Herald of Aegyptus
I hear thy speech, no hospitable word.
The King of Argos
I am no host for sacrilegious hands.
Herald of Aegyptus
I will go tell this to Aegyptus' sons.
The King of Argos
Tell it! my pride will ponder not thy word.
Herald of Aegyptus
Yet, that I have my message clear to say
(For it behoves that heralds' words be clear,
Be they or ill or good), how art thou named?
By whom despoilèd of this sister-band
Of maidens pass I homeward?—speak and say!
For lo, henceforth in Ares' court we stand,
Who judges not by witness but by war:
No pledge of silver now can bring the cause
To issue: ere this thing end, there must be
Corpse piled on corpse and many lives gasped forth.
The King of Argos
What skills it that I tell my name to thee?
Thou and thy mates shall learn it ere the end.
Know that if words unstained by violence
Can change these maidens' choice, then mayest thou,
With full consent of theirs, conduct them hence.
But thus the city with one voice ordained—
