The Trojan women of Euripides | Page 3

ATHENA.
HECUBA, Queen of Troy, wife of Priam, mother of Hector and Paris.
CASSANDRA, daughter of Hecuba, a prophetess.
ANDROMACHE, wife of Hector, Prince of Troy.
HELEN, wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta; carried off by Paris, Prince
of Troy.
TALTHYBIUS, Herald of the Greeks.
MENELAUS, King of Sparta, and, together with his brother
Agamemnon, General of the Greeks.
SOLDIERS ATTENDANT ON TALTHYBIUS AND MENELAUS.
CHORUS OF CAPTIVE TROJAN WOMEN, YOUNG AND OLD,
MAIDEN AND MARRIED.
The Troädes was first acted in the year 415 B.C. "The first prize was
won by Xenocles, whoever he may have been, with the four plays
Oedipus, Lycaon, Bacchae and Athamas, a Satyr-play. The second by
Euripides with the Alexander, Palamêdês, Troädes and Sisyphus, a
Satyr-play."--AELIAN, Varia Historia, ii. 8.

THE TROJAN WOMEN
The scene represents a battlefield, a few days after the battle. At the
back are the walls of Troy, partially ruined. In front of them, to right
and left, are some huts, containing those of the Captive Women who
have been specially set apart for the chief Greek leaders. At one side
some dead bodies of armed men are visible. In front a tall woman with
white hair is lying on the ground asleep.
It is the dusk of early dawn, before sunrise. The figure of the god
POSEIDON is dimly seen before the walls.
POSEIDON.[1]
Up from Aegean caverns, pool by pool Of blue salt sea, where feet
most beautiful Of Nereid maidens weave beneath the foam Their long
sea-dances, I, their lord, am come, Poseidon of the Sea. 'Twas I whose
power, With great Apollo, builded tower by tower These walls of Troy;
and still my care doth stand True to the ancient People of my hand;
Which now as smoke is perished, in the shock Of Argive spears. Down
from Parnassus' rock The Greek Epeios came, of Phocian seed, And
wrought by Pallas' mysteries a Steed Marvellous[2], big with arms; and
through my wall It passed, a death-fraught image magical. The groves
are empty and the sanctuaries Run red with blood. Unburied Priam lies
By his own hearth, on God's high altar-stair, And Phrygian gold goes
forth and raiment rare To the Argive ships; and weary soldiers roam
Waiting the wind that blows at last for home, For wives and children,
left long years away, Beyond the seed's tenth fullness and decay, To
work this land's undoing.
And for me, Since Argive Hera conquereth, and she Who wrought with
Hera to the Phrygians' woe, Pallas, behold, I bow mine head and go
Forth from great Ilion[3] and mine altars old. When a still city lieth in
the hold Of Desolation, all God's spirit there Is sick and turns from
worship.--Hearken where The ancient River waileth with a voice Of
many women, portioned by the choice Of war amid new lords, as the

lots leap For Thessaly, or Argos, or the steep Of Theseus' Rock. And
others yet there are, High women, chosen from the waste of war For the
great kings, behind these portals hid; And with them that Laconian
Tyndarid[4], Helen, like them a prisoner and a prize. And this unhappy
one--would any eyes Gaze now on Hecuba? Here at the Gates She lies
'mid many tears for many fates Of wrong. One child beside Achilles'
grave In secret slain[5], Polyxena the brave, Lies bleeding. Priam and
his sons are gone; And, lo, Cassandra[6], she the Chosen One, Whom
Lord Apollo spared to walk her way A swift and virgin spirit, on this
day Lust hath her, and she goeth garlanded A bride of wrath to
Agamemnon's bed.
[He turns to go; and another divine Presence becomes visible in the
dusk. It is the goddess PALLAS ATHENA.
O happy long ago, farewell, farewell, Ye shining towers and mine old
citadel; Broken by Pallas[7], Child of God, or still Thy roots had held
thee true.
PALLAS.
Is it the will Of God's high Brother, to whose hand is given Great
power of old, and worship of all Heaven, To suffer speech from one
whose enmities This day are cast aside?
POSEIDON.
His will it is: Kindred and long companionship withal, Most high
Athena, are things magical.
PALLAS.
Blest be thy gentle mood!--Methinks I see A road of comfort here, for
thee and me.
POSEIDON.
Thou hast some counsel of the Gods, or word Spoken of Zeus? Or is it

tidings heard From some far Spirit?
PALLAS.
For this Ilion's sake, Whereon we tread, I seek thee, and would make
My hand as thine.
POSEIDON.
Hath that old hate and deep Failed, where she lieth in her ashen sleep?
Thou pitiest her?
PALLAS.
Speak first; wilt thou be one In heart with me and hand till all be done?
POSEIDON.
Yea; but lay bare thy heart. For this land's sake Thou comest,