Ye knew,
O false friends! into what
Haven the murderer had dropp'd?
Ye kept silence?
The Chorus
In fear,
O loved mistress! in fear,
Dreading thine over-wrought mood,
What I knew, I conceal'd.
Merope
Swear by the Gods henceforth to obey me!
The Chorus
Unhappy one, what deed
Purposes thy despair?
I promise; but I fear.
Merope
From the altar, the unavenged tomb,
Fetch me the sacrifice-axe!——
[The Chorus goes towards the tomb of Cresphontes,
and their leader brings back the axe.