Andromache (183-252)

Ah! well-a-day! Youth is a bane to mortals,

in every case, that is, where a man embraces injustice in his early days. Now I am afraid that my being a slave will prevent thee listening to me in spite of many a just plea, or if I win my case, I fear I may be damaged on this very ground, for the high and mighty cannot brook refuting arguments

from their inferiors; still I will not be convicted of betraying my own cause. Tell me, proud young wife, what assurance can make me confident of wresting from thee thy lawful lord? Is it that Laconias capital yields to Phrygia?

is it that my fortune outstrips thine? or that in me thou seest a free woman? Am I so elated by my youth, my full healthy figure, the extent of my city, the number of my friends that I wish to supplant thee in thy home? Is my purpose to take thy place and rear myself a race

of slaves, mere appendages to my misery? or, supposing thou bear no children, will any one endure that sons of mine should rule oer Phthia? Ah no! there is the love that Hellas bears me, both for Hectors sake and for my own humble rank forsooth, that never knew a queens estate in Troy.

’Tis not my sorcery that makes thy husband hate thee, nay, but thy own failure to prove thyself his help-meet.[*] Herein lies love’s only charm tis not beauty, lady, but virtuous acts that win our husbands’ hearts. And though it gall thee to be told so, albeit thy city in Laconia

is no doubt a mighty fact, yet thou findest no place for his Scyros, displaying wealth ’midst poverty and setting Menelaus above Achilles: and that is what alienates thy lord. Take heed; for a woman, though bestowed upon a worthless husband, must be with him content, and ne’er advance presumptuous claims.

Suppose thou hadst wedded a prince of Thrace, the land of flood and melting snow, where one lord shares his affections with a host of wives, wouldst thou have slain them? If so, thou wouldst have set a stigma of insatiate lust on all our sex.

A shameful charge! And yet herein we suffer more than men, though we make a good stand against it. Ah! my dear lord Hector, for thy sake would I e’en brook a rival, if ever Cypris led thee astray, and oft in days gone by I held thy bastard babes to my own breast,

to spare thee any cause for grief. By this course I bound my husband to me by virtue’s chains, whereas thou wilt never so much as let the drops of dew from heaven above settle on thy lord, in thy jealous fear.[*]

Oh! seek not to surpass thy mother in hankering after men, for ’tis well that all wise children should avoid the habits of such evil mothers.

Mistress mine, be persuaded to come to terms with her, as far as readily comes within thy power.

Why this haughty tone, this bandying of words, as if, forsooth, thou, not I, wert the virtuous wife?

Thy present claims at any rate give thee small title thereto.

Woman, may my bosom never harbour such ideas as thine!

Thou art young to speak on so delicate a subject.

As for thee, thou dost not speak thereof but, as thou canst, dost put it into action against me.

Canst thou not conceal thy pangs of jealousy?

What! doth not every woman put this first of all?

Yes, if her experiences are happy; otherwise, there is no honour in speaking of them.

Barbarians’ laws are not a standard for our city.

Alike in Asia and in Hellas infamy attends base actions.

Clever, clever quibbler! yet die thou must and shalt.

Dost see the image of Thetis with her eye upon thee?

A bitter foe to thy country because of the death of Achilles.

’Twas not I that slew him, but Helen that mother of thine.

Pray, is it thy intention to probe my wounds yet deeper?

Behold, I am dumb, my lips are closed.

Tell me that which was my only reason for coming hither.

No! all I tell thee is, thou hast less wisdom than thou needest.