Sed Andromachē sollicitō animō virum hīs verbīs culpāvit: "Ō Hector," inquit, "tōtam tuam vītam inter hostēs et proelia agis; multī sunt hostēs, quī tē odiō īrāque petunt, multī quōrum amīcōs ad Īnferōs mīsistī. Ē Troiānīs multī iam vulnerātī, multī necātī sunt. Nōn semper tū ipse vulnera īnfēsta vītābis. Tū igitur hodiē intrā moenia manē, et tē tuamque urbem cōnservā. Nōn enim sine tē Troiānī urbem contrā Graecōs dēfendent."
Cui Hector
respondit, "Hī omnēs, quī nunc Troiam dēfendunt, ad mē prīncipem spectant.
Propter meam virtūtem cūstōdēs in moenibus stant, mīlitēs ad proelia īnfēsta
animō fortī excēdere audent. Sī ego proelia dētrectābō, nec fortem mē praebēbō,
nōn iam cīvium amōre erō dignus. Troiānī quoque omnēs timidī erunt et mox ab
hoste vincentur. Deinde Troia vastābitur, et vōs ad terram aliēnam in
servitūtem dūcēminī. Nōn meum est proelia dētrectāre, sed potius prō patriā
cadere."
Dīxit, et ōscula
fīliō uxōrīque dedit. Parvulum ancillae trādidit, et armīs ōrnātus in viam
excessit. Andromachē ex īmō pectore gemitum dedit, et capite dēmissō domum
intrāvit; nam cūrīs sollicitīs vexābātur, et omnium rērum maximē virī suī
mortem timēbat.
aliēnus, -a, -um:
foreign, belonging to someone else
dētrectō, -āre
[1]: shirk, refuse
īmus, -a, -um:
deepest, lowest, innermost; ex imō pectore: from the bottom of (her) heart
nōn meum est [+
infinitive]: it is not for me [to …]
potius: rather
servitus, -ūtis
[3/f]: slavery
timidus, -a, -um:
timid, cowardly
virtūs, -ūtis
[3/f]: virtue, courage
____________________
But Andromache, with an anxious heart, reproached her husband with these words: "O Hector," she said, "you spend your entire life amidst enemies and battles; there are many enemies who seek you out with hatred and rage, many whose friends you have sent to the Underworld. Many of the Trojans have already been wounded, many killed. You yourself will not always escape deadly wounds. Therefore, stay within the walls today, and save yourself and your city. For the Trojans will not defend the city against the Greeks without you."
Hector replied to her, "All those who are now defending Troy look to
me as their leader. It is because of my valour that guards stand upon the walls
and soldiers dare to march out to perilous battles with a brave spirit. If I shrink
from battle or and do not show myself brave, I shall no longer be worthy of the
citizens' love. All the Trojans, too, will become fearful and will soon be
conquered by the enemy. Then Troy will be devastated, and you will be led away
into slavery in a foreign land. It is not for me to shun battle, but rather to
fall for my country."
He spoke, and gave kisses to his son and his wife. He handed the little child to the maidservant and, clad in his armour, set out on his way. Andromache gave a sigh from the bottom of her heart and entered the house with her head bowed; for she was tormented by anxious cares, and above all else, she feared her husband's death.
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