PYL. Thou shalt have a tomb, and never will I, hapless one, betray thy sister's bed, since I shall hold thee more a friend dead than living. But the oracle of the God has never yet wronged thee, although thou art indeed on the very verge of death. But excessive mischance is very wont, is very wont to present changes, when the matter so falls.
OR. Be silent—the words of Phœbus avail me naught, for the lady is coming hither without the temple.
IPH. Depart ye, and go and make ready the things within for those who superintend the sacrifice. These, O stranger, are the many-folded inclosures of the letter, but hear thou what I further wish. No man is the same in trouble, and when he changes from fear into confidence. But I fear, lest he having got away from this land, will deem my letter of no account, who is about to bear this letter to Argos.[[93]]
OR. What wouldst thou? Concerning what art thou disturbed?
IPH. Let him make me oath that he will ferry these writings to Argos, to those friends to whom I wish to send them.
OR. Wilt thou in turn make the same assertion to him?
IPH. That I will do, or will not do what thing? say.
OR. That you will release him from this barbarian land, not dying.
IPH. Thou sayest justly; for how could he bear the message?
OR. But will the ruler also grant this?