SCENE 4

Priam’s palace from within. All is confusion and terror. Women rush from room to room, with disheveled hair streaming, and with cries of wild despair. A crowded mass of men are attempting to defend the main entrance. Overhead can be seen and heard the defenders on the roof opposing the attack from without.

In the central open court of the palace, upon the steps of a great altar overshadowed by a laurel tree, Hecuba and a group of women have seated themselves, huddling there in the hope of protection from the sanctity of the altar. Suddenly old Priam comes out into the court, hurriedly adjusting his armor.

_Hecuba_, calling to him (519-524):

What dost thou there, of reason all bereft, O wretched husband? What avail those arms? Or whither speedest thou with tottering steps? Such aid and such defense as thou canst give Cannot avail us now, nor Hector’s self, Could he come back to us. Come hither then; These sacred altar stairs shall shield us all, Or in their sight will we together die.

Priam joins the women at the altar.

But see, Polites comes, by Pyrrhus pressed; Through hostile arms, through halls and colonnades, He flees alone in sore distress of wounds, While Pyrrhus follows hard with deadly aim. And now, Oh, now he grasps and thrusts him through.

Polites falls dead at the feet of Priam and Hecuba.

_Priam_, springing up and facing Pyrrhus (535-543):

For that base crime of thine, that impious deed, I pray the gods, if there are gods in heaven Who care for men, to grant thee dire return, And give thee what thou hast so richly earned. For thou hast slain my son before my face, And with his blood defiled his father’s eyes. But that Achilles, whom thou falsely claim’st As sire, did not so treat his royal foe, But held in reverence the sacred laws. My Hector’s corpse he gave for burial And sent me back in safety to my home.

He hurls his spear with feeble strength at Pyrrhus. The spear sticks ineffectually in the opposing shield.

_Pyrrhus_, scornfully (547-550):

Then bear this message to my noble sire: Fail not to tell him all my impious deeds, And how unworthy has his Pyrrhus proved. Now die.

He drags the old man to the altar and slays him there. Exit Pyrrhus, leaving the bloody corpse of the old man upon the ground. The women are carried off as prisoners by the Greeks who now come thronging in.