No one shall dispute the crown with her. Chorus Leader What now, unhappy one with your cry of misery? Your evil tidings never seem to rest. Maid-servant It is to Hecuba I bring my bitter news; no easy task is it for mortal lips to speak smooth words in sorrow. Chorus Leader Look, she is coming even now from the shelter of the tent, appearing just in time to hear you speak. Hecuba comes out of the tent. Maid-servant O mistress, most hapless beyond all words of mine to tell; you are ruined, you no longer exist, though you are alive; of children, husband, city bereft; hopelessly undone! Hecuba This is no news but insult; I have heard it all before. But why have you come, bringing here to me the corpse of Polyxena, on whose burial Achaea ’s army was reported to be busily engaged? Maid-servant She knows nothing, but mourns Polyxena, not grasping her new sorrows. Hecuba Ah! woe is me! you are surely not bringing here frenzied Cassandra, the prophetic maid? Maid-servant You speak of the living; but the dead you do not weep is here. Uncovering the corpse Mark well the body now laid bare;