This needs no surmise: ’tis disaster plainThat comes. He speaketh of some ally slain.THRACIAN.P. 44, ll. 756-803. This fine vivid speech has something of the famous Euripidean Messenger-Speeches in it; though they are apt to be much longer and also are practically never spoken by a principal in the action, always by a subordinate or an onlooker. Cf. the speech of the Messenger-Shepherd above, p. 17 f. An extreme sharpness of articulation is characteristic of Euripides’ later work: each speech, each scene, each effect is isolated and made complete in itself. The Messenger prepares his message, relates his message and goes, not mixing himself up in the further fortunes of the drama. But this extreme pursuit of lucidity and clear outlines is not nearly so marked in the early plays: in the Cyclops the Messenger’s speech is actually spoken by Odysseus, 11. 382-436, and the Serving Man and Serving Maid in the Alcestis are not mere abstract Messengers.Disaster, yea: and with disaster shame,Which lights Disaster to a twofold flameOf evil. For to die in soldier’s wise,Since die we needs must . . . though the man who diesHath pain . . . to all his house ’tis praise and pride;But we, like laggards and like fools we died!When Hector’s hand had showed us where to restAnd told the watchword, down we lay, oppressed