Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/222

One galley's oars yet linger, Hecuba,
Ready to waft unto the Phthian shores
The remnant of Achilles' scion's spoils. 1125
But Neoptolemus' self hath sailed, who heard
Tidings of wrong to Peleus, how the seed
Of Pelias, even Akastus, exiles him.
Wherefore, too hasty to vouchsafe delay,
He went, Andromachê with him, who hath drawn 1130
At her departing many a tear from me,
Wailing her country, crying her farewell
To Hector's tomb. And she besought the prince
To grant his corpse a grave who from the walls
Hurled down, thine Hector's child, gave up the ghost. 1135
And the Achaians' dread, this brass-lapped shield,
Wherewith his father fenced his body round,
She prayed him not to Peleus' hearth to bear,
Nor to Andromachê's new bridal bower,
A grief to see for her that bare the dead; 1140
But, in the stead of cedar chest or stone,
In this to entomb her child, and to thine arms
To give, to shroud the corpse with robes, and crown
With wreaths, as best thou canst of these thy means,
Since she hath gone, and since her master's haste 1145
Withheld herself from burying her child.
I therefore, when thou hast arrayed the corpse,
Will heap his mound, and set thereon a spear.
Thou then with speed perform the task assigned.
Sooth, I have lightened of one toil thine hands; 1150
For, as I passed o'er yon Skamander's streams,