year the actors on this stage invoked Jove, he came and brought them help.
This play, I say, Jupiter himself will act here today, and I together with him.
nunc vos animum advortite, §96dum huius argumentum éloquar comoediae.
Now pay attention, while I relate the plot of this comedy.
§97Haec urbs est Thebae.
This city is Thebes.
in illisce habitat aedibus §98Amphitruo, natus Argis ex Argo patre, §99quicum Alcumena est nupta, Electri filia.
In those dwellings lives Amphitryon, born at Argos from an Argive father, to whom Alcumena is married, the daughter of Electryon.
That Amphitryon is now the commander of the legions, for the Theban people are at war with the Teleboans.
Before he departed from here to the army himself, he left his wife Alcumena pregnant.
§104nam ego vos novisse credo iam ut sit páter meus, §105quam liber harum rerum multarum siet §106quantusque amator sit quod complacitum est semel.
For I believe you already know how my father is, how free he is in these many matters, and how great a lover he is of whatever once pleases him.
§107is amare occepit Alcumenam clam virum §108usuramque eius corporis cepit sibi, §109et gravidam fecit is eam compressu suo.
He began to love Alcumena secretly from her husband, and took the enjoyment of her body for himself, and made her pregnant by his embrace.
§110nunc de Alcumena ut rem teneatis rectius, §111utrimque est gravida, et ex viro et ex summo Iove.
Now, so that you may understand the matter about Alcumena more correctly, she is pregnant by both: by her husband and by supreme Jupiter.
§112et meus pater nunc intus hic cum illa cubat, §113et haec ob eam rem nox est facta longior, §114dum cum illa quacum volt voluptatem capit; §115sed ita adsimulavit se, quasi Amphitruo siet.
And my father is now inside there sleeping with her, and for this reason this night has been made longer, while he takes pleasure with her whom he desires; but he has so disguised himself, as if he were Amphitryon.
§116nunc ne hunc ornatum vos meum admiremini, §117quod ego huc processi sic cum servili schema: §118veterem atque antiquam rem novam ad vos proferam, §119propterea ornatus in novom incessi modum.
Now do not wonder at this attire of mine, because I have come forth here in this slavish form: I shall bring a long-standing and ancient matter as something new to you, therefore I have come out dressed in a new fashion.
§120nam méus pater intus núnc est eccum Iuppiter; §121in Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem §122omnesque eum esse censent servi qui vident: §123ita versipellem se facit quando lubet.
For my father, look you, Jupiter is now inside; he has changed himself into the likeness of Amphitryon, and all the slaves who see him think he is he: so changeful of shape he makes himself when he pleases.
§124ego servi sumpsi Sosiae mi imaginem, §125qui cum Amphitruone abiit hinc in exercitum, §126ut praeservire amanti meo possem patri §127atque ut ne, qui essem, familiares quaererent, §128versari crebro hic cum viderent me domi;
I have taken upon myself the likeness of the slave Sosia, who went away from here to the army with Amphitryon, so that I might assist my loving father, and so that the household, when they see me frequently here at home, should not ask who I am.
§129nunc, cum esse credent servom et conservom suom, §130haud quisquam quaeret qui siem aut quid venerim.
Now, when they believe me to be a slave and their fellow-servant, no one will ask who I am or why I have come.
§131pater nunc intus suo animo morem gerit: §132cubat complexus cuius cupiens maxime est; §133quae illi ad legionem facta sunt memorat pater §134meus Alcumenae: ílla illum censet virum §135suom esse, quae cum moecho est.
My father now inside is indulging his inclination: he lies embracing her whom he most desires; what things were done at the legion, my father relates to Alcumena; she thinks he is her husband, she who is with an adulterer.
ibi nunc meus pater §136memorat, legiones hostium ut fugaverit, §137quo pacto sit donis donatus plurimis.
There now my father relates how he routed the legions of the enemy, and in what manner he was presented with many gifts.
Those gifts, which were given to Amphitryon there, we have carried away: my father easily does what he wishes.
Now today Amphitryon will come here from the army, and the slave whose likeness I am wearing.
§142nunc internosse ut nos possitis facilius, §143ego has habebo úsque in petaso pinnulas; §144tum meo patri autem torulus inerit aureus §145sub petaso: id signum Amphitruoni non erit.
Now, so that you may distinguish us more easily, I shall always wear these little feathers on my hat; then, moreover, on my father there will be a little golden band under his hat: that mark will not be on Amphitryon.