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The herald, Talthybius, enters.
Talthybius
Where can I find Hecuba, who once was
queen of
Ilium
, you Trojan maidens?
485
Where can I find Hecuba, who once was
queen of
Ilium
, you Trojan maidens?
485
Chorus Leader
There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.
There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.
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,
490
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
495
yourself and raise that white head.
500
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,
490
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
495
yourself and raise that white head.
500
Hecuba
stirring
Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?
Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?
Talthybius
I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.
I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.
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.
505
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.
505
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.
510
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.
510
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!
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.
515
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!
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.
515
Hecuba. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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