Teucer Who holds power over this fortified house? The dwelling is worthy of comparison with Ploutos’, its royal enclosures and towering buildings. Ah! Oh gods, what sight is here? I see the hateful deadly likeness of the woman who ruined me and all the Achaeans. May the gods spurn you, so much do you look like Helen! If I were not in a foreign land, you would have died by this well-aimed arrow as a reward for your likeness to the daughter of Zeus.
Helen What is it, poor man—who are you, that you have turned away from me and loathe me for the misfortunes of that one?
Teucer I was wrong; I gave way to my anger more than I should, for all Hellas hates that daughter of Zeus. Forgive me for what I said, lady.
Helen Who are you? Where have you come from, to visit this land?
Teucer I am one of those unfortunate Achaeans, lady.
Helen Then it is no wonder that you loathe Helen. But who are you and where do you come from? Whose son should I call you?
Teucer My name is Teucer, my father is Telamon, and Salamis is the land that nurtured me.
Helen Then why are you visiting these lands of the Nile?
Teucer I am an exile, driven out of my native land.
Helen You must be unhappy! Who banished you from your fatherland?
Teucer My father Telamon. Could you find anyone closer to me?
Helen But why? This matter is surely an unfortunate one.
Teucer The death of my brother Aias at Troy was my ruin.
Helen How so? You didn’t take his life with your sword, did you?
Teucer He threw himself on his own sword and died.
Helen Was he mad? For what sensible man would dare such a thing?
Teucer Do you know a certain Achilleus, the son of Peleus?
Helen Yes; he came to woo Helen once, so I hear.
Teucer When he died, he left a contest for his armor to his allies.
Helen Well, if he did, what harm is this to Aias?
Teucer When someone else got the arms, he took his own life.
Helen Then are you ill through his suffering?
Teucer Yes, because I did not die together with him.
Helen So you went to the famous city of Ilion, stranger?
Teucer Yes, and by helping to sack it, I destroyed myself as well.
Helen Has it already been set alight and completely consumed by fire?
Teucer So that not even a trace of the walls is evident.
Helen O miserable Helen! Because of you, the Phrygians have been destroyed.
Teucer And also the Achaeans; great evils have been committed.
Helen How long is it since the city was sacked?
Teucer Almost seven years have gone full circle, with their harvests.
Helen And how much longer were you waiting at Troy?
Teucer For many months; the moon held its course through ten years.
Helen And did you capture the Spartan woman?
Teucer Menelaos caught her by the hair to drag her away.
Helen Did you yourself see the wretched creature? Or do you speak from hearsay?
Teucer I saw her with my own eyes, just as I see you, no less.
Helen Consider whether you had some fancy, sent by the gods.
Teucer Think of some other topic, not that woman still!
Helen Are you so sure this fancy was reliable?
Teucer I saw it with my own eyes; and the mind has sight.
Helen Is Menelaos already at home with his wife?
Teucer No; he is neither in Argos nor by the streams of the Eurotas.
Helen Alas! This is evil news for those to whom you bring it.
Teucer He is said to have disappeared with his wife.
Helen Wasn’t there the same passage for all the Argives?
Teucer Yes; but a tempest scattered them in every direction.
Helen On which surface of the salty ocean?
Teucer While they were crossing the Aegean in mid-channel.
Helen And from that time does no one know of Menelaos’ arrival?
Teucer No one; but throughout Hellas he is reported to be dead.
Helen I am wholly lost. Is the daughter of Thestius alive?
Teucer You speak of Leda? She is dead and gone, indeed.
Helen It wasn’t Helen’s disgraceful fame that killed her, surely?
Teucer Yes, they say she tied a noose around her noble neck.
Helen Are the sons of Tyndareus still alive or not?
Teucer They are dead, and not dead: it is a double story.
Helen Which report is the stronger? I am so unhappy at these evils!
Teucer Men say that they are gods in the likeness of stars.
Helen That is good news; but what is the other story?
Cite This Text