The Trojan Women [8]
nor sense to help them, and are by nature man's inferiors. O Hector mine! in thee I found a husband amply dowered with wisdom, noble birth and fortune, a brave man and a mighty; whilst thou didst take me from my father's house a spotless bride, thyself the first to make this maiden wife. But now death hath claimed thee, and I to Hellas am soon to sail, a captive doomed to wear the yoke of slavery. Hath not then the dead Polyxena, for whom thou wailest, less evil to bear than I? I have not so much as hope, the last resource of every human heart, nor do I beguile myself with dreams of future bliss, the very thought whereof is sweet. CHORUS Thou art in the self-same plight as I; thy lamentations for thyself remind me of my own sad case. HECUBA I never yet have set foot on a ship's deck, though I have seen such things in pictures and know of them from hearsay. Now sailors, if there come a storm of moderate force, are all eagerness to save themselves by toil; one at the tiller stands, another sets himself to work the sheets, a third meantime is baling out the ship; but if tempestuous waves arise to overwhelm them, they yield to fortune and commit themselves to the driving billows. Even so I, by reason of my countless troubles, am dumb and forbear to say a word; for Heaven with its surge of misery is too strong for me. Cease, Oh cease, my darling child, to speak of Hector's fate; no tears of thine can save him; honour thy present lord, offering thy sweet nature as the bait to win him. If thou do this, thou wilt cheer thy friends as well as thyself, and thou shalt rear my Hector's child to lend stout aid to Ilium, that so thy children in the after-time may build her up again, and our city yet be stablished. But lo! our talk must take a different turn; who is this Achaean menial I see coming hither, sent to tell us of some new design?
Enter TALTHYBIUS.
TALTHYBIUS Oh hate me not, thou that erst wert Hector's wife, the bravest of the Phrygians! for my tongue would fain not tell that which the Danai and sons of Pelops both command. ANDROMACHE What is it? Thy prelude bodeth evil news. TALTHYBIUS 'Tis decreed thy son is-how can I tell my news? ANDROMACHE Surely not to have a different master from me? TALTHYBIUS None of all Achaea's chiefs shall ever lord it over him. ANDROMACHE Is it their will to leave him here, a remnant yet of Phrygia's race? TALTHYBIUS I know no words to break the sorrow lightly to thee. ANDROMACHE I thank thee for thy consideration, unless indeed thou hast good news to tell. TALTHYBIUS They mean to slay thy son; there is my hateful message to thee. ANDROMACHE O God! this is worse tidings than my forced marriage. TALTHYBIUS So spake Odysseus to the assembled Hellenes, and his word prevails. ANDROMACHE Oh once again ah me there is no measure in the woes I bear. TALTHYBIUS He said they should not rear so brave a father's son. ANDROMACHE May such counsels yet prevail about children of his! TALTHYBIUS From Troy's battlements he must be thrown. Let it be even so, and thou wilt show more wisdom; cling not to him, but bear thy sorrows with heroic heart, nor in thy weakness deem that thou art strong. For nowhere hast thou any help; consider this thou must; thy husband and thy city are no more, so thou art in our power, and I alone am match enough for one weak woman; wherefore I would not see thee bent on strife, or any course to bring thee shame or hate, nor would I hear thee rashly curse the Achaeans. For if thou say aught whereat the host grow wroth, this child will find no burial nor pity either. But if thou hold thy peace and with composure take thy fate, thou wilt not leave his corpse unburied, and thyself wilt find more favour with the Achaeans. ANDROMACHE My child! my own sweet babe and priceless treasure! thy death the foe demands, and thou must leave thy wretched mother. That which saves the lives of others, proves thy destruction, even thy sire's nobility; to thee thy father's
Enter TALTHYBIUS.
TALTHYBIUS Oh hate me not, thou that erst wert Hector's wife, the bravest of the Phrygians! for my tongue would fain not tell that which the Danai and sons of Pelops both command. ANDROMACHE What is it? Thy prelude bodeth evil news. TALTHYBIUS 'Tis decreed thy son is-how can I tell my news? ANDROMACHE Surely not to have a different master from me? TALTHYBIUS None of all Achaea's chiefs shall ever lord it over him. ANDROMACHE Is it their will to leave him here, a remnant yet of Phrygia's race? TALTHYBIUS I know no words to break the sorrow lightly to thee. ANDROMACHE I thank thee for thy consideration, unless indeed thou hast good news to tell. TALTHYBIUS They mean to slay thy son; there is my hateful message to thee. ANDROMACHE O God! this is worse tidings than my forced marriage. TALTHYBIUS So spake Odysseus to the assembled Hellenes, and his word prevails. ANDROMACHE Oh once again ah me there is no measure in the woes I bear. TALTHYBIUS He said they should not rear so brave a father's son. ANDROMACHE May such counsels yet prevail about children of his! TALTHYBIUS From Troy's battlements he must be thrown. Let it be even so, and thou wilt show more wisdom; cling not to him, but bear thy sorrows with heroic heart, nor in thy weakness deem that thou art strong. For nowhere hast thou any help; consider this thou must; thy husband and thy city are no more, so thou art in our power, and I alone am match enough for one weak woman; wherefore I would not see thee bent on strife, or any course to bring thee shame or hate, nor would I hear thee rashly curse the Achaeans. For if thou say aught whereat the host grow wroth, this child will find no burial nor pity either. But if thou hold thy peace and with composure take thy fate, thou wilt not leave his corpse unburied, and thyself wilt find more favour with the Achaeans. ANDROMACHE My child! my own sweet babe and priceless treasure! thy death the foe demands, and thou must leave thy wretched mother. That which saves the lives of others, proves thy destruction, even thy sire's nobility; to thee thy father's