And, hourly scolding, make perpetual thunder. [Exit Mercury.
ACT III.
SCENE I.—Before Amphitryon's Palace.
Amphitryon and Sosia.
Amph. Now, sirrah, follow me into the house; thou shalt be convinced at thy own cost, villain! What horrible lies hast thou told me! such improbabilities, such stuff, such nonsense!—that the monster, with two long horns, that frighted the great king, and the devil at the stone-cutter's, are truths to these.[8]
Sos. I am but a slave, and you are master; and a poor man is always to lie when a rich man is pleased to contradict him: but, as sure as this is our house—
Amph. So sure 'tis thy place of execution.—Thou art not made for lying neither.
Sos. That's certain; for all my neighbours say I have an honest face; or else they would never call me cuckold, as they do.
Amph. I mean thou hast not wit enough to make a lie that will hang together: thou hast set up a trade that thou hast not stock enough to manage. O that I had but a crab-tree cudgel for thy sake!