154 EURIPIDES. [L. 774-826 Hec. By whom but by this man ? His Thracian host slew him. Aga. The wretch ! could he have been so eager for the treasure ? Hec. Even so ; soon as ever he heard of the Phrygians' disaster. Aga. Where didst find him ? or did some one bring his corpse ? Hec. This maid, who chanced upon it on the sea-shore. Aga. Was she seeking it, or bent on other tasks ? Hec. She had gone to fetch water from the sea to wash Polyxena. Aga. It seems then his host slew him and cast his body out to sea. Hec. Aye, for the waves to toss, after mangling him thus. Aga. Woe is thee for thy measureless troubles ! Hec. I am ruined ; no evil now is left, O Agamemnon. Aga. Look you ! what woman was ever born to such mis- fortune ? Hec. There is none, unless thou wouldst name misfor- tune herself. But hear my reason for throwing myself at thy knees. If my treatment seems to thee deserved, I will be content; but, if otherwise, help me to punish this most godless host, that hath wrought a deed most damned, fearless alike of gods in heaven or hell ; [who, though full oft he had shared my board and been counted first of all my guest-friends and after meeting with every kindness he could claim and receiving my consideration, slew my son, and bent though he was on murder,^ deigned not to bury him but cast his body forth to sea].^ ' The meaning apparently is "he grudged him burial which at any rate he might have granted, if he wished to kill him." But the passage is probably spurious, and it is difficult to extract any satisfactoj.y sense from it.
- Lines 793-797 are thus inclosed in Nauck's text, partly on his owa
