TALTHYBIUS Hecuba, thou knowest me from my many journeys to and fro as herald 'twixt the Achaean host and Troy; no stranger I to thee, lady, even aforetime, I Talthybius, now sent with a fresh message.

HECUBA Ah, kind friends, 'tis come! what I so long have dreaded.

TALTHYBIUS The lot has decided your fates already, if that was what you feared.

HECUBA Ah me! What city didst thou say, Thessalian, Phthian, or Cadmean?

TALTHYBIUS Each warrior took his prize in turn; ye were not all at once assigned.

HECUBA To whom hath the lot assigned us severally? Which of us Trojan dames doth a happy fortune await?

TALTHYBIUS I know, but ask thy questions separately, not all at once.

HECUBA Then tell me, whose prize is my daughter, hapless Cassandra?

TALTHYBIUS King Agamemnon hath chosen her out