_Lyc._ To speak of that, Another might have wronged me, but not thou. Tho’ much I crave to learn both how and why 1239 Thou camest hither. Was’t in the Argive ship? _Ach._ Nay, king, I came not in the Argive ship: Nor am I that false trespasser thou seekest. _Lyc._ Whether then hast thou mounted from the deep, Where the sea nymphs till now have loved and held thee From men’s desire; or whether from the sky Hath some god wrapt thee in a morning cloud, And laid thee with the sunlight on this isle, Where they that seek should find thee? _Ach._ A god it was Brought me, but not to-day: seven times the moon Hath lost her lamp with loitering, since the night She shone upon my passage; and so long 1251 I have served thee in disguise, and won thy love. _Lyc._ So long hast thou been here! And I unknowing Have pledged my kingly oath—The gods forbid— _Ach._ Yet was I here because a goddess bade. _Lyc._ Have I then ever seen thee? _Ach._ Every hour Thou hast seen me, and sheltered me beneath thy roof. But since thou knewest me not, thy royal word Was hurt not by denial. _Lyc._ Who wert thou? Say. _Ach._ I was called Pyrrha. 1260 _Lyc._ O shame. _Ach._ Yet hearken, sire! _Lyc._ Wast thou the close attendant of my daughter, Her favoured comrade, and she held it hid ’Neath a familiar countenance before me, So false unto her modesty and me? Alas! alas! _Ach._ O sire, she hath known me but as thou, and loved Not knowing whom. _Lyc._ Thou sayst she hath not known? _Ach._ For ’twas a goddess framed me this disguise. _Lyc._ And never guessed? _Ach._ Nay, sire. Nor blame the goddess Whom I obeyed: nor where I have done no wrong, Make my necessity a crime against thee. 1271 _Lyc._ Can I believe? _Ach._ ’Tis true I have loved her, sire: And by strange wooing if I have won her love, And now in the discovery can but offer A soldier’s lot,—she is free to choose: but thee First I implore, be gracious to my suit, Nor scorn me for thy son. _Lyc._ My son! Achilles! This day shall be the feast-day of my year, Tho’ I be made to all men a rebuke For being thy shelter, when I swore to all 1280 Thou wert not here. Now I rejoice thou wert. Come to my palace as thyself: be now My guest in earnest: we will seal at once This happy contract. _Ach._ Let me first be known Unto the princess and bespeak her will.