A monologue from the perform by Euripides
NOTE: This kind of monologue is definitely reprinted coming from The Performs of Euripides in British, volume. i. Trans. Shelley Dean Milman. London: J. Meters. Dent & Sons, 1920.
ANDROMACHE: Listen to, that with pleasure I might touch thy soul
To not be delivered, I argue, and to expire
Are the same: but to pass away is better significantly
Than to live wretched, to get he is aware not tremendous grief
Who hath no feeling of unhappiness: but to land
From fortune\s blessed elevation, to the low state
Of abject wretchedness, distracts the soul
With the keen perception of ex – happiness.
Just like as the light of life she ne\er had seen
Polyxena is usually dead, along with her problems
Knows nothing: I, who also aimed at glorious rank
And reached my aim, from fortune broadly erred:
Everything that to prudent matrons provides grace
In Hector\s residence was at any time my utilize.
First, pertaining to in this to women pin the consequence on is due
Incurred or not charged, to such as rove abroad
I checked this wand\ring humour, and continued to be
At home, within my house, nor gay talk
Of females there admitted, but objective
On ordering what was beneficial, deemed personally
Well occupied. With quiet of the tongue
And sunniness of appearance I amused
My husband: wherever my province to command word
I knew, and where to yield obedience to him.
The fame with this was bruited through the web host
Of Greece, and made my ruin, for the son
Of fierce Achilles, soon as I was made
A captive, wished to take me personally as his wife
Condemned in the house of the people, whose slaught\ring hands
I rue, as a slave. By my fond heart
Is there a chance i rend Hector, and grow my breast
To this new husband, faithless to the lifeless
Should I look: if I disdain his appreciate
I shall excite the malice of my lords.
Short time, i have heard it said, to a new lord disables
A woman\s hate: yet her my personal soul abhors
Who for brand spanking new nuptials slights her past husband
And loves an additional: e\en the social steed
Divided from the fellow, attracts the yoke
Reluctant, the beast, by nature formed
Fewer excellent, nor speech neither reason is aware.
O my own loved Hector, I was blest in the
Thou was the lord of all my wants, great
In understanding, noble labor and birth, and prosperity
And valour: from my father\s residence thou 1st
Ledd\st me a virgin for the bridal foundation:
Now thou are perished, and I support the sound off
For Greece, a captive to the empressé yoke.
Hath not the death then of Polyxena
Whom thou bewailest, lighter weight ills than mine!
For not to me e\en Hope, which still is left
To all of mortal contest, remains, no thought
That better fortune e\er will check out me
With pleasing expectation cheats my mind.
