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! CADMUS (_leading her to the bier_). 'Tis here, my child. Hard was the quest thereof. AGAVE. Laid in due state? [_As there is no answer, she lifts the veil of the bier, and sees._ Oh, if I wrought a sin, 'Twas mine! What portion had my child therein? CADMUS.