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 I heard thee utter fierce of mood

Railing at Atreus' sons

Night by night, day by day.

Verily then it was the sequence of woes

First began, when as the prize of worth

Fatally was proclaimed the golden panoply.

TECMESSA

Alas, woe, woe!

CHORUS

A loyal grief pierces thy heart, I know.

TECMESSA

Alas, woe, woe!

CHORUS

Woman, I marvel not that thou shouldst wail

And wail again, reft of a friend so dear.

TECMESSA

'Tis thine to surmise, mine to feel, too surely.

CHORUS

'Tis even so.

TECMESSA

Ah, my child, to what bondage are we come,

Seeing what cruel taskmasters will be ours.

CHORUS

Ah me, at what dost thou hint?

What ruthless, unspeakable wrong

From the Atreidæ fearest thou?

But may heaven avert that woe!

TECMESSA

Ne'er had it come to this save by heaven's will.

CHORUS

Yes, too great to be borne this heaven-sent burden.