HKB
HECUBA.
Lo, yonder ships: I ne'er set foot on one, But tales and pictures tell, when over them Breaketh a storm not all too strong to stem, Each man strives hard, the tiller gripped, the mast Manned, the hull baled, to face it: till at last Too strong breaks the o'erwhelming sea: lo, then They cease, and yield them up as broken men To fate and the wild waters. Even so I in my many sorrows bear me low, Nor curse, nor strive that other things may be. The great wave rolled from God hath conquered me. But, O, let Hector and the fates that fell On Hector, sleep. Weep for him ne'er so well, Thy weeping shall not wake him. Honour thou The new lord that is set above thee now, And make of thine own gentle piety A prize to lure his heart. So shalt thou be A strength to them that love us, and--God knows, It may be--rear this babe among his foes, My Hector's child, to manhood and great aid For Ilion. So her stones may yet be laid One on another, if God will, and wrought Again to a city! Ah, how thought to thought Still beckons!... But what minion of the Greek Is this that cometh, with new words to speak?
[Enter TALTHYBIUS with a band of Soldiers. He comes forward slowly and with evident disquiet.
TALTHYBIUS.
Spouse of the noblest heart that beat in Troy, Andromache, hate me not! 'Tis not in joy I tell thee. But the people and the Kings Have with one voice....
ANDROMACHE.
What is it? Evil things Are on thy lips!
TALTHYBIUS.
Tis ordered, this child.... Oh, How can I tell her of it?
ANDROMACHE.
Doth he not go With me, to the same master?
TALTHYBIUS.
There is none In Greece, shall e'er be master of thy son.
ANDROMACHE.
How? Will they leave him here to build again The wreck?...
TALTHYBIUS. I know not how to tell thee plain!
ANDROMACHE.
Thou hast a gentle heart ... if it be ill, And not good, news thou hidest!
TALTHYBIUS.
'Tis their will Thy son shall die.... The whole vile thing is said Now!
ANDROMACHE. Oh, I could have borne mine enemy's bed!
TALTHYBIUS.
And speaking in the council of the host Odysseus hath prevailed--
ANDROMACHE.
O lost! lost! lost!... Forgive me! It is not easy....
TALTHYBIUS.
... That the son Of one so perilous be not fostered on To manhood--
ANDROMACHE.
God; may his own counsel fall On his own sons!
TALTHYBIUS.
... But from this crested wall Of Troy be dashed, and die.... Nay, let the thing Be done. Thou shalt be wiser so. Nor cling So fiercely to him. Suffer as a brave Woman in bitter pain; nor think to have Strength which thou hast not. Look about thee here! Canst thou see help, or refuge anywhere? Thy land is fallen and thy lord, and thou A prisoner and alone, one woman; how Canst battle against us? For thine own good I would not have thee strive, nor make ill blood And shame about thee.... Ah, nor move thy lips In silence there, to cast upon the ships Thy curse! One word of evil to the host, This babe shall have no burial, but be tossed Naked.... Ah, peace! And bear as best thou may, War's fortune. So thou shalt not go thy way Leaving this child unburied; nor the Greek Be stern against thee, if thy heart be meek!
ANDROMACHE (to the child).
Go, die, my best-beloved, my cherished one, In fierce men's hands, leaving me here alone. Thy father was too valiant; that is why They slay thee! Other children, like to die, Might have been spared for that. But on thy head His good is turned to evil.