To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
ALL my Hopes and Means o' Safety are fled; and I've nothing to support my drooping Spirits, since all Things, even Seas, Earth, and Hea∣ven, seem to conspire t'overwhelm and ruin me.—Mercy upo' me! What shall I do? I've seen so many
Prodigies within.—O wretched! ready to swoon; O for a little Water, my Heart chills and faints away, my Head ake•…•…, my Ears and Eyes fail me, and I'm the saddest shiftless Creature upon Earth; such strange Things befell my Lady.—For when she was going of her Labour, she invok'd the Gods. Lord, what Voices and Noises, what Clashes and Flashes; how suddenly, how frequently, how terribly it thunder'd! Every Soul fell flat at the Greatness o' the Claps. At the same time a mighty Voice was heard, crying, Alcmena, Succour's at hand, shake off all dread; the great King of Heaven's come to you and your Family's Protection. Rise all, who fell at the terror o' my Voice. At that I got up; and the House appeared so very bright, that methought 'twas all in Flames. My Lady she call'd me, which r•…•…is'd new Fears, suspecting her Safety. I went in all haste to know her Pleasure; where I found her happily deli∣ver'd o' two Boys, and that without the least Suspicion or Knowledge of any of us.—But what's here? What old Gentleman's this who lies before our Door? Is he Thunder-struck by Iupiter?—Really, I believe 'tis so.—Bless me, he seems dead!—I'll go find who 'tis.—O, 'tis my Lord Amphitryon.—
Alas!
Rise, Sir.
Ruin'd!
Gi' me your hand, my Lord.
Who's that?
Your Maid Bromia.
I tremble all over; Iove has so stunn'd me.—I'm just as tho I had been at Hell.—Why came y' out?
We, poor Souls, were in as great a Fright as you, we saw so many Prodigies within Doors.—Alas, my Lord, I ha'n't yet recover'd my Senses.
Come, let's talk wi' ye.—Do you indeed know me for your Master Amphitryon?
Yes, Sir.
See that you be certain of't.
I am.
She's th' only unmad Person'o' my Family.
Indeed, my Lord, we're none of us mad.
I'm sure my Wifes base Disloyalty has made me so.
I'll soon change your Opinion i' that point, my Lord; and in few Words shew ye most apparent Proofs and Tokens, of both your Lady's Goodness and Fideli∣ty.—First, you must know, she's brought to bed o' two Boys.
How, o' two Boys?
Yes, Sir.
Heavens be favourable!—
Let me speak, and I'll tell ye how tender the Gods ha'been o'your Lady and the whole Family.
Speak then.
When my Lady began to go of her Labour, and perceiv'd th' Approach o' th' usual Pains; with her Hands wash'd, and Head cover'd, she implor'd th' Assi∣stance o' the Gods. Immediately it thunder'd so dread∣fully, we first thought the whole House wou'd ha' fallen. Then every thing shin'd so gloriously, as if they were made o' Gold.
Pray ease me a little, now you've deceiv'd me enough.—What follow'd?
I' the mean time, your Lady was deliver'd, and truly without any Pains, for not a Groan, or the least Complaint, was heard to come from her.
I'm glad o' that, whate'er she has deserv'd at my Hands.
Those things apart, and hear the rest.—After her Delivery, she gave us both the Children to wash. We took 'em, and the Boy that sell to my share, was so big, and withal so vastly strong, that we cou'dn't bind him in his Blankets.
These are Wonders indeed; if all be true, I do not question my Wifes particular Assistance from above.
You'll say there are greater behind.—After he was laid in his Cradle, two hugeous great Serpents came rolling down the Water-Spout into the Chamber, both rearing up their Heads—
Lack a day!
You needn't fear any thing.—The Serpents casting their Eyes about, and spying the Children, im∣mediately made for the Cradles. Upon this, I drew 'em up and down, backwards and forwards, terribly afraid o' the Children, and my self too, they pursu'd 'em so fiercely. When the Child, I told y'of, saw this, he immediately started out of his Cradle, fell furiously upon 'em, and suddenly grasping each Serpent in his Hand,—
'Tis wonderful strange.—This is such a dreadful Business, as sets me a shaking all over.—But what's next? Proceed.
—He destroy'd both the Serpents at once. In the mean time, my Lady was call'd with a loud Voice by—
Whom?
—Iove, the great King of Heaven and Earth, who openly declar'd he had layn wi' my Lady i' your Absence, and how that very Child who slew the Ser∣pents was his; th' other, yours.
In good troth, I like this well enough, to be Sharer wi' Iove himself in his good Fortunes.—Go in, and get all the Vessels ready for a Sacrifice quickly, that I may thank him for his Favours with a great many Victims.
I'll immediately to the Divine Tiresias, consult him in what's fittest to be done; and tell him the whole Busi∣ness from the Beginning to the Ending.—
Courage, Prince Amphitryon; I'm come at last to calm all yours and your Families Troubles. Shake off all Fears. Enquire nothing o' Divines and Prophets, for I, great Iove, can better tell of past and future Things than they.—First, I enjoy'd Alcmena, by which she prov'd wi' Child; you had left her wi' Child too, when you went into the Campaign; of which two, she is brought to bed at once. That one that sprung from me, by his renown'd Acts shall gain immortal Honour. As for Alcmena, receive her to your former Favour. She has n't deserv'd the least Reproach you gave her; for she cou'dn't resist my Power.—Now I'll return to Heaven.
I'll obey your great Commands, and humbly beg the Performance o' your Promises.—I'll now to my Wife, and let old Tiresias alone.—
Gallants, for Honour's Sake, and Great Iove's Cause, We hope you'll crown us with one loud Applause.