Part 1 (2/2)

CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

HECTOR, _Prince of ilion and General of the Trojan Armies_.

AENeAS, _a Trojan Prince_.

DOLON, _a Trojan_.

PARIS, _also called_ ALEXANDER, _brother of Hector_.

RHeSUS, _King of Thrace, son of the River Str[^y]mon and the Muse of the Mountains_.

A THRACIAN, _the King's charioteer_.

ODYSSEUS, _a Greek chieftain, famous for craft and daring_.

DIOMeDeS, _a Greek chieftain, famous for valour_.

A SHEPHERD.

The G.o.ddess ATHeNA.

The MUSE OF THE MOUNTAINS.

CHORUS _of Trojan Guards with their_ LEADER.

_Some_ THRACIANS _with their_ CAPTAIN, _Attendants, &c._

_The date and authors.h.i.+p of the play are unknown; it probably belongs to the Fifth Century B.C., and is attributed to Euripides._

RHESUS

_It is a cloudy but moonlight night on the plain before Troy. [vv. 1-10]

The Trojans and their allies have won a decisive victory and are camping on the open field close to the Greek outposts.

The scene is in front of a rude tent or hut that has been set up for_ HECTOR, _the Trojan leader. A watch-fire burns low in front. Far off at the back can be seen rows of watch-fires in the Greek camp. The road to Troy is in front to the left; the road to Mount Ida leads far away to the right._

_All is silence; then a noise outside. Enter tumultuously a band of Trojan Pickets._

VARIOUS VOICES.

(_The dash -- in these pa.s.sages indicates a new speaker._)

On to the Prince's quarters!--Ho!

Who is awake? What man-at-arms, Or squire or groom?--Let Hector know New rumour of alarms From sentinels who stand at mark The four long watches of the dark, While others sleep.--Uplift thine head, O Hector! On thine elbow rise, Unhood the eagle of thine eyes, Up from thy leaf-strewn bed!--

Lord Hector!

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