My child, what wilt thou do? Wilt thou disfigure thyself?

HermioneAh me! ah me! Begone, thou fine-spun veil! float from my head away!NurseDaughter, cover up thy bosom, fasten thy robe.

HermioneWhy should I cover it? My crimes against my lord are manifest and clear, they cannot be hidden.NurseArt so grieved at having devised thy rival’s death?

HermioneIndeed I am; I deeply mourn my fatal deeds of daring; alas! I am now accursed in all men’s eyes!NurseThy husband will pardon thee this error.

HermioneOh! why didst thou hunt me to snatch away my sword? Give, oh! give it back, dear nurse, that I may thrust it through my heart. Why dost thou prevent me hanging myself?NurseWhat! was I to let thy madness lead thee on to death?

HermioneAh me, my destiny! Where can I find some friendly fire? To what rocky height can I climb above the sea or ’mid some wooded mountain glen, there to die and trouble but the dead?NurseWhy vex thyself thus? on all of us sooner or later heaven’s visitation comes.

HermioneThou hast left me, O my father, left me like a stranded bark, all alone, without an oar. My lord will surely slay me; no home is mine henceforth beneath my husband’s roof. What god is there to whose statue I can as a suppliant haste? or shall I throw myself in slavish wise at slavish knees? Would I could speedReading ἀερθείην with Seidler. away from Phthia’s land on bird’s dark pinion, or like that pine-built ship,Argo, in quest of the Golden Fleece.