Sos. Then let me be the fool, and be you the prudent person; and chuse for yourself some wiser name: Or you shall be the eldest brother; and I'll be content to be the younger, though I lose my inheritance.
Merc. I tell thee, I am the only son of our family.
Sos. Ah! Then let me be your bastard brother, and the son of a whore; I hope that's but reasonable.
Merc. No, thou shall not disgrace my father; for there are few bastards now-a-days worth owning.
Sos. Ah, poor Sosia! what will become of thee?
Merc. Yet again profanely using my proper name?
Sos. I did not mean myself; I was thinking of another Sosia, a poor fellow, that was once of my acquaintance, unfortunately banished out of doors, when dinner was just coming upon the table.
Enter Phædra.
Phæd. Sosia, you and I must—Bless me! what have we here? a couple of you? or do I see double?