Helen
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- What is it, poor man—who are you, that you have turned away from me and loathe me for the misfortunes of that one?
- 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.
- Who are you? Where have you come from, to visit this land?
- I am one of those unfortunate Achaeans, lady.
- 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?
- My name is Teucer, my father is Telamon, and Salamis is the land that nurtured me.
- Then why are you visiting these lands of the Nile?
- I am an exile, driven out of my native land.
- You must be unhappy! Who banished you from your fatherland?
- My father Telamon. Could you find anyone closer to me?
- But why? This matter is surely an unfortunate one.
- The death of my brother Aias at Troy was my ruin.
- How so? You didn’t take his life with your sword, did you?
- He threw himself on his own sword and died.
- Was he mad? For what sensible man would dare such a thing?
- Do you know a certain Achilleus, the son of Peleus?
- Yes; he came to woo Helen once, so I hear.
- When he died, he left a contest for his armor to his allies.
- Well, if he did, what harm is this to Aias?
- When someone else got the arms, he took his own life.