were massacred by Rhesus's people about 465 B.C.: Amphipolis not fully established till 437—they found the legend of Rhesus in the air, and eventually they thought it prudent to send for his hallowed bones from the Troad, where they were supposed to be buried, and give them a tomb in the Athenian colony. Possibly that pacified him. And his legend in the mouth of the poets seemed perhaps like the story of his own mountaineers, multitudes of strong men, stormy and chivalrous, terrible in onset, who somehow in the end melted away before the skill and persistent courage of a civilised Greek city.

RHESUS

CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

Hector, Prince of Îlion and General of the Trojan Armies.

Aenêas, a Trojan Prince.

Dolon, a Trojan.

Paris, also called Alexander, brother of Hector.

Rhêsus, King of Thrace, son of the River Strŷmon and the Muse of the Mountains.

A Thracian, the King's charioteer.

Odysseus, a Greek chieftain, famous for craft and daring.

Diomêdês, a Greek chieftain, famous for valour.

A Shepherd.

The Goddess Athêna.

The Muse of the Mountains.

Chorus of Trojan Guards with their Leader.

Some Thracians with their Captain, Attendants, &c.

    The date and authorship of the play are unknown; it probably belongs to the Fifth Century B.C., and is attributed to Euripides.

[Pg 3    vv. 1-10]

RHESUS

It is a cloudy but moonlight night on the plain before Troy. 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 passages indicates a new speaker.)

[Pg 4    vv. 11-28]