Partly by myself, partly by the man who wedded me, and partly by some god. On every side I see ruin.OrestesWhy, what misfortune could happen to a woman as yet childless, unless her honour is concerned?HermioneMy very complaint! Thou hast hit my case exactly.OrestesOn whom has thy husband set his affections in thy stead?HermioneOn his captive, Hector’s wife.OrestesAn evil case indeed, for a man to have two wives!Hermione’Tis even thus. So I resented it.OrestesDidst thou with woman’s craft devise a plot against thy rival?HermioneYes, to slay her and her bastard child.OrestesAnd didst thou slay them, or did something happen to rescue them from thee?HermioneIt was old Peleus, who showed regard to the weaker side.OrestesHadst thou any accomplice in this attempted murder?HermioneMy father came from Sparta for this very purpose.OrestesAnd was he after all defeated by that old man’s prowess ?HermioneOh no! but by shame; and he hath gone and left me all alone.OrestesI understand; thou art afraid of thy husband for that thou hast done.HermioneThou 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 veryReading οἵδε γε. walls seem to cry out Begone! and all the land of Phthia bates me. But if my lord return ere that from the oracle of Phoebus, he will put me to death on a shameful charge, or enslave me to his mistress, whom I ruled before. MaybeReading πῶς οὖν ἃν ἔιποι τις τάδ᾽ ἐξημάρτανες. some one will say, How was it thou didst go thus astray? I was ruined by mischievous women who came to me and puffed me up with words like these: What! wilt thou suffer that vile captive, a mere bondmaid, to dwell within thy house and share thy wedded rights? By Heaven’s queen! if it were my house