MESSENGER.
Ho, watchers of the fane! Ho, altar-guard,
Where is King Thoas gone? Undo the barred
Portals, and call the King! The King I seek.
LEADER.
What tidings—if unbidden I may speak?
MESSENGER.
The strangers both are gone, and we beguiled,
By some dark plot of Agamemnon's child:
Fled from the land! And on a barque of Greece
They bear the heaven-sent shape of Artemis.
LEADER.
Thy tale is past belief.—Go, swiftly on,
And find the King. He is but newly gone.
MESSENGER.
Where went he? He must know of what has passed!
LEADER.
I know not where he went. But follow fast
And seek him. Thou wilt light on him ere long.
MESSENGER.
See there! The treason of a woman's tongue!
Ye all are in the plot, I warrant ye!
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.]