Why am I to be kept to live on for all this ignominy?
What freedom can be so happy for me that it can wipe out all the shame of captivity?
What will all the following time bring for me?
It can beget nothing but long remorse in my mind, and will savour only of past woes.

What will prolonging of life avail, if it only brings back the memory of sorrow?
To the stricken nought is pleasanter than death, and that decease is happy which comes at a man's wish, for it cuts not short any sweetness of his days, but annihilates his disgust at all things.

Life in prosperity, but death in adversity, is best to seek.
No hope of better things tempts me to long for life.

What hap can quite repair my shattered fortunes?
And by now, had ye not rescued me in my peril, I should have forgotten even these.

What though thou shouldst give me back my realm, restore my sister, and renew my treasure?
Thou canst never repair my renown.