Sos. Lord, Lord, friend, one of us two is horribly given to lying; but I do not say which of us, to avoid contention.
Merc. I say my name is Sosia, and yours is not.
Sos. I would you could make good your words; for then I should not be beaten, and you should.
Merc. I find you would be Sosia, if you durst; but if I catch you thinking so——
Sos. I hope I may think I was Sosia; and I can find no difference between my former self, and my present self, but that I was plain Sosia before, and now I am laced Sosia.
Merc. Take this, for being so impudent to think so. [Beats him.
Sos. [Kneeling.] Truce a little, I beseech thee! I would be a stock or a stone now by my good will, and would not think at all, for self-preservation. But will you give me leave to argue the matter fairly with you, and promise me to depose that cudgel, if I can prove myself to be that man that I was before I was beaten?
Merc. Well, proceed in safety; I promise you I will not beat you.
Sos. In the first place, then, is not this town called Thebes?
Merc. Undoubtedly.