Euripides, Andromache 464–544: Second choral song; Andromache and her son are led to death

Never, oh! never will I commend rival wives or sons of different mothers, a cause of strife, of bitterness, and grief every house. I would have a husband content with one wife whose rights he shareth with no other.

Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than undivided rule; it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the citizens. Often too will the Muse sow strife ’twixt rivals in the art of minstrelsy.

Again, when strong winds are drifting mariners, the divided counsel of the wise is not conducive to steering, and their collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior intelligence of the single man who has sole authority; for this is the essence of power alike in house and state, whene’er men care to find the proper moment.

This Spartan, the daughter of the great chief Menelaus, proves this; for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival, and is bent on slaying the hapless Trojan maid and her child to further her bitter quarrel. Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid. Ah! lady, retribution for this deed will visit thee yet.

But lo! before the house I see those two united souls, condemned to die. Alas! for thee, poor lady, and for thee, unhappy child, who art dying on account of thy mother’s marriage, though thou hast no share therein and canst not be blamed by the royal house.

Andromache Behold me journeying on the downward path, my hands so tightly bound with cords that they bleed.

Molossus O mother, mother mine! I too share thy downward path, nestling ’neath thy wing.

Andromache A cruel sacrifice! ye rulers of Phthia!

Molossus Come, father! succour those thou lovest.

Andromache Rest there, my babe, my darling! on thy mother’s bosom, e’en in death and in the grave.

Molossus Ah, woe is me! what will become of me and thee too, mother mine?

Away, to the world below! from hostile towers ye came, the pair of you; two different causes necessitate your deaths; my sentence takes away thy life, and my daughter Hermione’s requires his; for it would be the height of folly to leave our foemen’s sons, when we might kill them and remove the danger from our house.

Andromache O husband mine! I would I had thy strong arm and spear to aid me, son of Priam.

Molossus Ah, woe is me! what spell can I now find to turn death’s stroke aside?

Andromache Embrace thy master’s knees, my child, and pray to him.

Molossus Spare, O spare my life, kind master!

Andromache Mine eyes are wet with tears, which trickle down my cheeks, as doth a sunless spring from a smooth rock. Ah me!

Molossus What remedy, alas! can I provide me ’gainst my ills?

Why fall at my knees in supplication? hard as the rock and deaf as the wave am I. My own friends have I helped, but for thee have I no tie of affection; for verily it cost me a great part of my life to capture Troy and thy mother; so thou shalt reap the fruit thereof and into Hades’ halls descend.