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MEROPE.
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.
