divinity and its pomp, and she refuses it. He offers her immortality, and she does not want it. — Do you not wish to be a goddess, or a demigoddess? — No... never... and why? — That you may fly on the wings of the ether and the waves...

— That is what every wife burdened with a good husband does... — That you may grasp the meaning of creation and the other worlds... — I do not care for curiosity... and I have never once longed to know what the neighbors are doing. — That you may be immortal, then! — Immortal?... And what good is immortality to me?... — You would shine forever, a radiant star in the boundless sky of eternity... — Thank you for this offer... No... I prefer to taste the cherries of our orchard... they have a special flavor that I love...

He paints death for her, cold and fearful, but she does not turn away from it, for it is the lot of life and of the living; as for immortality for herself alone, it would be a betrayal of the human race, and she has no need of it... In vain does Jupiter try to lift Alcmène out of her limited humanity and open her eyes so that the eternal secrets of existence might be unveiled before her; but she persists in refusing, and prefers the bounds of the human existence into which she was born, to enjoy its happy moments with her beloved husband... And it is she who advises him to temper his grandiloquent talk and return to the field of battle, where duty calls him, so that she may return to her household duties... And she slips out of his hands without his ever managing to reveal to her

his divine self...

Here is Jupiter, perplexed and defeated before this simple woman content with her humanity... This weighs heavily on the lord of the gods, so he resolves to honor Alcmène and her city and the world with a second visit, an open one, with no trickery or deception in it... He will visit her as Jupiter and dazzle her with his grandeur and his might... Mercure proclaims this great tidings; the wastes and valleys echo it, the winds and the waves carry it, and it reaches the ears of the people of Thebes. The dancing maidens come to Alcmène's palace rejoicing and exultant, and processions of priests march along repeating thanks and prayer to the lord of the gods and creator of the universes, because he has singled out their city for this great honor...

Jupiter arrives in his divine pomp at Amphitryon's house and declares his will to the faithful couple. Amphitryon confronts him, resisting, defending his conjugal rights. Jupiter mocks him, saying:

— Would you make war on the gods? — Yes. — And what is your weapon? — My wife Alcmène! — Very well — leave her with me, then...

Jupiter is left alone with Alcmène and declares to her his divine love, and between them unfolds a polished dialogue in a graceful style, in which shine forth Giraudoux's skill and his adroitness at casting simple, enchanting phrases and choosing the magical, musical word. He creates a delightful, fanciful atmosphere, shot through with witty pleasantries, which takes hold of our feelings and lifts us out of our ordinary, earthbound world into the world of supernatural beauty

— the world of magic and imagination. And behold, we have an appointment with the gods face to face, flying on the wings of ether; but soon we descend once more — by the magic of a simple word —