DE.  Well, they are gone.  Let words declare thy drift.

MESS.  That man, in all that he hath lately said,
Hath sinned against the truth:  or now he’s false,
Or else unfaithful in his first report.

DE.  What?  Tell me thy full meaning clearly forth. 
That thou hast uttered is all mystery.

MESS.  I heard this herald say, while many thronged
To hearken, that this maiden was the cause,
Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord
Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone
Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise,
And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks
Of rigorous Omphale, nor that wild fate
Of rock-thrown Iphitus.  Now he thrusts aside
The Love-god, contradicting his first tale. 
  When he that was her sire could not be brought
To yield the maid for Heracles to hold
In love unrecognized, he framed erelong
A feud about some trifle, and set forth
In arms against this damsel’s fatherland
(Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king)
And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked
Their city.  Now returning, as you see,
He sends her hither to his halls, no slave,
Nor unregarded, lady,—­dream not so! 
Since all his heart is kindled with desire. 
I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all
The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth,
Which many heard as well as I, i’ the midst
Of Trachis’ market-place, and can confirm
My witness.  I am pained if my plain speech
Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell.

DE.  Ah me!  Where am I?  Whither am I fallen? 
What hidden woe have I unwarily
Taken beneath my roof?  O misery! 
Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS.  Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;
Called in her day of freedom Iole,
Eurytus’ daughter,—­of whose parentage,
Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH.  I curse not all the wicked, but the man
Whose secret practices deform his life.

DE.  Say, maidens, how must I proceed?  The words
Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH.  Go in and question Lichas, who perchance
Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DE.  I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS.  And I,
Shall I bide here till thou com’st forth?  Or how?

DE.  Remain.  For see, without my sending for him,
He issueth from the palace of himself.

Enter LICHAS.

LICH.  What message must I carry to my lord? 
Tell me, my Queen.  I am going, as thou seest.

DE.  So slow in coming, and so quickly flown,
Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!

LICH.  What wouldst thou ask me?  I am bent to hear.

DE.  And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH.  By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

DE.  Then tell me, who is she thou brought’st with thee?