Ye wronged Him! Ye denied his deity!

AGAVE (_turning from him_)
Show me the body of the son I love!

CADMUS (_leading her to the bier_)
'Tis here, my child. Hard was the quest thereof.

AGAVE
Laid in due state?
[_As there is no answer, she lifts the veil of the bier, and sees._]
Oh, if I wrought a sin,
'Twas mine! What portion had my child therein!

CADMUS
He made him like to you, adoring not
The God; who therefore to one bane hath brought
You and this body, wrecking all our line,
And me. Aye, no man-child was ever mine;
And now this first-fruit of the flesh of thee,
Sad woman, foully here and frightfully
Lies murdered! Whom the house looked up unto,
[_Kneeling by the body._]
O Child, my daughter's child! who heldest true
My castle walls; and to the folk a name
Of fear thou wast; and no man sought to shame
My grey beard, when they knew that thou wast there,
Else had they swift reward!--And now I fare
Forth in dishonour, outcast, I, the great
Cadmus, who sowed the seed-rows of this state