1 EURIPIDES' TROJAN WOMEN PREFACE, TRANSLATION, and ...

Hecuba
Your father’s mother adorns you from the treasures
which once were yours, but not to celebrate a victory
with horses or in archery. Now Helen the god-cursed
has deprived you of all this: she slew you and destroyed all our city.
[Keening]
Chorus
E e.
You touch my heart,
Touch it with sorrow.
You were once a great prince in the city.
Hecuba
Here I cover your skin with fine Phrygian robes,
that you should have worn for your wedding
with the most powerful princess of Asia.
You, dear shield of Hector, mighty mother
of countless victories, receive your crown:
you who are deathless will die with this corpse,
you, so much more deserving of honour than
that armor won by that crafty criminal Odysseus.
[Keening]
Aiai aiai,
Bitter sorrow,
The earth will receive you, child.
Mother, weep…
[Keening]
Chorus
Hecuba
Aiai.
Chorus
Keen for the dead.
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