Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/205
If this thou do, thy friends shall share thy joy,
And this my son's son shalt thou rear to man,
To Troy a mighty aid, that children born
Of thee hereafter may in days to come
Build her, and yet again our city rise. 700
But—for a new fate followeth on the old—
What servant of the Achaians see I stride
Hitherward, herald of their new resolve?
Enter Talthybius.
Talthybius.
O wife of Hector, Phrygia's mightiest once,
Abhor me not: sore loth shall I announce 705
The Danaans' hest, the word of Pelops' sons.
Andromache.
What now?—with what ill preface dost begin!
Talthybius.
This child, have they decreed—how can I say it?
Andromache.
Not—that he shall not have one lord with me?
Talthybius.
None of Achaians e'er shall be his lord. 710
Andromache.
How?—here, a Phrygian remnant, shall he bide?
Talthybius.
I know not gently how to break sad tidings!