Andromache (45-83)

for Peleus and his descendants hold it in honour as a symbol of his marriage with the Nereid. My only son am I secretly conveying to a neighbour’s house in fear for his life. For his sire stands not by my side

to lend his aid and cannot avail his child at all, being absent in the land of Delphi, where he is offering recompense to Loxias for the madness he committed, when on a day he went to Pytho and demanded of Phoebus satisfaction[*] for his father’s death,[*] if haply his prayer might avert those past sins

and win for him the god’s goodwill hereafter.

Mistress mine, be sure I do not hesitate to call thee by that name, seeing that I thought it thy right in thine own house also, when we dwelt in Troy-land: as I was ever thy friend and thy husband’s while yet he was alive,

so now have I come with strange tidings, in terror lest any of our masters learn hereof but still out of pity for thee; for Menelaus and his daughter are forming dire plots against thee, whereof thou must beware.

Ah! kind companion of my bondage, for such thou art to her, who, erst thy queen, is now sunk in misery; what are they doing? What new schemes are they devising in their eagerness to take away my wretched life?

Alas! poor lady, they intend to slay thy son, whom thou hast privily conveyed from out the house.

Ah me! Has she[*] heard that my babe was put out of her reach? Who told her? Woe is me! how utterly undone!

I know not, but thus much of their schemes I heard myself; and Menelaus has left the house to fetch him.

Then am I lost; ah, my child! those

vultures twain will take and slay thee; while he who is called thy father lingers still in Delphi.

True, for had he been here thou wouldst not have fared so hardly, I am sure; but, as it is, thou art friendless.

Have no tidings come of the possible arrival of Peleus?

He is too old to help thee if he came.

And yet I sent for him more than once.

Surely thou dost not suppose that any of thy messengers heed thee?

Why should they? Wilt thou then go for me?