Languages & literature > Amphitryon,or, The two Sosias

86 AMPHITRYON.
Bat ftill take notice, that it looks not like
The true Amphitryon, to fly out, at fir ft
' To brutal force : it fhows he doubts his caufe.
Who dares not trufl his reafon to defend it.
Amphitryon ftruggling.
Thou bafe ufurper of my name, and bed ;
No lefs than thy heart’s-blood can wafh away
Th’ affronts I have fuflain’d.
Tran. We mu ft not fuffer
So ftrange a duel as Amphitryon
To fight againft himfelf.
Polyd. Nor think we wrong you, when we hold
your hands:
We know our duty to our general:
We know the ties of friend (hip to our friend:
But who that friend, or who that general is.
Without more certain proofs betwixt you two.
Is hard to be diftinguifh’d by our reafon :
Impoifible by fight.
Amph. I know it; and have fatisfied myfelf:
I am the true Amphitryon.
Jup. See again.
He fhuns the certain proofs, and dares not ftand
Impartial judgment, and award of right.
But fince Alcmena’s honour is concern’d,
Whom more than heav’n, and all the world I love;
This I propofe, as equal to us both.
T ranio, and Poly das, be you afliftants,
The guards be ready to fecure th’ impoftor.
When once fo prov’d, for publick punifhment;
And Gripus, be thou umpire of the caufe.
Amph. I am content: let him proceed to exa¬
mination.
Grip. Afide to Mercury.] On whofe fide would
you pleafe that I fhould give the fentence?
Merc. AJide to him.'] Follow thy conl'cience for
once; but not to make a cuftom of it neither;
nor