Amphitruo

Acts

• Prologue

  Prologue. Mercury explains the plot: Jupiter has taken the form of Amphitruo to sleep with his wife Alcumena. Mercury himself is disguised as the slave Sosia.

  152 lines
• 1
  Act 1

  Sosia returns from the war and encounters Mercury disguised as himself. He is beaten and bewildered into doubting his own identity.

  468 lines
• 2
  Act 2

  Jupiter (as Amphitruo) bids farewell to Alcumena after a night together. The real Amphitruo arrives and finds his wife strangely indifferent to his homecoming.

  430 lines
• 3
  Act 3

  Amphitruo confronts Alcumena about her apparent infidelity. She insists he was with her last night. The doubles cause total confusion.

  163 lines
• 4
  Act 4

  Jupiter and Amphitruo confront each other. Nobody can tell who is the real husband. Amphitruo is locked out of his own house.

  78 lines
• 5
  Act 5

  Alcumena gives birth to twins — one fathered by Jupiter (Hercules), one by Amphitruo. Jupiter reveals the truth. Amphitruo is mollified, if not exactly happy.

  118 lines