AMPH.I tremble at what you are bringing upon yourself with all this impudent talk.What a frightful storm you are brewing for yourself!
What a tempest of blows will storm down on your back!
MERC.If you do not soon disappear from here, my friend, you may come in for some mauling.
AMPH.Ah! You villain, you shall know to your confusion what it is for a valet to attack his master.
MERC.You, my master?
AMPH.Yes, rascal.Do you dare to say you do not recognise me?
MERC.I do not recognise any other master than Amphitryon.
AMPH.And who, besides myself, may this Amphitryon be?
MERC.Amphitryon?
AMPH.Certainly.
MERC.Ah! What an illusion! Come, tell me in what decent tavern you have addled your brain?
AMPH.What? Again?
MERC.Was it a feast-day wine?
AMPH.Heavens!
MERC.Was it old or new?
AMPH.What insults!
MERC.New goes to one's head, if drunk without water.
AMPH.Ah! I shall tear your tongue out soon.
MERC.Pass on, my dear friend; believe me, no one here will listen to you.I respect wine.Go away, make yourself scarce, and leave Amphitryon to the pleasures which he is tasting.
AMPH.What! Is Amphitryon in there?
MERC.Rather: covered with the laurels of his fine victory, he is side by side with the lovely Alcmene enjoying the delights of a charming tete-a-tete.They are tasting the pleasures of being reconciled, now their love-tiff has blown over.Take care how you disturb their sweet privacy, unless you wish him to punish you for your excessive rashness.