Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/380

342 MEROPE (with a start).

How say'st thou? within?...

THE CHORUS.

He in the guest-chamber now,

Faithlessly murder'd his friend.

MEROPE.

Ye, too, ye, too, join to betray, then

Your Queen!

THE CHORUS.

What is this?

MEROPE.

Ye knew,

O false friends! into what

Haven the murderer had dropp'd?

Ye kept silence?

THE CHORUS.

In fear,

O loved mistress! in fear,

Dreading thine over-wrought mood,

What I knew, I conceal'd.

MEROPE.

Swear by the Gods henceforth to obey me!

THE CHORUS.

Unhappy one, what deed

Purposes thy despair?

I promise; but I fear.