Was he naught, then, to you,
That ye cast him away,
The stainless and true,
From the old happy places?

LEADER
Look yonder! 'Tis the Prince's man, I ween
Speeding toward this gate, most dark of mien.
[A HENCHMAN _enters in haste_.]

HENCHMAN
Ye women, whither shall I go to seek
King Theseus? Is he in this dwelling? Speak!

LEADER
Lo, where he cometh through the Castle gate!
[THESEUS _comes out from the Castle_.]

HENCHMAN
O King, I bear thee tidings of dire weight
To thee, aye, and to every man, I ween,
From Athens to the marches of Trozen.

THESEUS
What? Some new stroke hath touched, unknown to me,
The sister cities of my sovranty?

HENCHMAN
Hippolytus is...Nay, not dead; but stark
Outstretched, a hairsbreadth this side of the dark.