Andromache (904-920)

Why, what misfortune could happen to a woman as yet childless,

unless her honour is concerned?

My very complaint! Thou hast hit my case exactly.

On whom has thy husband set his affections in thy stead?

On his captive, Hector’s wife.

An evil case indeed, for a man to have two wives!

’Tis even thus. So I resented it.

Didst thou with woman’s craft devise a plot against thy rival?

Yes, to slay her and her bastard child.

And didst thou slay them, or did something happen to rescue them from thee?

It was old Peleus, who showed regard to the weaker side.

Hadst thou any accomplice in this attempted murder?

My father came from Sparta for this very purpose.

And was he after all defeated by that old man’s prowess ?

Oh no! but by shame; and he hath gone and left me all alone.

I understand; thou art afraid of thy husband for that thou hast done.

Thou hast guessed it; for he will have a right to me. What can I say for myself? Yet I beseech thee by Zeus the god of our family, send me to a land as far as possible from this, or to my father’s house; for these very[*] walls seem to cry out Begone!