---
title: "Andromache · Ἀνδρομάχη"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-andromache/1/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Andromache · Ἀνδρομάχη, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-andromache/1/"
---

# Andromache · Ἀνδρομάχη

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

Hector’s widow, now a slave in Neoptolemus’s house, faces his jealous wife.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg006, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg006.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–641

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-andromache/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-andromache/1/#p-N

[¶0] Andromache:
O city of Thebes, glory of Asia, whence on a day I came to Priam’s princely home with many a rich and costly thing in my dower, affianced unto Hector to be the mother of his children,
I Andromache, envied name in days of yore, but now of all women [that have been or yet shall be] the most unfortunate; for I have lived to see my husband Hector slain by Achilles, and the babe Astyanax, whom I bore my lord,
hurled from the towering battlements, when the Hellenes sacked our Trojan home; and I myself am come to Hellas as a slave, though I was esteemed a daughter of a race most free, given to Neoptolemus that island-prince,
and set apart for him as his special prize from the spoils of Troy. And here I dwell upon the boundaries of Phthia and Pharsalia’s town, where Thetis erst, the goddess of the sea, abode with Peleus apart from the world, avoiding the throng of men; wherefore the folk of Thessaly
call it the sacred place of Thetis, in honour of the goddess’s marriage. Here dwells the son of Achilles and suffers Peleus still to rule Pharsalia, not wishing to assume the sceptre while the old man lives. Within these halls have I born a boy
to the son of Achilles, my master.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
Ἀσιάτιδος γῆς σχῆμα, Θηβαία πόλι,
ὅθεν ποθ’ ἕδνων σὺν πολυχρύσῳ χλιδῇ
Πριάμου τύραννον ἑστίαν ἀφικόμην
δάμαρ δοθεῖσα παιδοποιὸς Ἕκτορι,
ζηλωτὸς ἔν γε τῷ πρὶν Ἀνδρομάχη χρόνῳ,
νῦν δ’, εἴ τις ἄλλη, δυστυχεστάτη γυνή·
[ἐμοῦ πέφυκεν ἢ γενήσεταί ποτε]
ἥτις πόσιν μὲν Ἕκτορ’ ἐξ Ἀχιλλέως
θανόντ’ ἐσεῖδον, παῖδά θ’ ὃν τίκτω πόσει
ῥιφθέντα πύργων Ἀστυάνακτ’ ἀπ’ ὀρθίων,
ἐπεὶ τὸ Τροίας εἷλον Ἕλληνες πέδον·
αὐτὴ δὲ δούλη τῶν ἐλευθερωτάτων
οἴκων νομισθεῖσ’ Ἑλλάδ’ εἰσαφικόμην
τῷ νησιώτῃ Νεοπτολέμῳ δορὸς γέρας
δοθεῖσα λείας Τρωικῆς ἐξαίρετον.
Φθίας δὲ τῆσδε καὶ πόλεως Φαρσαλίας
σύγχορτα ναίω πεδί’, ἵν’ ἡ θαλασσία
Πηλεῖ ξυνῴκει χωρὶς ἀνθρώπων Θέτις
φεύγουσ’ ὅμιλον· Θεσσαλὸς δέ νιν λεὼς
Θετίδειον αὐδᾷ θεᾶς χάριν νυμφευμάτων.
ἔνθ’ οἶκον ἔσχε τόνδε παῖς Ἀχιλλέως,
Πηλέα δ’ ἀνάσσειν γῆς ἐᾷ Φαρσαλίας,
ζῶντος γέροντος σκῆπτρον οὐ θέλων λαβεῖν.
κἀγὼ δόμοις τοῖσδ’ ἄρσεν’ ἐντίκτω κόρον,
πλαθεῖσ’ Ἀχιλλέως παιδί, δεσπότῃ γ’ ἐμῷ.

[¶1] Now aforetime for all my misery I ever had a hope to lead me on, that, if my child were safe, I might find some help and protection from my woes; but since my lord hath wedded that Spartan Hermione
in scorn of his bondmaid’s charms, I am tormented by her most cruelly; for she saith that I by secret enchantment am making her barren and distasteful to her husband, and that I design to take her place in this house,
ousting her the rightful mistress by force; whereas I at first submitted against my will and now have resigned my place; be almighty Zeus my witness that it was not of my own free will I became her rival!

> Greek: καὶ πρὶν μὲν ἐν κακοῖσι κειμένην ὅμως
ἐλπίς μ’ ἀεὶ προσῆγε σωθέντος τέκνου
ἀλκήν τιν’ εὑρεῖν κἀπικούρησιν κακῶν·
ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν Λάκαιναν Ἑρμιόνην γαμεῖ
τοὐμὸν παρώσας δεσπότης δοῦλον λέχος,
κακοῖς πρὸς αὐτῆς σχετλίοις ἐλαύνομαι.
λέγει γὰρ ὥς νιν φαρμάκοις κεκρυμμένοις
τίθημ’ ἄπαιδα καὶ πόσει μισουμένην,
αὐτὴ δὲ ναίειν οἶκον ἀντ’ αὐτῆς θέλω
τόνδ’, ἐκβαλοῦσα λέκτρα τἀκείνης βίᾳ·
ἁγὼ τὸ πρῶτον οὐχ ἑκοῦσ’ ἐδεξάμην,
νῦν δ’ ἐκλέλοιπα· Ζεὺς τάδ’ εἰδείη μέγας,
ὡς οὐχ ἑκοῦσα τῷδ’ ἐκοινώθην λέχει.

[¶2] But I cannot convince her, and she longs to kill me,
and her father Menelaus is an accomplice in this. E’en now is he within, arrived from Sparta for this very purpose, while I in terror am come to take up a position here in the shrine of Thetis adjoining the house, if haply it may save me from death;

> Greek: ἀλλ’ οὔ σφε πείθω, βούλεται δέ με κτανεῖν,
πατήρ τε θυγατρὶ Μενέλεως συνδρᾷ τάδε.
καὶ νῦν κατ’ οἴκους ἔστ’, ἀπὸ Σπάρτης μολὼν
ἐπ’ αὐτὸ τοῦτο· δειματουμένη δ’ ἐγὼ
δόμων πάροικον Θέτιδος εἰς ἀνάκτορον
θάσσω τόδ’ ἐλθοῦσ’, ἤν με κωλύσῃ θανεῖν.

[¶3] for Peleus and his descendants hold it in honour as a symbol of his marriage with the Nereid. My only son am I secretly conveying to a neighbour’s house in fear for his life. For his sire stands not by my side
to lend his aid and cannot avail his child at all, being absent in the land of Delphi, where he is offering recompense to Loxias for the madness he committed, when on a day he went to Pytho and demanded of Phoebus satisfaction for his father’s death, if haply his prayer might avert those past sins
and win for him the god’s goodwill hereafter.

> Greek: Πηλεύς τε γάρ νιν ἔκγονοί τε Πηλέως
σέβουσιν, ἑρμήνευμα Νηρῇδος γάμων.
ὃς δ’ ἔστι παῖς μοι μόνος, ὑπεκπέμπω λάθρᾳ
ἄλλους ἐς οἴκους, μὴ θάνῃ φοβουμένη.
ὁ γὰρ φυτεύσας αὐτὸν οὔτ’ ἐμοὶ πάρα
προσωφελῆσαι, παιδί τ’ οὐδέν ἐστ’, ἀπὼν
Δελφῶν κατ’ αἶαν, ἔνθα Λοξίᾳ δίκην
δίδωσι μανίας, ᾗ ποτ’ εἰς Πυθὼ μολὼν
ᾔτησε Φοῖβον πατρὸς οὗ κτείνει δίκην,
εἴ πως τὰ πρόσθε σφάλματ’ ἐξαιτούμενος
θεὸν παράσχοιτ’ εἰς τὸ λοιπὸν εὐμενῆ.

[¶4] Maid:
Mistress mine, be sure I do not hesitate to call thee by that name, seeing that I thought it thy right in thine own house also, when we dwelt in Troy-land: as I was ever thy friend and thy husband’s while yet he was alive,
so now have I come with strange tidings, in terror lest any of our masters learn hereof but still out of pity for thee; for Menelaus and his daughter are forming dire plots against thee, whereof thou must beware.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
δέσποιν’—ἐγώ τοι τοὔνομ’ οὐ φεύγω τόδε
καλεῖν σ’, ἐπείπερ καὶ κατ’ οἶκον ἠξίουν
τὸν σόν, τὸ Τροίας ἡνίκ’ ᾠκοῦμεν πέδον,
εὔνους δὲ καὶ σοὶ ζῶντί τ’ ἦ τῷ σῷ πόσει,
καὶ νῦν φέρουσά σοι νέους ἥκω λόγους,
φόβῳ μέν, εἴ τις δεσποτῶν αἰσθήσεται,
οἴκτῳ δὲ τῷ σῷ· δεινὰ γὰρ βουλεύεται
Μενέλαος εἰς σὲ παῖς θ’, ἅ σοι φυλακτέα.

[¶5] Andromache:
Ah! kind companion of my bondage, for such thou art to her, who, erst thy queen, is now sunk in misery; what are they doing? What new schemes are they devising in their eagerness to take away my wretched life?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὦ φιλτάτη σύνδουλε—σύνδουλος γὰρ εἶ
τῇ πρόσθ’ ἀνάσσῃ τῇδε, νῦν δὲ δυστυχεῖ—
τί δρῶσι; ποίας μηχανὰς πλέκουσιν αὖ,
κτεῖναι θέλοντες τὴν παναθλίαν ἐμέ;

[¶6] Maid:
Alas! poor lady, they intend to slay thy son, whom thou hast privily conveyed from out the house.

> Greek: θεράπαινα:
τὸν παῖδά σου μέλλουσιν, ὦ δύστηνε σύ,
κτείνειν, ὃν ἔξω δωμάτων ὑπεξέθου.

[¶7] Andromache:
Ah me! Has she heard that my babe was put out of her reach? Who told her? Woe is me! how utterly undone!

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οἴμοι· πέπυσται τὸν ἐμὸν ἔκθετον γόνον;
πόθεν ποτ’; ὦ δύστηνος, ὡς ἀπωλόμην.

[¶8] Maid:
I know not, but thus much of their schemes I heard myself; and Menelaus has left the house to fetch him.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
οὐκ οἶδ’, ἐκείνων δ’ ᾐσθόμην ἐγὼ τάδε·
φροῦδος δ’ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν Μενέλεως δόμων ἄπο.

[¶9] Andromache:
Then am I lost; ah, my child! those
vultures twain will take and slay thee; while he who is called thy father lingers still in Delphi.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἀπωλόμην ἄρ’. ὦ τέκνον, κτενοῦσί σε
δισσοὶ λαβόντες γῦπες· ὁ δὲ κεκλημένος
πατὴρ ἔτ’ ἐν Δελφοῖσι τυγχάνει μένων.

[¶10] Maid:
True, for had he been here thou wouldst not have fared so hardly, I am sure; but, as it is, thou art friendless.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
δοκῶ γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ὧδέ σ’ ἂν πράσσειν κακῶς
κείνου παρόντος· νῦν δ’ ἔρημος εἶ φίλων.

[¶11] Andromache:
Have no tidings come of the possible arrival of Peleus?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οὐδ’ ἀμφὶ Πηλέως ἦλθεν, ὡς ἥξοι, φάτις;

[¶12] Maid:
He is too old to help thee if he came.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
γέρων ἐκεῖνος ὥστε σ’ ὠφελεῖν παρών.

[¶13] Andromache:
And yet I sent for him more than once.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
καὶ μὴν ἔπεμψ’ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον.

[¶14] Maid:
Surely thou dost not suppose that any of thy messengers heed thee?

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
μῶν οὖν δοκεῖς σου φροντίσαι τιν’ ἀγγέλων;

[¶15] Andromache:
Why should they? Wilt thou then go for me?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
πόθεν; θέλεις οὖν ἄγγελος σύ μοι μολεῖν;

[¶16] Maid:
How shall I explain my long absence from the house?

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
τί δῆτα φήσω χρόνιος οὖσ’ ἐκ δωμάτων;

[¶17] Andromache:
Thou art a woman; thou canst invent a hundred ways.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
πολλὰς ἂν εὕροις μηχανάς· γυνὴ γὰρ εἶ.

[¶18] Maid:
There is a risk, for Hermione keeps no careless guard.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
κίνδυνος· Ἑρμιόνη γὰρ οὐ σμικρὸν φύλαξ.

[¶19] Andromache:
Dost look to that? Thou art disowning thy friends in distress.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὁρᾷς; ἀπαυδᾷς ἐν κακοῖς φίλοισι σοῖς.

[¶20] Maid:
Not so; never taunt me with that. I will go, for of a truth a
woman and a slave is not of much account, e’en if aught befall, me.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
οὐ δῆτα· μηδὲν τοῦτ’ ὀνειδίσῃς ἐμοί.
ἀλλ’ εἶμ’, ἐπεί τοι κοὐ περίβλεπτος βίος
δούλης γυναικός, ἤν τι καὶ πάθω κακόν.

[¶21] Andromache:
Go then, while I will tell to heaven the lengthy tale of lamentation, mourning, and weeping, that has ever been my hard lot; for ’tis woman’s way to delight in present misfortunes
even to keeping them always on her tongue and lips. But I have many reasons, not merely one for tears,–my city’s fall, my Hector’s death, the hardness of the lot to which I am bound, since I fell on slavery’s evil days undeservedly.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
χώρει νυν· ἡμεῖς δ’, οἷσπερ ἐγκείμεσθ’ ἀεὶ
θρήνοισι καὶ γόοισι καὶ δακρύμασι,
πρὸς αἰθέρ’ ἐκτενοῦμεν· ἐμπέφυκε γὰρ
γυναιξὶ τέρψις τῶν παρεστώτων κακῶν
ἀνὰ στόμ’ ἀεὶ καὶ διὰ γλώσσης ἔχειν.
πάρεστι δ’ οὐχ ἓν ἀλλὰ πολλά μοι στένειν,
πόλιν πατρῴαν τὸν θανόντα θ’ Ἕκτορα
στερρόν τε τὸν ἐμὸν δαίμον’ ᾧ συνεζύγην
δούλειον ἦμαρ εἰσπεσοῦσ’ ἀναξίως.

[¶22] ’Tis never right to call a son of man happy, till thou hast seen his end, to judge from the way he passes it how he will descend to that other world.

> Greek: χρὴ δ’ οὔποτ’ εἰπεῖν οὐδέν’ ὄλβιον βροτῶν,
πρὶν ἂν θανόντος τὴν τελευταίαν ἴδῃς
ὅπως περάσας ἡμέραν ἥξει κάτω.

[¶23] Andromache:’Twas no bride Paris took with him to the towers of Ilium, but a curse to his bed when he brought Helen to her bower.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
Ἰλίῳ αἰπεινᾷ Πάρις οὐ γάμον ἀλλά τιν’ ἄταν
ἠγάγετ’ εὐναίαν εἰς θαλάμους Ἑλέναν.

[¶24] For her sake, O Troy, did eager warriors, sailing from Hellas in a thousand ships, capture and make thee a prey to fire and sword; and the son of sea-born Thetis mounted on his chariot dragged my husband Hector round the walls, ah woe is me! while I was hurried from my chamber to the beach,
with slavery’s hateful pall upon me. And many a tear I shed as I left my city, my bridal bower, and my husband in the dust. Woe, woe is me! why should I prolong my life, to serve Hermione? Her cruelty it is that drives me hither
to the image of the goddess to throw my suppliant arms about it, melting to tears as doth a spring that gushes from the rock.

> Greek: ἇς ἕνεκ’, ὦ Τροία, δορὶ καὶ πυρὶ δηιάλωτον
εἷλέ σ’ ὁ χιλιόναυς Ἑλλάδος ὠκὺς Ἄρης
καὶ τὸν ἐμὸν μελέας πόσιν Ἕκτορα, τὸν περὶ τείχη
εἵλκυσε διφρεύων παῖς ἁλίας Θέτιδος·
αὐτὰ δ’ ἐκ θαλάμων ἀγόμαν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσας,
δουλοσύναν στυγερὰν ἀμφιβαλοῦσα κάρᾳ.
πολλὰ δὲ δάκρυά μοι κατέβα χροός, ἁνίκ’ ἔλειπον
ἄστυ τε καὶ θαλάμους καὶ πόσιν ἐν κονίαις.
ὤμοι ἐγὼ μελέα, τί μ’ ἐχρῆν ἔτι φέγγος ὁρᾶσθαι
Ἑρμιόνας δούλαν; ἇς ὕπο τειρομένα
πρὸς τόδ’ ἄγαλμα θεᾶς ἱκέτις περὶ χεῖρε βαλοῦσα
τάκομαι ὡς πετρίνα πιδακόεσσα λιβάς.

[¶25] Chorus:
Lady, thus keeping thy weary station without pause upon the floor of Thetis’ shrine, Phthian though I am, to thee a daughter of Asia I come,
to see if I can devise some remedy for these perplexing troubles, which have involved thee and Hermione in fell discord, because to thy sorrow thou
sharest with her the love of Achilles’ son.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ γύναι, ἃ Θέτιδος δάπεδον καὶ ἀνάκτορα θάσσεις
δαρὸν οὐδὲ λείπεις,
Φθιὰς ὅμως ἔμολον ποτὶ σὰν Ἀσιήτιδα γένναν,
εἴ τί σοι δυναίμαν
ἄκος τῶν δυσλύτων πόνων τεμεῖν,
οἳ σὲ καὶ Ἑρμιόναν ἔριδι στυγερᾷ συνέκλῃσαν,
τλάμον’ ἀμφὶ λέκτρων
διδύμων ἐπίκοινον ἐοῦσαν
ἀμφὶ παῖδ’ Ἀχιλλέως.

[¶26] Chorus:
Recognize thy position, weigh the present evil into the which thou art come. Thou art a Trojan captive; thy rival is thy mistress, a true-born daughter of Sparta. Leave then
this home of sacrifice, the shrine of our sea-goddess. How can it avail thee to waste thy comeliness and disfigure it by weeping by reason of a mistress’s harsh usage? Might will prevail against thee; why vainly toil in thy feebleness?

> Greek: Χορός:
γνῶθι τύχαν, λόγισαι τὸ παρὸν κακὸν εἰς ὅπερ ἥκεις.
δεσπόταις ἁμιλλᾷ
Ἰλιὰς οὖσα κόρα Λακεδαίμονος ἐγγενέτῃσιν;
λεῖπε δεξίμηλον
δόμον τᾶς ποντίας θεοῦ. τί σοι
καιρὸς ἀτυζομένᾳ δέμας αἰκέλιον καταλείβειν
δεσποτῶν ἀνάγκαις;
τὸ κρατοῦν δέ σ’ ἔπεισι. τί μόχθον
οὐδὲν οὖσα μοχθεῖς;

[¶27] Chorus:
Come, quit the bright sanctuary of the Nereid divine. Recognize that thou art in bondage on a foreign soil, in a strange city, where thou seest none of all thy friends, luckless lady,
cast on evil days.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλ’ ἴθι λεῖπε θεᾶς Νηρηίδος ἀγλαὸν ἕδραν,
γνῶθι δ’ οὖσ’ ἐπὶ ξένας
δμωὶς ἐπ’ ἀλλοτρίας
πόλεος, ἔνθ’ οὐ φίλων τιν’ εἰσορᾷς
σῶν, ὦ δυστυχεστάτα,
παντάλαινα νύμφα.

[¶28] Chorus:
Yea, I did pity thee most truly, Trojan dame, when thou earnest to this house; but from fear of my mistress I hold my peace, albeit I sympathize with thee,
lest she, whom Zeus’s daughter bore, discover my good will toward thee.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰκτροτάτα γὰρ ἔμοιγ’ ἔμολες, γύναι Ἰλιάς, οἴκους
δεσποτῶν ἐμῶν· φόβῳ δ’
ἡσυχίαν ἄγομεν—
τὸ δὲ σὸν οἴκτῳ φέρουσα τυγχάνω—
μὴ παῖς τᾶς Διὸς κόρας
σοί μ’ εὖ φρονοῦσαν εἰδῇ.
…
…

[¶29] Hermione:
With a crown of golden workmanship upon my head and about my body this embroidered robe am I come hither; no presents these I wear from the palace of Achilles or Peleus,
but gifts my father Menelaus gave me together with a sumptuous dower from Sparta in Laconia, to insure me freedom of speech. Such is my answer to you;

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
κόσμον μὲν ἀμφὶ κρατὶ χρυσέας χλιδῆς
στολμόν τε χρωτὸς τόνδε ποικίλων πέπλων
οὐ τῶν Ἀχιλλέως οὐδὲ Πηλέως ἄπο
δόμων ἀπαρχὰς δεῦρ’ ἔχουσ’ ἀφικόμην,
ἀλλ’ ἐκ Λακαίνης Σπαρτιάτιδος χθονὸς
Μενέλαος ἡμῖν ταῦτα δωρεῖται πατὴρ
πολλοῖς σὺν ἕδνοις, ὥστ’ ἐλευθεροστομεῖν.
ὑμᾶς μὲν οὖν τοῖσδ’ ἀνταμείβομαι λόγοις·

[¶30] but as for thee, slave and captive, thou wouldst fain oust me and secure this palace for thyself, and thanks to thy enchantment I am hated by my husband; thou it is that hast made my womb barren and cheated my hopes; for Asia’s daughters have clever heads for such villainy;
yet will I check thee therefrom, nor shall this temple of the Nereid avail thee aught, no! neither its altar or shrine, but thou shalt die. But if or god or man should haply wish to save thee, thou must atone for thy proud thoughts of happier days now past
by humbling thyself and crouching prostrate at my knees, by sweeping out my halls, and by learning, as thou sprinklest water from a golden ewer, where thou now art. Here is no Hector, no Priam with his gold, but a city of Hellas.

> Greek: σὺ δ’ οὖσα δούλη καὶ δορίκτητος γυνὴ
δόμους κατασχεῖν ἐκβαλοῦσ’ ἡμᾶς θέλεις
τούσδε, στυγοῦμαι δ’ ἀνδρὶ φαρμάκοισι σοῖς,
νηδὺς δ’ ἀκύμων διὰ σέ μοι διόλλυται·
δεινὴ γὰρ ἠπειρῶτις εἰς τὰ τοιάδε
ψυχὴ γυναικῶν· ὧν ἐπισχήσω σ’ ἐγώ,
κοὐδέν σ’ ὀνήσει δῶμα Νηρῇδος τόδε,
οὐ βωμὸς οὐδὲ ναός, ἀλλὰ κατθανῇ.
ἢν δ’ οὖν βροτῶν τίς σ’ ἢ θεῶν σῷσαι θέλῃ,
δεῖ σ’ ἀντὶ τῶν πρὶν ὀλβίων φρονημάτων
πτῆξαι ταπεινὴν προσπεσεῖν τ’ ἐμὸν γόνυ,
σαίρειν τε δῶμα τοὐμὸν ἐκ χρυσηλάτων
τευχέων χερὶ σπείρουσαν Ἀχελῴου δρόσον,
γνῶναί θ’ ἵν’ εἶ γῆς. οὐ γάρ ἐσθ’ Ἕκτωρ τάδε,
οὐ Πρίαμος οὐδὲ χρυσός, ἀλλ’ Ἑλλὰς πόλις.

[¶31] Yet thou, miserable woman, hast gone so far in wantonness that thou canst lay thee down with the son of the very man that slew thy husband, and bear children to the murderer. Such is all the race of barbarians; father and daughter, mother and son,
sister and brother mate together; the nearest and dearest stain their path with each others blood, and no law restrains such horrors. Bring not these crimes amongst us, for here we count it shame that one man should have the control of two wives, and men are content to turn their attention to one lawful love,
that is, all who care to live an honourable life.

> Greek: εἰς τοῦτο δ’ ἥκεις ἀμαθίας, δύστηνε σύ,
ἣ παιδὶ πατρός, ὃς σὸν ὤλεσεν πόσιν,
τολμᾷς ξυνεύδειν καὶ τέκν’ αὐθέντου πάρα
τίκτειν. τοιοῦτον πᾶν τὸ βάρβαρον γένος·
πατήρ τε θυγατρὶ παῖς τε μητρὶ μίγνυται
κόρη τ’ ἀδελφῷ, διὰ φόνου δ’ οἱ φίλτατοι
χωροῦσι, καὶ τῶνδ’ οὐδὲν ἐξείργει νόμος.
ἃ μὴ παρ’ ἡμᾶς εἴσφερ’· οὐδὲ γὰρ καλὸν
δυοῖν γυναικοῖν ἄνδρ’ ἕν’ ἡνίας ἔχειν,
ἀλλ’ εἰς μίαν βλέποντες εὐναίαν Κύπριν
στέργουσιν, ὅστις μὴ κακῶς οἰκεῖν θέλει.

[¶32] Chorus:
Women are by nature somewhat jealous, and do ever show the keenest hate to rivals in their love.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπίφθονόν τοι χρῆμα θηλείας φρενὸς
καὶ ξυγγάμοισι δυσμενὲς μάλιστ’ ἀεί.

[¶33] Andromache:
Ah! well-a-day! Youth is a bane to mortals,
in every case, that is, where a man embraces injustice in his early days. Now I am afraid that my being a slave will prevent thee listening to me in spite of many a just plea, or if I win my case, I fear I may be damaged on this very ground, for the high and mighty cannot brook refuting arguments
from their inferiors; still I will not be convicted of betraying my own cause. Tell me, proud young wife, what assurance can make me confident of wresting from thee thy lawful lord? Is it that Laconias capital yields to Phrygia?
is it that my fortune outstrips thine? or that in me thou seest a free woman? Am I so elated by my youth, my full healthy figure, the extent of my city, the number of my friends that I wish to supplant thee in thy home? Is my purpose to take thy place and rear myself a race
of slaves, mere appendages to my misery? or, supposing thou bear no children, will any one endure that sons of mine should rule oer Phthia? Ah no! there is the love that Hellas bears me, both for Hectors sake and for my own humble rank forsooth, that never knew a queens estate in Troy.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
φεῦ φεῦ·
κακόν γε θνητοῖς τὸ νέον ἔν τε τῷ νέῳ
τὸ μὴ δίκαιον ὅστις ἀνθρώπων ἔχει.
ἐγὼ δὲ ταρβῶ μὴ τὸ δουλεύειν μέ σοι
λόγων ἀπώσῃ πόλλ’ ἔχουσαν ἔνδικα,
ἢν δ’ αὖ κρατήσω, μὴ ’πὶ τῷδ’ ὄφλω βλάβην·
οἱ γὰρ πνέοντες μεγάλα τοὺς κρείσσους λόγους
πικρῶς φέρουσι τῶν ἐλασσόνων ὕπο·
ὅμως δ’ ἐμαυτὴν οὐ προδοῦσ’ ἁλώσομαι.
εἴπ’, ὦ νεᾶνι, τῷ σ’ ἐχεγγύῳ λόγῳ
πεισθεῖσ’ ἀπωθῶ γνησίων νυμφευμάτων;
ὡς ἡ Λάκαινα τῶν Φρυγῶν μείων πόλις,
τύχῃ θ’ ὑπερθεῖ, κἄμ’ ἐλευθέραν ὁρᾷς;
ἢ τῷ νέῳ τε καὶ σφριγῶντι σώματι
πόλεως τε μεγέθει καὶ φίλοις ἐπηρμένη
οἶκον κατασχεῖν τὸν σὸν ἀντὶ σοῦ θέλω;
πότερον ἵν’ αὐτὴ παῖδας ἀντὶ σοῦ τέκω
δούλους ἐμαυτῇ τ’ ἀθλίαν ἐφολκίδα;
ἢ τοὺς ἐμούς τις παῖδας ἐξανέξεται
Φθίας τυράννους ὄντας, ἢν σὺ μὴ τέκῃς;
φιλοῦσι γάρ μ’ Ἕλληνες Ἕκτορός τ’ ἄπο;
αὐτή τ’ ἀμαυρὰ κοὐ τύραννος ἦ Φρυγῶν;

[¶34] ’Tis not my sorcery that makes thy husband hate thee, nay, but thy own failure to prove thyself his help-meet. Herein lies love’s only charm tis not beauty, lady, but virtuous acts that win our husbands’ hearts. And though it gall thee to be told so, albeit thy city in Laconia
is no doubt a mighty fact, yet thou findest no place for his Scyros, displaying wealth ’midst poverty and setting Menelaus above Achilles: and that is what alienates thy lord. Take heed; for a woman, though bestowed upon a worthless husband, must be with him content, and ne’er advance presumptuous claims.

> Greek: οὐκ ἐξ ἐμῶν σε φαρμάκων στυγεῖ πόσις,
ἀλλ’ εἰ ξυνεῖναι μὴ ’πιτηδεία κυρεῖς.
φίλτρον δὲ καὶ τόδ’· οὐ τὸ κάλλος, ὦ γύναι,
ἀλλ’ ἁρεταὶ τέρπουσι τοὺς ξυνευνέτας.
σὺ δ’ ἤν τι κνισθῇς, ἡ Λάκαινα μὲν πόλις
μέγ’ ἐστί, τὴν δὲ Σκῦρον οὐδαμοῦ τίθης·
πλουτεῖς δ’ ἐν οὐ πλουτοῦσι· Μενέλεως δέ σοι
μείζων Ἀχιλλέως. ταῦτά τοί σ’ ἔχθει πόσις.
χρὴ γὰρ γυναῖκα, κἂν κακῷ πόσει δοθῇ,
στέργειν, ἅμιλλάν τ’ οὐκ ἔχειν φρονήματος.

[¶35] Suppose thou hadst wedded a prince of Thrace, the land of flood and melting snow, where one lord shares his affections with a host of wives, wouldst thou have slain them? If so, thou wouldst have set a stigma of insatiate lust on all our sex.

> Greek: εἰ δ’ ἀμφὶ Θρῄκην χιόνι τὴν κατάρρυτον
τύραννον ἔσχες ἄνδρ’, ἵν’ ἐν μέρει λέχος
δίδωσι πολλαῖς εἷς ἀνὴρ κοινούμενος,
ἔκτεινας ἂν τάσδ’; εἶτ’ ἀπληστίαν λέχους
πάσαις γυναιξὶ προστιθεῖσ’ ἂν ηὑρέθης.

[¶36] A shameful charge! And yet herein we suffer more than men, though we make a good stand against it. Ah! my dear lord Hector, for thy sake would I e’en brook a rival, if ever Cypris led thee astray, and oft in days gone by I held thy bastard babes to my own breast,
to spare thee any cause for grief. By this course I bound my husband to me by virtue’s chains, whereas thou wilt never so much as let the drops of dew from heaven above settle on thy lord, in thy jealous fear.
Oh! seek not to surpass thy mother in hankering after men, for ’tis well that all wise children should avoid the habits of such evil mothers.

> Greek: αἰσχρόν γε· καίτοι χείρον’ ἀρσένων νόσον
ταύτην νοσοῦμεν, ἀλλὰ προύστημεν καλῶς.
ὦ φίλταθ’ Ἕκτορ, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τὴν σὴν χάριν
σοὶ καὶ ξυνήρων, εἴ τί σε σφάλλοι Κύπρις,
καὶ μαστὸν ἤδη πολλάκις νόθοισι σοῖς
ἐπέσχον, ἵνα σοι μηδὲν ἐνδοίην πικρόν.
καὶ ταῦτα δρῶσα τῇ ἀρετῇ προσηγόμην
πόσιν· σὺ δ’ οὐδὲ ῥανίδ’ ὑπαιθρίας δρόσου
τῷ σῷ προσίζειν ἀνδρὶ δειμαίνουσ’ ἐᾷς.
μὴ τὴν τεκοῦσαν τῇ φιλανδρίᾳ, γύναι,
ζήτει παρελθεῖν· τῶν κακῶν γὰρ μητέρων
φεύγειν τρόπους χρὴ τέκν’, ⟨ὅς⟩οις ἔνεστι νοῦς.

[¶37] Chorus:
Mistress mine, be persuaded to come to terms with her, as far as readily comes within thy power.

> Greek: Χορός:
δέσποιν’, ὅσον σοι ῥᾳδίως προσίσταται,
τοσόνδε πείθου τῇδε συμβῆναι λόγοις.

[¶38] Hermione:
Why this haughty tone, this bandying of words, as if, forsooth, thou, not I, wert the virtuous wife?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
τί σεμνομυθεῖς κεἰς ἀγῶν’ ἔρχῃ λόγων,
ὡς δὴ σὺ σώφρων, τἀμὰ δ’ οὐχὶ σώφρονα;

[¶39] Andromache:
Thy present claims at any rate give thee small title thereto.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οὔκουν ἐφ’ οἷς γε νῦν καθέστηκας λόγοις.

[¶40] Hermione:
Woman, may my bosom never harbour such ideas as thine!

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ὁ νοῦς ὁ σός μοι μὴ ξυνοικοίη, γύναι.

[¶41] Andromache:
Thou art young to speak on so delicate a subject.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
νέα πέφυκας καὶ λέγεις αἰσχρῶν πέρι.

[¶42] Hermione:
As for thee, thou dost not speak thereof but, as thou canst, dost put it into action against me.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
σὺ δ’ οὐ λέγεις γε, δρᾷς δέ μ’ εἰς ὅσον δύνῃ.

[¶43] Andromache:
Canst thou not conceal thy pangs of jealousy?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οὐκ αὖ σιωπῇ Κύπριδος ἀλγήσεις πέρι;

[¶44] Hermione:
What! doth not every woman put this first of all?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
τί δ’; οὐ γυναιξὶ ταῦτα πρῶτα πανταχοῦ;

[¶45] Andromache:
Yes, if her experiences are happy; otherwise, there is no honour in speaking of them.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
[ναί,]
καλῶς γε χρωμέναισιν· εἰ δὲ μή, οὐ καλά.

[¶46] Hermione:
Barbarians’ laws are not a standard for our city.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
οὐ βαρβάρων νόμοισιν οἰκοῦμεν πόλιν.

[¶47] Andromache:
Alike in Asia and in Hellas infamy attends base actions.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
κἀκεῖ τά γ’ αἰσχρὰ κἀνθάδ’ αἰσχύνην ἔχει.

[¶48] Hermione:
Clever, clever quibbler! yet die thou must and shalt.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
σοφὴ σοφὴ σύ· κατθανεῖν δ’ ὅμως σε δεῖ.

[¶49] Andromache:
Dost see the image of Thetis with her eye upon thee?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὁρᾷς ἄγαλμα Θέτιδος εἰς σ’ ἀποβλέπον;

[¶50] Hermione:
A bitter foe to thy country because of the death of Achilles.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
μισοῦν γε πατρίδα σὴν Ἀχιλλέως φόνῳ.

[¶51] Andromache:’Twas not I that slew him, but Helen that mother of thine.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
Ἑλένη νιν ὤλεσ’, οὐκ ἐγώ, μήτηρ δὲ σή.

[¶52] Hermione:
Pray, is it thy intention to probe my wounds yet deeper?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἦ καὶ πρόσω γὰρ τῶν ἐμῶν ψαύσεις κακῶν;

[¶53] Andromache:
Behold, I am dumb, my lips are closed.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἰδοὺ σιωπῶ κἀπιλάζυμαι στόμα.

[¶54] Hermione:
Tell me that which was my only reason for coming hither.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἐκεῖνο λέξον, οὗπερ εἵνεκ’ ἐστάλην.

[¶55] Andromache:
No! all I tell thee is, thou hast less wisdom than thou needest.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
λέγω σ’ ἐγὼ νοῦν οὐκ ἔχειν ὅσον σε δεῖ.

[¶56] Hermione:
Wilt thou leave these hallowed precincts of the sea-goddess?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
λείψεις τόδ’ ἁγνὸν τέμενος ἐναλίας θεοῦ;

[¶57] Andromache:
Yes, if I am not to die for it; otherwise, I never will.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
εἰ μὴ θανοῦμαί γ’· εἰ δὲ μή, οὐ λείψω ποτέ.

[¶58] Hermione:
Since that is thy resolve, I shall not even wait my lord’s return.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ὡς τοῦτ’ ἄραρε, κοὐ μενῶ πόσιν μολεῖν.

[¶59] Andromache:
Nor yet will I, at any rate ere that, surrender to thee.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἐγὼ μὴν πρόσθεν ἐκδώσω μέ σοι.

[¶60] Hermione:
I will bring fire to bear on thee, and pay no heed to thy entreaties.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
πῦρ σοι προσοίσω, κοὐ τὸ σὸν προσκέψομαι—

[¶61] Andromache:
Kindle thy blaze then; the gods will witness it.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
σὺ δ’ οὖν κάταιθε· θεοὶ γὰρ εἴσονται τάδε.

[¶62] Hermione:
And make thy flesh to writhe by cruel wounds.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
καὶ χρωτὶ δεινῶν τραυμάτων ἀλγηδόνας.

[¶63] Andromache:
Begin thy butchery, stain the altar of the goddess with blood, for she will visit thy iniquity.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
σφάζ’, αἱμάτου θεᾶς βωμόν, ἣ μέτεισί σε.

[¶64] Hermione:
Barbarian creature, hardened in impudence, wilt thou brave death itself? Still will I find speedy means to make thee quit this seat of thy free-will; such a bait have I to lure thee with. But I will hide my meaning,
which the event itself shall soon declare. Yes, keep thy seat, for I will make thee rise, though molten lead is holding thee there, before Achilles’ son, thy trusted champion, arrive. Exit Hermione.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ὦ βάρβαρον σὺ θρέμμα καὶ σκληρὸν θράσος,
ἐγκαρτερεῖς δὴ θάνατον; ἀλλ’ ἐγώ σ’ ἕδρας
ἐκ τῆσδ’ ἑκοῦσαν ἐξαναστήσω τάχα·
τοιόνδ’ ἔχω σου δέλεαρ. ἀλλὰ γὰρ λόγους
κρύψω, τὸ δ’ ἔργον αὐτὸ σημανεῖ τάχα.
κάθησ’ ἑδραία· καὶ γὰρ εἰ πέριξ σ’ ἔχοι
τηκτὸς μόλυβδος, ἐξαναστήσω σ’ ἐγὼ
πρὶν ᾧ πέποιθας παῖδ’ Ἀχιλλέως μολεῖν.

[¶65] Andromache:
My trusted champion, yes! how strange it is, that, though some god hath devised cures for mortals against the venom of reptiles, no man ever yet hath discovered aught to cure a woman’s venom, which is far worse than viper’s sting or scorching flame; so terrible a curse are we to mankind.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
πέποιθα. δεινὸν δ’ ἑρπετῶν μὲν ἀγρίων
ἄκη βροτοῖσι θεῶν καταστῆσαί τινα·
ὃ δ’ ἔστ’ ἐχίδνης καὶ πυρὸς περαιτέρω,
οὐδεὶς γυναικὸς φάρμακ’ ἐξηύρηκέ πω
κακῆς· τοσοῦτόν ἐσμεν ἀνθρώποις κακόν.

[¶66] Chorus:
Ah! what sorrows did the son of Zeus and Maia herald,
in the day he came to Ida’s glen, guiding that fair young trio of goddesses, all girded for the fray in bitter rivalry about their beauty,
to the shepherd’s fold, where dwelt the youthful herdsman all alone by the hearth of his lonely hut.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἦ μεγάλων ἀχέων ἄρ’ ὑπῆρξεν, ὅτ’ Ἰδαίαν
ἐς νάπαν ἦλθ’ ὁ Μαί-
ας τε καὶ Διὸς τόκος,
τρίπωλον ἅρμα δαιμόνων
ἄγων τὸ καλλιζυγές,
ἔριδι στυγερᾷ κεκορυθμένον εὐμορφίας
σταθμοὺς ἐπὶ βούτα,
βοτῆρά τ’ ἀμφὶ μονότροπον νεανίαν
ἔρημόν θ’
ἑστιοῦχον αὐλάν.

[¶67] Chorus:
Soon as they reached the wooded glen, in gushing mountain
springs they bathed their dazzling skin, then sought the son of Priam, comparing their rival charms in more than rancorous phrase. But Cypris won the day by her deceitful promises,
sweet-sounding words, but fraught with ruthless overthrow to Phrygia’s hapless town and Ilium’s towers.

> Greek: Χορός:
ταὶ δ’ ἐπεὶ ὑλόκομον νάπος ἤλυθον οὐρειᾶν
πιδάκων νίψαν αἰ-
γλᾶντα σώματα ῥοαῖς,
ἔβαν δὲ Πριαμίδαν ὑπερ-
βολαῖς λόγων δυσφρόνων
παραβαλλόμεναι, δολίοις ⟨δ’⟩ ἕλε Κύπρις λόγοις,
τερπνοῖς μὲν ἀκοῦσαι,
πικρὰν δὲ σύγχυσιν βίου Φρυγῶν πόλει
ταλαίνᾳ
περγάμοις τε Τροίας.

[¶68] Chorus:
Would God his mother had smitten him a cruel death-blow on the head before he made his home on Ida’s
slopes, in the hour Cassandra, standing by the holy bay-tree, cried out, “Slay him, for he will bring most grievous bane on Priam’s town.” To every prince she went, to every elder sued
for the babe’s destruction.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλ’ εἴθ’ ὑπὲρ κεφαλὰν ἔβαλεν κακὸν
ἁ τεκοῦσά νιν [Πάριν]
πρὶν Ἰδαῖ-
ον κατοικίσαι λέπας·
ὅτε νιν παρὰ θεσπεσίῳ δάφνᾳ
βόασε Κασάνδρα κτανεῖν,
μεγάλαν Πριάμου πόλεως λώβαν.
τίν’ οὐκ ἐπῆλθε, ποῖον οὐκ ἐλίσσετο
δαμογερόν-
των βρέφος φονεύειν;

[¶69] Chorus:
Ah! had they listened, Ilium’s daughters ne’er had felt the yoke of slavery, and thou, lady, hadst been established in the royal palace; and Hellas had been freed of all the anguish
she suffered during those ten long years her sons went wandering, spear in hand, around the walls of Troy; brides had never been left desolate, nor hoary fathers childless.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔτ’ ἂν ἐπ’ Ἰλιάσι ζυγὸν ἤλυθε
δούλιον, σύ τ’ ἂν γύναι,
τυράννων
ἔσχες ἂν δόμων ἕδρας·
παρέλυσε δ’ ἂν Ἑλλάδος ἀλγεινοὺς
μόχθους οὓς ἀμφὶ Τροίαν
δεκέτεις ἀλάληντο νέοι λόγχαις.
λέχη τ’ ἔρημ’ ἂν οὔποτ’ ἐξελείπετο,
καὶ τεκέων
ὀρφανοὶ γέροντες.

[¶70] Menelaus:
Behold I bring thy son with me, whom thou didst steal away to a neighbour’s house
without my daughter’s knowledge. Thou wert so sure this image of the goddess would protect thee and those who hid him, but thou hast not proved clever enough for Menelaus. And so if thou refuse to leave thy station here,
he shall be slain instead of thee. Wherefore weigh it well: wilt die thyself, or see him slain for the sin whereof thou art guilty against me and my daughter?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἥκω λαβὼν σὸν παῖδ’, ὃν εἰς ἄλλους δόμους
λάθρᾳ θυγατρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ὑπεξέθου.
σὲ μὲν γὰρ ηὔχεις θεᾶς βρέτας σῴσειν τόδε,
τοῦτον δὲ τοὺς κρύψαντας· ἀλλ’ ἐφηυρέθης
ἧσσον φρονοῦσα τοῦδε Μενέλεω, γύναι.
κεἰ μὴ τόδ’ ἐκλιποῦσ’ ἐρημώσεις πέδον,
ὅδ’ ἀντὶ τοῦ σοῦ σώματος σφαγήσεται.
ταῦτ’ οὖν λογίζου, πότερα κατθανεῖν θέλεις
ἢ τόνδ’ ὀλέσθαι σῆς ἁμαρτίας ὕπερ,
ἣν εἰς ἔμ’ εἴς τε παῖδ’ ἐμὴν ἁμαρτάνεις.

[¶71] Andromache:
O fame, fame! full many a man ere
now of no account hast thou to high estate exalted. Those, indeed, who truly have a fair repute, I count blest; but those who get it by false pretences, I will never allow have aught but the accidental appearance of wisdom. Thou for instance, caitiff that thou art, didst thou ever wrest
Troy from Priam with thy picked troops of Hellenes? thou that hast raised such a storm, at the word of thy daughter, a mere child, and hast entered the lists with a poor captive; unworthy I count thee of Troy’s capture, and Troy still more disgraced by thy victory.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὦ δόξα δόξα, μυρίοισι δὴ βροτῶν
οὐδὲν γεγῶσι βίοτον ὤγκωσας μέγαν.
εὔκλεια δ’ οἷς μὲν ἔστ’ ἀληθείας ὕπο,
εὐδαιμονίζω· τοὺς δ’ ὑπὸ ψευδῶν, ἔχειν
οὐκ ἀξιώσω, πλὴν τύχῃ φρονεῖν δοκεῖν.
σὺ δὴ στρατηγῶν λογάσιν Ἑλλήνων ποτὲ
Τροίαν ἀφείλου Πρίαμον, ὧδε φαῦλος ὤν;
ὅστις θυγατρὸς ἀντίπαιδος ἐκ λόγων
τοσόνδ’ ἔπνευσας, καὶ γυναικὶ δυστυχεῖ
δούλῃ κατέστης εἰς ἀγῶν’; οὐκ ἀξιῶ
οὔτ’ οὖν σὲ Τροίας οὔτε σοῦ Τροίαν ἔτι.

[¶72] Those who only in appearance are men of sense make an outward show, but inwardly resemble the common herd, save it be in wealth, which is their chiefest strength.

> Greek: [ἔξωθέν εἰσιν οἱ δοκοῦντες εὖ φρονεῖν]
[λαμπροί, τὰ δ’ ἔνδον πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἴσοι,]
[πλὴν εἴ τι πλούτῳ· τοῦτο δ’ ἰσχύει μέγα.]

[¶73] Come now, Menelaus, let us discuss this argument. Suppose I am slain by thy daughter, and she work her will on me,
yet can she never escape the pollution of murder, and public opinion will make thee too an accomplice in this deed of blood, for thy share in the business must needs implicate thee. But even supposing I escape death myself, will ye kill my child? Even then, how will his father
brook the murder of his child? Troy has no such coward’s tale to tell of him; nay, he will follow duty’s call; his actions will prove him a worthy scion of Peleus and Achilles. Thy daughter will he thrust forth from his house; and what wilt thou
say when seeking to betroth her to another? wilt say her virtue made her leave a worthless lord? Nay, that will be false. Who then will wed her? wilt thou keep her without a husband in thy halls, grown grey in widowhood? Unhappy wretch! dost not see the flood-gates of trouble opening wide for thee?

> Greek: Μενέλαε, φέρε δὴ διαπεράνωμεν λόγους·
τέθνηκα τῇ σῇ θυγατρὶ καί μ’ ἀπώλεσε·
μιαιφόνον μὲν οὐκέτ’ ἂν φύγοι μύσος.
ἐν τοῖς δὲ πολλοῖς καὶ σὺ τόνδ’ ἀγωνιῇ
φόνον· τὸ συνδρῶν γάρ σ’ ἀναγκάσει χρέος.
ἢν δ’ οὖν ἐγὼ μὲν μὴ θανεῖν ὑπεκδράμω,
τὸν παῖδά μου κτενεῖτε; κᾆτα πῶς πατὴρ
τέκνου θανόντος ῥᾳδίως ἀνέξεται;
οὐχ ὧδ’ ἄνανδρον αὐτὸν ἡ Τροία καλεῖ·
ἀλλ’ εἶσιν οἷ χρή—Πηλέως γὰρ ἄξια
πατρός τ’ Ἀχιλλέως ἔργα δρῶν φανήσεται—
ὤσει δὲ σὴν παῖδ’ ἐκ δόμων· σὺ δ’ ἐκδιδοὺς
ἄλλῳ τί λέξεις; πότερον ὡς κακὸν πόσιν
φεύγει τὸ ταύτης σῶφρον; ἀλλὰ πεύσεται.
γαμεῖ δὲ τίς νιν; ἤ σφ’ ἄνανδρον ἐν δόμοις
χήραν καθέξεις πολιόν; ὦ τλήμων ἀνήρ,
κακῶν τοσούτων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἐπιρροάς;

[¶74] How many a wrong against a wife wouldst thou prefer thy daughter to have found to suffering what I now describe? We ought not on trifling grounds to promote serious mischief; nor should men, if we women are so deadly a curse, bring their nature down to our level.

> Greek: πόσας ἂν εὐνὰς θυγατέρ’ ἠδικημένην
βούλοι’ ἂν εὑρεῖν ἢ παθεῖν ἁγὼ λέγω;
οὐ χρὴ ’πὶ μικροῖς μεγάλα πορσύνειν κακὰ
οὐδ’, εἰ γυναῖκές ἐσμεν ἀτηρὸν κακόν,
ἄνδρας γυναιξὶν ἐξομοιοῦσθαι φύσιν.

[¶75] No! if, as thy daughter asserts, I am practising sorcery against her and making her barren, right willingly will I, without any crouching at altars, submit in my own person to the penalty that lies in her husband’s hands,
seeing that I am no less chargeable with injuring him if I make him childless. This is my case; but for thee, there is one thing I fear in thy disposition; it was a quarrel for a woman that really induced thee to destroy poor Ilium’s town.

> Greek: ἡμεῖς γὰρ εἰ σὴν παῖδα φαρμακεύομεν
καὶ νηδὺν ἐξαμβλοῦμεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει,
ἑκόντες οὐκ ἄκοντες, οὐδὲ βώμιοι
πίτνοντες, αὐτοὶ τὴν δίκην ὑφέξομεν
ἐν σοῖσι γαμβροῖς, οἷσιν οὐκ ἐλάσσονα
βλάβην ὀφείλω προστιθεῖσ’ ἀπαιδίαν.
ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν τοιοίδε· τῆς δὲ σῆς φρενὸς—
ἕν σου δέδοικα· διὰ γυναικείαν ἔριν
καὶ τὴν τάλαιναν ὤλεσας Φρυγῶν πόλιν.

[¶76] Chorus:
Thou hast said too much for a woman speaking to men. that discretion hath shot away its last shaft from thy soul’s quiver.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄγαν ἔλεξας ὡς γυνὴ πρὸς ἄρσενας,
καί σου τὸ σῶφρον ἐξετόξευσεν φρενός.

[¶77] Menelaus:
Woman, these are petty matters, unworthy, as thou sayest, of my despotic sway, unworthy too of Hellas. Yet mark this well; his special fancy of the hour is of more moment to a man than Troy’s capture.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
γύναι, τάδ’ ἐστὶ σμικρὰ καὶ μοναρχίας
οὐκ ἄξι’, ὡς φῄς, τῆς ἐμῆς οὐδ’ Ἑλλάδος.
εὖ δ’ ἴσθ’, ὅτου τις τυγχάνει χρείαν ἔχων,
τοῦτ’ ἔσθ’ ἑκάστῳ μεῖζον ἢ Τροίαν ἑλεῖν.

[¶78] I then have set myself to help my daughter because I consider her loss of a wife’s rights a grave matter; for whatever else a woman suffers is secondary to this; if she loses her husband’s love she loses her life therewith. Now, as it is right Neoptolemus should rule my slaves,
so my friends and I should have control of his; for friends, if they be really friends, keep nothing to themselves, but have all in common. So if I wait for the absent instead of making the best arrangement I can at once of my affairs, I show weakness, not wisdom.

> Greek: κἀγὼ θυγατρί—μεγάλα γὰρ κρίνω τάδε,
λέχους στέρεσθαι—σύμμαχος καθίσταμαι.
τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλα δεύτερ’ ἂν πάσχοι γυνή,
ἀνδρὸς δ’ ἁμαρτάνουσ’ ἁμαρτάνει βίου.
δούλων δ’ ἐκεῖνον τῶν ἐμῶν ἄρχειν χρεὼν
καὶ τῶν ἐκείνου τοὺς ἐμούς, ἡμᾶς τε πρός·
φίλων γὰρ οὐδὲν ἴδιον, οἵτινες φίλοι
ὀρθῶς πεφύκασ’, ἀλλὰ κοινὰ χρήματα.
μένων δὲ τοὺς ἀπόντας, εἰ μὴ θήσομαι
τἄμ’ ὡς ἄριστα, φαῦλός εἰμι κοὐ σοφός.

[¶79] Arise then, leave the goddess’s shrine, for by thy death this child escapeth his, whereas, if thou refuse to die, I will slay him; for one of you twain must perish.

> Greek: ἀλλ’ ἐξανίστω τῶνδ’ ἀνακτόρων θεᾶς·
ὡς, ἢν θάνῃς σύ, παῖς ὅδ’ ἐκφεύγει μόρον,
σοῦ δ’ οὐ θελούσης κατθανεῖν, τόνδε κτενῶ.
δυοῖν δ’ ἀνάγκη θατέρῳ λιπεῖν βίον.

[¶80] Andromache:
Ah me!’tis a bitter lot thou art offering about my
life; whether I take it or not I am equally unfortunate. Attend to me, thou who for a trifling cause art committing an awful crime. Why art thou bent on slaying me? What reason hast thou? What city have I betrayed? Which of thy children was ever slain by me?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οἴμοι, πικρὰν κλήρωσιν αἵρεσίν τέ μοι
βίου καθίστης· καὶ λαχοῦσά γ’ ἀθλία
καὶ μὴ λαχοῦσα δυστυχὴς καθίσταμαι.
ὦ μεγάλα πράσσων αἰτίας μικρᾶς πέρι,
πιθοῦ· τί καίνεις μ’; ἀντὶ τοῦ; ποίαν πόλιν
προύδωκα; τίνα σῶν ἔκτανον παίδων ἐγώ;

[¶81] What house have I fired? I was forced to be my master’s concubine; and spite of that wilt thou slay me, not him who is to blame, passing by the cause and hurrying to the inevitable result? Ah me! my sorrows! Woe for my hapless country!
How cruel my fate! Why had I to be a mother too and take upon me a double load of suffering? Yet why do I mourn the past, and o’er the present never shed a tear or compute its griefs? I that saw Hector butchered and dragged behind the chariot,
and Ilium, piteous sight! one sheet of flame, while I was haled away by the hair of my head to the Argive ships in I slavery, and on my arrival in Phthia was assigned to Hector’s murderer as his mistress. What pleasure then has life for me? Whither am I to turn my gaze?

> Greek: ποῖον δ’ ἔπρησα δῶμ’; ἐκοιμήθην βίᾳ
σὺν δεσπόταισι· κᾆτ’ ἔμ’, οὐ κεῖνον κτενεῖς,
τὸν αἴτιον τῶνδ’, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀφεὶς
πρὸς τὴν τελευτὴν ὑστέραν οὖσαν φέρῃ;
οἴμοι κακῶν τῶνδ’, ὦ τάλαιν’ ἐμὴ πατρίς,
ὡς δεινὰ πάσχω. τί δέ με καὶ τεκεῖν ἐχρῆν
ἄχθος τ’ ἐπ’ ἄχθει τῷδε προσθέσθαι διπλοῦν;
[ἀτὰρ τί ταῦτα δύρομαι, τὰ δ’ ἐν ποσὶν]
[οὐκ ἐξικμάζω καὶ λογίζομαι κακά;]
ἥτις σφαγὰς μὲν Ἕκτορος τροχηλάτους
κατεῖδον οἰκτρῶς τ’ Ἴλιον πυρούμενον,
αὐτὴ δὲ δούλη ναῦς ἐπ’ Ἀργείων ἔβην
κόμης ἐπισπασθεῖσ’· ἐπεὶ δ’ ἀφικόμην
Φθίαν, φονεῦσιν Ἕκτορος νυμφεύομαι.
τί δῆτ’ ἐμοὶ ζῆν ἡδύ; πρὸς τί χρὴ βλέπειν;

[¶82] to the present or the past? My babe alone was left me, the light of my life; and him these ministers of death would slay. No! they shall not, if my poor life can save him; for if he be saved, hope in him lives on,
while to ’twere shame to refuse to die for my son. Lo! here I leave the altar and give myself into your hands, to cut or stab, to bind or hang. Ah! my child, to Hades now thy mother passes to save thy dear life. Yet if thou escape thy doom,
remember me, my sufferings and my death, and tell thy father how I fared, with fond caress and streaming eye and arms thrown round his neck. Ah! yes, his children are to every man as his own soul; and whoso sneers at this through inexperience,
though he suffers less anguish, yet tastes the bitter in his cup of bliss.

> Greek: πρὸς τὰς παρούσας ἢ παρελθούσας τύχας;
εἷς παῖς ὅδ’ ἦν μοι λοιπὸς ὀφθαλμὸς βίου·
τοῦτον κτενεῖν μέλλουσιν οἷς δοκεῖ τάδε.
οὐ δῆτα τοὐμοῦ γ’ εἵνεκ’ ἀθλίου βίου·
ἐν τῷδε μὲν γὰρ ἐλπίς, εἰ σωθήσεται,
ἐμοὶ δ’ ὄνειδος μὴ θανεῖν ὑπὲρ τέκνου.
ἰδοὺ προλείπω βωμὸν ἥδε χειρία
σφάζειν φονεύειν, δεῖν, ἀπαρτῆσαι δέρην.
ὦ τέκνον, ἡ τεκοῦσά σ’, ὡς σὺ μὴ θάνῃς,
στείχω πρὸς Ἅιδην· ἢν δ’ ὑπεκδράμῃς μόρον,
μέμνησο μητρός, οἷα τλᾶσ’ ἀπωλόμην,
καὶ πατρὶ τῷ σῷ διὰ φιλημάτων ἰὼν
δάκρυά τε λείβων καὶ περιπτύσσων χέρας
λέγ’ οἷ’ ἔπραξα. πᾶσι δ’ ἀνθρώποις ἄρ’ ἦν
ψυχὴ τέκν’· ὅστις δ’ αὔτ’ ἄπειρος ὢν ψέγει,
ἧσσον μὲν ἀλγεῖ, δυστυχῶν δ’ εὐδαιμονεῖ.

[¶83] Chorus:
Thy tale with pity fills me; for every man alike, stranger though he be, feels pity for another’s distress. Menelaus,’tis thy duty to reconcile thy daughter and this captive, giving her a respite from sorrow.

> Greek: Χορός:
ᾤκτιρ’ ἀκούσασ’· οἰκτρὰ γὰρ τὰ δυστυχῆ
βροτοῖς ἅπασι, κἂν θυραῖος ὢν κυρῇ.
εἰς ξύμβασιν δὲ χρῆν σε παῖδα σὴν ἄγειν,
Μενέλαε, καὶ τήνδ’, ὡς ἀπαλλαχθῇ πόνων.

[¶84] Menelaus:
Ho! sirrahs, catch me this woman; hold her fast; for ’tis no welcome story she will have to hear. It was to make thee leave the holy altar of the goddess that I held thy child’s death before thy eyes, and so induced thee to give thyself up to me to die.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
λάβεσθέ μοι τῆσδ’, ἀμφελίξαντες χέρας,
δμῶες· λόγους γὰρ οὐ φίλους ἀκούσεται
ἐγώ σ’, ἵν’ ἁγνὸν βωμὸν ἐκλίποις θεᾶς,
προύτεινα παιδὸς θάνατον, ᾧ σ’ ὑπήγαγον
εἰς χεῖρας ἐλθεῖν τὰς ἐμὰς ἐπὶ σφαγήν.

[¶85] So stands thy case, be well assured; but as for this child, my daughter shall decide whether she will slay him or no. Get thee hence into the house, and there learn to bridle thy insolence in speaking to the free, slave that thou art.

> Greek: καὶ τἀμφὶ σοῦ μὲν ὧδ’ ἔχοντ’ ἐπίστασο·
τὰ δ’ ἀμφὶ παιδὸς τοῦδε παῖς ἐμὴ κρινεῖ,
ἤν τε κτανεῖν νιν ἤν τε μὴ κτανεῖν θέλῃ.
ἀλλ’ ἕρπ’ ἐς οἴκους τούσδ’, ἵν’ εἰς ἐλευθέρους
δούλη γεγῶσα μήποθ’ ὑβρίζειν μάθῃς.

[¶86] Andromache:
Alas! thou hast by treachery beguiled me; I was deceived.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οἴμοι· δόλῳ μ’ ὑπῆλθες, ἠπατήμεθα.

[¶87] Menelaus:
Proclaim it to the world; I do not deny it

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
κήρυσσ’ ἅπασιν· οὐ γὰρ ἐξαρνούμεθα.

[¶88] Andromache:
Is this counted cleverness amongst you who dwell by the Eurotas?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἦ ταῦτ’ ἐν ὑμῖν τοῖς παρ’ Εὐρώτᾳ σοφά;

[¶89] Menelaus:
Yes, and amongst Trojans too, that those who suffer should retaliate.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
καὶ τοῖς γε Τροίᾳ, τοὺς παθόντας ἀντιδρᾶν.

[¶90] Andromache:
Thinkest thou God’s hand is shortened, and that thou wilt not be punished?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
τὰ θεῖα δ’ οὐ θεῖ’ οὐδ’ ἔχειν ἡγῇ δίκην;

[¶91] Menelaus:
Whene’er that comes, I am ready to bear it. But thy life will I have.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὅταν τάδ’ ᾖ, τότ’ οἴσομεν· σὲ δὲ κτενῶ.

[¶92] Andromache:
Wilt likewise slay this tender chick, whom thou hast snatched from ’neath my wing?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἦ καὶ νεοσσὸν τόνδ’, ὑπὸ πτερῶν σπάσας;

[¶93] Menelaus:
Not I, but I will give him to my daughter to slay if she will.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὐ δῆτα· θυγατρὶ δ’, ἢν θέλῃ, δώσω κτανεῖν.

[¶94] Andromache:
Ah me! why not begin my mourning then for thee, my child?

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οἴμοι· τί δῆτά σ’ οὐ καταστένω, τέκνον;

[¶95] Menelaus:
Of a truth ’tis no very sure hope that he has left.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὔκουν θρασεῖά γ’ αὐτὸν ἐλπὶς ἀναμένει.

[¶96] Andromache:
O citizens of Sparta, the bane of all the race of men, schemers of guile, and masters in lying, devisers of evil plots, with crooked minds and tortuous methods and ne’er one honest thought,’tis wrong that ye should thrive in Hellas.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὦ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχθιστοι βροτῶν
Σπάρτης ἔνοικοι, δόλια βουλευτήρια,
ψευδῶν ἄνακτες, μηχανορράφοι κακῶν,
ἑλικτὰ κοὐδὲν ὑγιές, ἀλλὰ πᾶν πέριξ
φρονοῦντες, ἀδίκως εὐτυχεῖτ’ ἀν’ Ἑλλάδα.

[¶97] What crime is wanting in your list? How rife is murder with you! How covetous ye are! One word upon your lips, another in your heart, this is what men always find with you. Perdition catch ye! Still death is not so grievous, as thou thinkest, to me. No! for my life ended
in the day that hapless Troy was destroyed with my lord, that glorious warrior, whose spear oft made a coward like thee quit the field and seek thy ship. But now against a woman hast thou displayed the terrors of thy panoply, my would-be murderer. Strike then! for this
my tongue shall never flatter thee or that daughter of thine. For though thou wert of great account in Sparta, why so was I in Troy. And if I am now in sorry plight, presume not thou on this; thou too mayst be so yet.

> Greek: τί δ’ οὐκ ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν; οὐ πλεῖστοι φόνοι;
οὐκ αἰσχροκερδεῖς; οὐ λέγοντες ἄλλα μὲν
γλώσσῃ, φρονοῦντες δ’ ἄλλ’ ἐφευρίσκεσθ’ ἀεί;
ὄλοισθ’. ἐμοὶ μὲν θάνατος οὐχ οὕτω βαρὺς
ὡς σοὶ δέδοκται· κεῖνα γάρ μ’ ἀπώλεσεν,
ὅθ’ ἡ τάλαινα πόλις ἀνηλώθη Φρυγῶν
πόσις θ’ ὁ κλεινός, ὅς σε πολλάκις δορὶ
ναύτην ἔθηκεν ἀντὶ χερσαίου κακόν.
νῦν δ’ εἰς γυναῖκα γοργὸς ὁπλίτης φανεὶς
κτείνεις μ’. ἀπόκτειν’· ὡς ἀθώπευτόν γέ σε
γλώσσης ἀφήσω τῆς ἐμῆς καὶ παῖδα σήν.
ἐπεὶ σὺ μὲν πέφυκας ἐν Σπάρτῃ μέγας,
ἡμεῖς δὲ Τροίᾳ γ’. εἰ δ’ ἐγὼ πράσσω κακῶς,
μηδὲν τόδ’ αὔχει· καὶ σὺ γὰρ πράξειας ἄν.

[¶98] Chorus:
Never, oh! never will I commend rival wives or sons of different mothers, a cause of strife, of bitterness, and grief every house. I would have a husband content with one wife whose rights
he shareth with no other.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδέποτε δίδυμα λέκτρ’ ἐπαινέσω βροτῶν
οὐδ’ ἀμφιμάτορας κόρους,
ἔριδας οἴκων δυσμενεῖς τε λύπας.
μίαν μοι στεργέτω πόσις γάμοις
ἀκοινώ-
νητον ἀνδρὸς εὐνάν.

[¶99] Chorus:
Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than undivided rule;
it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the citizens. Often too will the Muse sow strife ’twixt rivals in the art of minstrelsy.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδέ γ’ ἐνὶ πόλεσι δίπτυχοι τυραννίδες
μιᾶς ἀμείνονες φέρειν,
ἄχθος ἐπ’ ἄχθει καὶ στάσις πολίταις·
τεκόντοιν θ’ ὕμνον ἐργάταιν δυοῖν
ἔριν Mοῦ-
σαι φιλοῦσι κραίνειν.

[¶100] Chorus:
Again, when strong winds are drifting mariners,
the divided counsel of the wise is not conducive to steering, and their collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior intelligence of the single man who has sole authority; for this is the essence of power alike in house and state, whene’er men care to find the proper moment.

> Greek: Χορός:
πνοαὶ δ’ ὅταν φέρωσι ναυτίλους θοαί,
κατὰ πηδαλίων δίδυμαι πραπίδων γνῶμαι,
σοφῶν τε πλῆθος ἀθρόον ἀσθενέστερον
φαυλοτέρας φρενὸς αὐτοκρατοῦς.
ἑνὸς ἁ δύνασις ἀνά τε μέλαθρα
κατά τε πόλιας, ὁπόταν εὑ-
ρεῖν θέλωσι καιρόν.

[¶101] Chorus:
This Spartan, the daughter of the great chief Menelaus, proves this; for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival, and is bent on slaying the hapless Trojan maid
and her child to further her bitter quarrel. Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid. Ah! lady, retribution for this deed will visit thee yet.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔδειξεν ἡ Λάκαινα τοῦ στρατηλάτα
Μενέλα· διὰ γὰρ πυρὸς ἦλθ’ ἑτέρῳ λέχεϊ,
κτείνει δὲ τὴν τάλαιναν Ἰλιάδα κόραν
παῖδά τε δύσφρονος ἔριδος ὕπερ.
ἄθεος ἄνομος ἄχαρις ὁ φόνος·
ἔτι σε, πότνια, μετατροπὰ
τῶνδ’ ἔπεισιν ἔργων.

[¶102] Chorus:
But lo!
before the house I see those two united souls, condemned to die. Alas! for thee, poor lady, and for thee, unhappy child, who art dying on account of thy mother’s marriage, though thou hast no share therein
and canst not be blamed by the royal house.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἐσορῶ
τόδε σύγκρατον ζεῦγος πρὸ δόμων
ψήφῳ θανάτου [κατακεκριμένον.]
δύστηνε γύναι, τλῆμον δὲ σὺ παῖ,
μητρὸς λεχέων ὃς ὑπερθνῄσκεις
οὐδὲν μετέχων
οὐδ’ αἴτιος ὢν βασιλεῦσιν.

[¶103] Andromache:
Behold me journeying on the downward path, my hands so tightly bound with cords that they bleed.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ἅδ’ ἐγὼ χέρας αἱματη-
ρὰς βρόχοισι κεκλῃμένα
πέμπομαι κατὰ γαίας.

[¶104] Molossus:
O mother, mother mine! I too share thy
downward path, nestling ’neath thy wing.

> Greek: Παῖς:
μᾶτερ μᾶτερ, ἐγὼ δὲ σᾷ
πτέρυγι συγκαταβαίνω.

[¶105] Andromache:
A cruel sacrifice! ye rulers of Phthia!

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
θῦμα δάιον, ὦ χθονὸς
Φθίας κράντορες.

[¶106] Molossus:
Come, father! succour those thou lovest.

> Greek: Παῖς:
ὦ πάτερ,
μόλε φίλοις ἐπίκουρος.

[¶107] Andromache:
Rest there, my babe, my darling! on thy mother’s bosom, e’en in death and in the grave.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
κείσῃ δή, τέκνον ὦ φίλος,
μαστοῖς ματέρος ἀμφὶ σᾶς
νεκρὸς ὑπὸ χθονί, σὺν νεκρῷ ⟨τ’⟩ …

[¶108] Molossus:
Ah, woe is me! what will become of me and thee too, mother mine?

> Greek: Παῖς:
ὤμοι μοι, τί πάθω; τάλας
δῆτ’ ἐγὼ σύ τε, μᾶτερ.

[¶109] Menelaus:
Away, to the world below! from hostile towers ye came, the pair of you; two different causes necessitate your deaths; my sentence takes away thy life, and my daughter Hermione’s requires his; for it would be the
height of folly to leave our foemen’s sons, when we might kill them and remove the danger from our house.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἴθ’ ὑποχθόνιοι· καὶ γὰρ ἀπ’ ἐχθρῶν
ἥκετε πύργων· δύο δ’ ἐκ δισσαῖν
θνῄσκετ’ ἀνάγκαιν· σὲ μὲν ἡμετέρα
ψῆφος ἀναιρεῖ, παῖδα δ’ ἐμὴ παῖς
τόνδ’ Ἑρμιόνη· καὶ γὰρ ἀνοία
μεγάλη λείπειν ἐχθροὺς ἐχθρῶν,
ἐξὸν κτείνειν
καὶ φόβον οἴκων ἀφελέσθαι.

[¶110] Andromache:
O husband mine! I would I had thy strong arm and spear
to aid me, son of Priam.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
ὦ πόσις πόσις, εἴθε σὰν
χεῖρα καὶ δόρυ σύμμαχον
κτησαίμαν, Πριάμου παῖ.

[¶111] Molossus:
Ah, woe is me! what spell can I now find to turn death’s stroke aside?

> Greek: Παῖς:
δύστανος, τί δ’ ἐγὼ μόρου
παράτροπον μέλος εὕρω;

[¶112] Andromache:
Embrace thy master’s knees, my child, and pray to him.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
λίσσου, γούνασι δεσπότου
χρίμπτων, ὦ τέκνον.

[¶113] Molossus:
Spare, O spare my life, kind master!

> Greek: Παῖς:
ὦ φίλος,
φίλος, ἄνες θάνατόν μοι.

[¶114] Andromache:
Mine eyes are wet with tears, which trickle down my cheeks, as doth a sunless spring from a smooth rock. Ah me!

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
λείβομαι δάκρυσιν κόρας,
στάζω λισσάδος ὡς πέτρας
λιβὰς ἀνήλιος, ἁ τάλαιν’ …

[¶115] Molossus:
What remedy, alas! can I provide me ’gainst my ills?

> Greek: Παῖς:
ὤμοι μοι, τί δ’ ἐγὼ κακῶν
μῆχος ἐξανύσωμαι;

[¶116] Menelaus:
Why fall at my knees in supplication? hard as the rock and deaf as the wave am I. My own friends have I helped,
but for thee have I no tie of affection; for verily it cost me a great part of my life to capture Troy and thy mother; so thou shalt reap the fruit thereof and into Hades’ halls descend.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
τί με προσπίτνεις, ἁλίαν πέτραν
ἢ κῦμα λιταῖς ὣς ἱκετεύων;
τοῖς γὰρ ἐμοῖσιν γέγον’ ὠφελία,
σοὶ δ’ οὐδὲν ἔχω φίλτρον, ἐπεί τοι
μέγ’ ἀναλώσας ψυχῆς μόριον
Τροίαν εἷλον καὶ μητέρα σήν·
ἧς ἀπολαύων
Ἅιδην χθόνιον καταβήσῃ.

[¶117] Chorus:
Behold! I see Peleus drawing nigh; with aged step he hasteth hither.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν δέδορκα τόνδε Πηλέα πέλας,
σπουδῇ τιθέντα δεῦρο γηραιὸν πόδα.

[¶118] Peleus:
calling out as he comes in sight. What means this? I ask you and your executioner; why is the palace in an uproar? give a reason; what mean your lawless machinations?

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
ὑμᾶς ἐρωτῶ τόν τ’ ἐφεστῶτα σφαγῇ,
τί ταῦτα; πῶς ταῦτ’; ἐκ τίνος λόγου νοσεῖ
δόμος; τί πράσσετ’ ἄκριτα μηχανώμενοι;

[¶119] Menelaus, hold thy hand. Seek not to outrun justice. To his attendant. Forward! faster, faster! for this matter, methinks, admits of no delay; now if ever would I fain resume the vigour of my youth. First however
will I breathe new life into this captive, being to her as the breeze that blows a ship before the wind. Tell me, by what right have they pinioned thine arms and are dragging thee and thy child away? like a ewe with her lamb art thou led to the slaughter, while I and thy lord were far away.

> Greek: Μενέλα’, ἐπίσχες· μὴ τάχυν’ ἄνευ δίκης …
ἡγοῦ σὺ θᾶσσον, οὐ γὰρ ὡς ἔοικέ μοι
σχολῆς τόδ’ ἔργον· ἀλλ’ ἀνηβητηρίαν
ῥώμην μ’ ἐπαινῶ λαμβάνειν, εἴπερ ποτέ …
πρῶτον μὲν οὖν κατ’ οὖρον ὥσπερ ἱστίοις
ἐμπνεύσομαι τῇδ’· εἰπέ, τίνι δίκῃ χέρας
βρόχοισιν ἐκδήσαντες οἵδ’ ἄγουσί σε
καὶ παῖδ’; ὕπαρνος γάρ τις οἶς ἀπόλλυσαι,
ἡμῶν ἀπόντων τοῦ τε κυρίου σέθεν.

[¶120] Andromache:
Behold them that are haling me and my child to death,
e’en as thou seest, aged prince. Why should I tell thee? For not by one urgent summons alone but by countless messengers have I sent for thee. No doubt thou knowest by hearsay of the strife in this house with this man’s daughter, and the reason of my ruin.

> Greek: Ἀνδρομάχη:
οἵδ’, ὦ γεραιέ, σὺν τέκνῳ θανουμένην
ἄγουσί μ’ οὕτως ὡς ὁρᾷς. τί σοι λέγω;
οὐ γὰρ μιᾶς σε κληδόνος προθυμίᾳ
μετῆλθον, ἀλλὰ μυρίων ὑπ’ ἀγγέλων.
ἔριν δὲ τὴν κατ’ οἶκον οἶσθά που κλύων
τῆς τοῦδε θυγατρός, ὧν τ’ ἀπόλλυμαι χάριν.

[¶121] So now they have torn and are dragging me from the altar of Thetis, the goddess of thy chiefest adoration and the mother of thy gallant son, without any proper trial, yea, and without waiting for my absent master; because, forsooth, they knew my defencelessness
and my child’s, whom they mean to slay with me his hapless mother, though he has done no harm. But to thee, O sire, I make my supplication, prostrate at thy knees, though my hand cannot touch thy friendly beard; save me, I adjure thee, reverend sir,
or to thy shame and my sorrow shall we be slain.

> Greek: καὶ νῦν με βωμοῦ Θέτιδος, ἣ τὸν εὐγενῆ
ἔτικτέ σοι παῖδ’, ἣν σὺ θαυμαστὴν σέβεις,
ἄγουσ’ ἀποσπάσαντες, οὔτε τῳ δίκῃ
κρίναντες οὔτε τοὺς ἀπόντας ἐκ δόμων
μείναντες, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ἐρημίαν
γνόντες τέκνου τε τοῦδ’, ὃν οὐδὲν αἴτιον
μέλλουσι σὺν ἐμοὶ τῇ ταλαιπώρῳ κτενεῖν.
ἀλλ’ ἀντιάζω σ’, ὦ γέρον, τῶν σῶν πάρος
πίτνουσα γονάτων—χειρὶ δ’ οὐκ ἔξεστί μοι
τῆς σῆς λαβέσθαι φιλτάτης γενειάδος—
ῥῦσαί με πρὸς θεῶν· εἰ δὲ μή, θανούμεθα
αἰσχρῶς μὲν ὑμῖν, δυστυχῶς δ’ ἐμοί, γέρον.

[¶122] Peleus:
Loose her bonds, I say, ere some one rue it; untie her folded hands.

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
χαλᾶν κελεύω δεσμὰ πρὶν κλαίειν τινά,
καὶ τῆσδε χεῖρας διπτύχους ἀνιέναι.

[¶123] Menelaus:
I forbid it, for besides being a match for thee,
I have a far better right to her.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἐγὼ δ’ ἀπαυδῶ γ’ ἄλλος οὐχ ἥσσων σέθεν
καὶ τῆσδε πολλῷ κυριώτερος γεγώς.

[¶124] Peleus:
What! art thou come hither to set my house in order? Art not content with ruling thy Spartans?

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
πῶς; ἦ τὸν ἀμὸν οἶκον οἰκήσεις μολὼν
δεῦρ’; οὐχ ἅλις σοι τῶν κατὰ Σπάρτην κρατεῖν;

[¶125] Menelaus:
She is my captive; I took her from Troy.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
εἷλόν νιν αἰχμάλωτον ἐκ Τροίας ἐγώ.

[¶126] Peleus:
Aye, but my son’s son received her as his prize.

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
οὑμὸς δέ γ’ αὐτὴν ἔλαβε παῖς παιδὸς γέρας.

[¶127] Menelaus:
Is not all I have his, and all his mine?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὔκουν ἐκείνου τἀμὰ τἀκείνου τ’ ἐμά;

[¶128] Peleus:
For good, but not evil ends; and surely not for murderous violence.

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
[ναί,]
δρᾶν εὖ, κακῶς δ’ οὔ, μηδ’ ἀποκτείνειν βίᾳ.

[¶129] Menelaus:
Never shalt thou wrest her from my grasp.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὡς τήνδ’ ἀπάξεις οὔποτ’ ἐξ ἐμῆς χερός.

[¶130] Peleus:
With this good staff I’ll stain thy head with blood!

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
σκήπτρῳ δὲ τῷδε σὸν καθαιμάξω κάρα;

[¶131] Menelaus:
Just touch me and see! Approach one step!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ψαῦσόν γ’, ἵν’ εἰδῇς, καὶ πέλας πρόσελθέ μου.

[¶132] Peleus:
What! shalt thou rank with men? chief of cowards, son of cowards! What right hast thou to any place ’mongst men? Thou who didst let a Phrygian rob thee of thy wife, leaving thy home without bolt or guard, as if forsooth the cursed woman thou hadst there was a model of virtue.
No! a Spartan! maid could not be chaste, e’en if she would, who leaves her home and bares her limbs and lets her robe float free, to share; with youths their races and their sports,--
customs I cannot away with. Is it any wonder then that ye fail to educate your women in virtue? Helen might have asked thee this, seeing that she said goodbye to thy affection and tripped off with her young gallant to a foreign land.

> Greek: Πηλεύς:
σὺ γὰρ μετ’ ἀνδρῶν, ὦ κάκιστε κἀκ κακῶν;
σοὶ ποῦ μέτεστιν ὡς ἐν ἀνδράσιν λόγου;
ὅστις πρὸς ἀνδρὸς Φρυγὸς ἀπηλλάγης λέχος,
ἄκλῃστ’ ἄδουλα δώμαθ’ ἑστίας λιπών,
ὡς δὴ γυναῖκα σώφρον’ ἐν δόμοις ἔχων
πασῶν κακίστην. οὐδ’ ἂν εἰ βούλοιτό τις
σώφρων γένοιτο Σπαρτιατίδων κόρη,
αἳ ξὺν νέοισιν ἐξερημοῦσαι δόμους
γυμνοῖσι μηροῖς καὶ πέπλοις ἀνειμένοις
δρόμους παλαίστρας τ’ οὐκ ἀνασχετοὺς ἐμοὶ
κοινὰς ἔχουσι. κᾆτα θαυμάζειν χρεὼν
εἰ μὴ γυναῖκας σώφρονας παιδεύετε;
Ἑλένην ἐρέσθαι χρῆν τάδ’, ἥτις ἐκ δόμων
τὸν σὸν λιποῦσα Φίλιον ἐξεκώμασε
νεανίου μετ’ ἀνδρὸς εἰς ἄλλην χθόνα.

[¶133] And yet for her sake thou didst marshal all the hosts of Hellas and lead them to Ilium, whereas thou shouldst have shown thy loathing for her by refusing to stir a spear, once thou hadst found her false; yea, thou shouldst have let her stay there, and even paid a price to save ever having her back again.

> Greek: κἄπειτ’ ἐκείνης οὕνεχ’ Ἑλλήνων ὄχλον
τοσόνδ’ ἀθροίσας ἤγαγες πρὸς Ἴλιον;
ἣν χρῆν σ’ ἀποπτύσαντα μὴ κινεῖν δόρυ,
κακὴν ἐφευρόντ’, ἀλλ’ ἐᾶν αὐτοῦ μένειν
μισθόν τε δόντα μήποτ’ εἰς οἴκους λαβεῖν.

[¶134] But that was not at all the way thy thoughts were turned; wherefore many a brave life hast thou ended, and many an aged mother hast thou left childless in her home, and grey-haired sires of gallant sons hast reft. Of that sad band am I a member, seeing in thee
Achilles murderer like a malignant fiend; for thou and thou alone hast returned from Troy without a scratch, bringing back thy splendid weapons in their splendid cases just as they went. As for me, I ever told that amorous boy to form no alliance with thee
nor take unto his home an evil mother’s child; for daughters bear the marks of their mothers’ ill-repute into their new homes. Wherefore, ye wooers, take heed to this my warning: “Choose the daughter of a good mother.” And more than this, with what wanton insult didst thou treat thy brother,
bidding him sacrifice his daughter in his simpleness! So fearful wast thou of losing thy worthless wife. Then after capturing Troy,–for thither too will I accompany thee,–thou didst not slay that woman, when she was in thy power; but as soon as thine eyes caught sight of her breast, thy sword was dropped
and thou didst take her kisses, fondling the shameless traitress, too weak to stem thy hot desire, thou caitiff wretch! Yet spite of all thou art the man to come and work havoc in my grandson’s halls when he is absent, seeking to slay with all indignity a poor weak woman and her babe; but that babe
shall one day make thee and thy daughter in thy home rue it, e’en though his birth be trebly base. Yea, for oft ere now hath seed, sown on barren soil, prevailed o’er rich deep tilth, and many a bastard has proved a better man than children better born. Take thy daughter hence with thee! Far better is it for mortals
to have a poor honest man either as married kin or friend than a wealthy knave; but as for thee, thou art a thing of naught.

> Greek: ἀλλ’ οὔτι ταύτῃ σὸν φρόνημ’ ἐπούρισας,
ψυχὰς δὲ πολλὰς κἀγαθὰς ἀπώλεσας,
παίδων τ’ ἄπαιδας γραῦς ἔθηκας ἐν δόμοις,
πολιούς τ’ ἀφείλου πατέρας εὐγενῆ τέκνα.
ὧν εἷς ἐγὼ δύστηνος· αὐθέντην δὲ σὲ
μιάστορ’ ὥς τιν’ εἰσδέδορκ’ Ἀχιλλέως.
ὃς οὐδὲ τρωθεὶς ἦλθες ἐκ Τροίας μόνος,
κάλλιστα τεύχη δ’ ἐν καλοῖσι σάγμασιν
ὅμοι’ ἐκεῖσε δεῦρό τ’ ἤγαγες πάλιν.
κἀγὼ μὲν ηὔδων τῷ γαμοῦντι μήτε σοὶ
κῆδος ξυνάψαι μήτε δώμασιν λαβεῖν
κακῆς γυναικὸς πῶλον· ἐκφέρουσι γὰρ
μητρῷ’ ὀνείδη. τοῦτο καὶ σκοπεῖτέ μοι,
μνηστῆρες, ἐσθλῆς θυγατέρ’ ἐκ μητρὸς λαβεῖν.
πρὸς τοῖσδε δ’ εἰς ἀδελφὸν οἷ’ ἐφύβρισας,
σφάξαι κελεύσας θυγατέρ’ εὐηθέστατα;
οὕτως ἔδεισας μὴ οὐ κακὴν δάμαρτ’ ἔχῃς.
ἑλὼν δὲ Τροίαν—εἶμι γὰρ κἀνταῦθά σοι—
οὐκ ἔκτανες γυναῖκα χειρίαν λαβών,
ἀλλ’, ὡς ἐσεῖδες μαστόν, ἐκβαλὼν ξίφος
φίλημ’ ἐδέξω, προδότιν αἰκάλλων κύνα,
ἥσσων πεφυκὼς Κύπριδος, ὦ κάκιστε σύ.
κἄπειτ’ ἐς οἴκους τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλθὼν τέκνων
πορθεῖς ἀπόντων, καὶ γυναῖκα δυστυχῆ
κτείνεις ἀτίμως παῖδά θ’, ὃς κλαίοντά σε
καὶ τὴν ἐν οἴκοις σὴν καταστήσει κόρην,
κεἰ τρὶς νόθος πέφυκε. πολλάκις δέ τοι
ξηρὰ βαθεῖαν γῆν ἐνίκησε σπορᾷ,
νόθοι τε πολλοὶ γνησίων ἀμείνονες.
ἀλλ’ ἐκκομίζου παῖδα. κύδιον βροτοῖς
πένητα χρηστὸν ἢ κακὸν καὶ πλούσιον
γαμβρὸν πεπᾶσθαι καὶ φίλον· σὺ δ’ οὐδὲν εἶ.