matrons, and hoary sires, not less wretched than thou art, and brides bereft of the noblest husbands, whose ashes this land of Troy conceals.  Endure this.  But we, if we injudiciously determine to honor the brave man, shall incur the charge of folly.  But you barbarians neither consider your friends as friends, nor do you hold up to admiration those who have died honorably; thus shall Greece be prosperous, but you shall experience fortune corresponding to your counsels.

Chor.  Alas! alas! how wretched is the state of slavery, and to endure indignities compelled by superior force! (Note [B].)

Hec.  O daughter, my words respecting thy death are vanished in the air, set forth in vain; but thou, if thou hast greater powers [of persuasion] than thy mother, use all thy influence, uttering every note as the throat of the nightingale, that thou mayest not be deprived of life.  But fall before the knees of Ulysses in all the eloquence of grief, and persuade him; thou hast a pretext, for he also hath children; so that he may be inclined to pity thy fortune.

POLYX.  I see, Ulysses, that thou art hiding thy hand beneath thy robe, and turnest thy face away, that I may not touch thy beard.  Be not afraid; thou hast avoided my suppliant Jove; for I will follow thee both on account of fate, and even wishing to die; but if I were not willing, I should appear base, and too fond of life.  For wherefore should I live, whose father was monarch of all the Trojans; this my dawn of life.  Then was I nurtured under fair hope, a bride for princes, having no small competition for my hand, to whose palace and hearth I should come.  But I, wretched now, was mistress among the Trojan women, and conspicuous in the train of virgins, equal to goddesses, death only excepted.  But now I am a slave; first of all the very name, not being familiar, persuades me to love death.  Then perhaps I might meet with masters cruel in disposition, who will buy me for silver, the sister both of Hector and many other [heroes.] And imposing the task of making bread in his palace, will compel me, passing the day in misery, both to sweep the house, and stand at the loom.  And some slave somewhere purchased will defile my bed, before wooed by princes.  This never shall be.  I will quit this light from mine eyes free, offering my body to Pluto.  Lead on then, Ulysses, conduct me to death; for I see neither confidence of hope, nor of expectation, present to me that I can ever enjoy good fortune.  But do thou, my mother, in no wise hinder me by your words or by your actions; but assent to my death before I meet with indignities unsuited to my rank.  For one who has not been accustomed to taste misfortunes bears indeed, but grieves, to put his neck under the yoke.  But he would be far more blessed in death than in life; for to live otherwise than honorably is a great burden.

Chor.  It is a great and distinguishing feature among men to be born of generous parents, and the name of nobility of birth among the illustrious, proceeds from great to greater still.