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

# 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.

## 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.