Messenger: Well, saidst thou not that thy prisoner- she, on whom thy
gaze now turns so vacantly- was Iole, daughter of Eurytus?
Lichas: Said it to whom? Who and where is the man that will be thy
witness to hearing this from me?
Messenger: To many of our own folk thou saidst it: in the public gathering
of Trachinians, a great crowd heard thus much from thee.
Lichas: Ay- said they heard-but 'tis one thing to report a fancy,
and another to make the story good.
Messenger: A fancy! Didst thou not say on thine oath that thou wast
bringing her us a bride for Heracles?
Lichas: I? bringing a bride?- In the name of the gods, dear mistress,
tell me who this stranger may be?
Messenger: One who heard from thine own lips that the conquest of
the whole city was due to love for this girl: the Lydian woman was
not its destroyer, but the passion which this maid has kindled.
Lichas: Lady, let this fellow withdraw: to prate with the brainsick
befits not sane man.
Studies
