To quiet the forebodings of his mother the wise ladies in waiting gave assurances. The mother also sought to reassure herself and them with the thought that their army was delayed in gathering the booty. They picture to themselves the fine garments, the embroidered cloth, the captive maidens, with the distribution of which their men are occupied and so are delayed in their return home. The irony of the appellative “wise ladies” is obvious, for their conjecture was far from the truth. The author of the poem dramatically does not describe the disappointment of the proud women, but leaves the reader, who knows the narrative, to imagine the scene when the message of Sisera’s defeat arrives—no booty, no victory; the hero is dead, the army is shattered All is lost No more fearful picture of the utter defeat of an enemy could be given.