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Agamemnon
Where then was he, when his city was being destroyed?
Where then was he, when his city was being destroyed?
Hecuba
His father, fearful of his death, conveyed him out of
Troy
.
His father, fearful of his death, conveyed him out of
Troy
.
Agamemnon
Where did he place him apart from the sons he then had?
Where did he place him apart from the sons he then had?
Hecuba
In this very land, where his corpse was found.
770
In this very land, where his corpse was found.
770
Agamemnon
With Polymestor, the king of this country?
With Polymestor, the king of this country?
Hecuba
He was sent here in charge of gold, most bitter trust!
He was sent here in charge of gold, most bitter trust!
Agamemnon
By whom was he slain? What death overtook him?
By whom was he slain? What death overtook him?
Hecuba
By whom but this man? His Thracian host slew him.
By whom but this man? His Thracian host slew him.
Agamemnon
The wretch! could he have been so eager for the gold?
775
The wretch! could he have been so eager for the gold?
775
Hecuba
Just so, when he heard of the Phrygians’ disaster.
Just so, when he heard of the Phrygians’ disaster.
Agamemnon
Where did you find him? or did some one bring his corpse?
Where did you find him? or did some one bring his corpse?
Hecuba
This woman, who happened upon it on the sea-shore.
This woman, who happened upon it on the sea-shore.
Agamemnon
Was she seeking it, or bent on other tasks?
Was she seeking it, or bent on other tasks?
Hecuba
She had gone to fetch water from the sea to wash Polyxena.
780
She had gone to fetch water from the sea to wash Polyxena.
780
Agamemnon
It seems then his host slew him and cast his body out to sea.
It seems then his host slew him and cast his body out to sea.
Hecuba
Yes, for the waves to toss, after mangling him in this way.
Yes, for the waves to toss, after mangling him in this way.
Agamemnon
Woe to you for your measureless troubles!
Woe to you for your measureless troubles!
Hecuba
I am ruined; no evil now is left, Agamemnon.
I am ruined; no evil now is left, Agamemnon.
Agamemnon
Ah! what woman was ever born to such mischance?
785
Ah! what woman was ever born to such mischance?
785
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
790
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.
795
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,
800
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;
805
a happy mother once, but now childless and old alike, bereft of city, utterly forlorn, the most wretched woman living.
810
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
790
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.
795
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,
800
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;
805
a happy mother once, but now childless and old alike, bereft of city, utterly forlorn, the most wretched woman living.
810
Hecuba. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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