AGAVE How crabbèd and how scowling in the eyes Is man's old age!--Would that my son likewise Were happy of his hunting, in my way When with his warrior bands he will essay The wild beast!--Nay, his valiance is to fight With God's will! Father, thou shouldst set him right. Will no one bring him thither, that mine eyes May look on his, and show him this my prize! CADMUS Alas, if ever ye can know again The truth of what ye did, what pain of pain That truth shall bring! Or were it best to wait Darkened for evermore, and deem your state Not misery, though ye know no happiness? AGAVE What seest thou here to chide, or not to bless? CADMUS (_after hesitation, resolving himself_) Raise me thine eyes to yon blue dome of air! AGAVE 'Tis done. What dost thou bid me seek for there? CADMUS Is it the same, or changèd in thy sight? AGAVE More shining than before, more heavenly bright! CADMUS And that wild tremour, is it with thee still? AGAVE (_troubled_) I know not what thou sayest; but my will Clears, and some change cometh, I know not how. CADMUS Canst hearken then, being changed, and answer, now! AGAVE I have forgotten something; else I could. CADMUS What husband led thee of old from mine abode? AGAVE Echîon, whom men named the Child of Earth. CADMUS And what child in Echîon's house had birth? AGAVE Pentheus, of my love and his father's bred. CADMUS Thou bearest in thine arms an head--what head? AGAVE (_beginning to tremble, and not looking at what she carries_) A lion's--so they all said in the chase. CADMUS Turn to it now--'tis no long toil--and gaze. AGAVE Ah! But what is it? What am I carrying here? CADMUS Look once upon it full, till all be clear! AGAVE I see... most deadly pain! Oh, woe is me! CADMUS Wears it the likeness of a lion to thee? AGAVE No; 'tis the head--O God!--of Pentheus, this! CADMUS Blood-drenched ere thou wouldst know him! Aye, 'tis his. AGAVE Who slew him?--How came I to hold this thing? CADMUS O cruel Truth, is this thine home-coming? AGAVE Answer! My heart is hanging on thy breath! CADMUS 'Twas thou.--Thou and thy sisters wrought his death. AGAVE In what place was it? His own house, or where? CADMUS Where the dogs tore Actaeon, even there. AGAVE Why went he to Kithaeron? What sought he? CADMUS To mock the God and thine own ecstasy. AGAVE But how should we be on the hills this day? CADMUS Being mad! A spirit drove all the land that way. AGAVE 'Tis Dionyse hath done it! Now I see. CADMUS (_earnestly_) Ye wronged Him! Ye denied his deity! AGAVE (_turning from him_) Show me the body of the son I love!