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Peleus
Ye dames of Phthia, answer my questions. I heard a vague rumour that the daughter of Menelaus had left these halls
and fled; so now am I come in hot haste to learn if this be true; for it is the duty of those who are at home to labour in the interests of their absent friends.
1050
Ye dames of Phthia, answer my questions. I heard a vague rumour that the daughter of Menelaus had left these halls
and fled; so now am I come in hot haste to learn if this be true; for it is the duty of those who are at home to labour in the interests of their absent friends.
1050
Chorus
Thou hast heard aright, O Peleus; ill would it become me to hide the evil case in which I now find myself;
our queen has fled and left these halls.
1055
Thou hast heard aright, O Peleus; ill would it become me to hide the evil case in which I now find myself;
our queen has fled and left these halls.
1055
Peleus
What was she afraid of? explain that to me.
What was she afraid of? explain that to me.
Chorus
She was fearful her lord would cast her out
She was fearful her lord would cast her out
Peleus
In return
1
for plotting his child’s death? surely not?
In return
1
for plotting his child’s death? surely not?
Chorus
Yea, and she was afraid of yon captive.
Yea, and she was afraid of yon captive.
Peleus
With whom did she leave the house? with her father?
1060
With whom did she leave the house? with her father?
1060
Chorus
The son of Agamemnon came and took her hence.
The son of Agamemnon came and took her hence.
Peleus
What view hath he to further
2
thereby? Will he marry her?
What view hath he to further
2
thereby? Will he marry her?
Chorus
Yes, and he is plotting thy grandson’s death.
Yes, and he is plotting thy grandson’s death.
Peleus
From an ambuscade, or meeting him fairly face to face?
From an ambuscade, or meeting him fairly face to face?
Chorus
In the holy place of Loxias, leagued with Delphians.
1065
In the holy place of Loxias, leagued with Delphians.
1065
Peleus
God help us! This is an immediate danger. Hasten one of you with all speed to the Pythian altar and tell our friends there what has happened here, ere Achilles’ son be slain by his enemies.
Enter a Messenger.
God help us! This is an immediate danger. Hasten one of you with all speed to the Pythian altar and tell our friends there what has happened here, ere Achilles’ son be slain by his enemies.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
Woe worth the day! what evil tidings have I brought for thee, old sire, and for all who love my master! woe is me!
1070
Woe worth the day! what evil tidings have I brought for thee, old sire, and for all who love my master! woe is me!
1070
Peleus
Alas! my prophetic soul hath a presentiment.
Alas! my prophetic soul hath a presentiment.
Messenger
Aged Peleus, hearken! Thy grandson is no more; so grievously is he smitten
by the men of Delphi and the stranger
3
from Mycenae.
1075
Aged Peleus, hearken! Thy grandson is no more; so grievously is he smitten
by the men of Delphi and the stranger
3
from Mycenae.
1075
Chorus
Ah! what wilt thou do, old man? Fall not; uplift thyself.
Ah! what wilt thou do, old man? Fall not; uplift thyself.
Peleus
I am a thing of naught; death is come upon me. My voice is choked, my limbs droop beneath me.
I am a thing of naught; death is come upon me. My voice is choked, my limbs droop beneath me.
Messenger
Hearken; if thou art eager also
4
to avenge thy friends,
lift up thyself and hear what happened.
1080
Hearken; if thou art eager also
4
to avenge thy friends,
lift up thyself and hear what happened.
1080
Peleus
Ah, destiny! how tightly hast thou caught me in thy toils, a poor old man at life’s extremest verge! But tell me how he was taken from me, my one son’s only child; unwelcome as such news is, I fain would hear it.
Ah, destiny! how tightly hast thou caught me in thy toils, a poor old man at life’s extremest verge! But tell me how he was taken from me, my one son’s only child; unwelcome as such news is, I fain would hear it.
Andromache. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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