MESS. I heard this herald say, while many thronged To hearken, that this maiden was the cause, Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise, And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks Of rigorous Omphale, nor that wild fate Of rock-thrown Iphitus. Now he thrusts aside The Love-god, contradicting his first tale. When he that was her sire could not be brought To yield the maid for Heracles to hold In love unrecognized, he framed erelong A feud about some trifle, and set forth In arms against this damsel's fatherland (Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king) And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked Their city. Now returning, as you see, He sends her hither to his halls, no slave, Nor unregarded, lady,--dream not so! Since all his heart is kindled with desire. I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth, Which many heard as well as I, i' the midst Of Trachis' market-place, and can confirm My witness. I am pained if my plain speech Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell. DE. Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen? What hidden woe have I unwarily Taken beneath my roof? O misery! Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware? MESS. Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien; Called in her day of freedom Iole, Eurytus' daughter,--of whose parentage, Forsooth as ignorant, he ne'er would speak. CH. I curse not all the wicked, but the man Whose secret practices deform his life. DE. Say, maidens, how must I proceed? The words Now spoken have bewildered all my mind. CH. Go in and question Lichas, who perchance Will tell the truth if you but tax him home. DE. I will; you counsel reasonably. MESS. And I, Shall I bide here till thou com'st forth? Or how? DE. Remain. For see, without my sending for him, He issueth from the palace of himself. _Enter_ LICHAS. LICH. What message must I carry to my lord? Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest. DE. So slow in coming, and so quickly flown, Ere one have time to talk with thee anew! LICH. What wouldst thou ask me? I am bent to hear. DE. And art thou bent on truth in the reply? LICH. By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of. DE. Then tell me, who is she thou brought'st with thee? LICH. An islander. I cannot trace her stock. MESS. Look hither, man. Who is't to whom thou speakest? LICH. Why such a question? What is thine intent? MESS. Nay, start not, but make answer if thou knowest. LICH. To Deanira, Oeneus' queenly child, Heracles' wife,--if these mine eyes be true,-- My mistress. MESS. Ay, that is the very word I longed to hear thee speak. Thy mistress, sayest? LICH. To whom I am bound. MESS. Hold there! What punishment Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be Faithless to her? LICH. I faithless! What dark speech Hast thou contrived?