Crouch low abased, and grovel at my knee, 165
And sweep mine house, and sprinkle water dews
There from the golden ewers with thine hand,
And where thou art, know. Hector is not here,
Nor Priam, nor his gold: a Greek town this.
Yet to such folly[1] hast thou come, O wretch, 170
That with this son of him who slew thy lord
Thou dar'st to lie, and to the slayer bear
Sons! Suchlike is the whole barbaric race:—
Father with daughter, son with mother weds,
Sister with brother: kin the nearest wade 175
Through blood: no whit hereof doth law forbid.
Bring not such things midst us, who count it shame
That o'er two wives one man hold wedlock's reins;
But to one lawful love they turn their eyes,
Content—save such as fain would live in sin. 180
Chorus.
In woman's heart is jealousy inborn,
'Tis bitterest unto wedlock-rivals aye.
Andromache.
Out upon thee!
A curse is youth to mortals, when with youth
A man hath not implanted righteousness! 185
I fear me lest with thee my thraldom bar
Defence, though many a righteous plea I have,
And even my victory turn unto mine hurt.
They that are arrogant brook not to be
- ↑ ἀμαθία, used of a woman, had the same sense as "folly" in the A.V.
