Hecuba

Perseus Greek · Perseus Greek · 426 sections

1265
You will become a dog with bloodshot gaze.
1266
How did you know of my transformation?
1267
Dionysus, our Thracian prophet, told me so.
1268
And did he prophesy to you nothing of your present trouble?
1269
No, for you would never have caught me thus by guile.
1270
Dead or alive shall I complete my life here?
1271
Dead; and to your tomb shall be given a name—;
1272
Recalling my form, or what will you tell me?
1273
The hapless hound’s grave, a mark for mariners.
1274
It is nothing to me, now that you have paid me the penalty.
1275
Further, your daughter Cassandra must die.
1276
I scorn the prophecy! I give it to you to keep for yourself.
1277
The wife of Agamemnon, grim keeper of his palace, shall slay her.
1278
Never may the daughter of Tyndareus do such a frantic deed!
1279
And she shall slay this man as well, lifting high the axe.
1280
You creature, are you mad? are you so eager to find sorrow?
1281
Kill me, for in Argos there awaits you a murderous bath.
1282
Ho! servants, drag away him from my sight!
1283
Do my words pain you?
1283b
Stop his mouth!
1284
Close it now; for I have spoken.
1284b
Make haste
1285
and cast him upon some desert island, since his mouth is full of such exceeding presumption. Go, unhappy Hecuba, and bury your two corpses; and you, Trojan women, must draw near your masters’ tents, for lo! I perceive a breeze
1290
just rising to waft us home. May we reach our country well and find all well at home, released from troubles here! Polymestor is dragged away by Agamemnon’s guards.
1293
Away to the harbour and the tents, my friends, to prove the toils of
1295
slavery! for such is fate’s relentless hest.

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