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252 Mess. Nought hinders thee and these. Let those alone.

Deian. And they indeed are gone; so tell thy tale.

Mess. Of all he said this man not one word speaks

With truth and right, but either basest now,

Or else before, as falsest herald came.

Deian. What say'st thou? Tell me clearly what thou meanest;

I nothing know of all the things thou say'st.

Mess. I, I myself heard this man say aloud—

Yes, before many hearers—that our lord,

For this girl's sake, did conquer Eurytos,

And captive take high-towered Œchalia;

That Love alone of all the Gods that are

Had charmed him to achieve this enterprise,

And not what passed in Lydia, nor his toil

In bondage unto Omphale, nor fate

Of Iphitos; and this man, thrusting back

All speech of Love, says just the contrary.

But when he could not win her father's will

To give his child to share clandestine bed,

He, with some cause of quarrel furbished up,

Invades the country ruled by Eurytos,

And slays the king her father, and lays low

Her city; and, as thou beholdest now,

He brings her to this house (believe it, lady)

Not without purpose, no, nor as a slave;

Look not for that: it is not probable,

When he has been so hot in his desire.

So it seemed good to tell the truth to thee,

The whole truth as I heard it from this man;

And many heard it also, e'en as I,

In all the throng of Trachis' market-place;

So thou may'st test the truth. And if I speak

Unwelcome news, I too am grieved indeed;