---
title: "Hecuba · Ἑκάβη"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Hecuba · Ἑκάβη. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/"
---

# Hecuba · Ἑκάβη

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

The fallen queen of Troy loses her last children and takes her revenge.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg007, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg007.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.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–675](https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/1.md)
2. [Lines 676–1295](https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/2.md)

## 1. Lines 1–675

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

[¶0] Scene: Before Agamemnon’s tent in the Greek camp upon the shore of the Thracian Chersonese. The Ghost of Polydorus appears.
Ghost:
I have come from out of the charnel-house and gates of gloom, where Hades dwells apart from gods, I Polydorus, a son of Hecuba, the daughter of Cisseus, and of Priam. Now my father, when Phrygia’s capital
was threatened with destruction by the spear of Hellas, took alarm and conveyed me secretly from the land of Troy to Polymestor’s house, his guest-friend in Thrace, who sows these fruitful plains of Chersonese, curbing by his might a nation delighting in horses.

> Greek: Πολυδώρου εἴδωλον:
Ἥκω νεκρῶν κευθμῶνα καὶ σκότου πύλας
λιπών, ἵνʼ Ἅιδης χωρὶς ᾤκισται θεῶν,
Πολύδωρος, Ἑκάβης παῖς γεγὼς τῆς Κισσέως
Πριάμου τε πατρός, ὅς μʼ, ἐπεὶ Φρυγῶν πόλιν
κίνδυνος ἔσχε δορὶ πεσεῖν Ἑλληνικῷ,
δείσας ὑπεξέπεμψε Τρωικῆς χθονὸς
Πολυμήστορος πρὸς δῶμα Θρῃκίου ξένου,
ὃς τήν⟨δʼ⟩ ἀρίστην Χερσονησίαν πλάκα
σπείρει, φίλιππον λαὸν εὐθύνων δορί.

[¶1] And with me my father sent much gold by stealth, so that, if ever Ilium’s walls should fall, his children that survived might not want for means to live. I was the youngest of Priam’s sons; and this it was that caused my secret removal from the land; for my childish arm was not able
to carry weapons or to wield the spear. So long then as the bulwarks of our land stood firm, and Troy’s battlements abode unshaken, and my brother Hector prospered in his warring, I, poor child, grew up and flourished, like some vigorous shoot,
at the court of the Thracian, my father’s guest-friend. But when Troy fell and Hector lost his life and my father’s hearth was rooted up, and he himself fell butchered at the god-built altar by the hands of Achilles’ murderous son;
then my father’s friend killed me, his helpless guest, for the sake of the gold, and then cast me into the swell of the sea, to keep the gold for himself in his house. And there I lie, at one time upon the strand, at another in the salt sea’s surge, drifting ever up and down upon the billows,
unwept, unburied; but now I am hovering over the head of my dear mother Hecuba, a disembodied spirit, keeping my airy station these three days, ever since my poor mother came from Troy to linger here in the Chersonese.

> Greek: πολὺν δὲ σὺν ἐμοὶ χρυσὸν ἐκπέμπει λάθρᾳ
πατήρ, ἵνʼ, εἴ ποτʼ Ἰλίου τείχη πέσοι,
τοῖς ζῶσιν εἴη παισὶ μὴ σπάνις βίου.
νεώτατος δʼ ἦ Πριαμιδῶν, ὃ καί με γῆς
ὑπεξέπεμψεν· οὔτε γὰρ φέρειν ὅπλα
οὔτʼ ἔγχος οἷός τʼ ἦ νέῳ βραχίονι.
ἕως μὲν οὖν γῆς ὄρθʼ ἔκειθʼ ὁρίσματα
πύργοι τʼ ἄθραυστοι Τρωικῆς ἦσαν χθονὸς
Ἕκτωρ τʼ ἀδελφὸς οὑμὸς εὐτύχει δορί,
καλῶς παρʼ ἀνδρὶ Θρῃκὶ πατρῴῳ ξένῳ
τροφαῖσιν ὥς τις πτόρθος ηὐξόμην, τάλας·
ἐπεὶ δὲ Τροία θʼ Ἕκτορός τʼ ἀπόλλυται
ψυχή, πατρῴα θʼ ἑστία κατεσκάφη,
αὐτὸς δὲ βωμῷ πρὸς θεοδμήτῳ πίτνει
σφαγεὶς Ἀχιλλέως παιδὸς ἐκ μιαιφόνου,
κτείνει με χρυσοῦ τὸν ταλαίπωρον χάριν
ξένος πατρῷος καὶ κτανὼν ἐς οἶδμʼ ἁλὸς
μεθῆχʼ, ἵνʼ αὐτὸς χρυσὸν ἐν δόμοις ἔχῃ.
κεῖμαι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς, ἄλλοτʼ ἐν πόντου σάλῳ,
πολλοῖς διαύλοις κυμάτων φορούμενος,
ἄκλαυτος ἄταφος· νῦν δʼ ὑπὲρ μητρὸς φίλης
Ἑκάβης ἀίσσω, σῶμʼ ἐρημώσας ἐμόν,
τριταῖον ἤδη φέγγος αἰωρούμενος,
ὅσονπερ ἐν γῇ τῇδε Χερσονησίᾳ
μήτηρ ἐμὴ δύστηνος ἐκ Τροίας πάρα.

[¶2] Meanwhile all the Achaeans sit idly here in their ships at the shores of Thrace; for the son of Peleus, Achilles, appeared above his tomb and stopped the whole army of Hellas, as they were making straight for home across the sea,
demanding to have my sister Polyxena offered at his tomb, and to receive his reward. And he will obtain this prize, nor will they that are his friends refuse the gift; and on this very day fate is leading my sister to her doom.

> Greek: πάντες δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ ναῦς ἔχοντες ἥσυχοι
θάσσουσʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς τῆσδε Θρῃκίας χθονός·
ὁ Πηλέως γὰρ παῖς ὑπὲρ τύμβου φανεὶς
κατέσχʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς πᾶν στράτευμʼ Ἑλληνικόν,
πρὸς οἶκον εὐθύνοντας ἐναλίαν πλάτην·
αἰτεῖ δʼ ἀδελφὴν τὴν ἐμὴν Πολυξένην
τύμβῳ φίλον πρόσφαγμα καὶ γέρας λαβεῖν.
καὶ τεύξεται τοῦδʼ, οὐδʼ ἀδώρητος φίλων
ἔσται πρὸς ἀνδρῶν· ἡ πεπρωμένη δʼ ἄγει
θανεῖν ἀδελφὴν τῷδʼ ἐμὴν ἐν ἤματι.

[¶3] So will my mother see two children dead at once, me and that ill-fated maid. For I, to win a grave, ah me! will appear among the rippling waves before her servant-maid’s feet. Yes! I have begged this from the powers below,
to find a tomb and fall into my mother’s hands. So shall I have my heart’s desire; but now I will get out of the way of aged Hecuba, for here she passes on her way from the shelter of Agamemnon’s tent, terrified at my spectre.

> Greek: δυοῖν δὲ παίδοιν δύο νεκρὼ κατόψεται
μήτηρ, ἐμοῦ τε τῆς τε δυστήνου κόρης.
φανήσομαι γάρ, ὡς τάφου τλήμων τύχω,
δούλης ποδῶν πάροιθεν ἐν κλυδωνίῳ.
τοὺς γὰρ κάτω σθένοντας ἐξῃτησάμην
τύμβου κυρῆσαι κἀς χέρας μητρὸς πεσεῖν.
τοὐμὸν μὲν οὖν ὅσονπερ ἤθελον τυχεῖν
ἔσται· γεραιᾷ δʼ ἐκποδὼν χωρήσομαι
Ἑκάβῃ· περᾷ γὰρ ἥδʼ ὑπὸ σκηνῆς πόδα
Ἀγαμέμνονος, φάντασμα δειμαίνουσʼ ἐμόν.
φεῦ·

[¶4] Alas! O mother, from a palace to face a life of slavery, how sad your lot, as sad as once it was blessed! Some god is now destroying you, setting this in the balance to outweigh your former bliss.
The Ghost vanishes. Hecuba enters from the tent of Agamemnon, supported by her attendants, captive Trojan women.

> Greek: ὦ μῆτερ ἥτις ἐκ τυραννικῶν δόμων
δούλειον ἦμαρ εἶδες, ὡς πράσσεις κακῶς
ὅσονπερ εὖ ποτʼ· ἀντισηκώσας δέ σε
φθείρει θεῶν τις τῆς πάροιθʼ εὐπραξίας.

[¶5] Hecuba:
Guide these aged steps, my servants, forth before the house;
guide and support your fellow-slave, once your queen, you maids of Troy. Grasp my aged hand, take me, support me, guide me, lift me up;

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄγετʼ, ὦ παῖδες, τὴν γραῦν πρὸ δόμων,
ἄγετʼ ὀρθοῦσαι τὴν ὁμόδουλον,
Τρῳάδες, ὑμῖν, πρόσθε δʼ ἄνασσαν·
λάβετε φέρετε πέμπετʼ ἀείρετέ μου
γεραιᾶς χειρὸς προσλαζύμεναι·

[¶6] and I will lean upon your bent arm as on a staff and quicken my halting footsteps onwards. O dazzling light of Zeus! O gloom of night! why am I thus scared by
fearful visions of the night? O lady Earth, mother of dreams that fly on sable wings! I am seeking to avert the vision of the night, the sight of horror which I learned from my dreams
about my son, who is safe in Thrace, and Polyxena, my dear daughter. You gods of this land! preserve my son,
the last and only anchor of my house, now settled in Thrace, the land of snow, safe in the keeping of his father’s friend. Some fresh disaster is in store, a new strain of sorrow will be added to our woe.

> Greek: κἀγὼ σκολιῷ σκίπωνι χερὸς
διερειδομένα σπεύσω βραδύπουν
ἤλυσιν ἄρθρων προτιθεῖσα.
ὦ στεροπὰ Διός, ὦ σκοτία νύξ,
τί ποτʼ αἴρομαι ἔννυχος οὕτω
δείμασι, φάσμασιν; ὦ πότνια Χθών,
μελανοπτερύγων μῆτερ ὀνείρων,
ἀποπέμπομαι ἔννυχον ὄψιν,
ἣν περὶ παιδὸς ἐμοῦ τοῦ σῳζομένου κατὰ Θρῄκην
ἀμφὶ Πολυξείνης τε φίλης θυγατρὸς διʼ ὀνείρων
[εἶδον γὰρ] φοβερὰν [ὄψιν ἔμαθον] ἐδάην.
ὦ χθόνιοι θεοί, σώσατε παῖδʼ ἐμόν,
ὃς μόνος οἴκων ἄγκυρʼ ἔτʼ ἐμῶν
τὴν χιονώδη Θρῄκην κατέχει
ξείνου πατρίου φυλακαῖσιν.
ἔσται τι νέον·
ἥξει τι μέλος γοερὸν γοεραῖς.

[¶7] Such ceaseless thrills of terror never wrung my heart before. Oh! where, you Trojan maidens, can I find inspired Helenus or Cassandra, that they may read me my dream?

> Greek: οὔποτʼ ἐμὰ φρὴν ὧδʼ ἀλίαστος
φρίσσει, ταρβεῖ.
ποῦ ποτε θείαν Ἑλένου ψυχὰν
καὶ Κασάνδραν ἐσίδω, Τρῳάδες,
ὥς μοι κρίνωσιν ὀνείρους;

[¶8] For I saw a dappled deer mangled by a wolf’s bloody fangs, torn from my knees by force, piteously. And this too filled me with fear; over the summit of his tomb appeared Achilles’ phantom, and for his prize
he would have one of the luckless maids of Troy. Therefore, I implore you, divine powers, avert this horror from my daughter, from my child.
The Chorus of captive Trojan women enters.

> Greek: εἶδον γὰρ βαλιὰν ἔλαφον λύκου αἵμονι χαλᾷ
σφαζομέναν, ἀπʼ ἐμῶν γονάτων σπασθεῖσαν ἀνοίκτως.
καὶ τόδε δεῖμά μοι· ἦλθʼ ὑπὲρ ἄκρας
τύμβου κορυφᾶς
φάντασμʼ Ἀχιλέως· ᾔτει δὲ γέρας
τῶν πολυμόχθων τινὰ Τρωιάδων.
ἀπʼ ἐμᾶς ἀπʼ ἐμᾶς οὖν τόδε παιδὸς
πέμψατε, δαίμονες, ἱκετεύω.

[¶9] Chorus:
Hecuba, I have hastened away to you, leaving my master’s tent,
where the lot assigned [and appointed] me as his slave, when I was driven from the city of Ilium, hunted by Achaeans at the point of the spear; no alleviation do I bring for your sufferings;
no, I have laden myself with heavy news, and am a herald of sorrow to you, lady. It is said the Achaeans have determined in full assembly to offer your daughter in sacrifice to Achilles; for you know how one day he appeared
standing on his tomb in golden armor, and stayed the sea-borne ships, though they had their sails already hoisted, with this pealing cry: “Where away so fast, you Danaids, leaving my tomb”
“without its prize?” A violent dispute with stormy altercation arose, and opinion was divided in the warrior army of Hellas, some being in favor of offering the sacrifice at the tomb, others dissenting.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἑκάβη, σπουδῇ πρός σʼ ἐλιάσθην
τὰς δεσποσύνους σκηνὰς προλιποῦσʼ,
ἵνʼ ἐκληρώθην [καὶ προσετάχθην]
δούλη, πόλεως ἀπελαυνομένη
τῆς Ἰλιάδος, λόγχης αἰχμῇ
δοριθήρατος πρὸς Ἀχαιῶν,
οὐδὲν παθέων ἀποκουφίζουσʼ,
ἀλλʼ ἀγγελίας βάρος ἀραμένη
μέγα σοί τε, γύναι, κῆρυξ ἀχέων.
ἐν γὰρ Ἀχαιῶν πλήρει ξυνόδῳ
λέγεται δόξαι σὴν παῖδʼ Ἀχιλεῖ
σφάγιον θέσθαι· τύμβου δʼ ἐπιβὰς
οἶσθʼ ὅτε χρυσέοις ἐφάνη σὺν ὅπλοις,
τὰς ποντοπόρους δʼ ἔσχε σχεδίας
λαίφη προτόνοις ἐπερειδομένας,
τάδε θωΰσσων·
Ποῖ δή, Δαναοί, τὸν ἐμὸν τύμβον
στέλλεσθʼ ἀγέραστον ἀφέντες;
πολλῆς δʼ ἔριδος συνέπαισε κλύδων,
δόξα δʼ ἐχώρει δίχʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλήνων
στρατὸν αἰχμητήν, τοῖς μὲν διδόναι
τύμβῳ σφάγιον, τοῖς δʼ οὐχὶ δοκοῦν.

[¶10] There was Agamemnon, all eagerness in your interest, because of his love for the frenzied prophetess; but the two sons of Theseus, scions of Athens, though supporting different proposals, yet agreed on the same decision, which was to crown Achilles’ tomb with fresh blood;

> Greek: ἦν δʼ ὁ τὸ μὲν σὸν σπεύδων ἀγαθὸν
τῆς μαντιπόλου Βάκχης ἀνέχων
λέκτρʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·
τὼ Θησείδα δʼ, ὄζω Ἀθηνῶν,
δισσῶν μύθων ῥήτορες ἦσαν·

[¶11] for they said they never would set Cassandra’s bed before Achilles’ valor.
Now the zeal of the rival disputants was almost equal, until that shifty, smooth-mouthed liar, the son of Laertes, whose tongue is always at the service of the mob, persuaded the army not to put aside the best of all the Danaids
for want of a servant-maid’s sacrifice, nor have it said by any of the dead that stand beside Persephone that the Danaids have left the plains of Troy without gratitude
for their companions who died for Hellas. Odysseus will be here in an instant, to drag the tender maiden from your breast and tear her from your aged arms. Go to the temples, go to the altars,
at Agamemnon’s knees sit as a suppliant! Invoke the gods, both those in heaven and those beneath the earth. For either your prayers will avail to spare you the loss of your unhappy child,
or you must see your daughter fall before the tomb, her crimson blood spurting in deep dark jets from her neck encircled with gold.

> Greek: γνώμῃ δὲ μιᾷ συνεχωρείτην,
τὸν Ἀχίλλειον τύμβον στεφανοῦν
αἵματι χλωρῷ, τὰ δὲ Κασάνδρας
λέκτρʼ οὐκ ἐφάτην τῆς Ἀχιλείας
πρόσθεν θήσειν ποτὲ λόγχης.
σπουδαὶ δὲ λόγων κατατεινομένων
ἦσαν ἴσαι πως, πρὶν ὁ ποικιλόφρων
κόπις ἡδυλόγος δημοχαριστὴς
Λαερτιάδης πείθει στρατιὰν
μὴ τὸν ἄριστον Δαναῶν πάντων
δούλων σφαγίων εἵνεκʼ ἀπωθεῖν,
μηδέ τινʼ εἰπεῖν παρὰ Φερσεφόνῃ
στάντα φθιμένων
ὡς ἀχάριστοι Δαναοὶ Δαναοῖς
τοῖς οἰχομένοις ὑπὲρ Ἑλλήνων
Τροίας πεδίων ἀπέβησαν.
ἥξει δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὅσον οὐκ ἤδη,
πῶλον ἀφέλξων σῶν ἀπὸ μαστῶν
ἔκ τε γεραιᾶς χερὸς ὁρμήσων.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι ναούς, ἴθι πρὸς βωμούς,
ἵζʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος ἱκέτις γονάτων,
κήρυσσε θεοὺς τούς τʼ οὐρανίδας
τούς θʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν.
ἢ γάρ σε λιταὶ διακωλύσουσʼ
ὀρφανὸν εἶναι παιδὸς μελέας,
ἢ δεῖ σʼ ἐπιδεῖν τύμβου προπετῆ
φοινισσομένην αἵματι παρθένον
ἐκ χρυσοφόρου
δειρῆς νασμῷ μελαναυγεῖ.

[¶12] Hecuba:
Woe, woe is me! What words,
or cries, or lamentations can I utter? Ah me! for the sorrows of my closing years! for slavery too cruel to endure, to bear! Woe, woe is me! What champion do I have? Family,
and city—where are they? Aged Priam is no more; no more my children now. Which way am I to go, either this or that? Where shall I turn my steps? Where is any god or divine power to come to my aid?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἲ ἐγὼ μελέα, τί ποτʼ ἀπύσω;
ποίαν ἀχώ, ποῖον ὀδυρμόν,
δειλαία δειλαίου γήρως,
δουλείας [τᾶς] οὐ τλατᾶς,
[τᾶς] οὐ φερτᾶς; οἴμοι.
τίς ἀμύνει μοι; ποία γέννα,
ποία δὲ πόλις; φροῦδος πρέσβυς,
φροῦδοι παῖδες.
ποίαν ἢ ταύταν ἢ κείναν
στείχω; ποῖ δʼ ἥσω; ποῦ τις θεῶν
ἢ δαιμόνων ἐπαρωγός;

[¶13] Ah, Trojan maids! bringers of evil tidings! Messengers of woe! you have made an end, an utter end of me; life on earth has no more charm for me. Oh! luckless steps, lead on,
guide your aged mistress here to the tent. My child, daughter of a most wretched woman, come forth; listen to your mother’s voice.

> Greek: ὦ κάκʼ ἐνεγκοῦσαι,
Τρῳάδες ὦ κάκʼ ἐνεγκοῦσαι
πήματʼ, ἀπωλέσατʼ ὠλέσατʼ· οὐκέτι μοι βίος
ἀγαστὸς ἐν φάει.
ὦ τλάμων ἅγησαί μοι πούς,
ἅγησαι τᾷ γηραιᾷ
πρὸς τάνδʼ αὐλάν· ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ,
δυστανοτάτας [ματέρος] — ἔξελθʼ ἔξελθʼ
οἴκων — ἄιε ματέρος αὐδάν.

[¶14] [so that you may know the hideous rumor I now hear about your life, my child.]
Polyxena enters from the tent.

> Greek: [ὦ τέκνον ὡς εἰδῇς οἵαν οἵαν]
[ἀίω φάμαν περὶ σᾶς ψυχᾶς.]

[¶15] Polyxena:
Oh! mother, mother, why do you call so loud? what news is it you have proclaimed, scaring me, like a cowering bird, from my chamber by this alarm?

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ἰώ·
μᾶτερ μᾶτερ τί βοᾷς; τί νέον
καρύξασʼ οἴκων μʼ ὥστʼ ὄρνιν
θάμβει τῷδʼ ἐξέπταξας;

[¶16] Hecuba:
Alas, my daughter!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἴμοι τέκνον.

[¶17] Polyxena:
Why this ominous address? it means sorrow for me.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
τί με δυσφημεῖς; φροίμιά μοι κακά.

[¶18] Hecuba:
Woe for your life!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
αἰαῖ σᾶς ψυχᾶς.

[¶19] Polyxena:
Tell it, hide it no longer. Ah mother! how I dread, I dread
the import of your loud laments.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ἐξαύδα· μὴ κρύψῃς δαρόν.
δειμαίνω δειμαίνω, μᾶτερ,
τί ποτʼ ἀναστένεις …

[¶20] Hecuba:
Ah my daughter! a luckless mother’s child!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
[ὦ] τέκνον τέκνον μελέας ματρὸς …

[¶21] Polyxena:
Why do you tell me this?

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
τί ⟨δὲ⟩ τόδʼ ἀγγελεῖς;

[¶22] Hecuba:
The Argives with one consent are eager for your sacrifice to the son of Peleus
at his tomb.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σφάξαι σʼ Ἀργείων κοινὰ
συντείνει πρὸς τύμβον γνώμα
Πηλείᾳ γέννᾳ.

[¶23] Polyxena:
Ah! my mother! how can you speak of such a dire mischance? Tell me all, mother, yes all!

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
οἴμοι μᾶτερ, πῶς φθέγγῃ
ἀμέγαρτα κακῶν; μάνυσόν μοι,
μάνυσον, μᾶτερ.

[¶24] Hecuba:
It is an ill-boding rumor I tell, my child;

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
αὐδῶ, παῖ, δυσφήμους φήμας·

[¶25] they bring me word that sentence is passed upon your life by the Argives’ vote.

> Greek: ἀγγέλλουσʼ Ἀργείων δόξαι
ψήφῳ τᾶς σᾶς περί μοι ψυχᾶς.

[¶26] Polyxena:
Alas, for your cruel sufferings, my persecuted mother! woe for your life of grief! What grievous outrage
has some fiend sent on you, hateful, horrible? No more shall I your daughter share your bondage, hapless youth on hapless age attending.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ὦ δεινὰ παθοῦσʼ, ὦ παντλάμων,
ὦ δυστάνου μᾶτερ βιοτᾶς
οἵαν οἵαν αὖ σοι λώβαν
ἐχθίσταν ἀρρήταν τʼ
ὦρσέν τις δαίμων;
οὐκέτι σοι παῖς ἅδʼ οὐκέτι δὴ
γήρᾳ δειλαίῳ δειλαία
συνδουλεύσω.

[¶27] For you, alas! will see me, your hapless child, torn from your arms like a calf of the hills, and sent beneath the darkness of the earth with severed throat for Hades, where with the dead
shall I be laid, ah me! For your unhappiness I weep with plaintive wail, mother; but for my own life, its ruin and its outrage, never a tear I shed; no, death has become to me
a happier lot than life.

> Greek: σκύμνον γάρ μʼ ὥστʼ οὐριθρέπταν
μόσχον δειλαία δειλαίαν
… ἐσόψῃ,
χειρὸς ἀναρπαστὰν
σᾶς ἄπο λαιμότομόν τʼ Ἀίδᾳ
γᾶς ὑποπεμπομέναν σκότον, ἔνθα νεκρῶν μέτα
τάλαινα κείσομαι.
καὶ σοῦ μέν, μᾶτερ, δυστάνου
κλαίω πανδύρτοις θρήνοις,
τὸν ἐμὸν δὲ βίον λώβαν λύμαν τʼ
οὐ μετακλαίομαι, ἀλλὰ θανεῖν μοι
ξυντυχία κρείσσων ἐκύρησεν.

[¶28] Chorus Leader:
See where Odysseus comes in haste, to announce some fresh command to you, Hecuba.
Odysseus enters with his attendants.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔρχεται σπουδῇ ποδός,
Ἑκάβη, νέον τι πρὸς σὲ σημανῶν ἔπος.

[¶29] Odysseus:
Lady, I think you know already the intention of the army, and the vote that has been passed; still I will declare it.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
γύναι, δοκῶ μέν σʼ εἰδέναι γνώμην στρατοῦ
ψῆφόν τε τὴν κρανθεῖσαν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως φράσω.

[¶30] It is the Achaeans’ will to sacrifice your daughter Polyxena at the mound heaped over Achilles’ grave; and they appoint me to take the maid and bring her there, while the son of Achilles is chosen to preside over the sacrifice and act as priest.

> Greek: ἔδοξʼ Ἀχαιοῖς παῖδα σὴν Πολυξένην
σφάξαι πρὸς ὀρθὸν χῶμʼ Ἀχιλλείου τάφου.
ἡμᾶς δὲ πομποὺς καὶ κομιστῆρας κόρης
τάσσουσιν εἶναι· θύματος δʼ ἐπιστάτης
ἱερεύς τʼ ἐπέσται τοῦδε παῖς Ἀχιλλέως.

[¶31] Do you know then what to do? Do not be forcibly torn from her, nor match your might against mine; recognize the limits of your strength, and the presence of your troubles. Even in adversity it is wise to yield to reason’s dictates.

> Greek: οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; μήτʼ ἀποσπασθῇς βίᾳ
μήτʼ ἐς χερῶν ἅμιλλαν ἐξέλθῃς ἐμοί·
γίγνωσκε δʼ ἀλκὴν καὶ παρουσίαν κακῶν
τῶν σῶν. σοφόν τοι κἀν κακοῖς ἃ δεῖ φρονεῖν.

[¶32] Hecuba:
Alas! a dreadful trial is near, it seems,
full of mourning, rich in tears. Yes, I too escaped death where death had been my due, and Zeus did not destroy me but is still preserving my life, that I may witness in my misery fresh sorrows surpassing all before. But if the bond may ask the free
of things that do not grieve them or wrench their heart-strings, you ought to speak in answer to my questions and I ought to hear what you have to say.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
αἰαῖ· παρέστηχʼ, ὡς ἔοικʼ, ἀγὼν μέγας,
πλήρης στεναγμῶν οὐδὲ δακρύων κενός.
κἄγωγʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἔθνῃσκον οὗ μʼ ἐχρῆν θανεῖν,
οὐδʼ ὤλεσέν με Ζεύς, τρέφει δʼ, ὅπως ὁρῶ
κακῶν κάκʼ ἄλλα μείζονʼ ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
εἰ δʼ ἔστι τοῖς δούλοισι τοὺς ἐλευθέρους
μὴ λυπρὰ μηδὲ καρδίας δηκτήρια
ἐξιστορῆσαι, σοὶ μὲν εἰρῆσθαι χρεών,
ἡμᾶς δʼ ἀκοῦσαι τοὺς ἐρωτῶντας τάδε.

[¶33] Odysseus:
Granted; put your questions; I do not grudge you that delay.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
ἔξεστʼ, ἐρώτα· τοῦ χρόνου γὰρ οὐ φθονῶ.

[¶34] Hecuba:
Do you know when you came to spy on Ilium,
disguised in rags and tatters, while down your cheek ran drops of blood?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἶσθʼ ἡνίκʼ ἦλθες Ἰλίου κατάσκοπος,
δυσχλαινίᾳ τʼ ἄμορφος, ὀμμάτων τʼ ἄπο
φόνου σταλαγμοὶ σὴν κατέσταζον γένυν;

[¶35] Odysseus:
I do; for it was no slight impression it made upon my heart.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
οἶδʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἄκρας καρδίας ἔψαυσέ μου.

[¶36] Hecuba:
Did Helen recognize you and tell me only?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἔγνω δέ σʼ Ἑλένη καὶ μόνῃ κατεῖπʼ ἐμοί;

[¶37] Odysseus:
I well remember the great risk I ran.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
μεμνήμεθʼ ἐς κίνδυνον ἐλθόντες μέγαν.

[¶38] Hecuba:
Did you embrace my knees in all humility?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἥψω δὲ γονάτων τῶν ἐμῶν ταπεινὸς ὤν;

[¶39] Odysseus:
Yes, so that my hand grew dead and cold upon your robe.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
ὥστʼ ἐνθανεῖν γε σοῖς πέπλοισι χεῖρʼ ἐμήν.

[¶40] Hecuba:
Was it I that saved and sent you forth again?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἔσωσα δῆτά σʼ ἐξέπεμψά τε χθονός;

[¶41] Odysseus:
You did, and so I still behold the light of day.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
ὥστʼ εἰσορᾶν γε φέγγος ἡλίου τόδε.

[¶42] Hecuba:
What did you say then, when in my power?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τί δῆτʼ ἔλεξας δοῦλος ὢν ἐμὸς τότε;

[¶43] Odysseus:
Doubtless I found plenty to say, to save my life.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
πολλῶν λόγων εὑρήμαθʼ, ὥστε μὴ θανεῖν.

[¶44] Hecuba:
Are not you then playing a sorry part to plot against me thus, after the kind treatment you by your own confession received from me, showing me no gratitude but all the ill you can? A thankless race! all you who covet honor from the mob
for your oratory. Oh that you were unknown to me! you who harm your friends and think no more of it, if you can say a word to win the mob. But tell me, what kind of cleverness did they think it, when against this child they passed their bloody vote?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὔκουν κακύνῃ τοῖσδε τοῖς βουλεύμασιν,
ὃς ἐξ ἐμοῦ μὲν ἔπαθες οἷα φῂς παθεῖν,
δρᾷς δʼ οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς εὖ, κακῶς δʼ ὅσον δύνῃ;
ἀχάριστον ὑμῶν σπέρμʼ, ὅσοι δημηγόρους
ζηλοῦτε τιμάς· μηδὲ γιγνώσκοισθέ μοι,
οἳ τοὺς φίλους βλάπτοντες οὐ φροντίζετε,
ἢν τοῖσι πολλοῖς πρὸς χάριν λέγητέ τι.
ἀτὰρ τί δὴ σόφισμα τοῦθʼ ἡγούμενοι
ἐς τήνδε παῖδα ψῆφον ὥρισαν φόνου;

[¶45] Was it duty that led them to slay a human victim at the tomb, where sacrifice of oxen is more fitting? or does Achilles, if claiming the lives of those who slew him as his recompense, show his justice by marking her out for death? No! she at least never injured him.

> Greek: πότερα τὸ χρῆν σφʼ ἐπήγαγʼ ἀνθρωποσφαγεῖν
πρὸς τύμβον, ἔνθα βουθυτεῖν μᾶλλον πρέπει;
ἢ τοὺς κτανόντας ἀνταποκτεῖναι θέλων
ἐς τήνδʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς ἐνδίκως τείνει φόνον;
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν αὐτὸν ἥδε γʼ εἴργασται κακόν.

[¶46] He should have demanded Helen as a victim at his tomb, for she it was that proved his ruin, bringing him to Troy; or if some captive of surpassing beauty was to be singled out for death, this did not point to us; for the daughter of Tyndareus was fairest of all,
and her injury to him was proved no less than ours. Against the justice of his plea I pit this argument. Now hear the recompense due from you to me at my request. On your own confession, you fell at my feet and embraced my hand and aged cheek;

> Greek: Ἑλένην νιν αἰτεῖν χρῆν τάφῳ προσφάγματα·
κείνη γὰρ ὤλεσέν νιν ἐς Τροίαν τʼ ἄγει.
εἰ δʼ αἰχμαλώτων χρή τινʼ ἔκκριτον θανεῖν
κάλλει θʼ ὑπερφέρουσαν, οὐχ ἡμῶν τόδε·
ἡ Τυνδαρὶς γὰρ εἶδος ἐκπρεπεστάτη,
ἀδικοῦσά θʼ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν ἧσσον ηὑρέθη.
τῷ μὲν δικαίῳ τόνδʼ ἁμιλλῶμαι λόγον·
ἃ δʼ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σʼ ἀπαιτούσης ἐμοῦ,
ἄκουσον. ἥψω τῆς ἐμῆς, ὡς φῄς, χερὸς
καὶ τῆσδε γραίας προσπίτνων παρηίδος·

[¶47] I in my turn now do the same to you, and claim the favor then bestowed; and I implore you, do not tear my child from my arms or slay her; there are dead enough. In her I take delight and forget my sorrows;

> Greek: ἀνθάπτομαί σου τῶνδε τῶν αὐτῶν ἐγὼ
χάριν τʼ ἀπαιτῶ τὴν τόθʼ ἱκετεύω τέ σε,
μή μου τὸ τέκνον ἐκ χερῶν ἀποσπάσῃς,
μηδὲ κτάνητε· τῶν τεθνηκότων ἅλις.
ταύτῃ γέγηθα κἀπιλήθομαι κακῶν·

[¶48] she is my comfort in place of many a loss, my city and my nurse, my staff and journey’s guide. It is not right that those in power should use it out of season, or, when prosperous, suppose they will be always so. For I also was prosperous once, but now my life is lived,
and one day robbed me of all my bliss. Friend, by your beard, have some regard and pity for me; go to Achaea’s army, and talk them over, saying how hateful a thing it is to slay women whom at first you spared out of pity,
after dragging them from the altars. For among you the same law holds good for slave and free alike respecting bloodshed; such a reputation as yours will persuade them even though its words are weak; for the same argument, when proceeding from those of no account,
has not the same force as when it is uttered by men of mark.

> Greek: ἥδʼ ἀντὶ πολλῶν ἐστί μοι παραψυχή,
πόλις, τιθήνη, βάκτρον, ἡγεμὼν ὁδοῦ.
οὐ τοὺς κρατοῦντας χρὴ κρατεῖν ἃ μὴ χρεών,
οὐδʼ εὐτυχοῦντας εὖ δοκεῖν πράξειν ἀεί·
κἀγὼ γὰρ ἦ ποτʼ, ἀλλὰ νῦν οὐκ εἴμʼ ἔτι,
τὸν πάντα δʼ ὄλβον ἦμαρ ἕν μʼ ἀφείλετο.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλον γένειον, αἰδέσθητί με,
οἴκτιρον· ἐλθὼν δʼ εἰς Ἀχαιικὸν στρατὸν
παρηγόρησον, ὡς ἀποκτείνειν φθόνος
γυναῖκας, ἃς τὸ πρῶτον οὐκ ἐκτείνατε
βωμῶν ἀποσπάσαντες, ἀλλʼ ᾠκτίρατε.
νόμος δʼ ἐν ὑμῖν τοῖς τʼ ἐλευθέροις ἴσος
καὶ τοῖσι δούλοις αἵματος κεῖται πέρι.
τὸ δʼ ἀξίωμα, κἂν κακῶς λέγῃ, τὸ σὸν
πείσει· λόγος γὰρ ἔκ τʼ ἀδοξούντων ἰὼν
κἀκ τῶν δοκούντων αὑτὸς οὐ ταὐτὸν σθένει.

[¶49] Chorus Leader:
Human nature is not so stony-hearted as to hear your plaintive tale and catalogue of sorrows, without shedding a tear.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτω στερρὸς ἀνθρώπου φύσις,
ἥτις γόων σῶν καὶ μακρῶν ὀδυρμάτων
κλύουσα θρήνους οὐκ ἂν ἐκβάλοι δάκρυ.

[¶50] Odysseus:
O Hecuba, be schooled by me, and do not in your angry mood
count him a foe who speaks wisely. Your life I am prepared to save, for the service I received; I do not say otherwise. But what I said to all, I will not now deny, that after Troy’s capture I would give your daughter to the chief man of our army
because he asked a victim. For here is a source of weakness to many states, whenever a man of brave and generous soul receives no greater honor than his inferiors. Now Achilles, lady, deserves honor at our hands,
since on behalf of Hellas the man died most nobly. Is not this a foul reproach to treat him as a friend in life, but, when he is gone from us, to treat him so no more? Enough! what will they say, if once more there comes a gathering of the army and a contest with the foe?

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
Ἑκάβη, διδάσκου, μηδὲ τῷ θυμουμένῳ
τὸν εὖ λέγοντα δυσμενῆ ποιοῦ φρενός.
ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν σὸν σῶμʼ ὑφʼ οὗπερ εὐτύχουν
σῴζειν ἕτοιμός εἰμι κοὐκ ἄλλως λέγω·
ἃ δʼ εἶπον εἰς ἅπαντας οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι,
Τροίας ἁλούσης ἀνδρὶ τῷ πρώτῳ στρατοῦ
σὴν παῖδα δοῦναι σφάγιον ἐξαιτουμένῳ.
ἐν τῷδε γὰρ κάμνουσιν αἱ πολλαὶ πόλεις,
ὅταν τις ἐσθλὸς καὶ πρόθυμος ὢν ἀνὴρ
μηδὲν φέρηται τῶν κακιόνων πλέον.
ἡμῖν δʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς ἄξιος τιμῆς, γύναι,
θανὼν ὑπὲρ γῆς Ἑλλάδος κάλλιστʼ ἀνήρ.
οὔκουν τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, εἰ βλέποντι μὲν φίλῳ
χρώμεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ δʼ ὄλωλε, μὴ χρώμεσθʼ ἔτι;
εἶεν· τί δῆτʼ ἐρεῖ τις, ἤν τις αὖ φανῇ
στρατοῦ τʼ ἄθροισις πολεμίων τʼ ἀγωνία;

[¶51] “Shall we fight or nurse our lives, seeing the dead have no honors?” For myself, indeed, when alive, if my daily store were scant, yet it would be all-sufficient, but my tomb I should wish
to be an object of respect, for this gratitude has long to run. You speak of cruel sufferings; hear my answer. Among us are grey old women and men no less miserable than you, and brides bereft of gallant husbands,
over whom this Trojan dust has closed. Endure these sorrows; for us, if we are wrong in resolving to honor the brave, we shall bring upon ourselves a charge of ignorance; but as for you barbarians, do not regard your friends as such and pay no homage to your gallant dead,
so that Hellas may prosper and you may reap the fruits of such policy.

> Greek: πότερα μαχούμεθʼ ἢ φιλοψυχήσομεν,
τὸν κατθανόνθʼ ὁρῶντες οὐ τιμώμενον;
καὶ μὴν ἔμοιγε ζῶντι μέν, καθʼ ἡμέραν
κεἰ σμίκρʼ ἔχοιμι, πάντʼ ἂν ἀρκούντως ἔχοι·
τύμβον δὲ βουλοίμην ἂν ἀξιούμενον
τὸν ἐμὸν ὁρᾶσθαι· διὰ μακροῦ γὰρ ἡ χάρις.
εἰ δʼ οἰκτρὰ πάσχειν φῄς, τάδʼ ἀντάκουέ μου·
εἰσὶν παρʼ ἡμῖν οὐδὲν ἧσσον ἄθλιαι
γραῖαι γυναῖκες ἠδὲ πρεσβῦται σέθεν,
νύμφαι τʼ ἀρίστων νυμφίων τητώμεναι,
ὧν ἥδε κεύθει σώματʼ Ἰδαία κόνις.
τόλμα τάδʼ. ἡμεῖς δʼ, εἰ κακῶς νομίζομεν
τιμᾶν τὸν ἐσθλόν, ἀμαθίαν ὀφλήσομεν·
οἱ βάρβαροι δὲ μήτε τοὺς φίλους φίλους
ἡγεῖσθε, μήτε τοὺς καλῶς τεθνηκότας
θαυμάζεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἡ μὲν Ἑλλὰς εὐτυχῇ,
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἔχηθʼ ὅμοια τοῖς βουλεύμασιν.

[¶52] Chorus Leader:
Alas! how cursed is slavery always in its nature, forced by the might of the stronger to endure unseemly treatment.

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰαῖ· τὸ δοῦλον ὡς κακὸν πέφυκʼ ἀεὶ
τολμᾷ θʼ ἃ μὴ χρή, τῇ βίᾳ νικώμενον.

[¶53] Hecuba:
Daughter, my pleading to avert your bloody death
was wasted idly, hurled forth on the air; but you, if endowed with greater power than your mother, make haste to utter every pleading note like the tuneful nightingale, to save your soul from death. Throw yourself pitiably at Odysseus’ knees,
and try to move him—here is your plea: he too has children—to feel pity for your sad fate.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ θύγατερ, οὑμοὶ μὲν λόγοι πρὸς αἰθέρα
φροῦδοι μάτην ῥιφέντες ἀμφὶ σοῦ φόνου·
σὺ δʼ, εἴ τι μείζω δύναμιν ἢ μήτηρ ἔχεις,
σπούδαζε πάσας ὥστʼ ἀηδόνος στόμα
φθογγὰς ἱεῖσα, μὴ στερηθῆναι βίου.
πρόσπιπτε δʼ οἰκτρῶς τοῦδʼ Ὀδυσσέως γόνυ
καὶ πεῖθʼ — ἔχεις δὲ πρόφασιν· ἔστι γὰρ τέκνα
καὶ τῷδε — τὴν σὴν ὥστʼ ἐποικτῖραι τύχην.

[¶54] Polyxena:
Odysseus, I see you hiding your right hand beneath your robe and turning away your face, so that I may not touch your beard.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ὁρῶ σʼ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, δεξιὰν ὑφʼ εἵματος
κρύπτοντα χεῖρα καὶ πρόσωπον ἔμπαλιν
στρέφοντα, μή σου προσθίγω γενειάδος.

[¶55] Take heart; you are safe from the suppliant’s god in my case, for I will follow you, both because I must and because it is my wish to die; for if I were unwilling, a coward would I show myself, a woman faint of heart. Why should I prolong my days? I whose father was lord
of all the Phrygians, my chiefest pride in life. Then I was nursed on fair hopes to be a bride for kings, the center of keen jealousy among suitors, to see whose home I would make my own; and over each lady of Ida I was queen;
ah me! admired among maidens, equal to a goddess, save for death alone, but now I am a slave! That name first makes me long for death, so strange it sounds; and then perhaps my lot might give me
to some savage master, one that would buy me for money—me the sister of Hector and many others—who would make me knead him bread within his halls, or sweep his house or set me working at the loom, leading a life of misery;

> Greek: θάρσει· πέφευγας τὸν ἐμὸν Ἱκέσιον Δία·
ὡς ἕψομαί γε τοῦ τʼ ἀναγκαίου χάριν
θανεῖν τε χρῄζουσʼ· εἰ δὲ μὴ βουλήσομαι,
κακὴ φανοῦμαι καὶ φιλόψυχος γυνή.
τί γάρ με δεῖ ζῆν; ᾗ πατὴρ μὲν ἦν ἄναξ
Φρυγῶν ἁπάντων· τοῦτό μοι πρῶτον βίου·
ἔπειτʼ ἐθρέφθην ἐλπίδων καλῶν ὕπο
βασιλεῦσι νύμφη, ζῆλον οὐ σμικρὸν γάμων
ἔχουσʼ, ὅτου δῶμʼ ἑστίαν τʼ ἀφίξομαι·
δέσποινα δʼ ἡ δύστηνος Ἰδαίαισιν ἦ
γυναιξὶ παρθένοις τʼ ἀπόβλεπτος μέτα,
ἴση θεοῖσι πλὴν τὸ κατθανεῖν μόνον·
νῦν δʼ εἰμὶ δούλη. πρῶτα μέν με τοὔνομα
θανεῖν ἐρᾶν τίθησιν οὐκ εἰωθὸς ὄν·
ἔπειτʼ ἴσως ἂν δεσποτῶν ὠμῶν φρένας
τύχοιμʼ ἄν, ὅστις ἀργύρου μʼ ὠνήσεται,
τὴν Ἕκτορός τε χἁτέρων πολλῶν κάσιν,
προσθεὶς δʼ ἀνάγκην σιτοποιὸν ἐν δόμοις,
σαίρειν τε δῶμα κερκίσιν τʼ ἐφεστάναι
λυπρὰν ἄγουσαν ἡμέραν μʼ ἀναγκάσει·

[¶56] while some slave, bought I know not where, will taint my bed, once deemed worthy of royalty. No, never! Here I close my eyes upon the light, free as yet, and dedicate myself to Hades. Lead me away, Odysseus, and do your worst,
for I see nothing within my reach to make me hope or expect with any confidence that I am ever again to be happy. Mother, do not seek to hinder me by word or deed, but join in my wish for death before I meet with shameful treatment undeserved.

> Greek: λέχη δὲ τἀμὰ δοῦλος ὠνητός ποθεν
χρανεῖ, τυράννων πρόσθεν ἠξιωμένα.
οὐ δῆτʼ· ἀφίημʼ ὀμμάτων ἐλευθέρων
φέγγος τόδʼ, Ἅιδῃ προστιθεῖσʼ ἐμὸν δέμας.
ἄγου μʼ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, καὶ διέργασαί μʼ ἄγων·
οὔτʼ ἐλπίδος γὰρ οὔτε του δόξης ὁρῶ
θάρσος παρʼ ἡμῖν ὥς ποτʼ εὖ πρᾶξαί με χρή.
μῆτερ, σὺ δʼ ἡμῖν μηδὲν ἐμποδὼν γένῃ,
λέγουσα μηδὲ δρῶσα· συμβούλου δέ μοι
θανεῖν πρὶν αἰσχρῶν μὴ κατʼ ἀξίαν τυχεῖν.

[¶57] For whoever is not used to taste of sorrows, though he bears it, yet it galls him when he puts his neck within the yoke; far happier would he be dead than alive, for life bereft of honor is toil and trouble.

> Greek: ὅστις γὰρ οὐκ εἴωθε γεύεσθαι κακῶν,
φέρει μέν, ἀλγεῖ δʼ αὐχένʼ ἐντιθεὶς ζυγῷ·
θανὼν δʼ ἂν εἴη μᾶλλον εὐτυχέστερος
ἢ ζῶν· τὸ γὰρ ζῆν μὴ καλῶς μέγας πόνος.

[¶58] Chorus Leader:
A wondrous mark, most clearly stamped, does noble birth
imprint on men, and the name goes still further where it is deserved.

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινὸς χαρακτὴρ κἀπίσημος ἐν βροτοῖς
ἐσθλῶν γενέσθαι, κἀπὶ μεῖζον ἔρχεται
τῆς εὐγενείας ὄνομα τοῖσιν ἀξίοις.

[¶59] Hecuba:
A noble speech, my daughter! but there is sorrow linked with its noble sentiments. Odysseus, if you must please the son of Peleus, and avoid reproach,
do not slay this maid, but lead me to Achilles’ pyre and torture me unsparingly; it was I that bore Paris, whose fatal shaft laid low the son of Thetis.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
καλῶς μὲν εἶπας, θύγατερ, ἀλλὰ τῷ καλῷ
λύπη πρόσεστιν. εἰ δὲ δεῖ τῷ Πηλέως
χάριν γενέσθαι παιδὶ καὶ ψόγον φυγεῖν
ὑμᾶς, Ὀδυσσεῦ, τήνδε μὲν μὴ κτείνετε,
ἡμᾶς δʼ ἄγοντες πρὸς πυρὰν Ἀχιλλέως
κεντεῖτε, μὴ φείδεσθʼ· ἐγὼ ῎τεκον Πάριν,
ὃς παῖδα Θέτιδος ὤλεσεν τόξοις βαλών.

[¶60] Odysseus:
It is not your death, my lady, that Achilles’ ghost
has demanded of the Achaeans, but hers.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
οὐ σʼ, ὦ γεραιά, κατθανεῖν Ἀχιλλέως
φάντασμʼ Ἀχαιούς, ἀλλὰ τήνδʼ, ᾐτήσατο.

[¶61] Hecuba:
At least then slaughter me with my child; so shall there be a double drink of blood for the earth and the dead that claims this sacrifice.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὑμεῖς δέ μʼ ἀλλὰ θυγατρὶ συμφονεύσατε,
καὶ δὶς τόσον πῶμʼ αἵματος γενήσεται
γαίᾳ νεκρῷ τε τῷ τάδʼ ἐξαιτουμένῳ.

[¶62] Odysseus:
The maiden’s death suffices; no need to add
a second to the first; would we did not need even this!

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
ἅλις κόρης σῆς θάνατος, οὐ προσοιστέος
ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλῳ· μηδὲ τόνδʼ ὠφείλομεν.

[¶63] Hecuba:
Die with my daughter I must and will.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
πολλή γʼ ἀνάγκη θυγατρὶ συνθανεῖν ἐμέ.

[¶64] Odysseus:
How so? I did not know I had a master.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
πῶς; οὐ γὰρ οἶδα δεσπότας κεκτημένος.

[¶65] Hecuba:
I will cling to her like ivy to an oak.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὁποῖα κισσὸς δρυός, ὅπως τῆσδʼ ἕξομαι.

[¶66] Odysseus:
Not if you will listen to those who are wiser than you.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
οὔκ, ἤν γε πείθῃ τοῖσι σοῦ σοφωτέροις.

[¶67] Hecuba:
Be sure I will never willingly relinquish my child.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὡς τῆσδʼ ἑκοῦσα παιδὸς οὐ μεθήσομαι.

[¶68] Odysseus:
Well, be equally sure I will never go away and leave her here.

> Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς:
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐγὼ μὴν τήνδʼ ἄπειμʼ αὐτοῦ λιπών.

[¶69] Polyxena:
Mother, listen to me; and you, son of Laertes, make allowance for a parent’s natural wrath. My poor mother, do not fight with our masters.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
μῆτερ, πιθοῦ μοι· καὶ σύ, παῖ Λαερτίου,
χάλα τοκεῦσιν εἰκότως θυμουμένοις,
σύ τʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, τοῖς κρατοῦσι μὴ μάχου.

[¶70] Will you be thrown to the ground, be roughly thrust aside and wound your aged skin, and in unseemly fashion be torn from me by youthful arms? This you will suffer; but do not, for it is not right for you. No, my dear mother! give me your beloved hand,
and let me press your cheek to mine; for never again, but now for the last time, shall I behold the dazzling sun-god’s orb. Take my last farewells now. O mother, my mother! I pass beneath the earth.

> Greek: βούλῃ πεσεῖν πρὸς οὖδας ἑλκῶσαί τε σὸν
γέροντα χρῶτα πρὸς βίαν ὠθουμένη,
ἀσχημονῆσαί τʼ ἐκ νέου βραχίονος
σπασθεῖσʼ, ἃ πείσῃ; μὴ σύ γʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἄξιον.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη μοι μῆτερ, ἡδίστην χέρα
δὸς καὶ παρειὰν προσβαλεῖν παρηίδι·
ὡς οὔποτʼ αὖθις, ἀλλὰ νῦν πανύστατον
ἀκτῖνα κύκλον θʼ ἡλίου προσόψομαι.
τέλος δέχῃ δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν προσφθεγμάτων.
ὦ μῆτερ, ὦ τεκοῦσʼ, ἄπειμι δὴ κάτω.

[¶71] Hecuba:
O my daughter, I am still to live and be a slave.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ θύγατερ, ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐν φάει δουλεύσομεν.

[¶72] Polyxena:
Unwedded I depart, never having tasted the married joys that were my due!

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ἄνυμφος ἀνυμέναιος ὧν μʼ ἐχρῆν τυχεῖν.

[¶73] Hecuba:
Yours, my daughter, is a piteous lot, and sad is mine also.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἰκτρὰ σύ, τέκνον, ἀθλία δʼ ἐγὼ γυνή.

[¶74] Polyxena:
There in Hades’ courts shall I lie apart from you.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ἐκεῖ δʼ ἐν Ἅιδου κείσομαι χωρὶς σέθεν.

[¶75] Hecuba:
Ah me, what shall I do? where shall I end my life?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἴμοι· τί δράσω; ποῖ τελευτήσω βίον;

[¶76] Polyxena:
Daughter of a free-born father, a slave I am to die.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
δούλη θανοῦμαι, πατρὸς οὖσʼ ἐλευθέρου.

[¶77] Hecuba:
Not one of all my fifty children left!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἡμεῖς δὲ πεντήκοντά γʼ ἄμμοροι τέκνων.

[¶78] Polyxena:
What message can I take for you to Hector or your aged lord?

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
τί σοι πρὸς Ἕκτορʼ ἢ γέροντʼ εἴπω πόσιν;

[¶79] Hecuba:
Tell them that of all women I am the most miserable.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄγγελλε πασῶν ἀθλιωτάτην ἐμέ.

[¶80] Polyxena:
Ah! breasts and paps that fed me with sweet food!

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ὦ στέρνα μαστοί θʼ, οἵ μʼ ἐθρέψαθʼ ἡδέως.

[¶81] Hecuba:
Oh, my daughter—your wretched, untimely fate!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ τῆς ἀώρου θύγατερ ἀθλίας τύχης.

[¶82] Polyxena:
Farewell, my mother! farewell, Cassandra!

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
χαῖρʼ, ὦ τεκοῦσα, χαῖρε Κασάνδρα τʼ ἐμοί,

[¶83] Hecuba:
“Fare well!” others do, but not your mother, no!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
χαίρουσιν ἄλλοι, μητρὶ δʼ οὐκ ἔστιν τόδε.

[¶84] Polyxena:
You too, my brother Polydorus, in Thrace, the home of steeds!

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ὅ τʼ ἐν φιλίπποις Θρῃξὶ Πολύδωρος κάσις.

[¶85] Hecuba:
Yes, if he lives, which I doubt; so luckless am I in every way.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
εἰ ζῇ γʼ· ἀπιστῶ δʼ· ὧδε πάντα δυστυχῶ.

[¶86] Polyxena:
He lives; and, when you die, he will close your eyes.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
ζῇ καὶ θανούσης ὄμμα συγκλῄσει τὸ σόν.

[¶87] Hecuba:
I am dead; sorrow has forestalled death here.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τέθνηκʼ ἔγωγε πρὶν θανεῖν κακῶν ὕπο.

[¶88] Polyxena:
Come veil my head, Odysseus, and take me away; for now, before the fatal blow, my heart is melted by my mother’s wailing, and hers by mine.

> Greek: Πολυξένη:
κόμιζʼ, Ὀδυσσεῦ, μʼ ἀμφιθεὶς κάρα πέπλοις
ὡς πρὶν σφαγῆναί γʼ ἐκτέτηκα καρδίαν
θρήνοισι μητρὸς τήνδε τʼ ἐκτήκω γόοις.

[¶89] O light of day! for still I may call you by your name, though now my share in you is only the time I take to go between Achilles’ tomb and the sword. Odysseus and his attendants lead Polyxena away.

> Greek: ὦ φῶς· προσειπεῖν γὰρ σὸν ὄνομʼ ἔξεστί μοι,
μέτεστι δʼ οὐδὲν πλὴν ὅσον χρόνον ξίφους
βαίνω μεταξὺ καὶ πυρᾶς Ἀχιλλέως.

[¶90] Hecuba:
Alas! I faint; my limbs sink under me. O my daughter, embrace your mother, stretch out your hand,
give it to me; do not leave me childless! Ah, friends! it is my death-blow. Oh! to see that Spartan woman, Helen, sister of the sons of Zeus, in such a plight; for her bright eyes have caused the shameful fall of Troy’s once prosperous town. Hecuba sinks fainting to the ground.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἲ ʼγώ, προλείπω· λύεται δέ μου μέλη.
ὦ θύγατερ, ἅψαι μητρός, ἔκτεινον χέρα,
δός· μὴ λίπῃς μʼ ἄπαιδʼ. ἀπωλόμην, φίλαι …
ὣς τὴν Λάκαιναν σύγγονον Διοσκόροιν
Ἑλένην ἴδοιμι· διὰ καλῶν γὰρ ὀμμάτων
αἴσχιστα Τροίαν εἷλε τὴν εὐδαίμονα.

[¶91] Chorus:
O breeze, breeze of the sea,
that wafts swift galleys, ocean’s coursers, across the surging main! Where will you bear me, the sorrowful one? To whose house shall I be brought, to be his slave and chattel?
to some haven in the Dorian land, or in Phthia, where men say Apidanus, father of fairest streams, makes fat and rich the soil?

> Greek: Χορός:
αὔρα, ποντιὰς αὔρα,
ἅτε ποντοπόρους κομί-
ζεις θοὰς ἀκάτους ἐπʼ οἶδμα λίμνας,
ποῖ με τὰν μελέαν πορεύ-
σεις; τῷ δουλόσυνος πρὸς οἶ-
κον κτηθεῖσʼ ἀφίξομαι; ἢ
Δωρίδος ὅρμον αἴας;
ἢ Φθιάδος, ἔνθα τὸν
καλλίστων ὑδάτων πατέρα
φασὶν Ἀπιδανὸν πεδία λιπαίνειν;

[¶92] Chorus:
Or to an island home, sent on a voyage of misery by oars that sweep the brine, leading a wretched existence in halls where the first-created palm and the bay-tree put forth their sacred
shoots for dear Latona, a memorial of her divine birth-pains? and there with the maids of Delos shall I hymn
the golden head-band and bow of Artemis, their goddess?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἢ νάσων, ἁλιήρει
κώπᾳ πεμπομέναν τάλαι-
ναν, οἰκτρὰν βιοτὰν ἔχουσαν οἴκοις,
ἔνθα πρωτόγονός τε φοῖ-
νιξ δάφνα θʼ ἱεροὺς ἀνέ-
σχε πτόρθους Λατοῖ φίλᾳ ὠ-
δῖνος ἄγαλμα Δίας;
σὺν Δηλιάσιν τε κού-
ραισιν Ἀρτέμιδος θεᾶς
χρυσέαν ἄμπυκα τόξα τʼ εὐλογήσω;

[¶93] Chorus:
Or in the city of Pallas, the home of Athena of the lovely chariot, shall I then upon her saffron robe yoke horses,
embroidering them on my web in brilliant varied shades, or the race of Titans, put to sleep by Zeus the son of Cronos with bolt of flashing flame?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἢ Παλλάδος ἐν πόλει
τὰς καλλιδίφρους Ἀθα-
ναίας ἐν κροκέῳ πέπλῳ
ζεύξομαι ἆρα πώλους ἐν
δαιδαλέαισι ποικίλλουσʼ
ἀνθοκρόκοισι πήναις, ἢ
Τιτάνων γενεὰν
τὰν Ζεὺς ἀμφιπύρῳ κοιμί-
ζει φλογμῷ Κρονίδας;

[¶94] Chorus:
Alas for my children! alas for my ancestors, and my country which is falling in smouldering ruin among the smoke, sacked by the Argive spear, while I upon a foreign
shore am called a slave, indeed! leaving Asia, Europe’s handmaid, and receiving in its place a deadly marriage-bower.
The herald, Talthybius, enters.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὤ μοι τεκέων ἐμῶν,
ὤ μοι πατέρων χθονός θʼ,
ἃ καπνῷ κατερείπεται,
τυφομένα, δορίκτητος
Ἀργεΐων· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν ξεί-
νᾳ χθονὶ δὴ κέκλημαι δού-
λα, λιποῦσʼ Ἀσίαν,
Εὐρώπας θεραπνᾶν ἀλλά-
ξασʼ Ἅιδα θαλάμους.

[¶95] Talthybius:
Where can I find Hecuba, who once was
queen of Ilium, you Trojan maidens?

> Greek: Ταλθύβιος:
ποῦ τὴν ἄνασσαν δή ποτʼ οὖσαν Ἰλίου
Ἑκάβην ἂν ἐξεύροιμι, Τρῳάδες κόραι;

[¶96] Chorus Leader:
There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.

> Greek: Χορός:
αὕτη πέλας σου νῶτʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐπὶ χθονί,
Ταλθύβιε, κεῖται ξυγκεκλῃμένη πέπλοις.

[¶97] Talthybius:
O Zeus! what can I say? that your eye is over man? or that we hold this opinion all to no purpose,
[falsely thinking there is any race of gods,] when it is chance that rules the mortal sphere? Was not this the queen of wealthy Phrygia, the wife of Priam highly blessed? And now her city is utterly overthrown by the foe,
and she, a slave in her old age, her children dead, lies upon the ground, soiling her wretched head in the dust. Ah! old as I am, may death be my lot before I am caught in any shameful mischance. Arise, poor lady! lift up
yourself and raise that white head.

> Greek: Ταλθύβιος:
ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξω; πότερά σʼ ἀνθρώπους ὁρᾶν;
ἢ δόξαν ἄλλως τήνδε κεκτῆσθαι μάτην,
[ψευδῆ, δοκοῦντας δαιμόνων εἶναι γένος]
τύχην δὲ πάντα τἀν βροτοῖς ἐπισκοπεῖν;
οὐχ ἥδʼ ἄνασσα τῶν πολυχρύσων Φρυγῶν,
οὐχ ἥδε Πριάμου τοῦ μέγʼ ὀλβίου δάμαρ;
καὶ νῦν πόλις μὲν πᾶσʼ ἀνέστηκεν δορί,
αὐτὴ δὲ δούλη γραῦς ἄπαις ἐπὶ χθονὶ
κεῖται, κόνει φύρουσα δύστηνον κάρα.
φεῦ φεῦ· γέρων μέν εἰμʼ, ὅμως δέ μοι θανεῖν
εἴη πρὶν αἰσχρᾷ περιπεσεῖν τύχῃ τινί.
ἀνίστασʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, καὶ μετάρσιον
πλευρὰν ἔπαιρε καὶ τὸ πάλλευκον κάρα.

[¶98] Hecuba: stirring
Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἔα· τίς οὗτος σῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ
κεῖσθαι; τί κινεῖς μʼ, ὅστις εἶ, λυπουμένην;

[¶99] Talthybius:
I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.

> Greek: Ταλθύβιος:
Ταλθύβιος ἥκω Δαναϊδῶν ὑπηρέτης,
Ἀγαμέμνονος πέμψαντος, ὦ γύναι, μέτα.

[¶100] Hecuba: rising
Good friend, have you come because the Achaeans are resolved after all to slay me too at the grave? How welcome your tidings would be! Let us hasten and lose no time; please lead the way, old man.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξαι τάφῳ
δοκοῦν Ἀχαιοῖς ἦλθες; ὡς φίλʼ ἂν λέγοις.
σπεύδωμεν, ἐγκονῶμεν· ἡγοῦ μοι, γέρον.

[¶101] Talthybius:
I have come to fetch you to bury your daughter’s corpse, lady; and those that send me are
the two sons of Atreus and the Achaean people.

> Greek: Ταλθύβιος:
σὴν παῖδα κατθανοῦσαν ὡς θάψῃς, γύναι,
ἥκω μεταστείχων σε· πέμπουσιν δέ με
δισσοί τʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι καὶ λεὼς Ἀχαιικός.

[¶102] Hecuba:
Alas! What will you say? Have you not after all come to fetch me to my doom, but to announce ill news? Lost, my child! snatched from your mother’s arms! and I am childless now, at least as regards you; ah, woe is me!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἴμοι, τί λέξεις; οὐκ ἄρʼ ὡς θανουμένους
μετῆλθες ἡμᾶς, ἀλλὰ σημανῶν κακά;
ὄλωλας, ὦ παῖ, μητρὸς ἁρπασθεῖσʼ ἄπο·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἄτεκνοι τοὐπὶ σʼ· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

[¶103] How did you end her life? was any mercy shown? or did you deal ruthlessly with her as though your victim were a foe, old man? Speak, though your words must be pain to me.

> Greek: πῶς καί νιν ἐξεπράξατʼ; ἆρʼ αἰδούμενοι;
ἢ πρὸς τὸ δεινὸν ἤλθεθʼ ὡς ἐχθράν, γέρον,
κτείνοντες; εἰπέ, καίπερ οὐ λέξων φίλα.

[¶104] Talthybius:
Lady, you wish me to have a double benefit of tears in pity for your child; for now too as I tell the sad tale
my eyes will be wet, as they were at the tomb when she was dying.

> Greek: Ταλθύβιος:
διπλᾶ με χρῄζεις δάκρυα κερδᾶναι, γύναι,
σῆς παιδὸς οἴκτῳ· νῦν τε γὰρ λέγων κακὰ
τέγξω τόδʼ ὄμμα, πρὸς τάφῳ θʼ ὅτʼ ὤλλυτο.

[¶105] All Achaea’s army was gathered there in full array before the tomb to see your daughter sacrificed; and the son of Achilles took Polyxena by the hand and set her on the top of the mound, while I was near;

> Greek: παρῆν μὲν ὄχλος πᾶς Ἀχαιικοῦ στρατοῦ
πλήρης πρὸ τύμβου σῆς κόρης ἐπὶ σφαγάς·
λαβὼν δʼ Ἀχιλλέως παῖς Πολυξένην χερὸς
ἔστησʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρου χώματος, πέλας δʼ ἐγώ·

[¶106] and a chosen band of young Achaeans followed to hold your child and prevent her struggling. Then Achilles’ son took in his hands a brimming cup of gold and raised in his hand an offering to his dead father, making a sign to me
to proclaim silence throughout the Achaean army. So I stood at his side and in their midst proclaimed, “Silence, you Achaeans! let all the people be silent! peace! be still!” So I hushed the army. Then he spoke: “Son of Peleus, my father,”
“accept the offering I pour for you to appease your spirit, strong to raise the dead; and come to drink the black blood of a pure girl, which I and the army are offering you; oh! be propitious to us; grant that we may loose our prows and the”
“cables of our ships, and, meeting with a prosperous voyage from Ilium, all come to our country.” So he spoke; and all the army echoed his prayer. Then seizing his golden sword by the hilt he drew it from its scabbard, signing to the picked young Argive
warriors to hold the maid. But she, when she perceived it, uttered this speech: “O Argives, who have sacked my city! of my free will I die; let no one lay hand on me; for bravely will I yield my neck.”

> Greek: λεκτοί τʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἔκκριτοι νεανίαι,
σκίρτημα μόσχου σῆς καθέξοντες χεροῖν,
ἕσποντο. πλῆρες δʼ ἐν χεροῖν λαβὼν δέπας
πάγχρυσον αἴρει χειρὶ παῖς Ἀχιλλέως
χοὰς θανόντι πατρί· σημαίνει δέ μοι
σιγὴν Ἀχαιῶν παντὶ κηρῦξαι στρατῷ.
κἀγὼ καταστὰς εἶπον ἐν μέσοις τάδε·
Σιγᾶτʼ, Ἀχαιοί, σῖγα πᾶς ἔστω λεώς,
σίγα σιώπα· νήνεμον δʼ ἔστησʼ ὄχλον.
ὃ δʼ εἶπεν· Ὦ παῖ Πηλέως, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμός,
δέξαι χοάς μοι τάσδε κηλητηρίους,
νεκρῶν ἀγωγούς· ἐλθὲ δʼ, ὡς πίῃς μέλαν
κόρης ἀκραιφνὲς αἷμʼ, ὅ σοι δωρούμεθα
στρατός τε κἀγώ· πρευμενὴς δʼ ἡμῖν γενοῦ
λῦσαί τε πρύμνας καὶ χαλινωτήρια
νεῶν δὸς ἡμῖν πρευμενοῦς τʼ ἀπʼ Ἰλίου
νόστου τυχόντας πάντας ἐς πάτραν μολεῖν.
τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε, πᾶς δʼ ἐπηύξατο στρατός.
εἶτʼ ἀμφίχρυσον φάσγανον κώπης λαβὼν
ἐξεῖλκε κολεοῦ, λογάσι δʼ Ἀργείων στρατοῦ
νεανίαις ἔνευσε παρθένον λαβεῖν.
ἣ δʼ, ὡς ἐφράσθη, τόνδʼ ἐσήμηνεν λόγον·
Ὦ τὴν ἐμὴν πέρσαντες Ἀργεῖοι πόλιν,
ἑκοῦσα θνῄσκω· μή τις ἅψηται χροὸς
τοὐμοῦ· παρέξω γὰρ δέρην εὐκαρδίως.

[¶107] “By the gods, leave me free; so slay me, that death may find me free; for to be called a slave among the dead fills my royal heart with shame.”

> Greek: ἐλευθέραν δέ μʼ, ὡς ἐλευθέρα θάνω,
πρὸς θεῶν, μεθέντες κτείνατʼ· ἐν νεκροῖσι γὰρ
δούλη κεκλῆσθαι βασιλὶς οὖσʼ αἰσχύνομαι.

[¶108] Then the people shouted their applause, and king Agamemnon told the young men to let go the maid.

> Greek: λαοὶ δʼ ἐπερρόθησαν, Ἀγαμέμνων τʼ ἄναξ
εἶπεν μεθεῖναι παρθένον νεανίαις.

[¶109] [So they set her free, as soon as they heard this last command from him whose might was over all.] And she, hearing her master’s words, took her robe and tore it open from the shoulder to the waist,
displaying a breast and bosom fair as a statue’s; then sinking on her knee, one word she spoke more piteous than all the rest, “Young prince, if it is my breast you are eager to strike, see, here it is, strike home! or if at my neck your sword”
“you will aim, that throat is here and ready.”

> Greek: [οἳ δʼ, ὡς τάχιστʼ ἤκουσαν ὑστάτην ὄπα,]
[μεθῆκαν, οὗπερ καὶ μέγιστον ἦν κράτος.]
κἀπεὶ τόδʼ εἰσήκουσε δεσποτῶν ἔπος,
λαβοῦσα πέπλους ἐξ ἄκρας ἐπωμίδος
ἔρρηξε λαγόνας ἐς μέσας παρʼ ὀμφαλόν,
μαστούς τʼ ἔδειξε στέρνα θʼ ὡς ἀγάλματος
κάλλιστα, καὶ καθεῖσα πρὸς γαῖαν γόνυ
ἔλεξε πάντων τλημονέστατον λόγον·
Ἰδού, τόδʼ, εἰ μὲν στέρνον, ὦ νεανία,
παίειν προθυμῇ, παῖσον, εἰ δʼ ὑπʼ αὐχένα
χρῄζεις, πάρεστι λαιμὸς εὐτρεπὴς ὅδε.

[¶110] Then he, half glad, half sorry in his pity for the maid, cut with the steel the channels of her breath, and streams of blood gushed forth; but she, even in death, took good heed to fall with grace,
hiding from the gaze of men what must be hidden. When she had breathed her last through the fatal gash, no Argive set his hand to the same task, but some were strewing leaves over the corpse in handfuls, others bringing pine-logs
and heaping up a pyre; and the one who brought nothing would hear from him who did such taunts as these, “Do you stand still, ignoble wretch, with no robe or ornament to bring for the maiden? will you give nothing to her that showed such peerless bravery”
“and spirit?” Such is the tale I tell about your daughter’s death, and regard you as blessed beyond all mothers in your noble child, yet crossed in fortune more than all.

> Greek: ὃ δʼ οὐ θέλων τε καὶ θέλων οἴκτῳ κόρης,
τέμνει σιδήρῳ πνεύματος διαρροάς·
κρουνοὶ δʼ ἐχώρουν. ἣ δὲ καὶ θνῄσκουσʼ ὅμως
πολλὴν πρόνοιαν εἶχεν εὐσχήμων πεσεῖν,
κρύπτουσʼ ἃ κρύπτειν ὄμματʼ ἀρσένων χρεών.
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀφῆκε πνεῦμα θανασίμῳ σφαγῇ,
οὐδεὶς τὸν αὐτὸν εἶχεν Ἀργείων πόνον·
ἀλλʼ οἳ μὲν αὐτῶν τὴν θανοῦσαν ἐκ χερῶν
φύλλοις ἔβαλλον, οἳ δὲ πληροῦσιν πυρὰν
κορμοὺς φέροντες πευκίνους, ὁ δʼ οὐ φέρων
πρὸς τοῦ φέροντος τοιάδʼ ἤκουεν κακά·
Ἕστηκας, ὦ κάκιστε, τῇ νεάνιδι
οὐ πέπλον οὐδὲ κόσμον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων;
οὐκ εἶ τι δώσων τῇ περίσσʼ εὐκαρδίῳ
ψυχήν τʼ ἀρίστῃ; τοιάδʼ ἀμφὶ σῆς λέγων
παιδὸς θανούσης, εὐτεκνωτάτην τέ σε
πασῶν γυναικῶν δυστυχεστάτην θʼ ὁρῶ.

[¶111] Chorus Leader:
Upon the race of Priam and my city some fearful curse has burst; it is sent by God, and we must bear it.

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινόν τι πῆμα Πριαμίδαις ἐπέζεσεν
πόλει τε τἠμῇ θεῶν ἀνάγκαισιν τόδε.

[¶112] Hecuba:
O my daughter! among this crowd of sorrows I do not know where to turn my gaze; for if I set myself to one, another will not let me be; while from this again another grief summons me, finding a successor to sorrow’s throne. And now I can not efface from my mind the memory of your sufferings
sufficiently to stay my tears; yet the story of your noble death has taken from the keenness of my grief. Is it not then strange that a poor land, when blessed by heaven with a lucky year, yields a good crop, while that which is good, if robbed of needful care,
bears little fruit; yet among men the base is nothing else but wicked, the good man is good, never changing for the worse because of misfortune, but ever the same? Is then the difference due to birth or bringing up?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ θύγατερ, οὐκ οἶδʼ εἰς ὅ τι βλέψω κακῶν,
πολλῶν παρόντων· ἢν γὰρ ἅψωμαί τινος,
τόδʼ οὐκ ἐᾷ με, παρακαλεῖ δʼ ἐκεῖθεν αὖ
λύπη τις ἄλλη διάδοχος κακῶν κακοῖς.
καὶ νῦν τὸ μὲν σὸν ὥστε μὴ στένειν πάθος
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην ἐξαλείψασθαι φρενός·
τὸ δʼ αὖ λίαν παρεῖλες ἀγγελθεῖσά μοι
γενναῖος. οὔκουν δεινόν, εἰ γῆ μὲν κακὴ
τυχοῦσα καιροῦ θεόθεν εὖ στάχυν φέρει,
χρηστὴ δʼ ἁμαρτοῦσʼ ὧν χρεὼν αὐτὴν τυχεῖν
κακὸν δίδωσι καρπόν, ἀνθρώποις δʼ ἀεὶ
ὁ μὲν πονηρὸς οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν κακός,
ὁ δʼ ἐσθλὸς ἐσθλός, οὐδὲ συμφορᾶς ὕπο
φύσιν διέφθειρʼ, ἀλλὰ χρηστός ἐστʼ ἀεί;
ἆρʼ οἱ τεκόντες διαφέρουσιν ἢ τροφαί;

[¶113] Good training doubtless gives lessons in good conduct, and if a man has mastered this, he knows what is shameful by the standard of the good. And these are random shafts from my mind, I know.

> Greek: ἔχει γε μέντοι καὶ τὸ θρεφθῆναι καλῶς
δίδαξιν ἐσθλοῦ· τοῦτο δʼ ἤν τις εὖ μάθῃ,
οἶδεν τό γʼ αἰσχρόν, κανόνι τοῦ καλοῦ μαθών.
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νοῦς ἐτόξευσεν μάτην·

[¶114] To Talthybius Go and proclaim to the Argives
that they do not touch my daughter’s body but keep the crowd away. For when a countless army is gathered, the mob knows no restraint, and the unruliness of sailors exceeds that of fire, all abstinence from crime being counted criminal. Talthybius goes out.

> Greek: σὺ δʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ σήμηνον Ἀργείοις τάδε,
μὴ θιγγάνειν μοι μηδένʼ, ἀλλʼ εἴργειν ὄχλον,
τῆς παιδός. ἔν τοι μυρίῳ στρατεύματι
ἀκόλαστος ὄχλος ναυτική τʼ ἀναρχία
κρείσσων πυρός, κακὸς δʼ ὁ μή τι δρῶν κακόν.

[¶115] Addressing a servant Now you, my aged handmaid, take a pitcher
and dip it in the salt sea and bring it here, that I for the last time may wash my child, an unwed bride, a ravished virgin, and lay her out, as she deserves, ah! how can I? impossible! but as best I can; and what will that amount to?
I will collect adornment from the captives, my companions in these tents, if perhaps any of them escaping her new master’s eye has made some theft from her home. The servant departs. O towering halls, O home so happy once,
O Priam, rich in store of fairest wealth, most blessed of fathers, and I no less, the grey-haired mother of your race, how are we brought to nothing, stripped of our former pride! And in spite of all we vaunt ourselves, one on the riches of his house,
another because he has an honored name among his fellow-citizens! But these things are nothing; in vain are all our thoughtful schemes, in vain our boastful words. He is happiest who meets no sorrow day by day. Hecuba enters the tent.

> Greek: σὺ δʼ αὖ λαβοῦσα τεῦχος, ἀρχαία λάτρι,
βάψασʼ ἔνεγκε δεῦρο ποντίας ἁλός,
ὡς παῖδα λουτροῖς τοῖς πανυστάτοις ἐμήν,
νύμφην τʼ ἄνυμφον παρθένον τʼ ἀπάρθενον,
λούσω προθῶμαί θʼ — ὡς μὲν ἀξία, πόθεν;
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· ὡς δʼ ἔχω — τί γὰρ πάθω; —
κόσμον τʼ ἀγείρασʼ αἰχμαλωτίδων πάρα,
αἵ μοι πάρεδροι τῶνδʼ ἔσω σκηνωμάτων
ναίουσιν, εἴ τις τοὺς νεωστὶ δεσπότας
λαθοῦσʼ ἔχει τι κλέμμα τῶν αὑτῆς δόμων.
ὦ σχήματʼ οἴκων, ὦ ποτʼ εὐτυχεῖς δόμοι,
ὦ πλεῖστʼ ἔχων κάλλιστά τʼ, εὐτεκνώτατε
Πρίαμε, γεραιά θʼ ἥδʼ ἐγὼ μήτηρ τέκνων,
ὡς ἐς τὸ μηδὲν ἥκομεν, φρονήματος
τοῦ πρὶν στερέντες. εἶτα δῆτʼ ὀγκούμεθα,
ὃ μέν τις ἡμῶν πλουσίοις ἐν δώμασιν,
ὃ δʼ ἐν πολίταις τίμιος κεκλημένος.
τὰ δʼ οὐδὲν ἄλλως, φροντίδων βουλεύματα
γλώσσης τε κόμποι. κεῖνος ὀλβιώτατος,
ὅτῳ κατʼ ἦμαρ τυγχάνει μηδὲν κακόν.

[¶116] Chorus:
Woe and tribulation
were made my lot in life, when Alexander first cut his beams of pine in Ida’s woods, to sail across the heaving sea
in quest of Helen’s bed, loveliest woman on whom the sun-god turns his golden eye.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐμοὶ χρῆν συμφοράν,
ἐμοὶ χρῆν πημονὰν γενέσθαι,
Ἰδαίαν ὅτε πρῶτον ὕλαν
Ἀλέξανδρος εἰλατίναν
ἐτάμεθʼ, ἅλιον ἐπʼ οἶδμα ναυστολήσων
Ἑλένας ἐπὶ λέκτρα, τὰν
καλλίσταν ὁ χρυσοφαὴς
Ἅλιος αὐγάζει.

[¶117] Chorus:
For here begins trouble’s cycle,
and, worse than that, relentless fate; and from one man’s folly came a universal curse, bringing death to the land of Simois, with trouble from an alien shore. The strife the shepherd decided
on Ida, between three daughters of the blessed gods,

> Greek: Χορός:
πόνοι γὰρ καὶ πόνων
ἀνάγκαι κρείσσονες κυκλοῦνται
κοινὸν δʼ ἐξ ἰδίας ἀνοίας
κακὸν τᾷ Σιμουντίδι γᾷ
ὀλέθριον ἔμολε συμφορά τʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλων.
ἐκρίθη δʼ ἔρις, ἃν ἐν Ἴ-
δᾳ κρίνει τρισσὰς μακάρων
παῖδας ἀνὴρ βούτας,

[¶118] Chorus:
brought as its result war and bloodshed and the ruin of my home;

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπὶ δορὶ καὶ φόνῳ καὶ ἐμῶν μελάθρων λώβᾳ·

[¶119] and many a Spartan maiden too is weeping bitter tears in her halls on the banks of fair Eurotas, and many a mother whose sons are slain,
is smiting her gray head and tearing her cheeks, making her nails bloody in the furrowed gash.
Maid-servant: entering excitedly, attended by bearers bringing in a covered corpse
Oh! ladies, where is Hecuba, our queen of sorrow, who conquers all in tribulation, men and women both alike?
No one shall dispute the crown with her.

> Greek: στένει δὲ καί τις ἀμφὶ τὸν εὔροον Εὐρώταν
Λάκαινα πολυδάκρυτος ἐν δόμοις κόρα,
πολιάν τʼ ἐπὶ κρᾶτα μάτηρ
τέκνων θανόντων
τίθεται χέρα δρύπτεται παρειάν,
δίαιμον ὄνυχα τιθεμένα σπαραγμοῖς.
Θεράπαινα:
γυναῖκες, Ἑκάβη ποῦ ποθʼ ἡ παναθλία,
ἡ πάντα νικῶσʼ ἄνδρα καὶ θῆλυν σπορὰν
κακοῖσιν; οὐδεὶς στέφανον ἀνθαιρήσεται.

[¶120] Chorus Leader:
What now, unhappy one with your cry of misery? Your evil tidings never seem to rest.

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ, ὦ τάλαινα σῆς κακογλώσσου βοῆς;
ὡς οὔποθʼ εὕδει λυπρά σου κηρύγματα.

[¶121] Maid-servant:
It is to Hecuba I bring my bitter news; no easy task is it for mortal lips to speak smooth words in sorrow.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
Ἑκάβῃ φέρω τόδʼ ἄλγος· ἐν κακοῖσι δὲ
οὐ ῥᾴδιον βροτοῖσιν εὐφημεῖν στόμα.

[¶122] Chorus Leader:
Look, she is coming even now from the shelter of the tent, appearing just in time to hear you speak. Hecuba comes out of the tent.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν περῶσα τυγχάνει δόμων ὕπερ
ἥδʼ, ἐς δὲ καιρὸν σοῖσι φαίνεται λόγοις.

[¶123] Maid-servant:
O mistress, most hapless beyond all words of mine to tell; you are ruined, you no longer exist, though you are alive; of children, husband, city bereft; hopelessly undone!

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
ὦ παντάλαινα κἄτι μᾶλλον ἢ λέγω,
δέσποινʼ, ὄλωλας κοὐκέτʼ εἶ, βλέπουσα φῶς,
ἄπαις ἄνανδρος ἄπολις ἐξεφθαρμένη.

[¶124] Hecuba:
This is no news but insult; I have heard it all before. But why have you come, bringing here to me the corpse of Polyxena, on whose burial Achaea’s army was reported to be busily engaged?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐ καινὸν εἶπας, εἰδόσιν δʼ ὠνείδισας.
ἀτὰρ τί νεκρὸν τόνδε μοι Πολυξένης
ἥκεις κομίζουσʼ, ἧς ἀπηγγέλθη τάφος
πάντων Ἀχαιῶν διὰ χερὸς σπουδὴν ἔχειν;

[¶125] Maid-servant:
She knows nothing, but mourns
Polyxena, not grasping her new sorrows.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
ἥδʼ οὐδὲν οἶδεν, ἀλλά μοι Πολυξένην
θρηνεῖ, νέων δὲ πημάτων οὐχ ἅπτεται.

## 2. Lines 676–1295

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-hecuba/2/#p-N

[¶0] Hecuba:
Ah! woe is me! you are surely not bringing here frenzied Cassandra, the prophetic maid?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα· μῶν τὸ βακχεῖον κάρα
τῆς θεσπιῳδοῦ δεῦρο Κασάνδρας φέρεις;

[¶1] Maid-servant:
You speak of the living; but the dead you do not weep is here. Uncovering the corpse Mark well the body now laid bare;
is not this a sight to fill you with wonder, and upset your hopes?

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
ζῶσαν λέλακας, τὸν θανόντα δʼ οὐ στένεις
τόνδʼ· ἀλλʼ ἄθρησον σῶμα γυμνωθὲν νεκροῦ,
εἴ σοι φανεῖται θαῦμα καὶ παρʼ ἐλπίδας.

[¶2] Hecuba:
Ah me! it is the corpse of my son Polydorus I behold, whom the Thracian man was keeping safe for me in his halls. Alas! this is the end of all; my life is over. chanting O my son, my son,
alas! I now begin the laments, a frantic strain I learned just now from some avenging fiend.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἴμοι, βλέπω δὴ παῖδʼ ἐμὸν τεθνηκότα,
Πολύδωρον, ὅν μοι Θρῂξ ἔσῳζʼ οἴκοις ἀνήρ.
ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, οὐκέτʼ εἰμὶ δή.
ὦ τέκνον τέκνον,
αἰαῖ, κατάρχομαι γόων,
βακχεῖον ἐξ ἀλάστορος
ἀρτιμαθῆ νόμον.

[¶3] Maid-servant:
What! so you knew your son’s fate, poor lady?

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
ἔγνως γὰρ ἄτην παιδός, ὦ δύστηνε σύ;

[¶4] Hecuba:
I cannot, cannot credit this fresh sight I see.
chanting
One woe succeeds to another; no day will ever pass without groans and tears.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄπιστʼ ἄπιστα, καινὰ καινὰ δέρκομαι.
ἕτερα δʼ ἀφʼ ἑτέρων κακὰ κακῶν κυρεῖ·
οὐδέ ποτʼ ἀστένακτος ἀδάκρυτος ἁ-
μέρα [μʼ] ἐπισχήσει.

[¶5] Chorus Leader:
Alas! poor lady, our sufferings are cruel indeed.

> Greek: Χορός:
δείνʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, δεινὰ πάσχομεν κακά.

[¶6] Hecuba: chanting
O my son, child of a luckless mother,
what was the manner of your death? by what fate do you lie here? by whose hands?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ τέκνον τέκνον ταλαίνας ματρός,
τίνι μόρῳ θνῄσκεις,
τίνι πότμῳ κεῖσαι;
πρὸς τίνος ἀνθρώπων;

[¶7] Maid-servant:
I do not know. I found him on the sea-shore.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς νιν κυρῶ θαλασσίαις …

[¶8] Hecuba: chanting
Cast up on the smooth sand, or thrown there
after the murderous blow?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἔκβλητον, ἢ πέσημα φοινίου δορός,
ἐν ψαμάθῳ λευρᾷ;

[¶9] Maid-servant:
The waves had washed him ashore.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
πόντου νιν ἐξήνεγκε πελάγιος κλύδων.

[¶10] Hecuba: chanting
Alas! alas! I now know the vision I saw in my sleep; the dusky-winged phantom
did not escape me, the vision I saw of you, my son, now no more within the bright sunshine.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὤμοι, αἰαῖ, ἔμαθον ἔνυπνον ὀμμάτων
ἐμῶν ὄψιν· οὔ με παρέβα
φάσμα μελανόπτερον, τὰν ἐσεῖδον ἀμφὶ σέ,
ὦ τέκνον, οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Διὸς ἐν φάει.

[¶11] Chorus Leader:
Who slew him then? Can your dream-lore tell us that?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίς γάρ νιν ἔκτεινʼ; οἶσθʼ ὀνειρόφρων φράσαι;

[¶12] Hecuba: chanting
It was my own familiar friend, the knight of Thrace, with whom his aged father had placed the boy in hiding.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἐμὸς ἐμὸς ξένος, Θρῄκιος ἱππότας,
ἵνʼ ὁ γέρων πατὴρ ἔθετό νιν κρύψας.

[¶13] Chorus Leader:
O horror! what will you say? did he slay him to get the gold?

> Greek: Χορός:
οἴμοι, τί λέξεις; χρυσὸν ὡς ἔχοι κτανών;

[¶14] Hecuba: chanting
O dreadful crime! O deed without a name! beyond wonder!
impious! intolerable! Where are the laws between guest and host? Accursed of men! how have you mangled his flesh, slashing the poor child’s limbs
with ruthless sword, lost to all sense of pity!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄρρητʼ ἀνωνόμαστα, θαυμάτων πέρα,
οὐχ ὅσιʼ οὐδʼ ἀνεκτά. ποῦ δίκα ξένων;
ὦ κατάρατʼ ἀνδρῶν, ὡς διεμοιράσω
χρόα, σιδαρέῳ τεμὼν φασγάνῳ
μέλεα τοῦδε παιδὸς οὐδʼ ᾤκτισας.

[¶15] Chorus Leader:
Alas for you! how some deity, whose hand is heavy on you, has sent you troubles beyond all other mortals! But I see our lord and master
Agamemnon; so let us be still from now on, my friends.
Agamemnon enters.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλῆμον, ὥς σε πολυπονωτάτην βροτῶν
δαίμων ἔθηκεν ὅστις ἐστί σοι βαρύς.
ἀλλʼ εἰσορῶ γὰρ τοῦδε δεσπότου δέμας
Ἀγαμέμνονος, τοὐνθένδε σιγῶμεν, φίλαι.

[¶16] Agamemnon:
Hecuba, why are you delaying to come and bury your daughter? for it was for this that Talthybius brought me your message begging that no one of the Argives should touch your child. And so we granted this, and are not touching her,
but this delay of yours fills me with wonder. And so I have come to send you from here; for our part there is well performed—if here there is any place for “well.”

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
Ἑκάβη, τί μέλλεις παῖδα σὴν κρύπτειν τάφῳ
ἐλθοῦσʼ, ἐφʼ οἷσπερ Ταλθύβιος ἤγγειλέ μοι
μὴ θιγγάνειν σῆς μηδένʼ Ἀργείων κόρης;
ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν εἰῶμεν οὐδʼ ἐψαύομεν·
σὺ δὲ σχολάζεις, ὥστε θαυμάζειν ἐμέ.
ἥκω δʼ ἀποστελῶν σε· τἀκεῖθεν γὰρ εὖ
πεπραγμένʼ ἐστίν — εἴ τι τῶνδʼ ἐστὶν καλῶς.

[¶17] He sees the body. Oh! what man is this I see near the tents, some Trojan’s corpse? It is not an Argive’s body;
that the garments it is clad in tell me.
Hecuba: aside
Unhappy one! in naming you I name myself; Hecuba, what shall I do? throw myself here at Agamemnon’s knees, or bear my sorrows in silence?

> Greek: ἔα· τίνʼ ἄνδρα τόνδʼ ἐπὶ σκηναῖς ὁρῶ
θανόντα Τρώων; οὐ γὰρ Ἀργεῖον πέπλοι
δέμας περιπτύσσοντες ἀγγέλλουσί μοι.
Ἑκάβη:
δύστηνʼ, ἐμαυτὴν γὰρ λέγω λέγουσα σέ,
Ἑκάβη, τί δράσω; πότερα προσπέσω γόνυ
Ἀγαμέμνονος τοῦδʼ ἢ φέρω σιγῇ κακά;

[¶18] Agamemnon:
Why do you turn your back towards me and
weep, refusing to say what has happened? Who is this?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
τί μοι προσώπῳ νῶτον ἐγκλίνασα σὸν
δύρῃ, τὸ πραχθὲν δʼ οὐ λέγεις; — τίς ἔσθʼ ὅδε;

[¶19] Hecuba: aside
But if he should count me as a slave and foe and spurn me from his knees, I would add to my anguish.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἀλλʼ, εἴ με δούλην πολεμίαν θʼ ἡγούμενος
γονάτων ἀπώσαιτʼ, ἄλγος ἂν προσθείμεθʼ ἄν.

[¶20] Agamemnon:
I am no prophet born; therefore, if I am not told, I cannot learn the current of your thoughts.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὔτοι πέφυκα μάντις, ὥστε μὴ κλύων
ἐξιστορῆσαι σῶν ὁδὸν βουλευμάτων.

[¶21] Hecuba: aside
Can it be that in estimating this man’s feelings I make him out too ill-disposed, when he is not really so?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἆρʼ ἐκλογίζομαί γε πρὸς τὸ δυσμενὲς
μᾶλλον φρένας τοῦδʼ, ὄντος οὐχὶ δυσμενοῦς;

[¶22] Agamemnon:
If your wish really is that I should remain in ignorance, we are of one mind; for I have no wish myself to listen.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
εἴ τοί με βούλῃ τῶνδε μηδὲν εἰδέναι,
ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥκεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐγὼ κλύειν.

[¶23] Hecuba: aside
Without his aid I shall not be able to avenge
my children. Why do I still ponder the matter? I must do and dare whether I win or lose. Turning to Agamemnon Agamemnon, by your knees, by your beard and conquering hand I implore you—

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην τοῦδε τιμωρεῖν ἄτερ
τέκνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖσι. τί στρέφω τάδε;
τολμᾶν ἀνάγκη, κἂν τύχω κἂν μὴ τύχω. —
Ἀγάμεμνον, ἱκετεύω σε τῶνδε γουνάτων
καὶ σοῦ γενείου δεξιᾶς τʼ εὐδαίμονος …

[¶24] Agamemnon:
What is your desire? to be
set free? that is easily done.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
τί χρῆμα μαστεύουσα; μῶν ἐλεύθερον
αἰῶνα θέσθαι; ῥᾴδιον γάρ ἐστί σοι.

[¶25] Hecuba:
Not that; give me vengeance on the wicked, and I am willing to lead a life of slavery forever.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐ δῆτα· τοὺς κακοὺς δὲ τιμωρουμένη
αἰῶνα τὸν σύμπαντα δουλεύειν θέλω.

[¶26] Agamemnon:
Well, but why do you call me to your aid?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
καὶ δὴ τίνʼ ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐπάρκεσιν καλεῖς;

[¶27] Hecuba:
It is a matter you little know of, king.
Do you see this corpse, for whom my tears now flow?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐδέν τι τούτων ὧν σὺ δοξάζεις, ἄναξ. —
ὁρᾷς νεκρὸν τόνδʼ, οὗ καταστάζω δάκρυ;

[¶28] Agamemnon:
I do; but what is to follow, I cannot guess.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ὁρῶ· τὸ μέντοι μέλλον οὐκ ἔχω μαθεῖν.

[¶29] Hecuba:
He was once my child; I bore him in my womb.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τοῦτόν ποτʼ ἔτεκον κἄφερον ζώνης ὕπο.

[¶30] Agamemnon:
Which of your sons is he, poor sufferer?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἔστιν δὲ τίς σῶν οὗτος, ὦ τλῆμον, τέκνων;

[¶31] Hecuba:
Not one of Priam’s race who fell beneath Ilium’s walls.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐ τῶν θανόντων Πριαμιδῶν ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳ.

[¶32] Agamemnon:
Did you indeed have another son besides those, lady?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἦ γάρ τινʼ ἄλλον ἔτεκες ἢ κείνους, γύναι;

[¶33] Hecuba:
Yes, the one you see here, of whom it seems I have small gain.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἀνόνητά γʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τόνδʼ ὃν εἰσορᾷς.

[¶34] Agamemnon:
Where then was he, when his city was being destroyed?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ποῦ δʼ ὢν ἐτύγχανʼ, ἡνίκʼ ὤλλυτο πτόλις;

[¶35] Hecuba:
His father, fearful of his death, conveyed him out of Troy.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
πατήρ νιν ἐξέπεμψεν ὀρρωδῶν θανεῖν.

[¶36] Agamemnon:
Where did he place him apart from the sons he then had?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ποῖ τῶν τότʼ ὄντων χωρίσας τέκνων μόνον;

[¶37] Hecuba:
In this very land, where his corpse was found.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἐς τήνδε χώραν, οὗπερ ηὑρέθη θανών.

[¶38] Agamemnon:
With Polymestor, the king of this country?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
πρὸς ἄνδρʼ ὃς ἄρχει τῆσδε Πολυμήστωρ χθονός;

[¶39] Hecuba:
He was sent here in charge of gold, most bitter trust!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἐνταῦθʼ ἐπέμφθη πικροτάτου χρυσοῦ φύλαξ.

[¶40] Agamemnon:
By whom was he slain? What death overtook him?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
θνῄσκει δὲ πρὸς τοῦ καὶ τίνος πότμου τυχών;

[¶41] Hecuba:
By whom but this man? His Thracian host slew him.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τίνος γʼ ὑπʼ ἄλλου; Θρῄξ νιν ὤλεσε ξένος.

[¶42] Agamemnon:
The wretch! could he have been so eager for the gold?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ὦ τλῆμον· ἦ που χρυσὸν ἠράσθη λαβεῖν;

[¶43] Hecuba:
Just so, when he heard of the Phrygians’ disaster.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τοιαῦτʼ, ἐπειδὴ συμφορὰν ἔγνω Φρυγῶν.

[¶44] Agamemnon:
Where did you find him? or did some one bring his corpse?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ηὗρες δὲ ποῦ νιν; ἢ τίς ἤνεγκεν νεκρόν;

[¶45] Hecuba:
This woman, who happened upon it on the sea-shore.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἥδʼ, ἐντυχοῦσα ποντίας ἀκτῆς ἔπι.

[¶46] Agamemnon:
Was she seeking it, or bent on other tasks?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
τοῦτον ματεύουσʼ ἢ πονοῦσʼ ἄλλον πόνον;

[¶47] Hecuba:
She had gone to fetch water from the sea to wash Polyxena.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
λούτρʼ ᾤχετʼ οἴσουσʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς Πολυξένῃ.

[¶48] Agamemnon:
It seems then his host slew him and cast his body out to sea.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
κτανών νιν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐκβάλλει ξένος.

[¶49] Hecuba:
Yes, for the waves to toss, after mangling him in this way.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
θαλασσόπλαγκτόν γʼ, ὧδε διατεμὼν χρόα.

[¶50] Agamemnon:
Woe to you for your measureless troubles!

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ὦ σχετλία σὺ τῶν ἀμετρήτων πόνων.

[¶51] Hecuba:
I am ruined; no evil now is left, Agamemnon.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὄλωλα κοὐδὲν λοιπόν, Ἀγάμεμνον, κακῶν.

[¶52] Agamemnon:
Ah! what woman was ever born to such mischance?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
φεῦ φεῦ· τίς οὕτω δυστυχὴς ἔφυ γυνή;

[¶53] Hecuba:
There is no one, unless you would name Chance herself. But hear my reason for throwing myself at your knees. If my treatment seems to you deserved, I will be content; but, if otherwise, help me to punish
this most godless host, fearless alike of gods in heaven or hell, who has done a most unholy deed; who, though often he had shared my board and been counted first of all my guest-friends
meeting with every kindness he could claim—. And receiving my consideration, he slew my son, and bent though he was on murder, did not think it right to bury him, but cast his body forth to sea.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐκ ἔστιν, εἰ μὴ τὴν Τύχην αὐτὴν λέγοις.
ἀλλʼ ὧνπερ οὕνεκʼ ἀμφὶ σὸν πίπτω γόνυ
ἄκουσον. εἰ μὲν ὅσιά σοι παθεῖν δοκῶ,
στέργοιμʼ ἄν· εἰ δὲ τοὔμπαλιν, σύ μοι γενοῦ
τιμωρὸς ἀνδρός, ἀνοσιωτάτου ξένου,
ὃς οὔτε τοὺς γῆς νέρθεν οὔτε τοὺς ἄνω
δείσας δέδρακεν ἔργον ἀνοσιώτατον,
κοινῆς τραπέζης πολλάκις τυχὼν ἐμοί,
ξενίας τʼ ἀριθμῷ πρῶτʼ ἔχων ἐμῶν φίλων,
τυχὼν δʼ ὅσων δεῖ —. καὶ λαβὼν προμηθίαν
ἔκτεινε· τύμβου δʼ, εἰ κτανεῖν ἐβούλετο,
οὐκ ἠξίωσεν, ἀλλʼ ἀφῆκε πόντιον.

[¶54] I may be a slave and weak as well, but the gods are strong, and Custom too which prevails over them,
for by custom it is that we believe in them and set up boundaries of right and wrong for our lives. Now if this principle, when referred to you, is to be set at nothing, and they are to escape punishment who murder guests or dare to plunder the temples of gods,
then all fairness in human matters is at an end. Consider this then a disgrace and show regard for me, have pity on me, and, like an artist standing back from his picture, look on me and closely scan my piteous state. I was once a queen, but now I am your slave;
a happy mother once, but now childless and old alike, bereft of city, utterly forlorn, the most wretched woman living.
as Agamemnon is turning away. Ah! woe is me! where would you withdraw your steps from me? My efforts then will be in vain, ah me! Why, oh! why do we mortals toil, as we must, and seek out all other sciences,
but Persuasion, the only real mistress of mankind, we take no further pains to master completely by offering to pay for the knowledge, so that any man could convince his fellows as he pleased and gain his point at once?

> Greek: ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν δοῦλοί τε κἀσθενεῖς ἴσως·
ἀλλʼ οἱ θεοὶ σθένουσι χὡ κείνων κρατῶν
Νόμος· νόμῳ γὰρ τοὺς θεοὺς ἡγούμεθα
καὶ ζῶμεν ἄδικα καὶ δίκαιʼ ὡρισμένοι·
ὃς ἐς σʼ ἀνελθὼν εἰ διαφθαρήσεται,
καὶ μὴ δίκην δώσουσιν οἵτινες ξένους
κτείνουσιν ἢ θεῶν ἱερὰ τολμῶσιν φέρειν,
οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἴσον.
ταῦτʼ οὖν ἐν αἰσχρῷ θέμενος αἰδέσθητί με·
οἴκτιρον ἡμᾶς, ὡς γραφεύς τʼ ἀποσταθεὶς
ἰδοῦ με κἀνάθρησον οἷʼ ἔχω κακά.
τύραννος ἦ ποτʼ, ἀλλὰ νῦν δούλη σέθεν,
εὔπαις ποτʼ οὖσα, νῦν δὲ γραῦς ἄπαις θʼ ἅμα,
ἄπολις ἔρημος, ἀθλιωτάτη βροτῶν …
οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῖ μʼ ὑπεξάγεις πόδα;
ἔοικα πράξειν οὐδέν· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
τί δῆτα θνητοὶ τἄλλα μὲν μαθήματα
μοχθοῦμεν ὡς χρὴ πάντα καὶ ματεύομεν,
Πειθὼ δὲ τὴν τύραννον ἀνθρώποις μόνην
οὐδέν τι μᾶλλον ἐς τέλος σπουδάζομεν
μισθοὺς διδόντες μανθάνειν, ἵνʼ ἦν ποτε
πείθειν ἅ τις βούλοιτο τυγχάνειν θʼ ἅμα;

[¶55] How shall anyone hereafter hope for prosperity? All those my sons are gone from me, and she, my daughter, is a slave and suffers shame. I am lost; I see the smoke leaping over my city. Further—though this is perhaps idly urged,
to plead your love, still I will put the case—at your side lies my daughter, Cassandra, the inspired maiden, as the Phrygians call her. How then, king, will you acknowledge those nights of rapture, or what return shall my daughter or I her mother have
for the love she has lavished on her lord? [For from darkness and the endearments of the night mortals have their keenest joys.] Listen, then; do you see this corpse? By doing him a service, you will do it to a kinsman of your bride’s.
I have only one thing yet to urge. Oh! would I had a voice in arms, in hands, in hair and feet, placed there by the arts of Daedalus or some god, that all together they might with tears embrace your knees,
bringing a thousand pleas to bear on you! O my lord and master, most glorious light of Hellas, listen, stretch forth a helping hand to this aged woman, for all she is a thing of nothing; still do so. For it is always a good man’s duty to help the right,
and to punish evil-doers wherever found.

> Greek: πῶς οὖν ἔτʼ ἄν τις ἐλπίσαι πράξειν καλῶς;
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ὄντες παῖδες οὐκέτʼ εἰσί μοι,
αὕτη δʼ ἐπʼ αἰσχροῖς αἰχμάλωτος. οἴχομαι·
καπνὸν δὲ πόλεως τόνδʼ ὑπερθρῴσκονθʼ ὁρῶ.
καὶ μήν — ἴσως μὲν τοῦ λόγου κενὸν τόδε,
Κύπριν προβάλλειν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται·
πρὸς σοῖσι πλευροῖς παῖς ἐμὴ κοιμίζεται
ἡ φοιβάς, ἣν καλοῦσι Κασάνδραν Φρύγες.
ποῦ τὰς φίλας δῆτʼ εὐφρόνας δείξεις, ἄναξ,
ἢ τῶν ἐν εὐνῇ φιλτάτων ἀσπασμάτων
χάριν τίνʼ ἕξει παῖς ἐμή, κείνης δʼ ἐγώ;
[ἐκ τοῦ σκότου τε τῶν τε νυκτερησίων]
[φίλτρων μεγίστη γίγνεται βροτοῖς χάρις.]
ἄκουε δή νυν· τὸν θανόντα τόνδʼ ὁρᾷς;
τοῦτον καλῶς δρῶν ὄντα κηδεστὴν σέθεν
δράσεις. ἑνός μοι μῦθος ἐνδεὴς ἔτι.
εἴ μοι γένοιτο φθόγγος ἐν βραχίοσι
καὶ χερσὶ καὶ κόμαισι καὶ ποδῶν βάσει
ἢ Δαιδάλου τέχναισιν ἢ θεῶν τινος,
ὡς πάνθʼ ὁμαρτῇ σῶν ἔχοιντο γουνάτων
κλαίοντʼ, ἐπισκήπτοντα παντοίους λόγους.
ὦ δέσποτʼ, ὦ μέγιστον Ἕλλησιν φάος,
πιθοῦ, παράσχες χεῖρα τῇ πρεσβύτιδι
τιμωρόν, εἰ καὶ μηδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως.
ἐσθλοῦ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς τῇ δίκῃ θʼ ὑπηρετεῖν
καὶ τοὺς κακοὺς δρᾶν πανταχοῦ κακῶς ἀεί.

[¶56] Chorus Leader:
It is strange how each extreme meets in human life! Custom determines even our natural ties, making the most bitter foes friends, and regarding as foes those who formerly were friends.

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινόν γε, θνητοῖς ὡς ἅπαντα συμπίτνει,
καὶ τὰς ἀνάγκας οἱ νόμοι διώρισαν,
φίλους τιθέντες τούς γε πολεμιωτάτους
ἐχθρούς τε τοὺς πρὶν εὐμενεῖς ποιούμενοι.

[¶57] Agamemnon:
Hecuba, I feel compassion for you and your son and your ill-fortune, as well as for your suppliant gesture, and I would gladly see that impious host pay you this forfeit for the sake of heaven and justice, if I could only find some way to help you
without appearing to the army to have plotted the death of the Thracian king for Cassandra’s sake. For on one point I am assailed by perplexity: the army count this man their friend, the dead their foe; that he is dear to you
is a matter apart, in which the army has no share. Reflect on this; for though you find me ready to share your toil and quick to lend my aid, yet the risk of being reproached by the Achaeans makes me hesitate.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἐγὼ σὲ καὶ σὸν παῖδα καὶ τύχας σέθεν,
Ἑκάβη, διʼ οἴκτου χεῖρά θʼ ἱκεσίαν ἔχω,
καὶ βούλομαι θεῶν θʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀνόσιον ξένον
καὶ τοῦ δικαίου τήνδε σοι δοῦναι δίκην,
εἴ πως φανείη γʼ ὥστε σοί τʼ ἔχειν καλῶς,
στρατῷ τε μὴ δόξαιμι Κασάνδρας χάριν
Θρῄκης ἄνακτι τόνδε βουλεῦσαι φόνον.
ἔστιν γὰρ ᾗ ταραγμὸς ἐμπέπτωκέ μοι·
— Τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον φίλιον ἡγεῖται στρατός,
τὸν κατθανόντα δʼ ἐχθρόν· εἰ δὲ σοὶ φίλος
ὅδʼ ἐστί, χωρὶς τοῦτο κοὐ κοινὸν στρατῷ. —
πρὸς ταῦτα φρόντιζʼ· ὡς θέλοντα μέν μʼ ἔχεις
σοὶ ξυμπονῆσαι καὶ ταχὺν προσαρκέσαι,
βραδὺν δʼ, Ἀχαιοῖς εἰ διαβληθήσομαι.

[¶58] Hecuba:
Ah! there is not in the world a single man free;

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
φεῦ.
οὐκ ἔστι θνητῶν ὅστις ἔστʼ ἐλεύθερος·

[¶59] for he is a slave either to money or to fortune, or else the people in their thousands or the fear of public prosecution prevents him from following the dictates of his heart.

> Greek: ἢ χρημάτων γὰρ δοῦλός ἐστιν ἢ τύχης,
ἢ πλῆθος αὐτὸν πόλεος ἢ νόμων γραφαὶ
εἴργουσι χρῆσθαι μὴ κατὰ γνώμην τρόποις.

[¶60] But since you are afraid, deferring too much to the rabble, I will rid you of that fear.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δὲ ταρβεῖς τῷ τʼ ὄχλῳ πλέον νέμεις,
ἐγώ σε θήσω τοῦδʼ ἐλεύθερον φόβου.

[¶61] Thus: be aware of my plot if I devise mischief against this murderer, but refrain from any share in it. And if any uproar or attempt at rescue breaks out among the Achaeans, when the Thracian is suffering his doom, check it without seeming to do so on my account.

> Greek: σύνισθι μὲν γάρ, ἤν τι βουλεύσω κακὸν
τῷ τόνδʼ ἀποκτείναντι, συνδράσῃς δὲ μή.
ἢν δʼ ἐξ Ἀχαιῶν θόρυβος ἢ ʼπικουρία
πάσχοντος ἀνδρὸς Θρῃκὸς οἷα πείσεται
φανῇ τις, εἶργε μὴ δοκῶν ἐμὴν χάριν.

[¶62] For what remains—take heart—I will arrange everything well.

> Greek: τὰ δʼ ἄλλα — θάρσει — πάντʼ ἐγὼ θήσω καλῶς.

[¶63] Agamemnon:
How? what will you do? will you take a sword in your old hand and slay the barbarian, or do you have drugs or some means to aid you? Who will take your part? Where will you procure friends?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
πῶς οὖν; τί δράσεις; πότερα φάσγανον χερὶ
λαβοῦσα γραίᾳ φῶτα βάρβαρον κτενεῖς,
ἢ φαρμάκοισιν ἢ ʼπικουρίᾳ τινί;
τίς σοι ξυνέσται χείρ; πόθεν κτήσῃ φίλους;

[¶64] Hecuba:
Sheltered beneath these tents is a crowd of Trojan women.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
στέγαι κεκεύθασʼ αἵδε Τρῳάδων ὄχλον.

[¶65] Agamemnon:
Do you mean the captives, the booty of the Hellenes?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
τὰς αἰχμαλώτους εἶπας, Ἑλλήνων ἄγραν;

[¶66] Hecuba:
With their help I will punish my murderous foe.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σὺν ταῖσδε τὸν ἐμὸν φονέα τιμωρήσομαι.

[¶67] Agamemnon:
How are women to master men?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
καὶ πῶς γυναιξὶν ἀρσένων ἔσται κράτος;

[¶68] Hecuba:
Numbers are a fearful thing, and joined to craft a desperate foe.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
δεινὸν τὸ πλῆθος σὺν δόλῳ τε δύσμαχον.

[¶69] Agamemnon:
True; still I have a mean opinion of the female race.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
δεινόν· τὸ μέντοι θῆλυ μέμφομαι γένος.

[¶70] Hecuba:
What? did not women slay the sons of Aegyptus, and utterly clear Lemnos of men? But let it be thus; put an end to our conference, and send this woman for me safely through the army.
To a servant And you are to draw near my Thracian friend and say, “Hecuba, once queen of Ilium, summons you, on your own business no less than hers, your children too, for they also must hear what she has to say.” The servant goes out. Defer awhile, Agamemnon,
the burial of Polyxena lately slain, so that brother and sister may be laid on the same pyre and buried side by side, a double cause of sorrow to their mother.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
τί δʼ; οὐ γυναῖκες εἷλον Αἰγύπτου τέκνα
καὶ Λῆμνον ἄρδην ἀρσένων ἐξῴκισαν;
ἀλλʼ ὣς γενέσθω· τόνδε μὲν μέθες λόγον,
πέμψον δέ μοι τήνδʼ ἀσφαλῶς διὰ στρατοῦ
γυναῖκα. — καὶ σὺ Θρῃκὶ πλαθεῖσα ξένῳ
λέξον· Καλεῖ σʼ ἄνασσα δή ποτʼ Ἰλίου
Ἑκάβη, σὸν οὐκ ἔλασσον ἢ κείνης χρέος,
καὶ παῖδας· ὡς δεῖ καὶ τέκνʼ εἰδέναι λόγους
τοὺς ἐξ ἐκείνης. — τὸν δὲ τῆς νεοσφαγοῦς
Πολυξένης ἐπίσχες, Ἀγάμεμνον, τάφον,
ὡς τώδʼ ἀδελφὼ πλησίον μιᾷ φλογί,
δισσὴ μέριμνα μητρί, κρυφθῆτον χθονί.

[¶71] Agamemnon:
So shall it be; yet if the army were able to sail, I could not have granted you this favor;

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἔσται τάδʼ οὕτω· καὶ γὰρ εἰ μὲν ἦν στρατῷ
πλοῦς, οὐκ ἂν εἶχον τήνδε σοι δοῦναι χάριν·

[¶72] but as it is, for the god sends forth no favoring breeze, the army must wait and look for a calm voyage. Good luck to you, for this is the interest alike of individual and state, that the wrong-doer be punished and the good man prosper. Agamemnon departs as Hecuba withdraws into the tent.

> Greek: νῦν δʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἵησʼ οὐρίους πνοὰς θεός,
μένειν ἀνάγκη πλοῦν ὁρῶντʼ ἐς ἥσυχον.
γένοιτο δʼ εὖ πως· πᾶσι γὰρ κοινὸν τόδε,
ἰδίᾳ θʼ ἑκάστῳ καὶ πόλει, τὸν μὲν κακὸν
κακόν τι πάσχειν, τὸν δὲ χρηστὸν εὐτυχεῖν.

[¶73] Chorus:
No more, my native Ilium, shall you be counted among the towns never sacked; so thick a cloud of Hellene troops is settling all around, wasting you with the spear;

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ μέν, ὦ πατρὶς Ἰλιάς,
τῶν ἀπορθήτων πόλις οὐκέτι λέξῃ·
τοῖον Ἑλλάνων νέφος ἀμφί σε κρύπτει
δορὶ δὴ δορὶ πέρσαν.

[¶74] you are shorn of your crown of towers, and fouled most piteously with filthy soot; no more, ah me! shall I tread your streets.

> Greek: ἀπὸ δὲ στεφάναν κέκαρ-
σαι πύργων, κατὰ δʼ αἰθάλου
κηλῖδʼ οἰκτροτάταν κέχρω-
σαι· τάλαινʼ,
οὐκέτι σʼ ἐμβατεύσω.

[¶75] Chorus:
It was in the middle of the night my ruin came,
in the hour when sleep steals sweetly over the eyes after the feast is done. After the music and dancing, my husband had brought the sacrifice to an end and was lying in our bridal-chamber,
his spear hung on a peg; with never a thought of the sailor-throng encamped upon the Trojan shores.

> Greek: Χορός:
μεσονύκτιος ὠλλύμαν,
ἦμος ἐκ δείπνων ὕπνος ἡδὺς ἐπʼ ὄσσοις
σκίδναται, μολπᾶν δʼ ἄπο καὶ χοροποιῶν
θυσιᾶν καταλύσας
πόσις ἐν θαλάμοις ἔκει-
το, ξυστὸν δʼ ἐπὶ πασσάλῳ,
ναύταν οὐκέθʼ ὁρῶν ὅμι-
λον Τροίαν
Ἰλιάδʼ ἐμβεβῶτα.

[¶76] Chorus:
And I was braiding my tresses beneath a tight-drawn head-band
before my golden mirror’s countless rays, so that I might lie down to rest; when through the city rose a din, and a cry went ringing down the streets of Troy: “You”
“sons of Hellas, when, oh! when will you sack the citadel of Ilium, and seek your homes?”

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐγὼ δὲ πλόκαμον ἀναδέτοις
μίτραισιν ἐρρυθμιζόμαν
χρυσέων ἐνόπτρων λεύσ-
σουσʼ ἀτέρμονας εἰς αὐγάς,
ἐπιδέμνιος ὡς πέσοιμʼ ἐς εὐνάν.
ἀνὰ δὲ κέλαδος ἔμολε πόλιν·
κέλευσμα δʼ ἦν κατʼ ἄστυ Τροί-
ας τόδʼ· Ὦ
παῖδες Ἑλλάνων, πότε δὴ πότε τὰν
Ἰλιάδα σκοπιὰν
πέρσαντες ἥξετʼ οἴκους;

[¶77] Chorus:
I left my bed, wearing only a tunic, like a Dorian girl,
and sought in vain, ah me! to station myself at the holy hearth of Artemis; for, after seeing my husband slain, I was led away over the broad sea; with many a backward look at my city,
when the ship began her homeward voyage and parted me from Ilium’s strand; till alas! for very grief I fainted,

> Greek: Χορός:
λέχη δὲ φίλια μονόπεπλος
λιποῦσα, Δωρὶς ὡς κόρα,
σεμνὰν προσίζουσʼ οὐκ
ἤνυσʼ Ἄρτεμιν ἁ τλάμων·
ἄγομαι δὲ θανόντʼ ἰδοῦσʼ ἀκοίταν
τὸν ἐμὸν ἅλιον ἐπὶ πέλαγος,
πόλιν τʼ ἀποσκοποῦσʼ, ἐπεὶ
νόστιμον
ναῦς ἐκίνησεν πόδα καί μʼ ἀπὸ γᾶς
ὥρισεν Ἰλιάδος·
τάλαινʼ, ἀπεῖπον ἄλγει,

[¶78] Chorus:
Cursing Helen the sister of the Dioscuri, and Paris the baleful shepherd of Ida;
for it was their marriage, which was no marriage but misery sent by some demon, that robbed me of my country and drove me from my home.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὰν τοῖν Διοσκούροιν Ἑλέναν κάσιν
Ἰδαῖόν τε βούταν
αἰνόπαριν κατάρᾳ
διδοῦσʼ, ἐπεί με γᾶς ἐκ
πατρῴας ἀπώλεσεν
ἐξῴκισέν τʼ οἴκων γάμος, οὐ γάμος ἀλλʼ ἀ-
λάστορός τις οἰζύς·

[¶79] Oh! may the sea’s salt flood never carry her home again; and may she never set foot in her father’s halls!
Hecuba comes out of the tent as Polymestor, his children and guards enter.

> Greek: ἃν μήτε πέλαγος ἅλιον ἀπαγάγοι πάλιν,
μήτε πα-
τρῷον ἵκοιτʼ ἐς οἶκον.

[¶80] Polymestor:
My dear friend Priam, and you no less, Hecuba, I weep to see you and your city thus, and your daughter lately slain.
Ah! there is nothing to be relied on; fair fame is insecure, nor is there any guarantee that prosperity will not be turned to woe. For the gods confound our fortunes, tossing them to and fro, and introduce confusion, so that our perplexity
may make us worship them. But what use is it to lament these things, and make no advance ahead of trouble? If you are blaming me at all for my absence, stop a moment; I happened to be away in the very heart of Thrace when you came here; but on my return,
just as I was starting from my home for the same purpose, your maid fell in with me, and gave me your message, which brought me here at once.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν Πρίαμε, φιλτάτη δὲ σύ,
Ἑκάβη, δακρύω σʼ εἰσορῶν πόλιν τε σὴν
τήν τʼ ἀρτίως θανοῦσαν ἔκγονον σέθεν.
φεῦ·
οὐκ ἔστι πιστὸν οὐδέν, οὔτʼ εὐδοξία
οὔτʼ αὖ καλῶς πράσσοντα μὴ πράξειν κακῶς.
φύρουσι δʼ αὐτοὶ θεοὶ πάλιν τε καὶ πρόσω
ταραγμὸν ἐντιθέντες, ὡς ἀγνωσίᾳ
σέβωμεν αὐτούς. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖ
θρηνεῖν, προκόπτοντʼ οὐδὲν ἐς πρόσθεν κακῶν;
σὺ δʼ, εἴ τι μέμφῃ τῆς ἐμῆς ἀπουσίας,
σχές· τυγχάνω γὰρ ἐν μέσοις Θρῄκης ὅροις
ἀπών, ὅτʼ ἦλθες δεῦρʼ· ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀφικόμην,
ἤδη πόδʼ ἔξω δωμάτων αἴροντί μοι
ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥδε συμπίτνει δμωὶς σέθεν
λέγουσα μύθους, ὧν κλύων ἀφικόμην.

[¶81] Hecuba:
Polymestor, I am held in such wretchedness that I blush to meet your eye;

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
αἰσχύνομαί σε προσβλέπειν ἐναντίον,
Πολυμῆστορ, ἐν τοιοῖσδε κειμένη κακοῖς.

[¶82] for my present evil case makes me ashamed to face you who saw me in happier days, and I could not look on you with unfaltering gaze. Do not then think it ill-will towards you, Polymestor; there is another cause as well,
I mean the custom which forbids women to meet men’s gaze.

> Greek: ὅτῳ γὰρ ὤφθην εὐτυχοῦσʼ, αἰδώς μʼ ἔχει
ἐν τῷδε πότμῳ τυγχάνουσʼ ἵνʼ εἰμὶ νῦν
κοὐκ ἂν δυναίμην προσβλέπειν ὀρθαῖς κόραις.
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸ μὴ δύσνοιαν ἡγήσῃ σέθεν,
Πολυμῆστορ· ἄλλως δʼ αἴτιόν τι καὶ νόμος,
γυναῖκας ἀνδρῶν μὴ βλέπειν ἐναντίον.

[¶83] Polymestor:
No wonder, surely. But what need do you have of me? Why did you send for me to come here from my house?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
καὶ θαῦμά γʼ οὐδέν. ἀλλὰ τίς χρεία σʼ ἐμοῦ;
τί χρῆμʼ ἐπέμψω τὸν ἐμὸν ἐκ δόμων πόδα·

[¶84] Hecuba:
I wish to tell you and your children a private matter of my own; please bid
your attendants withdraw from the tent.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἴδιον ἐμαυτῆς δή τι πρὸς σὲ βούλομαι
καὶ παῖδας εἰπεῖν σούς· ὀπάονας δέ μοι
χωρὶς κέλευσον τῶνδʼ ἀποστῆναι δόμων.

[¶85] Polymestor: to his attendants
Retire; this desert spot is safe enough. The guards go out; to Hecuba You are my friend, and this Achaean army is well-disposed to me. But you must tell me how prosperity
is to help its unlucky friends; for I am ready to do so.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
χωρεῖτʼ· ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἐρημία.
φίλη μὲν εἶ σύ, προσφιλὲς δέ μοι τόδε
στράτευμʼ Ἀχαιῶν. ἀλλὰ σημαίνειν σὲ χρῆν·
τί χρὴ τὸν εὖ πράσσοντα μὴ πράσσουσιν εὖ
φίλοις ἐπαρκεῖν; ὡς ἕτοιμός εἰμʼ ἐγώ.

[¶86] Hecuba:
First tell me of the child Polydorus, whom you are keeping in your house, received from me and his father; is he alive? The rest I will ask you after that.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
πρῶτον μὲν εἰπὲ παῖδʼ ὃν ἐξ ἐμῆς χερὸς
Πολύδωρον ἔκ τε πατρὸς ἐν δόμοις ἔχεις,
εἰ ζῇ· τὰ δʼ ἄλλα δεύτερόν σʼ ἐρήσομαι.

[¶87] Polymestor:
Yes, you still have a share in fortune there.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
μάλιστα· τοὐκείνου μὲν εὐτυχεῖς μέρος.

[¶88] Hecuba:
Well said, dear friend! how worthy of you!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὦ φίλταθʼ, ὡς εὖ κἀξίως λέγεις σέθεν.

[¶89] Polymestor:
What next would you learn of me?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
τί δῆτα βούλῃ δεύτερον μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ;

[¶90] Hecuba:
has he any recollection of me his mother?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
εἰ τῆς τεκούσης τῆσδε … μέμνηταί τί μου;

[¶91] Polymestor:
Yes, he was longing to steal away here to you.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
καὶ δεῦρό γʼ ὡς σὲ κρύφιος ἐζήτει μολεῖν.

[¶92] Hecuba:
Is the gold safe, which he brought with him from Troy?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
χρυσὸς δὲ σῶς ὃν ἦλθεν ἐκ Τροίας ἔχων;

[¶93] Polymestor:
Safe under lock and key in my halls.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
σῶς, ἐν δόμοις γε τοῖς ἐμοῖς φρουρούμενος.

[¶94] Hecuba:
Do save it, but do not desire your neighbor’s goods.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σῶσόν νυν αὐτὸν μηδʼ ἔρα τῶν πλησίον.

[¶95] Polymestor:
Not I; may I benefit by what I have, lady!

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἥκιστʼ· ὀναίμην τοῦ παρόντος, ὦ γύναι.

[¶96] Hecuba:
Do you know what I wish to say to you and your children?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ λέξαι σοί τε καὶ παισὶν θέλω;

[¶97] Polymestor:
No; your words will declare it.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
οὐκ οἶδα· τῷ σῷ τοῦτο σημανεῖς λόγῳ.

[¶98] Hecuba:
O you who are as dear to me as you now are, there are—

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἔστʼ, ὦ φιληθεὶς ὡς σὺ νῦν ἐμοὶ φιλῇ —

[¶99] Polymestor:
What is it that I and my children must learn?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
τί χρῆμʼ ὃ κἀμὲ καὶ τέκνʼ εἰδέναι χρεών;

[¶100] Hecuba:
Ancient vaults filled full of gold by Priam’s ancestors.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
χρυσοῦ παλαιαὶ Πριαμιδῶν κατώρυχες.

[¶101] Polymestor:
Is it this you would tell your son?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ταῦτʼ ἔσθʼ ἃ βούλῃ παιδὶ σημῆναι σέθεν;

[¶102] Hecuba:
Certainly, through you; for you are a righteous man.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
μάλιστα, διὰ σοῦ γʼ· εἶ γὰρ εὐσεβὴς ἀνήρ.

[¶103] Polymestor:
What need then of these children’s presence?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
τί δῆτα τέκνων τῶνδε δεῖ παρουσίας;

[¶104] Hecuba:
It is better they should know it, in case of your death.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄμεινον, ἢν σὺ κατθάνῃς, τούσδʼ εἰδέναι.

[¶105] Polymestor:
Well said; it is also the wiser way.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
καλῶς ἔλεξας· τῇδε καὶ σοφώτερον.

[¶106] Hecuba:
Then do you know where the shrine of Trojan Athena is?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οἶσθʼ οὖν Ἀθάνας Ἰλίας ἵνα στέγαι;

[¶107] Polymestor:
Is the gold there? what is there to mark it?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἐνταῦθʼ ὁ χρυσός ἐστι; σημεῖον δὲ τί;

[¶108] Hecuba:
A black rock rising above the ground.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
μέλαινα πέτρα γῆς ὑπερτέλλουσʼ ἄνω.

[¶109] Polymestor:
Is there anything else you want to tell me about the place?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἔτʼ οὖν τι βούλῃ τῶν ἐκεῖ φράζειν ἐμοί;

[¶110] Hecuba:
I wish to keep safe the treasure I brought from Troy.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σῶσαί σε χρήμαθʼ οἷς συνεξῆλθον θέλω.

[¶111] Polymestor:
Where can it be? inside your dress, or have you hidden it?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ποῦ δῆτα; πέπλων ἐντὸς ἢ κρύψασʼ ἔχεις;

[¶112] Hecuba:
It is safe among a heap of spoils within these tents.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σκύλων ἐν ὄχλῳ ταῖσδε σῴζεται στέγαις.

[¶113] Polymestor:
Where? This is the station built by the Achaeans to surround their fleet.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ποῦ δʼ; αἵδʼ Ἀχαιῶν ναύλοχοι περιπτυχαί.

[¶114] Hecuba:
The captive women have huts of their own.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἰδίᾳ γυναικῶν αἰχμαλωτίδων στέγαι.

[¶115] Polymestor:
It is safe to enter? are there no men about?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
τἄνδον δὲ πιστὰ κἀρσένων ἐρημία;

[¶116] Hecuba:
There are no Achaeans within; we women are alone. Enter then the tent, for the Argives
are eager to set sail from Troy for home; and, when you have accomplished all that you must do, you shall return with your children to the place where you have lodged my son. Hecuba leads Polymestor and his children into the tent.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐδεὶς Ἀχαιῶν ἔνδον, ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς μόναι.
ἀλλʼ ἕρπʼ ἐς οἴκους· καὶ γὰρ Ἀργεῖοι νεῶν
λῦσαι ποθοῦσιν οἴκαδʼ ἐκ Τροίας πόδα·
ὡς πάντα πράξας ὧν σε δεῖ στείχῃς πάλιν
ξὺν παισὶν οὗπερ τὸν ἐμὸν ᾤκισας γόνον.

[¶117] Chorus:
Not yet have you paid the penalty, but perhaps you will.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔπω δέδωκας, ἀλλʼ ἴσως δώσεις δίκην·

[¶118] Chorus:
Like one who slips and falls into the surge with no haven near, so shall you lose your own life for the life you have taken. For where liability to justice coincides with heaven’s law;

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλίμενόν τις ὡς εἰς ἄντλον πεσὼν
λέχριος ἐκπεσῇ φίλας καρδίας,
ἀμέρσας βίοτον. τὸ γὰρ ὑπέγγυον
Δίκᾳ καὶ θεοῖσιν οὐ συμπίτνει·

[¶119] there is ruin full of death and doom. Your hopes of this journey shall cheat you, for it has led you, unhappy wretch! to the halls of death; and to no warrior’s hand shall you resign your life.
Polymestor: within the tent
O horror! I am blinded of the light of my eyes, ah me!

> Greek: ὀλέθριον ὀλέθριον κακόν.
ψεύσει σʼ ὁδοῦ τῆσδʼ ἐλπὶς ἥ σʼ ἐπήγαγεν
θανάσιμον πρὸς Ἅιδαν, ἰὼ τάλας·
ἀπολέμῳ δὲ χειρὶ λείψεις βίον.
Πολυμήστωρ:
⟨ἔσωθεν⟩
ὤμοι, τυφλοῦμαι φέγγος ὀμμάτων τάλας.

[¶120] Chorus Leader:
Did you hear, friends, that Thracian’s cry of woe?

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἠκούσατʼ ἀνδρὸς Θρῃκὸς οἰμωγήν, φίλαι;

[¶121] Polymestor: within
O horror! horror! my children! 0 the cruel blow.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὤμοι μάλʼ αὖθις, τέκνα, δυστήνου σφαγῆς.

[¶122] Chorus Leader:
Friends, there is strange mischief afoot in yo.

> Greek: Χορός:
— φίλαι, πέπρακται καίνʼ ἔσω δόμων κακά.

[¶123] Polymestor: within
No, you shall never escape for all your hurried flight;

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἀλλʼ οὔτι μὴ φύγητε λαιψηρῷ ποδί·

[¶124] for with a blow I will burst open the inmost recesses of this building.

> Greek: βάλλων γὰρ οἴκων τῶνδʼ ἀναρρήξω μυχούς.

[¶125] Chorus Leader:
Hark! how he launches a bolt with weighty hand! Shall we force an entry? The crisis calls on us to aid Hecuba and the Trojan women.
Hecuba enters, calling back into the tent.

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἰδού, βαρείας χειρὸς ὁρμᾶται βέλος.
— βούλεσθʼ ἐπεσπέσωμεν; ὡς ἀκμὴ καλεῖ
Ἑκάβῃ παρεῖναι Τρῳάσιν τε συμμάχους.

[¶126] Hecuba:
Strike on, spare not, burst the doors!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἄρασσε, φείδου μηδέν, ἐκβάλλων πύλας·

[¶127] you shall never replace bright vision in your eyes or see your children, whom I have slain, alive again.

> Greek: οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ὄμμα λαμπρὸν ἐνθήσεις κόραις,
οὐ παῖδας ὄψῃ ζῶντας οὓς ἔκτεινʼ ἐγώ.

[¶128] Chorus Leader:
What! have you foiled the Thracian stranger and is he in your power, mistress? Is all your threat now brought to pass?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ γὰρ καθεῖλες Θρῇκα, καὶ κρατεῖς, ξένον,
δέσποινα, καὶ δέδρακας οἷάπερ λέγεις;

[¶129] Hecuba:
A moment, and you shall see him before the tent,
blind, advancing with blind random step; and the bodies of his two children whom I with my brave women of Troy killed; he has paid me the penalty; here he comes from the tent, as you see. I will withdraw out of his path and stand aside
from the hot fury of the Thracian, my deadly foe.
Polymestor rushes out. Blood is streaming from his eyes.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὄψῃ νιν αὐτίκʼ ὄντα δωμάτων πάρος
τυφλὸν τυφλῷ στείχοντα παραφόρῳ ποδί,
παίδων τε δισσῶν σώμαθʼ, οὓς ἔκτεινʼ ἐγὼ
σὺν ταῖς ἀρίσταις Τρῳάσιν· δίκην δέ μοι
δέδωκε. χωρεῖ δʼ, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ὅδʼ ἐκ δόμων.
ἀλλʼ ἐκποδὼν ἄπειμι κἀποστήσομαι
θυμῷ ῥέοντι Θρῃκὶ δυσμαχωτάτῳ.

[¶130] Polymestor:
Woe is me! where can I go, where halt, or turn? shall I crawl like a wild four-footed beast on their track, as my reward? Which path shall I take first,
this or that, eager as I am to clutch those Trojan murderesses that have destroyed me? You wretched, cursed daughters
of Phrygia! to what corner have you fled cowering before me? O sun-god, would you could heal, could heal my bleeding eyes, ridding me of my blindness!

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὤμοι ἐγώ, πᾷ βῶ,
πᾷ στῶ, πᾷ κέλσω;
τετράποδος βάσιν θηρὸς ὀρεστέρου
τιθέμενος ἐπίχειρα κατʼ ἴχνος; ποίαν
ἢ ταύταν ἢ τάνδʼ ἐξαλλάξω, τὰς
ἀνδροφόνους μάρψαι χρῄζων Ἰλιάδας,
αἵ με διώλεσαν;
τάλαιναι κόραι τάλαιναι Φρυγῶν,
ὦ κατάρατοι,
ποῖ καί με φυγᾷ πτώσσουσι μυχῶν;
εἴθε μοι ὀμμάτων αἱματόεν βλέφαρον
ἀκέσαιʼ ἀκέσαιο τυφλόν, Ἅλιε,
φέγγος ἐπαλλάξας.

[¶131] Ha! hush! I catch the stealthy footsteps of the women here. Where can I dart on them and gorge on their flesh and bones, making for myself a wild beasts’ meal, inflicting mutilation
in requital of their outrage on me? Ah, woe is me! where am I rushing, leaving my children unguarded for maenads of hell to mangle, to be murdered and ruthlessly cast forth upon the hills, a feast of blood for dogs?

> Greek: ἆ ἆ,
σίγα· κρυπτὰν βάσιν αἰσθάνομαι
τάνδε γυναικῶν. πᾷ πόδʼ ἐπᾴξας
σαρκῶν ὀστέων τʼ ἐμπλησθῶ,
θοίναν ἀγρίων θηρῶν τιθέμενος,
ἀρνύμενος λώβαν
λύμας ἀντίποινʼ ἐμᾶς; ὦ τάλας.
ποῖ πᾷ φέρομαι τέκνʼ ἔρημα λιπὼν
Βάκχαις Ἅιδου διαμοιρᾶσαι,
σφακτά, κυσίν τε φοινίαν δαῖτʼ ἀνή-
μερον τʼ οὐρείαν ἐκβολάν;

[¶132] Where shall I stay or turn my steps, like a ship that lies anchored at sea, gathering close my linen robe and rushing to that chamber of death, to guard my children?

> Greek: πᾷ στῶ, πᾷ κάμψω, [πᾷ βῶ,]
ναῦς ὅπως ποντίοις πείσμασιν, λινόκροκον
φᾶρος στέλλων, ἐπὶ τάνδε συθεὶς
τέκνων ἐμῶν φύλαξ ὀλέθριον κοίταν;

[¶133] Chorus Leader:
Woe to you! what grievous outrage has been done to you! a fearful penalty for your foul deed [has the deity imposed, whoever he is whose hand is heavy upon you.]

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλῆμον, ὥς σοι δύσφορʼ εἴργασται κακά·
δράσαντι δʼ αἰσχρὰ δεινὰ τἀπιτίμια.
[δαίμων ἔδωκεν ὅστις ἐστί σοι βαρύς.]

[¶134] Polymestor:
Woe is me! Ho! my Thracian spearmen, armed,
a race of knights whom Ares inspires! Ho! Achaeans! sons of Atreus! To you I loudly call; come here, by the gods! Does any one hearken, or will no one help me? Why do you delay? Women, captive women have destroyed me.
A fearful fate is mine; ah me! my hideous outrage! Where can I turn or go?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
αἰαῖ, ἰὼ Θρῄκης λογχοφόρον ἔνο-
πλον εὔιππον Ἄρει κάτοχον γένος.
ἰὼ Ἀχαιοί. — ἰὼ Ἀτρεῖδαι. — βοὰν βοὰν ἀυτῶ, βοάν.
ὢ ἴτε· μόλετε πρὸς θεῶν.
κλύει τις ἢ οὐδεὶς ἀρκέσει; τί μέλλετε;
γυναῖκες ὤλεσάν με, γυναῖκες αἰχμαλωτίδες· δεινὰ
δεινὰ πεπόνθαμεν.
ὤμοι ἐμᾶς λώβας.
ποῖ τράπωμαι, ποῖ πορευθῶ;

[¶135] Shall I take wings and soar aloft to the mansions of the sky, where Orion and Sirius dart from their eyes
a flash as of fire, or shall I, in my misery, plunge to Hades’ murky flood?

> Greek: ἀμπτάμενος οὐράνιον
ὑψιπετὲς ἐς μέλαθρον,
Ὠαρίων ἢ Σείριος ἔνθα πυρὸς φλογέας ἀφίη-
σιν ὄσσων αὐγάς, ἢ τὸν ἐς Ἀίδα
μελάγχρωτα πορθμὸν ᾄξω τάλας;

[¶136] Chorus Leader:
It is pardonable, for a man suffering from evils too heavy to bear, to rid himself of a wretched existence.
Agamemnon and his retinue enter.

> Greek: Χορός:
συγγνώσθʼ, ὅταν τις κρείσσονʼ ἢ φέρειν κακὰ
πάθῃ, ταλαίνης ἐξαπαλλάξαι ζόης.

[¶137] Agamemnon:
Hearing a cry I have come here; for Echo,
child of the mountain-rock, has sent her voice loud-ringing through the army, causing a tumult. If we had not known that Troy’s towers were levelled by the might of Hellas, this uproar would have caused no slight panic.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
κραυγῆς ἀκούσας ἦλθον· οὐ γὰρ ἥσυχος
πέτρας ὀρείας παῖς λέλακʼ ἀνὰ στρατὸν
Ἠχὼ διδοῦσα θόρυβον· εἰ δὲ μὴ Φρυγῶν
πύργους πεσόντας ᾖσμεν Ἑλλήνων δορί,
φόβον παρέσχεν οὐ μέσως ὅδε κτύπος.

[¶138] Polymestor:
Best of friends! for by your voice I know you,
Agamemnon; do you see my piteous state?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὦ φίλτατʼ· ᾐσθόμην γάρ, Ἀγάμεμνον, σέθεν
φωνῆς ἀκούσας· εἰσορᾷς ἃ πάσχομεν;

[¶139] Agamemnon:
What! hapless Polymestor, who has stricken you? who has blinded your eyes, staining the pupils with blood? who has slain these children? whoever he was, fierce must have been his wrath against you and your children.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἔα·
Πολυμῆστορ· ὦ δύστηνε, τίς σʼ ἀπώλεσεν;
τίς ὄμμʼ ἔθηκε τυφλὸν αἱμάξας κόρας,
παῖδάς τε τούσδʼ ἔκτεινεν; ἦ μέγαν χόλον
σοὶ καὶ τέκνοισιν εἶχεν ὅστις ἦν ἄρα.

[¶140] Polymestor:
Hecuba, helped by the captive women, has destroyed me—not destroyed, far worse than that.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
Ἑκάβη με σὺν γυναιξὶν αἰχμαλωτίσιν
ἀπώλεσʼ — οὐκ ἀπώλεσʼ, ἀλλὰ μειζόνως.

[¶141] Agamemnon: addressing Hecuba
What do you say? Was it you that did this deed, as he says? You, Hecuba, that have ventured on this inconceivable daring?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
τί φῄς; σὺ τοὔργον εἴργασαι τόδʼ, ὡς λέγει;
σὺ τόλμαν, Ἑκάβη, τήνδʼ ἔτλης ἀμήχανον;

[¶142] Polymestor:
Ha! what is that? is she somewhere near?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὤμοι, τί λέξεις; ἦ γὰρ ἐγγύς ἐστί που;

[¶143] Show me, tell me where, that I may grip her in my hands and rend her limb from limb, bespattering her with gore.

> Greek: σήμηνον, εἰπὲ ποῦ ʼσθʼ, ἵνʼ ἁρπάσας χεροῖν
διασπάσωμαι καὶ καθαιμάξω χρόα.

[¶144] Agamemnon:
You creature, what are you about?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὗτος, τί πάσχεις;

[¶145] Polymestor:
By the gods I entreat you, let me vent on her the fury of my arm.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
πρὸς θεῶν σε λίσσομαι,
μέθες μʼ ἐφεῖναι τῇδε μαργῶσαν χέρα.

[¶146] Agamemnon:
Hold! banish that savage spirit from your heart
and plead your cause, so that after hearing you and her in turn I may fairly decide what reason there is for your present sufferings.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἴσχʼ· ἐκβαλὼν δὲ καρδίας τὸ βάρβαρον
λέγʼ, ὡς ἀκούσας σοῦ τε τῆσδέ τʼ ἐν μέρει
κρίνω δικαίως ἀνθʼ ὅτου πάσχεις τάδε.

[¶147] Polymestor:
I will tell my tale. There was a son of Priam, Polydorus, the youngest, a child by Hecuba, whom his father Priam sent to me from Troy to bring up in my halls,
suspecting no doubt the fall of Troy. I killed him; but hear my reason for killing him, how cleverly and wisely I had thought it out. My fear was that if that child were left to be your enemy, he would repeople Troy and settle it afresh;
and the Achaeans, knowing that a son of Priam survived, might bring another expedition against the Phrygian land, and then harry and lay waste these plains of Thrace, for the neighbours of Troy to experience the very troubles we were lately suffering, O king.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
λέγοιμʼ ἄν. ἦν τις Πριαμιδῶν νεώτατος,
Πολύδωρος, Ἑκάβης παῖς, ὃν ἐκ Τροίας ἐμοὶ
πατὴρ δίδωσι Πρίαμος ἐν δόμοις τρέφειν,
ὕποπτος ὢν δὴ Τρωικῆς ἁλώσεως.
τοῦτον κατέκτεινʼ· ἀνθʼ ὅτου δʼ ἔκτεινά νιν,
ἄκουσον, ὡς εὖ καὶ σοφῇ προμηθίᾳ.
ἔδεισα μὴ σοὶ πολέμιος λειφθεὶς ὁ παῖς
Τροίαν ἀθροίσῃ καὶ ξυνοικίσῃ πάλιν,
γνόντες δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ ζῶντα Πριαμιδῶν τινα
Φρυγῶν ἐς αἶαν αὖθις ἄρειαν στόλον,
κἄπειτα Θρῄκης πεδία τρίβοιεν τάδε
λεηλατοῦντες, γείτοσιν δʼ εἴη κακὸν
Τρώων, ἐν ᾧπερ νῦν, ἄναξ, ἐκάμνομεν.

[¶148] Now Hecuba, having discovered the death of her son, brought me here on the following pretext, saying she would tell me of hidden treasure stored up in Ilium by the race of Priam; and she led me apart with my children into the tent, that no other might hear her news.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη δὲ παιδὸς γνοῦσα θανάσιμον μόρον
λόγῳ με τοιῷδʼ ἤγαγʼ, ὡς κεκρυμμένας
θήκας φράσουσα Πριαμιδῶν ἐν Ἰλίῳ
χρυσοῦ· μόνον δὲ σὺν τέκνοισί μʼ εἰσάγει
δόμους, ἵνʼ ἄλλος μή τις εἰδείη τάδε.

[¶149] So I sat down on a couch in their midst to rest; for there were many of the Trojan maidens seated there, some on my right hand, some on my left, as if beside a friend; and they were praising the weaving of our Edonian handiwork, looking at this robe as they held it up to the light;

> Greek: ἵζω δὲ κλίνης ἐν μέσῳ κάμψας γόνυ·
πολλαὶ δὲ χεῖρες, αἳ μὲν ἐξ ἀριστερᾶς,
αἳ δʼ ἔνθεν, ὡς δὴ παρὰ φίλῳ, Τρώων κόραι
θάκους ἔχουσαι, κερκίδʼ Ἠδωνῆς χερὸς
ᾔνουν, ὑπʼ αὐγὰς τούσδε λεύσσουσαι πέπλους·

[¶150] while others examined my Thracian spear and so stripped me of two-fold protection. And those that were young mothers were dandling my children in their arms, with loud admiration, as they passed them on from hand to hand to remove them far from their father;

> Greek: ἄλλαι δὲ κάμακα Θρῃκίαν θεώμεναι
γυμνόν μʼ ἔθηκαν διπτύχου στολίσματος.
ὅσαι δὲ τοκάδες ἦσαν, ἐκπαγλούμεναι
τέκνʼ ἐν χεροῖν ἔπαλλον, ὡς πρόσω πατρὸς
γένοιντο, διαδοχαῖς ἀμείβουσαι χερῶν·

[¶151] and then after their smooth speeches—would you believe it?—in an instant snatching daggers from somewhere in their dress they stab my children; while others, like foes, seized me hand and foot;
and if I tried to raise my head, anxious to help my children, they would clutch me by the hair; while if I stirred my hands, I could do nothing, poor wretch! for the numbers of the women. At last they did a fearful deed, worse than what had gone before; for they took their brooches
and stabbed the hapless pupils of my eyes, making them gush with blood, and then fled through the chambers; up I sprang like a wild beast in pursuit of the shameless murderesses, searching along each wall with hunter’s care,
dealing buffets, spreading ruin. This then is what I have suffered because of my zeal for you, Agamemnon, for slaying an enemy of yours. But to spare you a lengthy speech, if any of the men of former times have spoken ill of women, if any does so now, or shall do so hereafter,
I will say all this in one short sentence; for neither land or sea produces such a race, as whoever has had to do with them knows.

> Greek: κᾆτʼ ἐκ γαληνῶν — πῶς δοκεῖς; — προσφθεγμάτων
εὐθὺς λαβοῦσαι φάσγανʼ ἐκ πέπλων ποθὲν
κεντοῦσι παῖδας, αἳ δὲ πολεμίων δίκην
ξυναρπάσασαι τὰς ἐμὰς εἶχον χέρας
καὶ κῶλα· παισὶ δʼ ἀρκέσαι χρῄζων ἐμοῖς,
εἰ μὲν πρόσωπον ἐξανισταίην ἐμόν,
κόμης κατεῖχον, εἰ δὲ κινοίην χέρας,
πλήθει γυναικῶν οὐδὲν ἤνυον τάλας.
τὸ λοίσθιον δέ, πῆμα πήματος πλέον,
ἐξειργάσαντο δείνʼ· ἐμῶν γὰρ ὀμμάτων,
πόρπας λαβοῦσαι, τὰς ταλαιπώρους κόρας
κεντοῦσιν, αἱμάσσουσιν· εἶτʼ ἀνὰ στέγας
φυγάδες ἔβησαν· ἐκ δὲ πηδήσας ἐγὼ
θὴρ ὣς διώκω τὰς μιαιφόνους κύνας,
ἅπαντʼ ἐρευνῶν τοῖχον ὡς κυνηγέτης
βάλλων ἀράσσων. τοιάδε σπεύδων χάριν
πέπονθα τὴν σὴν πολέμιόν τε σὸν κτανών,
Ἀγάμεμνον. ὡς δὲ μὴ μακροὺς τείνω λόγους,
εἴ τις γυναῖκας τῶν πρὶν εἴρηκεν κακῶς
ἢ νῦν λέγων ἔστιν τις ἢ μέλλει λέγειν,
ἅπαντα ταῦτα συντεμὼν ἐγὼ φράσω·
γένος γὰρ οὔτε πόντος οὔτε γῆ τρέφει
τοιόνδʼ· ὁ δʼ αἰεὶ ξυντυχὼν ἐπίσταται.

[¶152] Chorus Leader:
Curb your bold tongue, and do not, because of your own woes, thus embrace the whole race of women in one reproach.

> Greek: Χορός:
μηδὲν θρασύνου μηδὲ τοῖς σαυτοῦ κακοῖς
τὸ θῆλυ συνθεὶς ὧδε πᾶν μέμψῃ γένος.

[¶153] [For though some of us, and those a numerous class, deserve to be disliked, there are others among us who rank naturally among the good.]

> Greek: [πολλαὶ γὰρ ἡμῶν, αἳ μέν εἰσʼ ἐπίφθονοι,]
[αἳ δʼ εἰς ἀριθμὸν τῶν κακῶν πεφύκαμεν.]

[¶154] Hecuba:
Never ought words to have outweighed deeds in this world, Agamemnon. No! if a man’s deeds were good, so should his words have been;
if, on the other hand, evil, his words should have been unsound, instead of its being possible at times to speak injustice well. There are, it is true, clever persons, who have made a science of this, but their cleverness cannot last for ever; a miserable end awaits them; no one ever yet escaped.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀνθρώποισιν οὐκ ἐχρῆν ποτε
τῶν πραγμάτων τὴν γλῶσσαν ἰσχύειν πλέον·
ἀλλʼ, εἴτε χρήστʼ ἔδρασε, χρήστʼ ἔδει λέγειν,
εἴτʼ αὖ πονηρά, τοὺς λόγους εἶναι σαθρούς,
καὶ μὴ δύνασθαι τἄδικʼ εὖ λέγειν ποτέ.
σοφοὶ μὲν οὖν εἰσʼ οἱ τάδʼ ἠκριβωκότες,
ἀλλʼ οὐ δύνανται διὰ τέλους εἶναι σοφοί,
κακῶς δʼ ἀπώλοντʼ· οὔτις ἐξήλυξέ πω.

[¶155] This part of my prelude belongs to you. Now will I turn to this fellow, and will give you your answer, you who say it was to save Achaea double toil and for Agamemnon’s sake that you killed my son. No, villain, in the first place
the barbarian race would never be friends with Hellas, nor could it be. Again, what interest did you have to further by your zeal? was it to form some marriage, or on the score of kinship, or what reason? or was it likely that they would sail here again and destroy
your country’s crops? Whom do you expect to persuade into believing that? If you would only speak the truth, it was the gold that slew my son, and your greedy spirit. Now tell me this: why, when Troy was victorious, when her ramparts still stood round her,
when Priam was alive, and Hector’s warring prospered, why did you not then, if you were really minded to do Agamemnon a service, slay the child, for you had him in your palace beneath your care, or bring him with you alive to the Argives? But when the enemy took us from the light
and our city made a signal by its smoke, you murdered the guest who had come to your hearth.

> Greek: καί μοι τὸ μὲν σὸν ὧδε φροιμίοις ἔχει·
πρὸς τόνδε δʼ εἶμι καὶ λόγοις ἀμείψομαι·
ὃς φῂς Ἀχαιῶν πόνον ἀπαλλάσσων διπλοῦν
Ἀγαμέμνονός θʼ ἕκατι παῖδʼ ἐμὸν κτανεῖν.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, πρῶτον οὔποτʼ ἂν φίλον
τὸ βάρβαρον γένοιτʼ ἂν Ἕλλησιν γένος
οὐδʼ ἂν δύναιτο. τίνα δὲ καὶ σπεύδων χάριν
πρόθυμος ἦσθα; πότερα κηδεύσων τινὰ
ἢ συγγενὴς ὤν, ἢ τίνʼ αἰτίαν ἔχων;
ἢ σῆς ἔμελλον γῆς τεμεῖν βλαστήματα
πλεύσαντες αὖθις; τίνα δοκεῖς πείσειν τάδε;
ὁ χρυσός, εἰ βούλοιο τἀληθῆ λέγειν,
ἔκτεινε τὸν ἐμὸν παῖδα, καὶ κέρδη τὰ σά.
ἐπεὶ δίδαξον τοῦτο· πῶς, ὅτʼ εὐτύχει
Τροία, πέριξ δὲ πύργος εἶχʼ ἔτι πτόλιν,
ἔζη τε Πρίαμος Ἕκτορός τʼ ἤνθει δόρυ,
τί δʼ οὐ τότʼ, εἴπερ τῷδʼ ἐβουλήθης χάριν
θέσθαι, τρέφων τὸν παῖδα κἀν δόμοις ἔχων
ἔκτεινας ἢ ζῶντʼ ἦλθες Ἀργείοις ἄγων;
ἀλλʼ ἡνίχʼ ἡμεῖς οὐκέτʼ ἐσμὲν ἐν φάει —
καπνῷ δʼ ἐσήμηνʼ ἄστυ — πολεμίων ὕπο,
ξένον κατέκτας σὴν μολόντʼ ἐφʼ ἑστίαν.

[¶156] Furthermore, to prove your villainy, hear this; if you were really a friend to those Achaeans, you should have brought the gold, which you say you are keeping not for yourself but for this man,
and given it to them, for they were in need and had endured a long exile from their native land. But not even now can you bring yourself to part with it, but persist in keeping it in your palace. Again, had you kept my son safe and sound, as your duty was,
a fair renown would have been your reward, for it is in trouble’s hour that the good most clearly show their friendship; though prosperity by itself in every case finds friends. If you were in need of money and he were prosperous, that son of mine would have been as a mighty treasure for you to draw upon;

> Greek: πρὸς τοῖσδε νῦν ἄκουσον, ὡς φανῇς κακός.
χρῆν σʼ, εἴπερ ἦσθα τοῖς Ἀχαιοῖσιν φίλος,
τὸν χρυσὸν ὃν φῂς οὐ σὸν ἀλλὰ τοῦδʼ ἔχειν
δοῦναι φέροντα πενομένοις τε καὶ χρόνον
πολὺν πατρῴας γῆς ἀπεξενωμένοις·
σὺ δʼ οὐδὲ νῦν πω σῆς ἀπαλλάξαι χερὸς
τολμᾷς, ἔχων δὲ καρτερεῖς ἔτʼ ἐν δόμοις.
καὶ μὴν τρέφων μὲν ὥς σε παῖδʼ ἐχρῆν τρέφειν
σώσας τε τὸν ἐμόν, εἶχες ἂν καλὸν κλέος·
ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς γὰρ ἁγαθοὶ σαφέστατοι
φίλοι· τὰ χρηστὰ δʼ αὔθʼ ἕκαστʼ ἔχει φίλους.
εἰ δʼ ἐσπάνιζες χρημάτων, ὃ δʼ εὐτύχει,
θησαυρὸς ἄν σοι παῖς ὑπῆρχʼ οὑμὸς μέγας·

[¶157] but now you have him no longer to be your friend, and the benefit of the gold is gone from you, your children too, and you yourself are in this sorry plight. I say to you, Agamemnon, if you help this man, you will show your worthlessness; for you will be serving a guest-friend neither pious nor to be trusted where he should be,
not devout, not just; while I shall say you delight in evil-doers, being such a one yourself; but I do not abuse my masters.

> Greek: νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνον ἄνδρʼ ἔχεις σαυτῷ φίλον,
χρυσοῦ τʼ ὄνησις οἴχεται παῖδές τε σοί,
αὐτός τε πράσσεις ὧδε. σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ λέγω,
Ἀγάμεμνον, εἰ τῷδʼ ἀρκέσεις, κακὸς φανῇ·
οὔτʼ εὐσεβῆ γὰρ οὔτε πιστὸν οἷς ἐχρῆν,
οὐχ ὅσιον, οὐ δίκαιον εὖ δράσεις ξένον·
αὐτὸν δὲ χαίρειν τοῖς κακοῖς σὲ φήσομεν
τοιοῦτον ὄντα … δεσπότας δʼ οὐ λοιδορῶ.

[¶158] Chorus Leader:
Ah! how a good cause always affords men an opening for a good speech.

> Greek: Χορός:
φεῦ φεῦ· βροτοῖσιν ὡς τὰ χρηστὰ πράγματα
χρηστῶν ἀφορμὰς ἐνδίδωσʼ ἀεὶ λόγων.

[¶159] Agamemnon:
To be judge in a stranger’s troubles goes much against my grain, but still I must; yes, for to take this matter in hand and then put it from me is a shameful course. My opinion, that you may know it, is that it was not for the sake of the Achaeans or me that you killed your guest,
but to keep that gold in your own house. In your trouble you make a case in your own interests. Perhaps among you it is a light thing to murder guests, but with us in Hellas it is a disgrace. How can I escape reproach if I judge you not guilty?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
ἀχθεινὰ μέν μοι τἀλλότρια κρίνειν κακά,
ὅμως δʼ ἀνάγκη· καὶ γὰρ αἰσχύνην φέρει,
πρᾶγμʼ ἐς χέρας λαβόντʼ ἀπώσασθαι τόδε.
ἐμοὶ δʼ, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς, οὔτʼ ἐμὴν δοκεῖς χάριν
οὔτʼ οὖν Ἀχαιῶν ἄνδρʼ ἀποκτεῖναι ξένον,
ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔχῃς τὸν χρυσὸν ἐν δόμοισι σοῖς.
λέγεις δὲ σαυτῷ πρόσφορʼ ἐν κακοῖσιν ὤν.
τάχʼ οὖν παρʼ ὑμῖν ῥᾴδιον ξενοκτονεῖν·
ἡμῖν δέ γʼ αἰσχρὸν τοῖσιν Ἕλλησιν τόδε.
πῶς οὖν σε κρίνας μὴ ἀδικεῖν φύγω ψόγον;

[¶160] I could not. No, since you endured your horrid crime, endure as well its painful consequence.

> Greek: οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην. ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ τὰ μὴ καλὰ
πράσσειν ἐτόλμας, τλῆθι καὶ τὰ μὴ φίλα.

[¶161] Polymestor:
Woe is me! worsted by a woman and a slave, I am, it seems, to suffer by unworthy hands.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
οἴμοι, γυναικός, ὡς ἔοιχʼ, ἡσσώμενος
δούλης ὑφέξω τοῖς κακίοσιν δίκην.

[¶162] Hecuba:
Is it not just for your atrocious crime?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὔκουν δικαίως, εἴπερ εἰργάσω κακά;

[¶163] Polymestor:
Ah, my children! ah, my blinded eyes! woe is me!

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
οἴμοι τέκνων τῶνδʼ ὀμμάτων τʼ ἐμῶν, τάλας.

[¶164] Hecuba:
You grieve; but what of me? Do you think I do not grieve for my son?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἀλγεῖς· τί δʼ; ἦ ʼμὲ παιδὸς οὐκ ἀλγεῖν δοκεῖς;

[¶165] Polymestor:
You wicked wretch! Is your delight in mocking me?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
χαίρεις ὑβρίζουσʼ εἰς ἔμʼ, ὦ πανοῦργε σύ;

[¶166] Hecuba:
Yes, for I am avenged on you; have I not cause for delight?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐ γάρ με χαίρειν χρή σε τιμωρουμένην;

[¶167] Polymestor:
It will soon cease, when ocean’s flood—

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἀλλʼ οὐ τάχʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἄν σε ποντία νοτὶς —

[¶168] Hecuba:
Shall convey me to the shores of Hellas?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
μῶν ναυστολήσῃ γῆς ὅρους Ἑλληνίδος;

[¶169] Polymestor:
No, but will close over you when you fall from the masthead.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
κρύψῃ μὲν οὖν πεσοῦσαν ἐκ καρχησίων.

[¶170] Hecuba:
Who will force me to take the leap?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
πρὸς τοῦ βιαίων τυγχάνουσαν ἁλμάτων;

[¶171] Polymestor:
Of your own accord you will climb the ship’s mast.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
αὐτὴ πρὸς ἱστὸν ναὸς ἀμβήσῃ ποδί.

[¶172] Hecuba:
With wings upon my back, or by what means?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ὑποπτέροις νώτοισιν ἢ ποίῳ τρόπῳ;

[¶173] Polymestor:
You will become a dog with bloodshot gaze.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
κύων γενήσῃ πύρσʼ ἔχουσα δέργματα.

[¶174] Hecuba:
How did you know of my transformation?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
πῶς δʼ οἶσθα μορφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς μετάστασιν;

[¶175] Polymestor:
Dionysus, our Thracian prophet, told me so.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ὁ Θρῃξὶ μάντις εἶπε Διόνυσος τάδε.

[¶176] Hecuba:
And did he prophesy to you nothing of your present trouble?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
σοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἔχρησεν οὐδὲν ὧν ἔχεις κακῶν;

[¶177] Polymestor:
No, for you would never have caught me thus by guile.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἂν σύ μʼ εἷλες ὧδε σὺν δόλῳ.

[¶178] Hecuba:
Dead or alive shall I complete my life here?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
θανοῦσα δʼ ἢ ζῶσʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκπλήσω βίον;

[¶179] Polymestor:
Dead; and to your tomb shall be given a name—;

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
θανοῦσα· τύμβῳ δʼ ὄνομα σῷ κεκλήσεται —

[¶180] Hecuba:
Recalling my form, or what will you tell me?

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
μορφῆς ἐπῳδόν, ἢ τί, τῆς ἐμῆς ἐρεῖς;

[¶181] Polymestor:
“The hapless hound’s grave,” a mark for mariners.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
κυνὸς ταλαίνης σῆμα, ναυτίλοις τέκμαρ.

[¶182] Hecuba:
It is nothing to me, now that you have paid me the penalty.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
οὐδὲν μέλει μοι σοῦ γέ μοι δόντος δίκην.

[¶183] Polymestor:
Further, your daughter Cassandra must die.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
καὶ σήν γʼ ἀνάγκη παῖδα Κασάνδραν θανεῖν.

[¶184] Hecuba:
I scorn the prophecy! I give it to you to keep for yourself.

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
ἀπέπτυσʼ· αὐτῷ ταῦτα σοὶ δίδωμʼ ἔχειν.

[¶185] Polymestor:
The wife of Agamemnon, grim keeper of his palace, shall slay her.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
κτενεῖ νιν ἡ τοῦδʼ ἄλοχος, οἰκουρὸς πικρά.

[¶186] Hecuba:
Never may the daughter of Tyndareus do such a frantic deed!

> Greek: Ἑκάβη:
μήπω μανείη Τυνδαρὶς τοσόνδε παῖς.

[¶187] Polymestor:
And she shall slay this man as well, lifting high the axe.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
καὐτόν γε τοῦτον, πέλεκυν ἐξάρασʼ ἄνω.

[¶188] Agamemnon:
You creature, are you mad? are you so eager to find sorrow?

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὗτος σύ, μαίνῃ καὶ κακῶν ἐρᾷς τυχεῖν;

[¶189] Polymestor:
Kill me, for in Argos there awaits you a murderous bath.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
κτεῖνʼ, ὡς ἐν Ἄργει φόνια λουτρά σʼ ἀμμένει.

[¶190] Agamemnon:
Ho! servants, drag away him from my sight!

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὐχ ἕλξετʼ αὐτόν, δμῶες, ἐκποδὼν βίᾳ;

[¶191] Polymestor:
Do my words pain you?

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἀλγεῖς ἀκούων;

[¶192] Agamemnon:
Stop his mouth!

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὐκ ἐφέξετε στόμα;

[¶193] Polymestor:
Close it now; for I have spoken.

> Greek: Πολυμήστωρ:
ἐγκλῄετʼ· εἴρηται γάρ.

[¶194] Agamemnon:
Make haste
and cast him upon some desert island, since his mouth is full of such exceeding presumption. Go, unhappy Hecuba, and bury your two corpses; and you, Trojan women, must draw near your masters’ tents, for lo! I perceive a breeze
just rising to waft us home. May we reach our country well and find all well at home, released from troubles here! Polymestor is dragged away by Agamemnon’s guards.

> Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων:
οὐχ ὅσον τάχος
νήσων ἐρήμων αὐτὸν ἐκβαλεῖτέ που,
ἐπείπερ οὕτω καὶ λίαν θρασυστομεῖ;
Ἑκάβη, σὺ δʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, διπτύχους νεκροὺς
στείχουσα θάπτε· δεσποτῶν δʼ ὑμᾶς χρεὼν
σκηναῖς πελάζειν, Τρῳάδες· καὶ γὰρ πνοὰς
πρὸς οἶκον ἤδη τάσδε πομπίμους ὁρῶ.
εὖ δʼ ἐς πάτραν πλεύσαιμεν, εὖ δὲ τἀν δόμοις
ἔχοντʼ ἴδοιμεν τῶνδʼ ἀφειμένοι πόνων.

[¶195] Chorus:
Away to the harbour and the tents, my friends, to prove the toils of
slavery! for such is fate’s relentless hest.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴτε πρὸς λιμένας σκηνάς τε, φίλαι,
τῶν δεσποσύνων πειρασόμεναι
μόχθων· στερρὰ γὰρ ἀνάγκη.