hecuba-第6部分
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my return； just as I was starting from my home for the same purpose；
thy maid fell in with me； and gave me thy message； which brought me
here at once。
HECUBA
Polymestor； I am holden in such wretched plight that I blush to
meet thine eye； for my present evil case makes me ashamed to face thee
who didst see me in happier days； and I cannot look on thee with
unfaltering gaze。 Do not then think it ill…will on my part；
Polymestor； there is another cause as well； I mean the custom which
forbids women to meet men's gaze。
POLYMESTOR
No wonder； surely。 But what need hast thou of me？ Why didst send
for me to come hither from my house？
HECUBA
I wish to tell thee and thy children a private matter of my own；
prithee； bid thy attendants withdraw from the tent。
POLYMESTOR （to his Attendants）
Retire； this desert spot is safe enough。 （The guards go out； to
HECUBA） Thou art my friend； and this Achaean host is well…disposed
to me。 But thou must tell me how prosperity is to succour its
unlucky friends； for ready am I to do so。
HECUBA
First tell me of the child Polydorus； whom thou art keeping in thy
halls； received from me and his father； is he yet alive？ The rest will
I ask thee after that。
POLYMESTOR
Yes； thou still hast a share in fortune there。
HECUBA
Well said； dear friend！ how worthy of thee！
POLYMESTOR
What next wouldst learn of me？
HECUBA
Hath he any recollection of me his mother？
POLYMESTOR
Aye； he was longing to steal away hither to thee。
HECUBA
Is the gold safe； which he brought with him from Troy？
POLYMESTOR
Safe under lock and key in my halls。
HECUBA
There keep it； but covet not thy neighbour's goods。
POLYMESTOR
Not I； God grant me luck of what I have； lady！
HECUBA
Dost know what I wish to say to thee and thy children？
POLYMESTOR
Not yet； thy words maybe will declare it。
HECUBA
May it grow as dear to thee as thou now art to me！
POLYMESTOR
What is it that I and my children are to learn？
HECUBA
There be ancient vaults filled full of gold by Priam's line。
POLYMESTOR
Is it this thou wouldst tell thy son？
HECUBA
Yes； by thy lips； for thou art a righteous man。
POLYMESTOR
What need then of these children's presence？
HECUBA
'Tis better they should know it； in case of thy death。
POLYMESTOR。
True； 'tis also the wiser way。
HECUBA
Well； dost thou know where stands the shrine of Trojan Athena？
POLYMESTOR
Is the gold there？ what is there to mark it？
HECUBA
A black rock rising above the ground。
POLYMESTOR
Is there aught else thou wouldst tell me about the place？
HECUBA
I wish to keep safe the treasure I brought from Troy。
POLYMESTOR
Where can it be？ inside thy dress； or hast thou it hidden？
HECUBA
'Tis safe amid a heap of spoils within these tents。
POLYMESTOR
Where？ This is the station built by the Achaeans to surround their
fleet。
HECUBA
The captive women have huts of their own。
POLYMESTOR
It is safe to enter？ are there no men about？
HECUBA
There are no Achaeans within； we are alone。 Enter then the tent；
for the Argives are eager to set sail from Troy for home； and； when
thou hast accomplished all that is appointed thee； thou shalt return
with thy children to that bourn where thou hast lodged my son。
（HECUBA leads POLYMESTOR and his children into the tent。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Not yet hast thou paid the penalty； but maybe thou yet wilt；
like one who slips and falls into the surge with no haven near； so
shalt thou lose thy own life for the life thou hast taken。 For where
the rights of justice and the law of heaven are one； there is ruin
fraught with death and doom。 Thy hopes of this journey shall cheat
thee； for it hath led thee； unhappy wretch！ to the halls of death； and
to no warrior's hand shalt thou resign thy life。
POLYMESTOR （within the tent）
O horror！ I am blinded of the light of my eyes； ah me！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Heard ye； friends； that Thracian's cry of woe？
POLYMESTOR （within）
O horror！ horror！ my children！ O the cruel blow。
LEADER
Friends； new ills are brought to pass in yonder tent。
POLYMESTOR （within）
Nay； ye shall never escape for all your hurried flight； for with
my fist will I burst open the inmost recesses of this hall。
LEADER
Hark！ how he launches ponderous blows！ Shall we force an entry？
The crisis calls on us to aid Hecuba and the Trojan women。
（HECUBA enters； calling back into the tent。）
HECUBA
Strike on； spare not； burst the doors！ thou shalt ne'er replace
bright vision in thy eyes nor ever see thy children； whom I have
slain； alive again。
LEADER
What！ hast thou foiled the Thracian； and is the stranger in thy
power； mistress mine？ is all thy threat now brought to pass？
HECUBA
A moment； and thou shalt see him before the tent； his eyes put
out； with random step advancing as a blind man must； yea； and the
bodies of his two children whom I with my brave daughters of Troy
did slay； he hath paid me his forfeit； look where he cometh from the
tent。 I will withdraw out of his path and stand aloof from the hot
fury of this Thracian； my deadly foe。
（POLYMESTOR rushes out。 Blood is streaming from his eyes。）
POLYMESTOR （chanting）
Woe is me！ whither can I go； where halt； or whither turn？ shall
crawl upon my hands like a wild four…footed beast on their track？
Which path shall I take first； this or that； eager as I am to clutch
those Trojan murderesses that have destroyed me？ Out upon ye； cursed
daughters of Phrygia！ to what corner have ye fled cowering before
me？ O sun…god； would thou couldst heal my bleeding orbs； ridding me of
my blindness！
Ha！ hush！ I catch their stealthy footsteps here。 Where can I
dart on them and gorge me on their flesh and bones； making for
myself wild beasts' meal； exacting vengeance in requital of their
outrage on me？ Ah； woe is me！ whither am I rushing； leaving my babes
unguarded for hell…hounds to mangle； to be murdered and ruthlessly
cast forth upon the hills； a feast of blood for dogs？ Where shall I
stay or turn my steps？ where rest？ like a ship that lies anchored at
sea； so gathering close my linen robe I rush to that chamber of death；
to guard my babes。
LEADER
Woe is thee！ what grievous outrage hath been wreaked on thee！
fearful penalty for thy foul deed hath the deity imposed； whoe'er he
is whose hand is heavy upon thee。
POLYMESTOR （chanting）
Woe is me！ Ho！ my Thracian spearmen； clad in mail； a race of
knights whom Ares doth inspire！ Ho！ Achaeans！ sons of Atreus ho！ to
you I loudly call； come hither； in God's name come！ Doth any
hearken； or will no man help me？ Why do ye delay？ Women； captive women
have destroyed me。 A fearful fate is mine； ah me my hideous outrage！
Whither can I turn or go？ Shall I take wings and soar aloft to the
mansions of the sky； where Orion and Sirius dart from their eyes a
flash as of fire； or shall I； in my misery； plunge to Hades' murky
flood？
LEADER
'Tis a venial sin； when a man； suffering from evils too heavy to
bear； rids himself of a wretched existence。
（AGAMEMNON and his retinue enter。）
AGAMEMNON
Hearing a cry I am come hither； for Echo； child of the
mountain…rock； hath sent her voice loud…ringing through the host；
causing a tumult。 Had I not known that Troy's towers were levelled
by the might of Hellas； this uproar had caused no slight terror。
POLYMESTOR
Best of friends！ for by thy voice I know thee； Agamemnon； dost see
my piteous state？
AGAMEMNON
What！ hapless Polymestor； who hath stricken thee？ who hath reft
thine eves of sight； staining the pupils with blood？ who hath slain
these children？ whoe'er he was； fierce must have been his wrath
against thee and thy children。
POLYMESTOR
Hecuba； helped by the captive women； hath destroyed me； no！ not
destroyed； far worse than that。
AGAMEMNON （addressing HECUBA）
What hast thou to say？ Was it thou that didst this deed； as he
avers？ thou； Hecuba； that hast ventured on this inconceivable daring？
POLYMESTOR
Ha！ what is that？ is she somewhere near？ show me； tell me where；
that I may grip her in my hands and rend her limb from limb；
bespattering her with gore。
AGAMEMNON
Ho！ madman； what wouldst thou？
POLYMESTOR
By heaven I entreat thee； let me vent on her the fury of my arm。
AGAMEMNON
Hold！ banish that savage spirit from thy heart and plead thy
cause； that after hearing thee and her in turn I may fairly decide
what reason there is for thy present sufferings。
POLYMESTOR
I will tell my tale。 There was a son of Priam； Polydorus； the
youngest； a child by Hecuba； whom his father Priam sent to me from
Troy to bring up in my halls； suspecting no doubt the fall of Troy。
Him I slew； but hear my reason for so doing； to show how cleverly
and wisely I had planned。 My fear was that if that child were left
to be thy enemy； he would re…people Troy and settle it afresh； and the
Achaeans； knowing that a son of Priam survived； might bring another
expedition against the Phrygian land and harry and lay waste these
plains of Thrace hereafter； for the neighbours of Troy to experience
the very troubles we were lately suffering； O king。 Now Hecuba； having
discovered the death of her son； brought me hither on this pretext；
saying she would tell me of hidden treasure stored up in Ilium by
the race of Priam； and she led me apart with my children into the
tent； that none but I might hear her news。 So I sat me down on a couch
in their midst to rest； for there were many of the Trojan maidens
seated there； some on my right hand； some on my left；
