Be silent! Control yourself, or you will destroy us all.
Another
They will slay us if they find us.
The Wounded Man
Let them kill me. I cannot bear it. My wound is on fire. Water! Water!
A Man
We must silence him. His cries will betray our hiding place.
The Woman
Touch him not. He is my brother. I bore him hither from the walls. [She kneels beside him] Dear, I implore you to stifle your cries. I will fetch you some water. Take my kerchief and muffle your mouth in it.
[The wounded man does so. His cries fall to a whisper. The others, most of whom have stood up in their excitement, settle down again]