But Priam’s city has learned, in her old age, an altered strain, and now, I trust, wails a loud song, full of lamentation, calling Paris evil-wed; for she has born the burden of a life in which everything was destroyed, a life full of lamentation because ofthe wretched slaughter of her sons Chorus Even so a man reared in his house a lion’s whelp, robbed of its mother’s milk yet still desiring the breast. Gentle it wasin the prelude of its life, kindly to children, and a delight to the old. Much did it get, held in arms like a nursling child, with itsbright eye turned toward his hand, and fawning under compulsion of its belly’s need. Chorus But brought to full growth by time it showed the nature it had from its parents. Unbidden, as payment for its fostering,it prepared a feast with ruinous slaughter of the flocks; so that the house was defiled with blood, and whose who lived there could not control their anguish, and great was the carnage far and wide.A priest of ruin, by order of a god, it was reared in the house. Chorus At first, I would say, there came to Ilium the spirit of unruffled calm,a delicate ornament of wealth, a darter of soft glances from the eye, love’s flower that stings the heart. Then, swerving from her course, she broughther marriage to a bitter end, sped on to the children of Priam under escort of Zeus, the warder of host and guest, ruining her sojourn and her companions, a vengeful Fury who brought tears to brides. ChorusA venerable utterance proclaimed of old has been fashioned among mankind: the prosperity of man, when it has come to full growth, engenders offspring and does not die childless,and from his good fortune there springs up insatiable misery. But I hold my own mind and think apart from other men. It is the evil deed that afterwards begets more iniquitylike its own breed; but when a house is righteous, the lot of its children is blessed always. Chorus But an old Hubris tends to bring forthin evil men, sooner or later, at the fated hour of birth, a young Hubris and that irresistible, unconquerable, unholy spirit, Recklessness,and for the household black Curses, which resemble their parents. Chorus But Righteousness shines in smoke-begrimed dwellingsand esteems the virtuous man. From gilded mansions, where men’s hands are foul, she departs with averted eyes and makes her way to pure homes; she does not worship the powerof wealth stamped counterfeit by the praise of men, and she guides all things to their proper end.