MNESILOCHUS (_as Andromeda_).[640] A pitiless ruffian has chained up the most unfortunate of mortal maids. Alas! I had barely escaped the filthy claws of an old fury, when another mischance overtook me! This Scythian does not take his eye off me and he has exposed me as food for the crows. Alas! what is to become of me, alone here and without friends! I am not seen mingling in the dances nor in the games of my companions, but heavily loaded with fetters I am given over to the voracity of a Glaucetes.[641] Sing no bridal hymn for me, oh women, but rather the hymn of captivity, and in tears. Ah! how I suffer! great gods! how I suffer! Alas! alas! and through my own relatives too![642] My misery would make Tartarus dissolve into tears! Alas! in my terrible distress, I implore the mortal who first shaved me and depilated me, then dressed me in this long robe, and then sent me to this Temple into the midst of the women, to save me. Oh, thou pitiless Fate! I am then accursed, great gods! Ah! who would not be moved at the sight of the appalling tortures under which I succumb? Would that the blazing shaft of the lightning would wither... this barbarian for me! (_pointing to the Scythian archer_) for the immortal light has no further charm for my eyes since I have been descending the shortest path to the dead, tied up, strangled, and maddened with pain. EURIPIDES (as _Echo_). Hail! beloved girl. As for your father, Cepheus, who has exposed you in this guise, may the gods annihilate him. MNESILOCHUS (_as Andromeda_). And who are you whom my misfortunes have moved to pity? EURIPIDES. I am Echo, the nymph who repeats all she hears. 'Tis I, who last year lent my help to Euripides in this very place.[643] But, my child, give yourself up to the sad laments that belong to your pitiful condition. MNESILOCHUS. And you will repeat them? EURIPIDES. I will not fail you. Begin. MNESILOCHUS. "Oh! thou divine Night! how slowly thy chariot threads its way through the starry vault, across the sacred realms of the Air and mighty Olympus." EURIPIDES. Mighty Olympus. MNESILOCHUS. "Why is it necessary that Andromeda should have all the woes for her share?" EURIPIDES. For her share. MNESILOCHUS. "Sad death!" EURIPIDES. Sad death! MNESILOCHUS. You weary me, old babbler. EURIPIDES. Old babbler. MNESILOCHUS. Oh! you are too unbearable. EURIPIDES. Unbearable. MNESILOCHUS. Friend, let me talk by myself. Do please let me. Come, that's enough. EURIPIDES. That's enough. MNESILOCHUS. Go and hang yourself! EURIPIDES. Go and hang yourself! MNESILOCHUS. What a plague! EURIPIDES. What a plague! MNESILOCHUS. Cursed brute! EURIPIDES. Cursed brute! MNESILOCHUS. Beware of blows! EURIPIDES. Beware of blows! SCYTHIAN. Hullo! what are you jabbering about? EURIPIDES. What are you jabbering about? SCYTHIAN. I go to call the Prytanes. EURIPIDES. I go to call the Prytanes. SCYTHIAN. This is odd! EURIPIDES. This is odd! SCYTHIAN. Whence comes this voice?