The Messenger
Water! I am worn out. The Egyptians have been routed. Necho has made peace, and must pay tribute to Ashur. Nebuchadnezzar is coming; his riders are at my heels. I must to the king.
[Some of the crowd help the Messenger to the palace]
Voices
[From the back] What did he say?—Are the Chaldeans beaten?—Why does not the man tell us what has happened?
[Anxiety gradually spreads through the crowd, and the tumult of rejoicing is stilled. In their stupefaction all are mute for a while, and then terrified voices break the silence]
The Crowd
Impossible!—It cannot be true.—The man is a liar.—He was drunk.—Nay, he was only staggering from fatigue.—He said the horsemen were hard at his heels.—The whole story is false.—The messenger had not the mien of a liar.—It cannot be true.—God would never allow such a thing to happen.
A Voice
[Loudly] Pharaoh has betrayed us.