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DE.
Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen?
What hidden woe have I unwarily
Taken beneath my roof? O misery!
Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS.
Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;
Called in her day of freedom Iole,
Eurytus’ daughter,–of whose parentage,
Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH.
I curse not all the wicked, but the man
Whose secret practices deform his life.

DE.
Say, maidens, how must I proceed? The words
Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH.
Go in and question Lichas, who perchance
Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DE.
I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS.
And I,
Shall I bide here till thou com’st forth? Or how?

DE.
Remain. For see, without my sending for him,
He issueth from the palace of himself.

[Enter LICHAS.]

LICH.
What message must I carry to my lord?
Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.

DE.
So slow in coming, and so quickly flown,
Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!

LICH.
What wouldst thou ask me? I am bent to hear.

DE.
And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH.
By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

DE.
Then tell me, who is she thou brought’st with thee?

LICH.
An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

MESS.
Look hither, man. Who is’t to whom thou speakest?

LICH.
Why such a question? What is thine intent?

MESS.
Nay, start not, but make answer if thou knowest.

LICH.
To Deanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
Heracles’ wife,–if these mine eyes be true,–
My mistress.

MESS.
Ay, that is the very word
I longed to hear thee speak. Thy mistress, sayest?

LICH.
To whom I am bound.

MESS.
Hold there! What punishment
Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be
Faithless to her?

LICH.
I faithless! What dark speech
Hast thou contrived?

MESS.
Not I at all. ‘Tis thou
Dost wrap thy thoughts i’ the dark.

LICH.
Well, I will go.
‘Tis folly to have heard thee for so long.

MESS.
You go not till you answer one word more.

LICH.
One, or a thousand! You’ll not stint, I see.

MESS.
Thou knowest the captive maid thou leddest home?

LICH.
I do. But wherefore ask?

MESS.
Did you not say
That she, on whom you look with ignorant eye,
Was Iole, the daughter of the King,
Committed to your charge?

LICH.
Where? Among whom?
What witness of such words will bear thee out?

MESS.
Many and sound. A goodly company
In Trachis’ market-place heard thee speak this.

LICH.
Ay.
I said ’twas rumoured. But I could not give
My vague impression for advised report.

MESS.
Impression, quotha! Did you not on oath
Proclaim your captive for your master’s bride?

LICH.
My master’s bride! Dear lady, by the Gods,
Who is the stranger? for I know him not.