The King of Argos.
I am no host for sacrilegious hands.
Herald of Ægyptus.
This greeting will I to my masters tell.
The King of Argos.
Tell, an thou wilt—I ponder not thy will.
Herald of Ægyptus.
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, I pass 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.
