Stasimon 5
[Episode]
Woe, woe! It was in quest of you, yes, you, great lord of my city, that I went, when I brought news to you that the Argive army was kindling fires about the ships;
820
Chorus
for by the springs of Simois I vow my eye kept sleepless watch by night, nor did I slumber or sleep. Do not be angry with me, my lord; I am guiltless of all.
825
Yet if hereafter you find that I in word or deed have done amiss, bury me alive beneath the earth; I ask no mercy.
830
Charioteer
Why threaten these? Why try to undermine my barbarian mind with your subtle words, you yourself a barbarian?
You did this deed; neither they who have died nor we who are wounded will believe it was any other. A long and clever speech you’ll need to prove to me you did not slay your friends because you coveted the horses, and to gain them murdered
835
your own allies, after strongly imposing on them come. They came, they are dead; Paris found more decent means to shame the rights of hospitality than you, who killed your allies. No, do not tell me some Argive came and slaughtered us. Who could have passed the Trojan lines
840
and come against us without detection? You and your Phrygian troops were camped in front of us. Who was wounded, who was slain among your friends, when that foe you speak of came? It was we, far off, were wounded, while some have met a sterner
845
fate and said farewell to the sunlight. Briefly, then, I blame no Achaean. For what enemy could have come and found the lowly bed of Rhesus in the dark, unless some god were guiding the murderers’ steps? They did not know so much
850
as know of his arrival. No, this is your plot!
855
Hector
For a long time now I have had to do with allies, yes, ever since Achaea’s army settled in this land, and never a harsh word have I known them say of me; but with you I am to make a beginning. Never may such longing
for horses seize me that I should slay my friends! This is the work of Odysseus; for who of all the Argives but he would have devised or carried out such a deed? I fear him; and my mind is a little troubled lest he should have met and slain Dolon as well;
860
for he has been gone a long time and does not appear.
865
Charioteer
I do not know this Odysseus of whom you speak. It was no enemy’s hand that struck us.
Hector
If it pleases you to think that, do so.
Charioteer
O land of my fathers, would I might die in you!
Hector
Die! No! Enough are those already dead.
870
Charioteer
Where am I to turn, I ask you, bereft of my master?
Hector
My house shall shelter you and cure you of your hurt.
Charioteer
How shall murderers’ hands care for me?
Hector
This fellow will never have done repeating the same story.
Charioteer
Curses on the doer of this deed! On you my tongue fixes no charge, as you complain; but Justice is over all.
875
Hector
Take him away; carry him to my palace and tend him carefully, that he may have no fault to find. And you must go to those upon the walls,
to Priam and his aged councillors, and tell them to give orders for the burial of the dead at the resting-place along the public road. The charioteer is carried off.
880
Chorus
Why does fate change and bring Troy once again to mourning after her great good fortune, planting what seeds?
Oh, oh! What deity above our heads, O king, bears in her hands as on a bier the newly slain corpse? I shudder at this sight of woe.
885
Muse
Behold me,Trojans; for I, the Muse, one of the nine sisters, that have honor among the wise, I am here, having seen the piteous death his foes have dealt my darling son. Yet the crafty Odysseus, that slew him, one day hereafter shall pay a fitting penalty.
890
O my son, your mother’s grief, I mourn for you in my native strains of woe! What a journey you made to Troy, a very path of ill-fortune and sorrow!
895
starting, in spite of all my warnings and your father’s earnest prayers, in defiance of us. Woe to me for you, my dear, dear son! Ah, woe!
900
Chorus Leader
As far as one can who has no common tie of kin,
I bewail and mourn your son.
905
