450 BC

RHESUS

by Euripides

translated by E. P. Coleridge

DRAMATIS PERSONAE -

Chorus of Trojan Sentinels

Hector

Aeneas

Dolon

Messenger, a shepherd

Rhesus

Odysseus

Diomedes

Paris

Athena

The Muse

The Charioteer of Rhesus

RHESUS -

Before Hector's tent at the gates of Troy. Enter CHORUS -

CHORUS.

To Hector's couch away, one of you wakeful squires that tend the prince, to see if he have any fresh tidings from the warriors who were set to guard the assembled host during the fourth watch of the night. (Calls to HECTOR in the tent) Lift up thy head! Prop thine arm beneath it! Unseal that louring eye from its repose; thy lowly couch of scattered leaves, O Hector, quit! 'Tis time to hearken. -

Enter HECTOR. -

HECTOR.

Who goes there? Is it a friend who calls? Who art thou? Thy watchword? Speak! Who in the dark hours comes nigh my couch, must tell me who he is.

CHORUS.

Sentinels we of the army.

HECTOR.

Why this tumultuous haste?

CHORUS.

Be of good courage.

HECTOR.

Is there some midnight ambuscade?

CHORUS.

Nay.

HECTOR.

Then why dost thou desert thy post and rouse the army, save thou have some tidings of the night? Art not aware how near the Argive host we take our night's repose in all our harness clad?

CHORUS.

To arms! O Hector, seek thine allies' sleeping camp! Bid them wield the spear! Awake them! thine own company despatch a friend. Saddle and bridle the steeds. Who will to the son of Panthus? who to Europa's son, captain of the Lycian band? Where are they who should inspect the victims? Where be the leaders of the light-armed troops? Ye Phrygian archers, string your horn-tipped bows.

HECTOR.

Now fear, now confidence thy tidings inspire; nothing is plainly set forth. Can it be that thou art smitten with wild affright by Pan, the son of Cronion, and leaving thy watch therefore dost rouse the host? What means thy noisy summons? What tidings can I say thou bringest? Thy words are many, but no plain statement hast thou made.

CHORUS.

The long night through, O Hector, the Argive host hath kindled fires, and bright with torches shines the anchored fleet. To Agamemnon's tent the whole army moves clamorously by night, eager for fresh orders maybe, for never before have I seen such commotion among yon sea-faring folk. Wherefore I was suspicious of what might happen and came to tell thee, that thou mayest have no cause to blame me hereafter.

HECTOR.

In good season com'st thou, albeit thy tidings are fraught with terror; for those cowards are bent on giving me the slip and stealing away from this land in their ships by night; their midnight signalling convinces me of this. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour of triumph, a lion of his prey, or ever this spear of mine with one fell swoop had made an end for aye of yonder Argive host! Yea, had not the sun's bright lamp withheld his light, I had not stayed my victor's spear, ere I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean gore. Right eager was I to make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck by heaven sent, but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven's will so pat, persuaded me to wait the dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the land. But those others await not the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness turns runaways to heroes. Needs must we now without delay pass this word along the line "Arm, arm! from slumber cease!" for many a man of them, e'en as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be fast bound with cords and learn to till our Phrygian glebe.

CHORUS.

Thou hastest, Hector, before thou knowest clearly what is happening; for we do not know for certain whether our foes are flying.

HECTOR.

What reason else had the Argive host to kindle fires?

CHORUS.

I cannot say; my soul doth much misgive me.

HECTOR.

If this thou fearest, be sure there's nought thou wouldst not fear.

CHORUS.

Never aforetime did the enemy kindle such a blaze.

HECTOR.

No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.