Aga.  In quest of it, or occupied in some other employment?

Hec.  She was going to bring from the sea wherewith to bathe Polyxena.

Aga.  This friend then, as it seems, murdered him, and after that cast him out.

Hec.  To toss upon the waves thus gashing his body.

Aga.  O thou unhappy from thy unmeasured ills!

Hec.  I perish, no woe is left, O Agamemnon.

Aga.  Alas! alas!  What woman was ever so unfortunate?

Hec.  There is none, except you reckon Misfortune herself.  But for what cause I fall at thy knees, now hear:  if I appear to you to suffer these ills justly, I would be reconciled to them; but if otherwise, be thou my avenger on this man, this most impious of false friends; who revering neither the Gods beneath[12] the earth, nor the Gods above, hath done this most unholy deed, having often partaken of the same table with me, [and in the list of hospitality the first of my friends; and having met with whatever was due,[13] and having received a full consideration for his services,[14]] slew him, and deigned not to give him a tomb, which he might have given, although he purposed to slay him, but cast him forth at the mercy of the waves.  We indeed are slaves, and perhaps weak; but the Gods are strong, and strong the law, which governs them; for by the law we judge that there are Gods, and we live having justice and injustice strictly defined; which if when referred to thee it be disregarded, and they shall suffer no punishment who slay their guests, or dare to pollute the hallowed statutes of the Gods, there is nothing equitable in the dealings of men.  Beholding these things then in a base and proper light, reverence me; pity me, and, as the artist stands aside to view a picture, do thou view my living portrait, and see what woes I am enduring.  Once was I a queen, but now I am thy slave; once was I blest in my children, but now aged, and at the same time childless, cityless, destitute, the most miserable of mortals.  Alas me wretched! whither withdrawest from me thy foot?  It seems[15] I shall make no impression, wretch that I am.  Why then do we mortals toil after all other sciences, as a matter of duty, and dive into them, but least of all strive to learn thoroughly Persuasion, the sole mistress o’er the minds of men, giving a price for her knowledge, that at some time we may have it in our power at once to persuade and obtain what we wish?—­How then can any one hereafter hope that he shall be fortunate?  So many children that I had, and now not one is left to me.  But I am perishing a captive in base servitude, and yet see the smoke there leaping aloft from the city.  And however this part of my argument may perchance be vain, the bringing forward love; still nevertheless it shall be urged.  My daughter is wont to sleep by thy side, that prophetess, whom the Trojans call Cassandra.  Where wilt thou show