I’ll summon Tiresias the prophet and consult with him as to what he thinks should be done, and at the same time tell him all that’s happened, (thunder) But what’s this?  That awful thunder peal!  Heaven preserve us!

V. 2.

    Scene 2.

    Jupiter APPEARS ABOVE.

Iup.
    Jup.

Bono animo es, adsum auxilio, Amphitruo, tibi et tuis:  nihil est quod timeas. hariolos, haruspices mitte omnes; quae futura et quae facta eloquar, multo adeo melius quam illi, quom sum Iuppiter. primum omnium Alcumenae usuram corporis cepi, et concubitu gravidam feci filio.

Be of good cheer.  I am here with aid, Amphitryon, for thee and thine.  Thou hast naught to fear.  Seers, soothsayers—­ have none of them.  I will make known to thee future and past alike, and better far than they, moreover, for I am Jupiter.  First of all, then, I took thy Alcmena to myself and by me she was made a mother.

tu gravidam item fecisti, cum in exercitum profectu’s:  uno partu duos peperit simul. eorum alter, nostro qui est susceptus semine, suis factis te immortali adficiet gloria. 1140 tu cum Alcumena uxore antiquam in gratiam redi:  haud promeruit quam ob rem vitio vorteres; mea vi subactast facere. ego in caelum migro.

By thee too was she with child when thou didst go forth to war:  at one birth she bore them both.  The one begotten of my seed shall win thee undying glory by his works.  Live again in fond concord as of old with thy wife Alcmena:  she has done naught to merit thy reproach:  my power was on her.  I now depart to heaven. [EXIT Jupiter.

V. 3.

    Scene 3.

Amph.

  Faciam ita ut iubes et te oro, promissa ut serves tua,
  ibo ad uxorem intro, missum facio Teresiam senem.

      (reverently) Thy will shall be done:  and keep thy
      word with me, I beg thee. (after a pause) I’ll in and
      see my wife!  No more of old Tiresias!

  nunc, spectatores, Iovis summi causa clare plaudite.

      (to the audience)
      Now, spectators, for the sake of Jove almighty, give us some
      loud applause.

[EXIT.

    [Footnote 2:  Corrupt (Leo):  Alcumena MSS:  illa Bothe.]

    [Footnote 4:  Leo brackets following v., 14: 
      lucrum ut perenne vobis semper suppetat.]

    [Footnote 5:  Corrupt (Leo):  affero MSS: 
    fero Acidalius, followed by Lindsay and others.]

    [Footnote 6:  Leo assumes lacuna here.]

    [Footnote 7:  architectust Pareus:  architectus MSS. 
    Lambinus suggests that the actor who took the part of Jupiter
    may have been a builder.]