Chorus
Woe and tribulation were made my lot in life, when Alexander first cut his beams of pine in Ida’s woods, to sail across the heaving sea in quest of Helen’s bed, loveliest woman on whom the sun-god turns his golden eye.
Chorus
For here begins trouble’s cycle, and, worse than that, relentless fate; and from one man’s folly came a universal curse, bringing death to the land of Simois, with trouble from an alien shore. The strife the shepherd decided on Ida, between three daughters of the blessed gods,
Chorus
brought as its result war and bloodshed and the ruin of my home; and many a Spartan maiden too is weeping bitter tears in her halls on the banks of fair Eurotas, and many a mother whose sons are slain, is smiting her gray head and tearing her cheeks, making her nails bloody in the furrowed gash.
Maid-servant Oh! ladies, where is Hecuba, our queen of sorrow, who conquers all in tribulation, men and women both alike? No one shall dispute the crown with her.
Chorus Leader What now, unhappy one with your cry of misery? Your evil tidings never seem to rest.
Maid-servant It is to Hecuba I bring my bitter news; no easy task is it for mortal lips to speak smooth words in sorrow.
Chorus Leader Look, she is coming even now from the shelter of the tent, appearing just in time to hear you speak.
Maid-servant O mistress, most hapless beyond all words of mine to tell; you are ruined, you no longer exist, though you are alive; of children, husband, city bereft; hopelessly undone!
Hecuba This is no news but insult; I have heard it all before. But why have you come, bringing here to me the corpse of Polyxena, on whose burial Achaea’s army was reported to be busily engaged?
Maid-servant She knows nothing, but mourns Polyxena, not grasping her new sorrows.
Hecuba Ah! woe is me! you are surely not bringing here frenzied Cassandra, the prophetic maid?
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