Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/380

Lo, how countless warriors with the shield before the bosom thrown,—
Myriads, now the fatherland is wronged, with strenuous oar in hand,—
All will fear not to encounter foes, to die for Hellas-land.
And shall all be thwarted, baffled by the life of one—of me? 1390
Where were justice here?—and what can I set forth for answering plea?
Turn we now to this thing also:—never ought this man to make
War on all the Argives, no, nor perish—for a woman's sake!
Better than ten thousand women one man is to look on light.
Lo, if Artemis hath willed to claim my body as her right, 1395
What, shall I, a helpless mortal woman, thwart the will divine?
Nay, it cannot be. My body unto Hellas I resign.
Sacrifice me, raze ye Troy; for this through all the ages is
My memorial: children, marriage, glory—all are mine in this!
Right it is that Hellenes rule barbarians, not that alien yoke 1400
Rest on Hellenes, mother. They be bondmen, we be freeborn folk.

Noble the part thou playest, maiden, is:
But Fate and Artemis—ill part is theirs!