truth the race of mortals is full of troubles, is full of troubles, and it necessarily befalls men to find some misfortune. Alas! alas! thou daughter of Tyndarus, who hast brought many sufferings, and many griefs upon the Greeks. CHOR. I indeed pity you having met with an evil calamity, such as thou never shouldst have met with. IPH. O mother, to whom I owe my birth, I behold a crowd of men near. CLY. Ay, the son of the Goddess, my child, for whom thou camest hither. IPH. Open the house, ye servants, that I may hide myself. CLY. But why dost thou fly hence, my child? IPH. I am ashamed to behold this Achilles. CLY. On what account? IPH. The unfortunate turn-out of my nuptials shames me. CLY. Thou art not in a state to give way to delicacy in the present circumstances. But do thou remain, there is no use for punctilio, if we can [but save your life.] ACH. O hapless lady, daughter of Leda. CLY. Thou sayest not falsely. ACH. Terrible things are cried out among the Greeks. CLY. What cry? tell me. ACH. Concerning thy child. CLY. Thou speakest a word of ill omen. ACH. That it is necessary to slay her. CLY. Does no one speak the contrary to this? ACH. Ay, I myself have got into trouble. CLY. Into what [trouble,] O friend? ACH. Of having my body stoned with stones. CLY. What, in trying to save my daughter! ACH. This very thing. CLY. And who would have dared to touch thy person? ACH. All the Greeks. CLY. And was not the host of the Myrmidons at hand for thee? ACH. That was the first that showed enmity. CLY. Then are we utterly undone, my daughter. ACH. For they railed at me as overcome by a betrothed-- CLY. And what didst thou reply? ACH. That they should not slay my intended bride. CLY. For so 'twas right. ACH. [She] whom her father had promised me. CLY. Ay, and had sent for from Argos. ACH. But I was worsted by the outcry. CLY. For the multitude is a terrible evil. ACH. But nevertheless I will aid thee. CLY. And wilt thou, being one, fight with many? ACH. Dost see these men bearing [my] arms? CLY. Mayest thou gain by thy good intentions. ACH. But I will gain. CLY. Then my child will not be slain? ACH. Not, at least, with my consent. CLY. And will any one come to lay hands on the girl? ACH. Ay, a host of them, but Ulysses will conduct her. CLY. Will it be the descendant of Sisyphus? ACH. The very man. CLY. Doing it of his own accord, or appointed by the army? ACH. Chosen willingly. CLY. A wicked choice forsooth, to commit slaughter! ACH. But I will restrain him. CLY. But will he lead her unwillingly, having seized her? ACH. Ay, by her auburn locks. CLY. But what must I then do? ACH. Keep hold of your daughter. CLY. As far as this goes she shall not be slain. ACH. But it will come to this at all events.[91]