andromache-第6章
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others； because she has no children herself。 Still if misfortune
prevents her bearing offspring； is that a reason why we should be left
childless？ Begone！ ye varlets； let her go！ I will soon see if anyone
will hinder me from loosing her hands。 （to ANDROMACHE） Arise； these
trembling hands of mine will untie the twisted thongs that bind
thee。 Out on thee； coward！ is this how thou hast galled her wrists？
Didst think thou wert lashing up a lion or bull？ or wert afraid she
would snatch a sword and defend herself against thee？ Come； child；
nestle to thy mother's arms； help me loose her bonds； I will yet
rear thee in Phthia to be their bitter foe。 If your reputation for
prowess and the battles ye have fought were taken from you Spartans；
in all else； be very sure； you have not your inferiors。
LEADER
The race of old men practises no restraint； and their testiness
makes it hard to check them。
MENELAUS
Thou art only too ready to rush into abuse； while； as for me； I
came to Phthia by constraint and have therefore no intention either of
doing or suffering anything mean。 Now must I return home； for I have
no time to waste； for there is a city not so very far from Sparta；
which aforetime was friendly but now is hostile； against her will I
march with my army and bring her into subjection。 And when I have
arranged that matter as I wish； I will return； and face to face with
my son…in…law I will give my version of the story and hear his。 And if
he punish her； and for the future she exercise self…control； she shall
find me do the like； but if he storm； I'll storm as well； and every
act of mine shall be a reflex of his own。 As for thy babbling； I can
bear it easily； for； like to a shadow as thou art； thy voice is all
thou hast； and thou art powerless to do aught but talk。
（MENELAUS and his retinue withdraw。）
PELEUS
Lead on； my child； safe beneath my sheltering wing； and thou
too； poor lady； for thou art come into a quiet haven after the rude
storm。
ANDROMACHE
Heaven reward thee and all thy race； old sire； for having saved my
child and me his hapless mother！ Only beware lest they fall upon us
twain in some lonely spot upon the road and force me from thee； when
they see thy age； my weakness； and this child's tender years； take
heed to this； that we be not a second time made captive； after
escaping now。
PELEUS
Forbear such words； prompted by a woman's cowardice。 Go on thy
way； who will lay a finger on you？ Methinks he will do it to his cost；
For by heaven's grace I rule o'er many a knight and spearman bold in
my kingdom of Phthia； yea； and myself can still stand straight； no
bent old man as thou dost think； such a fellow as that a mere look
from me will put to flight in spite of my years。 For e'en an old
man； be he brave； is worth a host of raw youths； for what avails a
fine figure if a man is coward？
（PELEUS； ANDROMACHE； and MOLOSSUS go out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Oh！ to have never been born； or sprung from noble sires； the
heir to mansions richly stored； for if aught untoward e'er befall；
there is no lack of champions for sons of noble parents； and there
is honour and glory for them when they are proclaimed scions of
illustrious lines； time detracts not from the legacy these good men
leave； but the light of their goodness still burns on when they are
dead。
antistrophe
Better is it not to win a discreditable victory； than to make
justice miscarry by an invidious exercise of power； for such a
victory； though men think it sweet for the moment； grows barren in
time and comes near being a stain on a house。 This is the life I
commend； this the life I set before me as my ideal； to exercise no
authority beyond what is right either in the marriage…chamber or in
the state。
epode
O aged son of Aeacus！ now am I sure that thou wert with the
Lapithae； wielding thy famous spear； when they fought the Centaurs；
and on Argo's deck didst pass the cheerless strait beyond the sea…beat
Symplegades on her voyage famed； and when in days long gone the son of
Zeus spread slaughter round Troy's famous town； thou too didst share
his triumphant return to Europe。
（The NURSE OF HERMIONE enters。）
NURSE
Alas！ good friends； what a succession of troubles is to…day
provided us！ My mistress Hermione within the house； deserted by her
father and in remorse for her monstrous deed in plotting the death
of Andromache and her child； is bent on dying； for she is afraid her
husband will in requital for this expel her with dishonour from his
house or put her to death； because she tried to slay the innocent。 And
the servants that watch her can scarce restrain her efforts to hang
herself； scarce catch the sword and wrest it from her hand。 So
bitter is her anguish； and she hath recognized the villainy of her
former deeds。 As for me； friends； I am weary of keeping my mistress
from the fatal noose； do ye go in and try to save her life； for if
strangers come； they prove more persuasive than the friends of every
day。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah yes！ I hear an outcry in the house amongst the servants；
confirming the news thou hast brought。 Poor sufferer！ she seems
about to show lively grief for her grave crimes； for she has escaped
her servants' hands and is rushing from the house； eager to end her
life。
（HERMIONE enters； in agitation。 She is carrying
a sword which the NURSE wrests from her。）
HERMIONE （chanting）
Woe； woe is me！ I will rend my hair and tear cruel furrows in my
cheeks。
NURSE
My child； what wilt thou do？ Wilt thou disfigure thyself？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Ah me！ ah me！ Begone； thou fine…spun veil！ float from my head
away！
NURSE
Daughter； cover up thy bosom； fasten thy robe。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Why should I cover it？ My crimes against my lord are manifest
and clear； they cannot be hidden。
NURSE
Art so grieved at having devised thy rival's death？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Yea； I deeply mourn my fatal deeds of daring； alas！ I am now
accursed in all men's eyes！
NURSE
Thy husband will pardon thee this error。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Oh！ why didst thou hunt me to snatch away my sword？ Give； oh！ give
it back； dear nurse； that I may thrust it through my heart Why dost
thou prevent me hanging myself？
NURSE
What！ was I to let thy madness lead thee on to death？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Ah me； my destiny！ Where can I find some friendly fire？ To what
rocky height can I climb above the sea or 'mid some wooded mountain
glen； there to die and trouble but the dead？
NURSE
Why vex thyself thus？ on all of us sooner or later heaven's
visitation comes。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Thou hast left me； O my father； left me like a stranded bark；
all alone； without an oar。 My lord will surely slay me； no home is
mine henceforth beneath my husband's roof。 What god is there to
whose statue I can as a suppliant haste？ or shall I throw myself in
slavish wise at slavish knees？ Would I could speed away from
Phthia's land on bird's dark pinion； or like that pine…built ship； the
first that ever sailed betwixt the rocks Cyanean！
NURSE
My child； I can as little praise thy previous sinful excesses；
committed against the Trojan captive； as thy present exaggerated
terror。 Thy husband will never listen to a barbarian's weak pleading
and reject his marriage with thee for this。 For thou wast no captive
from Troy whom he wedded； but the daughter of a gallant sire； with a
rich dower； from a city too of no mean prosperity。 Nor will thy father
forsake thee； as thou
