Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/228
And the tossing torches fierily glow
In the hands of them?—some new evil, I trow,
Shall on Troy-town fall.
Enter Talthybius above, with soldiers bearing torches.
Talthybius.
Captains, to whom the charge is given to fire 1260
This city of Priam, idle in your hands
Keep ye the flame no more: thrust in the torch,
That, having low in dust laid Ilium's towers,
We may with gladness homeward speed from Troy.
Ye—twofold aspect this one hest shall bear— 1265
Children of Troy, forth, soon as loud and clear
The chieftains of the host the trumpet sound,
To yon Greek ships, for voyage from the land.
And thou, O grey-haired dame most evil-starred,
Follow. These from Odysseus come for thee; 1270
For the lot sends thee forth the land, his slave.
Hecuba.
Ah wretched I!—the uttermost is this,
The deepest depth of all my miseries;
I leave my land; my city is aflame!
O aged foot, sore-striving press thou on 1275
That I may bid mine hapless town farewell.
O Troy, midst burgs barbaric erst so proud,
Soon of thy glorious name shalt thou be spoiled.
They fire thee, and they hale us forth the land,
Thralls! O ye Gods!—why call I on the Gods? 1280
For called on heretofore they hearkened not.
Come, rush we on her pyre, for gloriously
So with my blazing country should I die.