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Hector
In good season you come, although your tidings are full of terror; for those men are bent on giving me the slip and stealing away from this land in their ships by night;
their midnight signalling pleases me. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour of triumph, a lion of his prey, before this spear had made an end of the whole
Argive
army in one line! Yes, if the sun’s bright lamp had not withheld
55
his light, I would not have stayed my victor’s spear, before I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean blood. I was eager to make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck sent by heaven;
60
but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven’s will so pat, persuaded me to wait for dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the land. But those others do not await the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness turns runaways to heroes.
65
But we must now without delay pass this word to the army to take up arms and cease from slumber, so that many an Achaean, as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be fast bound with cords
70
and learn to till our Phrygian fields.
75
In good season you come, although your tidings are full of terror; for those men are bent on giving me the slip and stealing away from this land in their ships by night;
their midnight signalling pleases me. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour of triumph, a lion of his prey, before this spear had made an end of the whole
Argive
army in one line! Yes, if the sun’s bright lamp had not withheld
55
his light, I would not have stayed my victor’s spear, before I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean blood. I was eager to make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck sent by heaven;
60
but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven’s will so pat, persuaded me to wait for dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the land. But those others do not await the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness turns runaways to heroes.
65
But we must now without delay pass this word to the army to take up arms and cease from slumber, so that many an Achaean, as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be fast bound with cords
70
and learn to till our Phrygian fields.
75
Chorus Leader
You hasten, Hector, before you know clearly what is happening; for we do not know for certain whether the men are flying.
You hasten, Hector, before you know clearly what is happening; for we do not know for certain whether the men are flying.
Hector
What other reason did the
Argive
army have to kindle fires?
What other reason did the
Argive
army have to kindle fires?
Chorus Leader
I do not know; I am very suspicious.
I do not know; I am very suspicious.
Hector
If you fear this, be sure there’s nothing you would not fear.
80
If you fear this, be sure there’s nothing you would not fear.
80
Chorus Leader
Never before did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
Never before did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
Hector
No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.
No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.
Chorus Leader
This you have achieved; look now to what remains to do.
This you have achieved; look now to what remains to do.
Hector
A simple tale, to arm against the enemy.
A simple tale, to arm against the enemy.
Rhesus. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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