ACT IV. SCENE 3 Chorus of Maidens

Words from Tasso; Ger. Lib. II. 96

II The Fall of Troy

Illustrious Troy! renown’d in every clime Through the long records of succeeding time; Who saw protecting gods from heaven descend Full oft, thy royal bulwarks to defend. Though chiefs unnumber’d in her cause were slain, With fate the gods and heroes fought in vain; That refuge of perfidious Helen’s shame At midnight was involved in Grecian flame; And now, by time’s deep ploughshare harrow’d o’er, The seat of sacred Troy is found no more. No trace of her proud fabrics now remains, But corn and vines enrich her cultured plains.

FALCONER, _Shipwreck_.

THE PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

ÆNEAS, son of Anchises and Venus, son-in-law of Priam, and, since the death of Hector, the leader of the Trojan war-chiefs.

PRIAM, king of Troy, now enfeebled by age.

ANCHISES, the aged father of Æneas.

LAOCOÖN, a son of Priam and priest of Apollo.

PANTHUS, a Trojan noble, priest of Apollo.

CORŒBUS, a Phrygian noble, ally of Priam, in love with Cassandra.

THE GHOST OF HECTOR.

ASCANIUS, son of Æneas and Creüsa (silent).

VENUS, the goddess of love, mother of Æneas.

HECUBA, wife of Priam.

CREÜSA, wife of Æneas.

CASSANDRA, daughter of Priam, reputed to be mad.

PYRRHUS, son of Achilles, leader of the Greeks in their final attack upon Troy.

SINON, a Greek tool, through whose treachery the Trojans were induced to admit the wooden horse within their walls.

ANDROGEOS, a Greek chieftain.

TROJAN warriors, nobles, and commons, shepherds, priestly attendants, boys, women, etc.

GREEK warriors.