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It is a cloudy but moonlight night on the plain before Troy. The Trojans and their allies have won a decisive victory and are camping on the open field close to the Greek outposts. The scene is in front of a rude tent or hut that has been set up for HECTOR, the Trojan leader. A watch-fire burns low in front. Far off at the back can be seen rows of watch-fires in the Greek camp. The road to Troy is in front to the left; the road to Mount Ida leads far away to the right.

All is silence; then a noise outside. Enter tumultuously a band of Trojan Pickets.


VARIOUS VOICES.
(The dash - in these passages indicates a new speaker.)
On to the Prince's quarters!-Ho!
Who is awake? What man-at-arms,
Or squire or groom?-Let Hector know
     New rumour of alarms
From sentinels who stand at mark
The four long watches of the dark,
While others sleep.-Uplift thine head,
O Hector! On thine elbow rise,
Unhood the eagle of thine eyes,
     Up from thy leaf-strewn bed!-
Lord Hector!

HECTOR (coming out from the tent).
     Who goes there? Who cries?
A friend? The watchword! . . . By what right
Do men come prowling in the night
Across my quarters? Come! Speak out.

LEADER.
A picket, Lord.

HECTOR.
In such a rout?

LEADER.
Be not afraid, Lord.

HECTOR.
     I am not.
Is there an ambush? No? Then what,
In God's name, brings you from your post
     With no clear tale to speak,
To spread this turmoil through a host
That lies in harness-do ye all
Know nothing?-out against the wall
     And gateways of the Greek?

The Rhesus of Euripides. Translated into English rhyming verse with explanatory notes by Gilbert Murray, LL.D., D.Litt, F.B.A., Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford. Euripides. Gilbert Murray. New York. Oxford University Press. 1913.

This text has been proofread to a medium level of accuracy.

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