daughter of Tyndareus, justly counted among the captives. And if you would see that queen of misery, Hecuba, you can; for there she lies before the gates, weeping many tears for many sorrows; at Achilles’ tomb, without her knowledge, her daughter Polyxena has died most piteously; Priam is gone, and her children too; Cassandra, whom the lord Apollo left to be a virgin, frenzied maid, has been forced by Agamemnon, in contempt of the god’s ordinance and of piety, to a dishonored wedlock. Farewell, O city once prosperous! farewell, you ramparts of polished stone! if Pallas, daughter of Zeus, had not decreed your ruin, you would be standing firmly still.AthenaMay I address the mighty god whom the gods revere and who to my own father is very near in blood, laying aside our former enmity?PoseidonYou may; for over the soul the ties of kin exert no feeble spell, great queen Athena.AthenaFor your forgiving mood my thanks! I have messages to impart affecting both yourself and me, lord.PoseidonDo you bring fresh tidings from some god, from Zeus, or from some lesser power?