In the opening scene of Plautus' Amphitruo the slave Sosia, sent ahead in the night to announce his master's return, approaches Amphitruo's house, where Mercury is awaiting him. In the course of the prologue (113–4) Mercury has already explained that Jupiter has lengthened the night to allow himself a longer stay with Alcumena. Sosia, soliloquizing, suddenly looks up and notices that the stars are not moving; unheard by Sosia, Mercury comments on his words:—
Sosia: Certe, edepol, si quicquamst aliud quod credam aut certo sciam, credo ego hac noctu Nocturnum obdormiuisse ebrium. nam neque se Septentriones quoquam in caelo commouent, neque se Luna quoquam mutat atque uti exorta est semel, nee Iugulae neque Vesperugo neque Vergiliae occidunt. ita statim stant signa, neque nox quoquam concedit die.