Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/187

Alas and alas! now smite on thy close-shorn head;
Now with thy rending nails be thy cheeks furrowed red! 280
Woe's me, whom the doom of the lots hath led
To be thrall to a foul wretch treacherous-hearted,
To the lawless monster, the foe of the right,
Whose double-tongued juggling, whose cursed sleight
Putteth light for darkness, and darkness for light,
By whose whisperings veriest friends are parted!—
Wail for me, daughters of Troy! I am ended
In utter calamity.
O wretch, who by doom of the lot have descended 290
To abysses of misery!

Thy fate thou knowest, queen: but of my lot
What Hellene, what Achaian, hath control?

Away!—Kassandra hither must ye bring
With all speed, thralls, that to the war-king's hand 295
Delivering her, I may thereafter lead
Unto the rest the captive dames assigned.
Ha!—therewithin what torch-glare leapeth high?
Fire they their lair?—or what, yon dames of Troy?
As looking to be haled from this land forth 300
To Argos, do they burn themselves with fire,
Being fain to die? In sooth the free-born soul
In such strait chafeth fiercely against ills.
Ho! open, lest a deed beseeming these,
But to Achaians hateful, bring me blame. 305