Leader.
Thy words are mad! What are the men to me?
Go to the palace, go!
Messenger. (Seeing the great knocker on the Temple door.)
I will not stir
Till word be come by this good messenger
If Thoas be within these gates or no.—
(Thundering at the door.)
Ho, loose the portals! Ye within! What ho!
Open, and tell our master one doth stand
Without here, with strange evil in his hand.
(Enter Thoas from the Temple.)
Thoas.
Who dares before this portal consecrate
Make uproar and lewd battering of the gate?
Thy noise hath broke the Altar's ancient peace.
Messenger.
Ye gods! They swore to me—and bade me cease
My search—the King was gone. And all the while—
Thoas.