Hel. But why? This case is surely fraught with woe.
Teu. The death of Aias my brother at Troy, was my ruin.
Hel. How so? surely 'twas not thy sword that stole his life away?
Teu. He threw himself on his own blade and died.
Hel. Was he mad? for who with sense endowed would bring himself to this?
Teu. Dost thou know aught of Achilles, son of Peleus?
Hel. He came, so I have heard, to woo Helen once.
Teu. When he died, he left his arms for his comrades to contest.
Hel. Well, if he did, what harm herein to Aias?
Teu. When another won these arms, to himself he put an end.
Hel. Art thou then a sufferer by woes that he inflicted?
Teu. Yes, because I did not join him in his death.
Hel. So thou camest, sir stranger, to Ilium's famous town?
Teu. Aye, and, after helping to sack it, myself did learn what ruin meant.
Hel. Is Troy already fired and utterly by flames consumed?
Teu. Yea, so that not so much as one vestige of her walls is now to be seen.
Hel. Woe is thee, poor Helen! thou art the cause of Phrygia's ruin.
Teu. And of Achæa's too. Ah! 'tis a tale of grievous misery!
Hel. How long is it since the city was sacked?
Teu. Nigh seven fruitful[1] seasons have come and gone.
Hel. And how much longer did ye abide in Troy?
Teu. Many a weary month, till through ten full years the moon had held her course.
- ↑ Nauck proposes καμπίμους for καρπίμους, but unnecessarily it seems.
