ANT. He is close beside us. Whatsoe’er thou findest
Good to be spoken, say it. The man is here.
Enter an Athenian.
OED. O stranger, learning from this maid, who sees
Both for herself and me, that thou art come
With timely light to clear our troubled thought—
ATHENIAN. Ere thou ask more, come forth from where thou sittest!
Ye trench on soil forbidden human tread.
OED. What soil? And to what Power thus consecrate?
ATH. None may go near, nor dwell there. ’Tis possessed
By the dread sisters, children of Earth and Night.
OED. What holy name will please them, if I pray?
ATH. ‘All seeing Gentle Powers’ the dwellers here
Would call them. But each land hath its own rule.
OED. And gently may they look on him who now
Implores them, and will never leave this grove!
ATH. What saying is this?