Page:Thotharomance00nichgoog.djvu/42

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DAPHNE.
37

to me by thy strongest oath, and I will go. Swear to me if, when I reach thy country, I like it not, thou wilt send me back unharmed either to Athens or to some Greek city which has escaped the pestilence."

And he said, "By the respect I owe to my fathers, who are not dead but sleep, awaiting the day of triumph, I swear to thee. It is an oath that cannot be broken." And his dark eyes flashed, and no sign of deceit appeared in his face; and Daphne said, "I trust thee. I will go."

And the other maidens gained confidence by what they had seen and heard, and, according to the word of the Egyptian leader, went by different ways and as secretly as possible to a place appointed for meeting, and they said nothing to any they met.