CHOR. Thou tellest an incredible story, but the king of this country, whom you wish to see, is gone, having quitted the temple.
MESS. Whither? For he needs must know what has been done.
CHOR. We know not. But go thou and pursue him to wheresoever, having met with him, thou mayest recount this news.
MESS. See, how faithless is the female race! and ye are partners in what has been done.
CHOR. Art thou mad? What have we to do with the flight of the strangers? Will you not go as quickly as possible to the gates of the rulers?
MESS. Not at least before some distinct informer[[174]] tell me this, whether the ruler of the land is within or not within. Ho there! Open the fastenings, I speak to those within, and tell the master that I am at the gates, bearing a weight of evil news.
THOAS. (coming out) Who makes this noise near the temple of the Goddess, hammering at the door, and sending fear within?
MESS. These women told me falsely, (and tried to drive me from the house,) that you were away, while you really were in the house.
TH. Expecting or hunting after what gain?
MESS. I will afterward tell of what concerns them, but hear the present, immediate matter. The virgin, she that presided over the altars here, Iphigenia, has gone out of the land with the strangers, having the sacred image of the Goddess; but the expiations were pretended.