BEL AFFRIS. Fled. Scattered like sheep.

BELZANOR (furiously). The cowardly slaves! Leaving the
descendants of the gods to be butchered!

BEL AFFRIS (with acid coolness). The descendants of the gods did
not stay to be butchered, cousin. The battle was not to the
strong; but the race was to the swift. The Romans, who have no
chariots, sent a cloud of horsemen in pursuit, and slew
multitudes. Then our high priest's captain rallied a dozen
descendants of the gods and exhorted us to die fighting. I said
to myself: surely it is safer to stand than to lose my breath and
be stabbed in the back; so I joined our captain and stood. Then
the Romans treated us with respect; for no man attacks a lion
when the field is full of sheep, except for the pride and honor
of war, of which these Romans know nothing. So we escaped with
our lives; and I am come to warn you that you must open your
gates to Caesar; for his advance guard is scarce an hour behind
me; and not an Egyptian warrior is left standing between you and
his legions.

THE SENTINEL. Woe, alas! (He throws down his javelin and flies
into the palace.)

BELZANOR. Nail him to the door, quick! (The guardsmen rush for
him with their spears; but he is too quick for them.) Now this
news will run through the palace like fire through stubble.

BEL AFFRIS. What shall we do to save the women from the Romans?