Euripides, Helen
E. P. Coleridge, Ed.

Teucer
Who holds power over this fortified house? The dwelling is worthy of comparison with Ploutos', [70] 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 [75] 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
[80] 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
[85] 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
[90] 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
[95] 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
[100] 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
[105] 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
[110] 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.