Stasimon 3
[Episode]
Doers of deeds shall know what suffering is.
HECTOR.
By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled
Past us, and live in Ilion as of old,
475
Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek
Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-
’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.
RHESUS.
These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?P. 26, l. 480. It may be remarked that the play here uses a fairly common Homeric phrase in a sense which the scholars of our tradition knew but rejected.
HECTOR.
We seek not better. These do all we need.
480
RHESUS.
When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.
HECTOR.
Lose not thy path watching a distant view.
RHESUS.
Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?
HECTOR.
I have a kingdom large by mine own right ..
What station will best please thee in this fight
485
To ground the targe and stablish thine array?
Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.
RHESUS.
’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.
Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown
One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then
490
Set us to face Achilles and his men.
HECTOR.
Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.
