sons of Hellas, when, oh! when will you sack the citadel of Ilium, and seek your homes?

ChorusI left my bed, wearing only a tunic, like a Dorian girl,and sought in vain, ah me! to station myself at the holy hearth of Artemis; for, after seeing my husband slain, I was led away over the broad sea; with many a backward look at my city,when the ship began her homeward voyage and parted me from Ilium’s strand; till alas! for very grief I fainted,

ChorusCursing Helen the sister of the Dioscuri, and Paris the baleful shepherd of Ida;for it was their marriage, which was no marriage but misery sent by some demon, that robbed me of my country and drove me from my home.Oh! may the sea’s salt flood never carry her home again; and may she never set foot in her father’s halls!

Hecuba comes out of the tent as Polymestor, his children and guards enter.PolymestorMy dear friend Priam, and you no less, Hecuba, I weep to see you and your city thus, and your daughter lately slain.Ah! there is nothing to be relied on; fair fame is insecure, nor is there any guarantee that prosperity will not be turned to woe. For the gods confound our fortunes, tossing them to and fro, and introduce confusion, so that our perplexity may make us worship them. But what use is it to lament these things, and make no advance ahead of trouble? If you are blaming me at all for my absence, stop a moment; I happened to be away in the very heart of Thrace when you came here; but on my return,