Herald of Aegyptus:
The prey is mine, unless force rend it from me.
The King of Argos:
At thine own peril touch them-'ware, and soon!
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:
Well it I 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 despoiled 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.
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