Euripides, The Trojan Women, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 122

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Schnellsegelnde Schiffe von Hellas,
120

Die zur heiligen Ilios rudernd

Ueber das purpurne Meer durch Achaa's

Sichere Porte vordem

Bei traurigem Halle der Flöten,

Mistinendem Klang der Schalmeien¹
125

Hinwandelten, und der Aegypter Gewirk

Ausspannten, geflochtene Segel,²

Ach, ach, in den Buchten von Troas

Menelaos' Gemahl, das verhaßte Gezücht,

Aussuchend, die Schmach auf Kastor gebracht
130

Und schmähenden Ruf dem Eurotas,

Die dich, der fünfzig Kinder gezeugt,

O Priamos, mordet, und mich Unselige auch³

Hinopferte solchem Verhängniß!

Weh, weh! Wo weil ich Arme,
135

An die Zelte von Atreus' Sohne gebannt?⁴

In die Knechtschaft werd' ich Ergraute geschleppt

Von der Heimat weg, das geschorene Haupt⁵

In klåglich entstellender Trauer.

Doch ihr, speerschwingender Troër
140

Ungluckliche Frau'n,

Ihr armen, verlassenen Braute,⁶

Ilion raucht: laßt hallen die Klage!

Wie die Mutter um flatternde Våglein bang

Ihr Lied anhebt, will ich den Gesang
145

Anstimmen, ein anderes Lied,

Als welches ich einst,

Auf der Könige Stab kühn stüzend die Hand,

Und mit phrygischem Takt hellstimmig den Chor

Anführend, erhob zu den Göttern.
150
(tritt aus den Zelten).

Der erste Halbchor

The Trojan Women. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Τρῳάδες Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962)) — 98-229 focus

Ἑκάβη

ἄνα, δύσδαιμον, πεδόθεν κεφαλή·

ἐπάειρε δέρην· οὐκέτι Τροία

τάδε καὶ βασιλῆς ἐσμεν Τροίας.
100

μεταβαλλομένου δαίμονος ἀνέχου.

πλεῖ κατὰ πορθμόν, πλεῖ κατὰ δαίμονα,

μηδὲ προσίστω πρῷραν βιότου

πρὸς κῦμα πλέουσα τύχαισιν.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ.
105

τί γὰρ οὐ πάρα μοι μελέᾳ στενάχειν,

ᾗ πατρὶς ἔρρει καὶ τέκνα καὶ πόσις;

ὦ πολὺς ὄγκος συστελλόμενος

προγόνων, ὡς οὐδὲν ἄρʼ ἦσθα.

τί με χρὴ σιγᾶν; τί δὲ μὴ σιγᾶν;
110

τί δὲ θρηνῆσαι;

δύστηνος ἐγὼ τῆς βαρυδαίμονος

ἄρθρων κλίσεως, ὡς διάκειμαι,

νῶτʼ ἐν στερροῖς λέκτροισι ταθεῖσʼ.

οἴμοι κεφαλῆς, οἴμοι κροτάφων
115

πλευρῶν θʼ, ὥς μοι πόθος εἱλίξαι

καὶ διαδοῦναι νῶτον ἄκανθάν τʼ

εἰς ἀμφοτέρους τοίχους, μελέων

ἐπὶ τοὺς αἰεὶ δακρύων ἐλέγους.

μοῦσα δὲ χαὕτη τοῖς δυστήνοις
120

ἄτας κελαδεῖν ἀχορεύτους.

122

Ἑκάβη

πρῷραι ναῶν, ὠκείαις

Ἴλιον ἱερὰν αἳ κώπαις

διʼ ἅλα πορφυροειδέα καὶ

λιμένας Ἑλλάδος εὐόρμους
125

αὐλῶν παιᾶνι στυγνῷ

συρίγγων τʼ εὐφθόγγων φωνᾷ

βαίνουσαι πλεκτὰν Αἰγύπτου

παιδείαν ἐξηρτήσασθʼ,

αἰαῖ, Τροίας ἐν κόλποις
130

τὰν Μενελάου μετανισόμεναι

στυγνὰν ἄλοχον, Κάστορι λώβαν

τῷ τʼ Εὐρώτᾳ δυσκλείαν,

ἃ σφάζει μὲν

τὸν πεντήκοντʼ ἀροτῆρα τέκνων
135

Πρίαμον, ἐμέ τε μελέαν Ἑκάβαν

ἐς τάνδʼ ἐξώκειλʼ ἄταν.

ὤμοι, θάκους οἵους θάσσω,

σκηναῖς ἐφέδρους Ἀγαμεμνονίαις.

δούλα δʼ ἄγομαι
140

γραῦς ἐξ οἴκων πενθήρη

κρᾶτʼ ἐκπορθηθεῖσʼ οἰκτρῶς.

ἀλλʼ ὦ τῶν χαλκεγχέων Τρώων

ἄλοχοι μέλεαι,

καὶ κοῦραι κοῦραι δύσνυμφοι,

τύφεται Ἴλιον, αἰάζωμεν.
145

μάτηρ δʼ ὡσεί τις πτανοῖς

ὄρνισιν, ὅπως ἐξάρξω ʼγὼ

κλαγγάν, μολπάν, οὐ τὰν αὐτὰν

οἵαν ποτὲ δὴ

σκήπτρῳ Πριάμου διερειδομένα
150

ποδὸς ἀρχεχόρου πληγαῖς Φρυγίους

εὐκόμποις ἐξῆρχον θεούς.

153

Ἡμιχόριον Α

Ἑκάβη, τί θροεῖς; τί δὲ θωΰσσεις;

ποῖ λόγος ἥκει; διὰ γὰρ μελάθρων

ἄιον οἴκτους οὓς οἰκτίζῃ.
155

διὰ δὲ στέρνων φόβος ἄισσεν

Τρῳάσιν, αἳ τῶνδʼ οἴκων εἴσω

δουλείαν αἰάζουσιν.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνʼ, Ἀργείων πρὸς ναῦς ἤδη

Ἡμιχόριον Α

κινεῖται κωπήρης χείρ;
160

οἲ ἐγώ, τί θέλουσʼ, ἦ πού μʼ ἤδη

ναυσθλώσουσιν πατρίας ἐκ γᾶς;

Ἑκάβη

οὐκ οἶδʼ, εἰκάζω δʼ ἄταν.

Ἡμιχόριον Α

ἰὼ ἰώ.

μέλεαι μόχθων ἐπακουσόμεναι
165

Τρῳάδες, ἔξω κομίζεσθʼ οἴκων·

στέλλουσʼ Ἀργεῖοι νόστον.

Ἑκάβη

αἶ, αἶ.

μή νύν μοι τὰν

ἐκβακχεύουσαν Κασάνδραν,
170

αἰσχύναν Ἀργείοισιν,

πέμψητʼ ἔξω,

μαινάδʼ, ἐπʼ ἄλγει δʼ ἀλγυνθῶ.

ἰώ.

Τροία Τροία δύστανʼ, ἔρρεις,

δύστανοι δʼ οἵ σʼ ἐκλείποντες

καὶ ζῶντες καὶ δμαθέντες.
175

176

Ἡμιχόριον Β

οἴμοι. τρομερὰ σκηνὰς ἔλιπον

τάσδʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος ἐπακουσομένα,

βασίλεια, σέθεν· μή με κτείνειν

δόξʼ Ἀργείων κεῖται μελέαν;

ἢ κατὰ πρύμνας ἤδη ναῦται
180

στέλλονται κινεῖν κώπας;

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνον, ὀρθρεύου σὰν ψυχάν.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἐκπληχθεῖσʼ ἦλθον φρίκᾳ.

ἤδη τις ἔβα Δαναῶν κῆρυξ;

τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα τλάμων;
185

Ἑκάβη

ἐγγύς που κεῖσαι κλήρου.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἰὼ ἰώ.

τίς μʼ Ἀργείων ἢ Φθιωτᾶν

ἢ νησαίαν μʼ ἄξει χώραν

δύστανον πόρσω Τροίας;

Ἑκάβη

φεῦ φεῦ.
190

τῷ δʼ ἁ τλάμων

ποῦ πᾷ γαίας δουλεύσω γραῦς,

ὡς κηφήν, ἁ δειλαία,

νεκροῦ μορφά,

νεκύων ἀμενηνὸν ἄγαλμα,

αἰαῖ

τὰν παρὰ προθύροις φυλακὰν κατέχουσʼ

ἢ παίδων θρέπτειρʼ, ἃ Τροίας
195

ἀρχαγοὺς εἶχον τιμάς;

197

Χορός

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, ποίοις δʼ οἴκτοις

τὰν σὰν λύμαν ἐξαιάζεις;

οὐκ Ἰδαίοις ἱστοῖς κερκίδα

δινεύουσʼ ἐξαλλάξω.
200

νέατον τεκέων σώματα λεύσσω,

νέατον

μόχθους ἕξω κρείσσους,

ἢ λέκτροις πλαθεῖσʼ Ἑλλάνων

ʽἑ̓́ρροι νὺξ αὕτα καὶ δαίμων.ʼ

ἢ Πειρήνας ὑδρευσομένα
205

πρόσπολος οἰκτρὰ σεμνῶν ὑδάτων.

τὰν κλεινὰν εἴθʼ ἔλθοιμεν

Θησέως εὐδαίμονα χώραν.

μὴ γὰρ δὴ δίναν γʼ Εὐρώτα,
210

τὰν ἐχθίσταν θεράπναν Ἑλένας,

ἔνθʼ ἀντάσω Μενέλᾳ δούλα,

τῷ τᾶς Τροίας πορθητᾷ.

214

Χορός

τὰν Πηνειοῦ σεμνὰν χώραν,

κρηπῖδʼ Οὐλύμπου καλλίσταν,
215

ὄλβῳ βρίθειν φάμαν ἤκουσʼ

εὐθαλεῖ τʼ εὐκαρπείᾳ·

τάδε δεύτερά μοι μετὰ τὰν ἱερὰν

Θησέως ζαθέαν ἐλθεῖν χώραν.

καὶ τὰν Αἰτναίαν Ἡφαίστου
220

Φοινίκας ἀντήρη χώραν,

Σικελῶν ὀρέων ματέρʼ, ἀκούω

καρύσσεσθαι στεφάνοις ἀρετᾶς.

τάν τʼ ἀγχιστεύουσαν γᾶν

Ἰονίῳ ναύται πόντῳ,
225

ἃν ὑγραίνει καλλιστεύων

ὁ ξανθὰν χαίταν πυρσαίνων

Κρᾶθις ζαθέαις πηγαῖσι τρέφων

εὔανδρόν τʼ ὀλβίζων γᾶν.

Translations (2)

The Trojan Women Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 98-225 focus

Hecuba

Lift your head, unhappy one, from the ground; raise up your neck; this is Troy no more,

no longer am I queen in Ilium . Though fortune change, endure your lot; sail with the stream, and follow fortune’s tack, do not steer your ship of life against the tide, since chance must guide your course.
100

Ah me! ah me! What else but tears is now my hapless lot, whose country, children, husband, all are lost? Ah! the high-blown pride of ancestors, humbled! how brought to nothing after all!
105

What woe must I suppress, or what declare? What plaintive dirge shall I awake? Ah, woe is me! the anguish I suffer lying here stretched upon this hard pallet!
110

O my head, my temples, my side! How I long to turn over, and lie now on this, now on that, to rest my back and spine, while ceaselessly my tearful wail ascends.
115

For even this is music to the wretched, to chant their cheerless dirge of sorrow.
120

122

Hecuba

You swift-prowed ships, rowed to sacred Ilium over the deep dark sea,

past the fair havens of Hellas , to the flute’s ill-omened music and the dulcet voice of pipes,
125

to the bays of Troy , alas! where you tied your hawsers, twisted handiwork from Egypt , in quest of that hateful wife of Menelaus, who brought disgrace on Castor, and on Eurotas foul reproach; who murdered
130

Priam, the father of fifty children; the cause why I, the unhappy Hecuba, have wrecked my life upon this disastrous strand. Oh that I should sit here, over against the tent of Agamemnon!
135

As a slave I am led away from my home, an old woman, while from my head the hair is piteously shorn for grief. Ah! unhappy wives of those armored sons of Troy ! Ah! poor maidens, luckless brides,
140

come weep, for Ilium is now a smouldering ruin; and I, like some mother-bird that over her fledgelings screams, will begin the strain; not the same as that
145

I once sang to the gods, as I leaned on Priam’s staff and beat with my foot in Phrygian time to lead the dance!
150

153

First Semi-Chorus

O Hecuba! why these cries, these piercing shrieks? What do your words mean? For I heard your piteous wail

echo through the building, and a pang of terror shoots through each captive Trojan’s breast, as within these walls they mourn their slavish lot.
155

Hecuba

My child, even now at the ships of the Argives—

First Semi-Chorus

¹The rower’s hand is busy?
160

Ah, woe is me! what is their intent? Will they really carry me away from my country in their fleet?

Hecuba

I do not know, though I guess our doom.

First Semi-Chorus

O misery!

woe to us Trojan women, soon to hear of our troubles: Come out of the house, the Argives are preparing to return.
165

Hecuba

Oh! please do not bid the

wild Cassandra leave her chamber, the frantic prophetess, for Argives to insult, nor to my griefs add yet another. Woe to you, ill-fated Troy , Troy , your sun is set; and woe to your unhappy children, living and dead alike,
170

who are leaving you behind!
175

176

Second Semi-Chorus

With trembling step, alas! I leave this tent of Agamemnon to learn of you, my royal mistress, whether the Argives have resolved to take my wretched life, or

whether the sailors at the prow are making ready to ply their oars.
180

Hecuba

My child, your wakeful heart!

Second Semi-Chorus

I have come, stricken with terror. Has a herald from the Danaids already arrived?

To whom am I, poor captive, given as a slave?
185

Hecuba

You are not far from being allotted now.

Second Semi-Chorus

Alas! What man of Argos or Phthia will bear me in sorrow far from Troy , to his home, or to some island fastness?

Hecuba

Ah! ah! Whose slave shall I become in my old age? in what land? a poor old drone, the wretched copy of a corpse, alas! set to keep the gate
190

or tend their children, I who once held royal rank in Troy .
195

197

Chorus

Alas, alas! What piteous dirge will you devise to mourn the outrage done you? No more through Ida’s looms

shall I ply the shuttle to and fro. I look my last on my children’s bodies, my last; I shall endure surpassing misery, it may be as the unwilling bride of some Hellene (perish the night and fortune that brings me to this!);
200

it may be as a wretched slave from Peirene’s sacred fount I shall draw their store of water. Oh! may it be ours to come to Theseus’ famous realm, a land of joy.
205

Never, never let me see Eurotas’ swirling tide, hateful home of Helen, there to meet and be the slave of Menelaus, whose hand laid Troy waste!
210

214

Chorus

That holy land by Peneus fed,

nestling in all its beauty at Olympus ’ foot, is said, so have I heard, to be a very granary of wealth and teeming fruitfulness; next to the sacred soil of Theseus, I could wish to reach that land.
215

They tell me too Hephaestus’ home, beneath the shadow of Aetna , fronting Phoenicia , the mother of Sicilian hills, is famous for the crowns it gives to valor. Or may I find a home on that shore which lies very near
220

Ionia ’s sea, a land watered by Crathis, lovely stream, that dyes the hair an auburn tint, feeding with its holy waves and making glad the home of heroes.
225

The Trojan Dames (OCR draft) Experimental (The Trojan Dames. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

Notes on the current edition

The Trojan Women

1. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. ἀφθόγγῳ.

2. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. πλεκτάς.

3. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] Ἑκάβην und vorher wohl auch Πρίαμον ist Glosse.

4. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. ἔφεδρος σκηναῖς.

5. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. ξυροήκει.

6. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. μέλεαι κέραι δύςνυμφοι. Vorher ἄλοχοι μέλεαι.

Euripides The Trojan Women 122

Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Der erste Halbchor

Current edition Experimental

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνʼ, Ἀργείων πρὸς ναῦς ἤδη

Ἡμιχόριον Α

κινεῖται κωπήρης χείρ;
160

οἲ ἐγώ, τί θέλουσʼ, ἦ πού μʼ ἤδη

ναυσθλώσουσιν πατρίας ἐκ γᾶς;

Ἑκάβη

οὐκ οἶδʼ, εἰκάζω δʼ ἄταν.

Ἡμιχόριον Α

ἰὼ ἰώ.

μέλεαι μόχθων ἐπακουσόμεναι
165

Τρῳάδες, ἔξω κομίζεσθʼ οἴκων·

στέλλουσʼ Ἀργεῖοι νόστον.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνον, ὀρθρεύου σὰν ψυχάν.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἐκπληχθεῖσʼ ἦλθον φρίκᾳ.

ἤδη τις ἔβα Δαναῶν κῆρυξ;

τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα τλάμων;
185

Ἑκάβη

ἐγγύς που κεῖσαι κλήρου.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἰὼ ἰώ.

τίς μʼ Ἀργείων ἢ Φθιωτᾶν

ἢ νησαίαν μʼ ἄξει χώραν

δύστανον πόρσω Τροίας;

First Semi-Chorus

O Hecuba! why these cries, these piercing shrieks? What do your words mean? For I heard your piteous wail

echo through the building, and a pang of terror shoots through each captive Trojan’s breast, as within these walls they mourn their slavish lot.
155

Hecuba

My child, even now at the ships of the Argives—

First Semi-Chorus

¹The rower’s hand is busy?
160

Ah, woe is me! what is their intent? Will they really carry me away from my country in their fleet?

Hecuba

I do not know, though I guess our doom.

First Semi-Chorus

O misery!

woe to us Trojan women, soon to hear of our troubles: Come out of the house, the Argives are preparing to return.
165

Hecuba

Oh! please do not bid the

wild Cassandra leave her chamber, the frantic prophetess, for Argives to insult, nor to my griefs add yet another. Woe to you, ill-fated Troy , Troy , your sun is set; and woe to your unhappy children, living and dead alike,
170

who are leaving you behind!
175

Second Semi-Chorus

With trembling step, alas! I leave this tent of Agamemnon to learn of you, my royal mistress, whether the Argives have resolved to take my wretched life, or

whether the sailors at the prow are making ready to ply their oars.
180

Hecuba

My child, your wakeful heart!

Second Semi-Chorus

I have come, stricken with terror. Has a herald from the Danaids already arrived?

To whom am I, poor captive, given as a slave?
185

Hecuba

You are not far from being allotted now.

Second Semi-Chorus

Alas! What man of Argos or Phthia will bear me in sorrow far from Troy , to his home, or to some island fastness?

Hecuba

Ah! ah! Whose slave shall I become in my old age? in what land? a poor old drone, the wretched copy of a corpse, alas! set to keep the gate
190

or tend their children, I who once held royal rank in Troy .
195

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Der erste Halbchor

Current edition Experimental

Ἑκάβη ὦ τέκνʼ, Ἀργείων πρὸς ναῦς ἤδη

Ἡμιχόριον Α κινεῖται κωπήρης χείρ; 160 οἲ ἐγώ, τί θέλουσʼ, ἦ πού μʼ ἤδη ναυσθλώσουσιν πατρίας ἐκ γᾶς;

Ἑκάβη οὐκ οἶδʼ, εἰκάζω δʼ ἄταν.

Ἡμιχόριον Α ἰὼ ἰώ. μέλεαι μόχθων ἐπακουσόμεναι 165 Τρῳάδες, ἔξω κομίζεσθʼ οἴκων· στέλλουσʼ Ἀργεῖοι νόστον.

Ἑκάβη ὦ τέκνον, ὀρθρεύου σὰν ψυχάν.

Ἡμιχόριον Β ἐκπληχθεῖσʼ ἦλθον φρίκᾳ. ἤδη τις ἔβα Δαναῶν κῆρυξ; τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα τλάμων; 185

Ἑκάβη ἐγγύς που κεῖσαι κλήρου.

Ἡμιχόριον Β ἰὼ ἰώ. τίς μʼ Ἀργείων ἢ Φθιωτᾶν ἢ νησαίαν μʼ ἄξει χώραν δύστανον πόρσω Τροίας;

First Semi-Chorus O Hecuba! why these cries, these piercing shrieks? What do your words mean? For I heard your piteous wail echo through the building, and a pang of terror shoots through each captive Trojan’s breast, as within these walls they mourn their slavish lot. 155

Hecuba My child, even now at the ships of the Argives—

First Semi-Chorus 1 The rower’s hand is busy? 160 Ah, woe is me! what is their intent? Will they really carry me away from my country in their fleet?

Hecuba I do not know, though I guess our doom.

First Semi-Chorus O misery! woe to us Trojan women, soon to hear of our troubles: Come out of the house, the Argives are preparing to return. 165

Hecuba Oh! please do not bid the wild Cassandra leave her chamber, the frantic prophetess, for Argives to insult, nor to my griefs add yet another. Woe to you, ill-fated Troy , Troy , your sun is set; and woe to your unhappy children, living and dead alike, 170 who are leaving you behind! 175

Second Semi-Chorus With trembling step, alas! I leave this tent of Agamemnon to learn of you, my royal mistress, whether the Argives have resolved to take my wretched life, or whether the sailors at the prow are making ready to ply their oars. 180

Hecuba My child, your wakeful heart!

Second Semi-Chorus I have come, stricken with terror. Has a herald from the Danaids already arrived? To whom am I, poor captive, given as a slave? 185

Hecuba You are not far from being allotted now.

Second Semi-Chorus Alas! What man of Argos or Phthia will bear me in sorrow far from Troy , to his home, or to some island fastness?

Hecuba Ah! ah! Whose slave shall I become in my old age? in what land? a poor old drone, the wretched copy of a corpse, alas! set to keep the gate 190 or tend their children, I who once held royal rank in Troy . 195

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνʼ, Ἀργείων πρὸς ναῦς ἤδη

Ἡμιχόριον Α

κινεῖται κωπήρης χείρ;
160

οἲ ἐγώ, τί θέλουσʼ, ἦ πού μʼ ἤδη

ναυσθλώσουσιν πατρίας ἐκ γᾶς;

Ἑκάβη

οὐκ οἶδʼ, εἰκάζω δʼ ἄταν.

Ἡμιχόριον Α

ἰὼ ἰώ.

μέλεαι μόχθων ἐπακουσόμεναι
165

Τρῳάδες, ἔξω κομίζεσθʼ οἴκων·

στέλλουσʼ Ἀργεῖοι νόστον.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ τέκνον, ὀρθρεύου σὰν ψυχάν.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἐκπληχθεῖσʼ ἦλθον φρίκᾳ.

ἤδη τις ἔβα Δαναῶν κῆρυξ;

τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα τλάμων;
185

Ἑκάβη

ἐγγύς που κεῖσαι κλήρου.

Ἡμιχόριον Β

ἰὼ ἰώ.

τίς μʼ Ἀργείων ἢ Φθιωτᾶν

ἢ νησαίαν μʼ ἄξει χώραν

δύστανον πόρσω Τροίας;

First Semi-Chorus

O Hecuba! why these cries, these piercing shrieks? What do your words mean? For I heard your piteous wail

echo through the building, and a pang of terror shoots through each captive Trojan’s breast, as within these walls they mourn their slavish lot.
155

Hecuba

My child, even now at the ships of the Argives—

First Semi-Chorus

¹The rower’s hand is busy?
160

Ah, woe is me! what is their intent? Will they really carry me away from my country in their fleet?

Hecuba

I do not know, though I guess our doom.

First Semi-Chorus

O misery!

woe to us Trojan women, soon to hear of our troubles: Come out of the house, the Argives are preparing to return.
165

Hecuba

Oh! please do not bid the

wild Cassandra leave her chamber, the frantic prophetess, for Argives to insult, nor to my griefs add yet another. Woe to you, ill-fated Troy , Troy , your sun is set; and woe to your unhappy children, living and dead alike,
170

who are leaving you behind!
175

Second Semi-Chorus

With trembling step, alas! I leave this tent of Agamemnon to learn of you, my royal mistress, whether the Argives have resolved to take my wretched life, or

whether the sailors at the prow are making ready to ply their oars.
180

Hecuba

My child, your wakeful heart!

Second Semi-Chorus

I have come, stricken with terror. Has a herald from the Danaids already arrived?

To whom am I, poor captive, given as a slave?
185

Hecuba

You are not far from being allotted now.

Second Semi-Chorus

Alas! What man of Argos or Phthia will bear me in sorrow far from Troy , to his home, or to some island fastness?

Hecuba

Ah! ah! Whose slave shall I become in my old age? in what land? a poor old drone, the wretched copy of a corpse, alas! set to keep the gate
190

or tend their children, I who once held royal rank in Troy .
195