LEADER. I know not where he went. But follow fast And seek him. Thou wilt light on him ere long. MESSENGER. See there! The treason of a woman's tongue! Ye all are in the plot, I warrant ye! LEADER. Thy words are mad! What are the men to me? ... Go to the palace, go! MESSENGER (seeing the great knocker on the temple door.) I will not stir Till word be come by this good messenger If Thoas be within these gates or no.-- [thundering at the door.] Ho, loose the portals! Ye within! What ho! Open, and tell our master one doth stand Without here, with strange evil in his hand. [enter THAOS from the temple.] THOAS. Who dares before this portal consecrate Make uproar and lewd battering of the gate? Thy noise hath broke the Altar's ancient peace. MESSENGER. Ye Gods! They swore to me--and bade me cease My search--the King was gone. And all the while ...! THOAS. These women? How? What sought they by such guile? MESSENGER. Of them hereafter!--Give me first thine ear For greater things. The virgin minister That served our altar, she hath fled from this And stolen the dread Shape of Artemis, With those two Greeks. The cleansing was a lie. THOAS. She fled?--What wild hope whispered her to fly? MESSENGER. The hope to save Orestes. Wonder on! THOAS. Orestes--how? Not Clytemnestra's son? MESSENGER. And our pledged altar-offering. 'Tis the same. THOAS. O marvel beyond marvel! By what name More rich in wonder can I name thee right? MESSENGER. Give not thy mind to that. Let ear and sight Be mine awhile; and when thou hast heard the whole Devise how best to trap them ere the goal. THOAS. Aye, tell thy tale. Our Tauric seas stretch far, Where no man may escape my wand of war.