The Birthe of Hercules,
a comedye
(an adaptation of Plautus's Amphitryon)
1597–circa 1610
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALCUMENA
Alcumena is wife to Amphitruo. She is deceived by Iupiter, who goes to her in her husband's shape to lie with her and engender a son. She is misled to such an extent that, when he announces he has to go because he cannot leave his soldiers alone for too long, she urges him to stay. Once she is alone with Thessala, one of her maids, she complains about all the suffering a woman must endure, and explains that the worst is the "absence of her husband." That leads her to compare herself with Penelope, who had also suffered while waiting for her Ulysses. When, shortly afterwards, the real Amphitruo arrives, they argue because, when he complains that he has not been granted the welcome he deserved after having been away from home for such a long time, she insists on the fact that he had been with her the previous night and that he had only departed that very morning. Having been in the ship, with his men as witnesses, all night, he accuses her of adultery. He even announces he will go back to his ship and bring her cousin Naucrates as a witness of the fact that he is telling the truth. Feeling deeply insulted by her husband's words, Alcumena decides not to stay with him any longer, unless he apologizes. Once her husband has gone, Iupiter returns, in the shape of Amphitruo. She expresses her wish to leave him, but he replies that she will not have to do it because he will be the one to part, and he will leave everything to her. Surprised at this sudden change, she decides to forgive him, and promises to wait for his return. She is further reassured when she hears Sosia support his master's claim that he had just called her "unfaithful" in jest. At the end of the play, she gives birth to two sons, one by her husband and another (Hercules) by Iupiter, and the god reveals the truth and assumes his fault in the misunderstandings provoked. According to Greek mythology, Alcmena was daughter to Electryon and Anaxo, granddaughter to Perseus, and wife to her cousin and uncle Amphitryon, king of Thebes. She was seduced by Zeus, who had taken the shape of her husband, and she gave birth to two sons, Iphicles and Heracles (Hercules), and when Tiresias revealed to Amphitryon that Zeus was the father of the latter, he never again slept with his wife for fear of the god's jealousy.
AMBASSADOR
Only mentioned. He is mentioned by Sosia, when he explains that an Ambassador was sent to the enemy to offer them peace on the condition that they restored all the things they had taken from them.
AMPHITRUO
Also "Amphytruo." Amphitruo is a great lord of Thebes, deputy general of King Creon's army against the Teleboians. He sends two messengers to his wife, Alcumena, announcing his victory over the Teleboians and his imminent arrival home, but Mercurius sends them back to prevent them from disturbing his father, Iupiter, as he is pretending to be Amphitruo in order to seduce Alcumena. When Amphitruo sees that Sosia is back to him, not having delivered his message, he reprimands him severely. Later, as he is approaching his house, he reveals-to Sosia-his anxiety about the fact that his wife must have missed him in his long absence, although he hopes his news of victory over the enemy will excuse him. Instead, he finds a wife who is convinced he has been there the previous night. Incensed, he assures his wife that she has been unfaithful to him, he asks Sosia to go and bring Naucrates, his wife's cousin, who will act as a witness for him, since he was also on board his ship the previous night. Later, Amphitruo himself also leaves in search of Naucrates. However, unable to find him, he goes back home again, where he is denied entrance by Dromia. In his attempt to find an explanation, Amphitruo guesses the gods must be angry with him, and he is being punished by them. Amphitruo asks Blepharo to prove his wife is unfaithful, but the Blepharo suggests that a magician must have enchanted Amphitruo's family, and persuades the latter to check if that is true before taking any revenge. After a while, Iupiter-still in the shape of Amphitruo-goes out of the house, and the general and the god face each other for the first time, and ask Blepharo to decide which one is the real Amphitruo. This is impossible because, no matter the nature of the questions posed by Blepharo, both Iupiter and Amphitruo answer them correctly. Therefore, Blepharo gives up, and Amphitruo despairs. Being exhausted, he finally resolves to sleep outside his house. He is soon awakened by Bromia, who announces that his wife had given birth to two sons. She also reveals that Iupiter himself had talked to Alcumena. As he accompanies the maid into the house, he sees Dromio, who seems to be glad to see his master, and tells him about a strange dream he had: that his wife had given birth to two sons and two serpents -one of the serpents would kill one son, and the other son would kill both serpents. Then Iupiter addresses to Amphitruo and reveals that he had caused the confusion in his house, and that one of the sons his wife had given birth to had been engendered by him, and the other by her husband. He also adds that one of them is going to crown his mortal head with immortality. He finally asks him to reconcile with his wife, to which Amphitruo consents.
APOLLO
Only mentioned. Dromio mentions Apelles (a blunder for 'Apollo') when, keeping his master out of the house under the influence of Mercurius, Mercurius corrects his mistake saying: "Apollo man thou wouldest saie I knowe", but, to this, Dromio replies, again blundering it: "I soe I saie, if Pollio guide my right."
BACCHUS
Only mentioned. Mercurius mentions Bacchus when he states that his father has told him to prevent Amphitruo from coming and, to that end, he will "put a garlande on my head and make myself lyke one of Bacchus knights."
BLEPHARO
Blepharo is Amphitruo's shipmaster. Sosia goes to tell him that his master requires his presence, and Blepharo agrees to accompany him. On their way to Amphitruo's house, the shipmaster wonders at the news that there are two Sosias and two Amphitruos. In fact, when he finally meets his master, the latter is surprised, since he had not sent anyone to look for him. But the former insists on the fact that he had sent Sosia to tell him to accompany him and have dinner with Amphitruo. Having listened to both Sosia and Amphitruo, Blepharo suggests that a magician must have enchanted his master's family, and persuades the latter to check if that is true before taking any revenge on, probably, innocent people. After a while, Iupiter -still in the shape of Amphitruo-, goes out of the house, and the general and the god face each other for the first time, and ask Blepharo to decide which one is the real Amphitruo. However, that is a difficult task because, no matter the nature of the questions posed by Blepharo, both Iupiter and Amphitruo would answer them correctly. Therefore, Blepharo gives up, not being able to discern who the real one is.
BROMIA
Bromia is one of Alcumena's waiting women. She describes, to the audience, the moment her mistress gave birth to her two sons as if heaven and earth had come together, with thunder and lightning, and other strange natural fenomena. She then sees her lord, Amphitruo, sleeping ouside the house, on the ground, and she breaks the news, to him, that his wife has given birth to twins. She also tells him about the strange supernatural events that took place when the children were born, and the fact that two serpents came as soon as they were put into the cradle. She also reveals that Iupiter spoke to Alcumena.
CONSTABLE
Only mentioned. The Constable is mentioned by Sosia when, as he travels by night to deliver Amphitruo's message to his wife, he reveals he is afraid a constable should see him, question him and send him to jail.
CREON
Only mentioned. Creon is mentioned by Mercurius, in his Prologus. Creon is the king of Thebes.
CUPID
Only mentioned. Cupid is mentioned by Mercurius in his prologus, referring to him as a "maskinge god."
DIANA
Only mentioned. Diana is mentioned by Alcumena when she is trying to make her husband understand that he had already slept with her the night before. In her despair, she cries: "Then let the vnspotted Diana plague me for my disloyaltie." She is unaware of the fact that the one that had seduced her was really Iupiter, in the shape of her husband.
DROMIO
Dromio is servant to Amphitruo. He is sent by the latter, after Sosia, to deliver a message and a ring to his wife. However, Iupiter, in order to procrastinate his arrival at his master's house, and prevent him from disturbing his seducing Alcumena, causes him to be shipwrecked. Luckily, Dromio escapes drowning. Despite his misfortune, he is determined to go to his mistress and deliver his master's message to her. Dromio distrusts Sosia, whom he takes for a cozener. Thus, when he sees Mercurius in the shape of Sosia at his mistress's door, he is reluctant to believe what he says and refuses to give him the ring because he does not trust him. Nevertheless, after a while, he is finally convinced by Mercurius's/Sosia's insistence and he lets him give the diamond ring to Alcumena. When his master/Iupiter asks him about the ring he had given him as a token for his wife, Dromio thinks he is being teased, but, realizing that his master/Iupiter is being serious, he has to admit that he has been teased by Sosia/Mercurius. However, his anger disappears when Amphitruo/Iupiter reveals that he has been talking to him in jest, that he had indeed asked Sosia to take the ring from him, but that he could not put the prisoners under his custody yet, because they were still to arrive. Later, Dromio, back at his master's house, and aware of the fact that he/Iupiter is in with Alcumena, cannot believe his eyes when he sees Amphitruo outside, asking him to let him in. This provokes Dromio's confusion, since he can see his master is in two places at the same time, and he resolves not to open the door. Once Alcumena has given birth to her twins, Dromio sees his real master again, and he seems to be really glad, and tells him about a strange dream he had: that his wife, Alcumena, had given birth to two sons and two serpents -one of the serpents would kill one son, and the other son would kill both serpents.
IACKE
Only mentioned. Dromio utters the expression "for t'is such a Craftie Iacke" referring to Sosia, to explain how he mistrusts him. According to British folklore, "Iacke" means a "fellow" and a "male donkey."
JUDAS
Only mentioned. Dromio mentions him when he realizes he has been cheated by Sosia -who was really Mercurius in the shape of Sosia. He actually exclaims: "Thou Iudas misbegotten face: that are a traitor to thy owne master" when Sosia/Mercurius cheats him in order to get the ring Amphitruo had given Dromio as a token for Alcumena.
JUNO
Only mentioned. Iupiter mentions her when he explains to the audience that he is Iupiter or Amphitruo when he wants, and that he has, at that moment, gone away from his wife ("I am now stollen from Iuno.") He also boasts that he has pacified Iuno, he shared with his mortal half-twin Iphicles, but Hercules killed them both with his bare hands.
JUPITER
Iupiter is the king of all the Olympian gods, father to Mercurius. He takes the shape of Amphitruo, while the latter is fighting the Teleboians, in order to seduce his wife, Alcumena. To that aim, he makes her believe that he was so anxious to see her that he left his soldiers alone that night, but that he must be back in the morning (aware of the fact that her husband will be home by then). Once he managed to do his will with the mortal lady, Iupiter announces, to the audience, that he will appear in Amphitruo's likeness again, and that he will breed more confusion, but that everything will end well and the truth shall be known. He also reveals that Alcumena will give birth to two "brave boyes": one by her husband and the other by him. Later, the god realizes the grief he has caused to Alcumena and her husband, and he will try to put a remedy to it. Thus, he takes up the shape of Amphitruo again, and apologizes to her (for her husband's cruel words of accusation), explaining that he had just put her to a test. But, realizing that, nevertheless, she is determined to leave Amphitruo, he tells her it will not be necessary, since he will be the one to go, assuring her that he will leave everything to her. He then receives her forgiveness and makes her promise she will be there when he comes back. He even asks Sosia to act as a witness of the fact that, when he was accusing his wife of unfaithfulness, he was just doing it in jest. Still in the shape of Amphitruo, Iupiter asks Sosia to tell Blepharo that he will dine with him. And also in that same shape will the god address to Dromio, when the latter comes expecting to be given some prisoners to be put under his custody. Eager to tease him, Iupiter/Amphitruo asks Dromio for the ring he had entrusted him as a token for his wife -well aware of the fact that his son, Mercurius, in the shape of Sosia, had told him to give him the ring, and go back to Amphitruo to be given the responsibility of keeping the some prisoners in custody. But when he sees that Drumio is getting too angry with Sosia, he explains that he was only speaking in jest, that he had really asked Sosia to take the ring from him, but that the prisoners were still to arrive. And he adds that, from then on, he will receive the treatment of "Monsieur Le Governeur." Back to the house, he makes sure his son, Mercurius, does not let Alcumena's husband in. After a while, Iupiter -still in the shape of Amphitruo-, goes out of the house, and the general and the god face each other for the first time, and ask Blepharo to decide which one is the real Amphitruo. However, that is a difficult task because, no matter the nature of the questions posed by Blepharo, both Iupiter and Amphitruo would answer them correctly. Therefore, Blepharo gives up, not being able to discern who the real one is, and Amphitruo despairs, unable to enter his own house and fearing everyone will scorn him. Then Iupiter addresses to Amphitruo and reveals that he had caused the confusion in his house, and that one of the sons his wife has given birth to had been engendered by him, and the other by her husband. He also adds that one of them is going to crown his mortal head with immortality. He finally asks him to reconcile with his wife, to which Amphitruo consents.
MERCURIUS
Mercurius, also "Mercury" is son to Iupiter. He is responsible for the second 'Prologus' of the play, apart from being one of the characters in the play. He describes himself as "merry Mercury." He appears before Sosia, unexpectedly, frightening him, since the latter believes he is a constable who comes to question him for travelling at that time of night. Mercurius listens to Sosia's report of the battle between Thebans and Teleboians, and then decides to tease him, taking the messenger's shape and manners, and accusing the real Sosia of being an impostor, in order to distract him while his father, Iupiter, is seducing Alcumena. Thus, he misleads Sosia to such an extent, that the latter hesitates whether, after all, there could be some truth in what that man who is exactly like him says, and leaves without delivering Amphitruo's message to Alcumena, in the belief that the other Sosia has already done it. Mercurius knows that Dromio is also bringing a message, plus a ring, to Alcumena from her husband. Therefore he will try to mislead him as well. This time, he takes the shape of Sosia again, and waits for Dromio at his mistress's door. When the latter arrives, the former explains to him that he had delivered the message five hours before, but Amphitruo's wife would not believe him unless he gave her a token from her husband. Thus, he had gone back to his master, and he told him to ask Dromio for a ring he had entrusted him as a token for his lady. But Dromio is reluctant to believe that story, and replies that he will not give him the ring because he does not trust him. However, on Mercurius insistence, Dromio finally gives him the ring. Then Mercurius reveals to the audience that Alcumena will give birth to two sons at the same time -despite the fact that they were conceived on different dates-, and that one of them is going to be Hercules -son to Alcumena and Iupiter. Realizing that his father has been with the lady too long, and that her husband is about to arrive, he enters to warn Iupiter, but he is asked by the god to prevent Amphitruo from entering the house. Therefore he is going to pretend that he is Sosia and that he is drunk, and he will not let Amphitruo in. Furthermore, when Dromio arrives Mercurius/Sosia will explain that their master is inside the house, and that the man knocking outside is a thief they have to keep out.
NAUCRATES
Only mentioned. Naucrates is cousin to Alcumena, and a soldier fighting on Amphitruo's side. The latter mentions him when, thinking his wife has been unfaithful to him with another man, he threatens to bring her "Cousin Naucrates, that was there wth me, prove all you have said to yor face." He has witnessed that Amphitruo has been on board the ship all night, therefore he could not have been with his wife, as she affirms. He is later mentioned by Alcumena as well, when she is talking to Iupiter (in the shape of her husband).
PENELOPE
Only mentioned. Penelope is mentioned by Alcumena when she compares herself to Penelope, the lady who found a way of preserving "her self against soe manie temptations, in so longe absence of her beloved Vlisses."
PERILOUS
Only mentioned. Perilous is the king of the Teleboians. He is mentioned by Sosia when he is reporting the battle between the Thebans and the Teleboians to Mercurius. He explains king Pterelas was killed by their general, Amphitruo. Dromio mispronounces the name of king as Pterelas when he is repeating, to himself, the message his lord asked him to deliver to his lady.
SOSIA
Sosia, son to old Dauus, is one of the messengers Amphitruo sends to his wife, in order to announce his imminent arrival home to her. As he travels at night to deliver the message, he is afraid a constable should stop him and send him to prison. But he meets Mercurius instead, and he offers him a detailed account of the battle they won, and of his own cowardice. Later, he is distracted by the god who, having taken the shape of Sosia, stands before Amphitruo's door, calling the real Sosia 'impostor.' The latter has a hard time arguing with Mercurius about his identity, and he ends up hesitating and leaving, not being able to deliver his master's message to Alcumena. He then goes back to Amphitruo and is severely reprimanded by him for not having been able to accomplish his task. And, when he tries to explain to his general that he is able to be in two places at the same time, and that his other self had delivered the message, Amphitruo cannot believe his ears and thinks his servant is drunk. Sosia is in love with Thessala, one of Alcumena's maids. As he goes back home with his master, he expects to be welcome by her -at least, he has been luckier than his general, because his beloved one has been faithful to him in his absence. Later, he will serve as a witness for Iupiter -who has taken up the shape of Amphitruo again-, of the fact that he had accused Alcumena of unfaithfulness in jest. He will also be asked by his general/god to go and tell Blepharo that Amphitruo wants to dine with him. When he brings Blepharo to his master's presence, as they approach the house, from a distance, he realizes there is something strange going on, since he can see Amphitruo mumbling outside the house, and the door is shut. And once they reach him, the general claims he had never asked him to bring Blepharo to his presence. After listening to them, Blepharo reaches the conclusion that a magician must have enchanted Amphitruo's house.
THESSALA
Thessala is one of Alcumena's waiting women. She is kind to Mercurius when he takes the shape of Sosia -since she is in love with the latter, as she confesses to her lady. She also suffers for her beloved one when he is 'struggling' in war, and she remains faithful to him.
VLISSES
Only mentioned. Vlisses is mentioned by Alcumena when she compares herself to Ulysses's wife, Penelope