SOS.Not at all.You had better tell me all about it; I am just and sincere, and would condemn myself were I wrong.
CLE.Well? Amphitryon having warned me of your return, I sat up until you came; but I never saw such coldness: I had myself to remind you that you had a wife; and, when I wanted to kiss you, you, turned away your head, and gave me your ear.
SOS.Good.
CLE.What do you mean by good?
SOS.Good gracious! You do not know why I talk like this, Cleanthis:
I had been eating garlic, and, like a well-bred man, just turned my breath away from you.
CLE.I showed you every possible tenderness; but you were as deaf as a post to everything I said; never a kind word passed your lips.
SOS.Courage!
CLE.In short, my flame bad to burn alone, its chaste ardour did not find anything in you but ice; you were the culprit in a return that might have been so different: you even went so far as to refuse to take your place in bed, which the laws of wedlock oblige you to occupy.
SOS.What? Did I not go to bed?
CLE.No, you coward.
SOS.Is it possible?
CLE.It is but too true, you rascal.Of all affronts this affront is the greatest; and, instead of your heart repairing its wrong this morning, you left me with words full of undisguised contempt.
SOS.Vivat Sosie!
CLE.Eh, what? Has my complaint had this effect? You laugh at your fine goings on?
SOS.How pleased I am with myself!
CLE.Is this the way to express your grief at such an outrage?
SOS.I should never have believed I could be so prudent.
CLE.Instead of condemning yourself for such a perfidious trick, you rejoice at it to my face!
SOS.Good gracious! Gently, gently! If I appear pleased, you must believe that I have a very strong private reason for it; without thinking of it, I never did better than in using you in such a manner as I did.
CLE.Are you laughing at me, you villain?