Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 6

Page 12

"I pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white-armed Andromache from the palace? Has she gone anywhere [to the dwellings] of her husband's sisters, or [to those] of any of her well-robed brother-in-laws' wives, or to the temple of Minerva, where the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are appeasing the dreadful goddess?"

Him then the active housewife in turn addressed: "Hector, since thou biddest me to tell the truth, she has not gone to any of her husband's sisters, nor to any of her well-robed brother-in-laws' wives, nor to the temple of Minerva, where the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are appeasing the dreadful goddess. But she went to the lofty tower of Ilium, when she heard that the Trojans were worn out, and that the valour of the Greeks was great. She is now on her way, hastening to the wall, like unto one frenzied, and the nurse, along with her, bears the child."

Thus spoke the housewife, but Hector hastened away from the palace, back the same way through the well-built streets. When he had arrived at the Scaean gates, after passing through the great city (for by this way he was about to pass out into the plain), there met him his richly-dowered spouse running, Andromache, daughter of magnanimous Eetion: Eetion, who dwelt in woody Hypoplacus, in Hypoplacian Thebes, reigning over Cilician men. His daughter then was possessed by brazen-helmed Hector. She then met him; and with her came a maid, carrying in her bosom the tender child, an infant quite, the only son of Hector, like unto a beauteous star. Him Hector had named Scamandrius, but others Astyanax; for Hector alone protected Ilium. He indeed, gazing in silence upon his son, smiled. But Andromache stood near to him, weeping, and she hung upon his hand, and addressed him, and spoke:

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Rhapsody 6

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