The Tragedies of Euripides, Volume I | Page 7

impel them to offer human sacrifices at the tomb, where
it were rather right to sacrifice cattle? Or does Achilles, desirous of
devoting in his turn to death those that wrought his death, with a color
of justice meditate her destruction? But she has done him no ill: he
should demand Helen as a sacrifice on his tomb; for she destroyed him,
and brought him to Troy. But if some captive selected from the rest,
and excelling in beauty, ought to die, this is not ours. For the daughter

of Tyndarus is most preeminent in beauty, and has been found to be no
less injurious than us. On the score of justice then I urge this argument;
but with respect to what you ought to repay at my demand, hear: thou
hast touched my hand, as thou ownest, and this aged cheek also, falling
at my knees. Thy hand and knees I in return grasp, and re-demand the
favor I granted you then, and beseech you, do not tear my child from
my arms, nor kill her; enough have died already. In her I rejoice, and
forget my misfortunes; she serves as my consolation in the stead of
many things, she is my city, my nurse, my staff, the guide of my way. It
becomes not those who have power to exercise their power in things
wherein they ought not, nor should the fortunate imagine their fortune
will last forever. For I too have had my time of prosperity, but now
have I ceased to be: one day wrenched from me all my happiness. But
by thy beard which I supplicate, reverence me, pity me; go to the
Grecian army, and remind them that it is a shameful thing to slay
women whom ye have once spared, and that too dragging them from
the altar. But show mercy. But the laws of blood among you are laid
down alike for the free and the slave. But your worth will carry with it
persuasion, although your arguments be bad; for the same words from
those of little character, have not the same force as when they proceed
from those of high reputation.
CHOR. There is no nature of man so obdurate, which on hearing thy
groans, and thy long plaints of misery, would not let fall the tear.
ULYSS. Hecuba, be advised, nor through passion deem him thine
enemy who gives thee good advice. I indeed am ready to preserve thy
person through the means of which I was fortunate; and I say no other.
But what I declared before all I will not deny, that, Troy being captured,
we should give thy daughter as a victim to the noblest man of the army,
who demands her; for in this many cities fail, when any man who is
brave and zealous receives no more honor than those who are less
valiant. But Achilles, O lady, is worthy of honor from us, a man who
died most gloriously in behalf of the Grecian country. Were not then
this disgraceful, if when living we treat him as a friend, but after he is
gone we no longer treat him so? Well! what then will any one say, if
there again should be an assembling of the army, and a contest with the

enemy: "Shall we fight or preserve our lives, seeing that he who falls
lies unhonored?" But for me at least, living from day to day, although I
have but little, that little is sufficient; but I would wish that my
monument should be beheld crowned with honor, for the gratification
is for a long time. But if thou sayest thou sufferest affliction, hear this
in return from me. There are with us aged matrons, and hoary sires, not
less wretched than thou art, and brides bereft of the noblest husbands,
whose ashes this land of Troy conceals. Endure this. But we, if we
injudiciously determine to honor the brave man, shall incur the charge
of folly. But you barbarians neither consider your friends as friends, nor
do you hold up to admiration those who have died honorably; thus shall
Greece be prosperous, but you shall experience fortune corresponding
to your counsels.
CHOR. Alas! alas! how wretched is the state of slavery, and to endure
indignities compelled by superior force! (Note [B].)
HEC. O daughter, my words respecting thy death are vanished in the
air, set forth in vain; but thou, if thou hast greater powers [of
persuasion] than thy mother, use all thy influence, uttering every note
as the throat of the nightingale, that thou mayest not be deprived of life.
But fall before the knees of Ulysses in all the eloquence of grief, and
persuade him; thou hast a pretext, for he also hath children; so that he
may be inclined to