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The Chorus of captive Trojan women enters.
Chorus
Hecuba, I have hastened away to you, leaving my master’s tent,
where the lot assigned
and appointed me as his slave, when I was driven from the city of
Ilium
, hunted by Achaeans at the point of the spear; no alleviation do I bring for your sufferings;
100
no, I have laden myself with heavy news, and am a herald of sorrow to you, lady. It is said the Achaeans have determined in full assembly to offer your daughter in sacrifice to Achilles; for you know how one day he appeared
105
standing on his tomb in golden armor, and stayed the sea-borne ships, though they had their sails already hoisted, with this pealing cry:
Where away so fast, you Danaids, leaving my tomb
110
without its prize? A violent dispute with stormy altercation arose, and opinion was divided in the warrior army of
Hellas
, some being in favor of offering the sacrifice at the tomb, others dissenting.
115
There was Agamemnon, all eagerness in your interest, because of his love for the frenzied prophetess; but the two sons of Theseus, scions of
Athens
, though supporting different proposals, yet agreed on the same decision, which was to crown Achilles’ tomb with fresh blood;
120
for they said they never would set Cassandra’s bed before Achilles’ valor.
125
Hecuba, I have hastened away to you, leaving my master’s tent,
where the lot assigned
and appointed me as his slave, when I was driven from the city of
Ilium
, hunted by Achaeans at the point of the spear; no alleviation do I bring for your sufferings;
100
no, I have laden myself with heavy news, and am a herald of sorrow to you, lady. It is said the Achaeans have determined in full assembly to offer your daughter in sacrifice to Achilles; for you know how one day he appeared
105
standing on his tomb in golden armor, and stayed the sea-borne ships, though they had their sails already hoisted, with this pealing cry:
Where away so fast, you Danaids, leaving my tomb
110
without its prize? A violent dispute with stormy altercation arose, and opinion was divided in the warrior army of
Hellas
, some being in favor of offering the sacrifice at the tomb, others dissenting.
115
There was Agamemnon, all eagerness in your interest, because of his love for the frenzied prophetess; but the two sons of Theseus, scions of
Athens
, though supporting different proposals, yet agreed on the same decision, which was to crown Achilles’ tomb with fresh blood;
120
for they said they never would set Cassandra’s bed before Achilles’ valor.
125
Hecuba. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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