TH.  ’Tis thine to explain this.

IPH.  Cast fetters upon the strangers.

TH.  Whither could they escape from thee?

IPH.  Greece knows nothing faithful.

TH.  Go for the fetters, attendants.

IPH.  Ay, and let them bring the strangers hither.

TH.  This shall be.

IPH.  Having enveloped their heads in robes.

TH.  Against the scorching of the sun?

IPH.  And send thou with me of thy followers—­

TH.  These shall accompany thee.

IPH.  And send some one to signify to the city—­

TH.  What hap?

IPH.  That all remain in their homes.

TH.  Lest they encounter homicide?

IPH.  For such things are unclean.

TH.  Go thou, and order this.

IPH.  That no one come into sight.

TH.  Thou carest well for the city.

IPH.  Ay, and more particularly friends must not be present.[163]

TH.  This you say in reference to me.

IPH.  But do thou, abiding here before the temple of the Goddess—­

TH.  Do what?

IPH.  Purify the house with a torch.

TH.  That it may be pure when thou comest back to it?

IPH.  But when the strangers come out,

TH.  What must I do?

IPH.  Place your garment before your eyes.

TH.  Lest I contract contagion?

IPH.  But if I seem to tarry very long,

TH.  What limit of this shall I have?

IPH.  Wonder at nothing.

TH.  Do thou rightly the business of the Goddess at thy leisure.

IPH.  And may this purification turn out as I wish!

TH.  I join in your prayer.

IPH.  I now see these strangers coming out of the house, and the adornments of the Goddess, and the young lambs, in order that I may wash out foul slaughter by slaughter, and the shining light of lamps, and the other things, as many as I ordered as purifications for the strangers and the Goddess.  But I proclaim to the strangers to get out of the way of this pollution, if any gate-keeper of the temples keeps pure hands for the Gods, or is about to join in nuptial alliance, or is pregnant, flee, get out of the way, lest this pollution fall on any.  O thou queen, virgin daughter of Jove and Latona, if I wash away the blood-pollution from these men, and sacrifice where ’tis fitting, thou wilt occupy a pure house, and we shall be prosperous.  But although I do not speak of the rest, I nevertheless signify my meaning to the Gods who know most things,[164] and to thee, O Goddess.