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Polymestor
Woe is me! worsted by a woman and a slave, I am, it seems, to suffer by unworthy hands.
Woe is me! worsted by a woman and a slave, I am, it seems, to suffer by unworthy hands.
Hecuba
Is it not just for your atrocious crime?
Is it not just for your atrocious crime?
Polymestor
Ah, my children! ah, my blinded eyes! woe is me!
1255
Ah, my children! ah, my blinded eyes! woe is me!
1255
Hecuba
You grieve; but what of me? Do you think I do not grieve for my son?
You grieve; but what of me? Do you think I do not grieve for my son?
Polymestor
You wicked wretch! Is your delight in mocking me?
You wicked wretch! Is your delight in mocking me?
Hecuba
Yes, for I am avenged on you; have I not cause for delight?
Yes, for I am avenged on you; have I not cause for delight?
Polymestor
It will soon cease, when ocean’s flood—
It will soon cease, when ocean’s flood—
Hecuba
Shall convey me to the shores of
Hellas
?
1260
Shall convey me to the shores of
Hellas
?
1260
Polymestor
No, but will close over you when you fall from the masthead.
No, but will close over you when you fall from the masthead.
Hecuba
Who will force me to take the leap?
Who will force me to take the leap?
Polymestor
Of your own accord you will climb the ship’s mast.
Of your own accord you will climb the ship’s mast.
Hecuba
With wings upon my back, or by what means?
With wings upon my back, or by what means?
Polymestor
You will become a dog with bloodshot gaze.
1265
You will become a dog with bloodshot gaze.
1265
Hecuba
How did you know of my transformation?
How did you know of my transformation?
Polymestor
Dionysus, our Thracian prophet, told me so.
Dionysus, our Thracian prophet, told me so.
Hecuba
And did he prophesy to you nothing of your present trouble?
And did he prophesy to you nothing of your present trouble?
Polymestor
No, for you would never have caught me thus by guile.
No, for you would never have caught me thus by guile.
Hecuba
Dead or alive shall I complete my life here?
1270
Dead or alive shall I complete my life here?
1270
Polymestor
Dead; and to your tomb shall be given a name—;
Dead; and to your tomb shall be given a name—;
Hecuba
Recalling my form, or what will you tell me?
Recalling my form, or what will you tell me?
Polymestor
The hapless hound’s grave, a mark for mariners.
The hapless hound’s grave, a mark for mariners.
Hecuba
It is nothing to me, now that you have paid me the penalty.
It is nothing to me, now that you have paid me the penalty.
Polymestor
Further, your daughter Cassandra must die.
1275
Further, your daughter Cassandra must die.
1275
Hecuba
I scorn the prophecy! I give it to you to keep for yourself.
I scorn the prophecy! I give it to you to keep for yourself.
Polymestor
The wife of Agamemnon, grim keeper of his palace, shall slay her.
The wife of Agamemnon, grim keeper of his palace, shall slay her.
Hecuba
Never may the daughter of Tyndareus do such a frantic deed!
Never may the daughter of Tyndareus do such a frantic deed!
Polymestor
And she shall slay this man as well, lifting high the axe.
And she shall slay this man as well, lifting high the axe.
Agamemnon
You creature, are you mad? are you so eager to find sorrow?
1280
You creature, are you mad? are you so eager to find sorrow?
1280
Polymestor
Kill me, for in
Argos
there awaits you a murderous bath.
Kill me, for in
Argos
there awaits you a murderous bath.
Agamemnon
Ho! servants, drag away him from my sight!
Ho! servants, drag away him from my sight!
Polymestor
Do my words pain you?
Do my words pain you?
Agamemnon
Stop his mouth!
Stop his mouth!
Polymestor
Close it now; for I have spoken.
Close it now; for I have spoken.
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
1285
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.
1290
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
1285
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.
1290
Hecuba. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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