d and borne me to a mountain, or into the waves of the
much-resounding ocean, where the billow would have swept me away before
these doings had occurred. But since the gods have thus decreed these
evils, I ought at least to have been the wife of a braver man, who
understood both the indignation and the many reproaches of men. But this
man's sentiments are neither constant now, nor will they be hereafter;
wherefore I think he will reap the fruits [of them]. But come now,
enter, and sit on this seat, brother-in-law, since toils have greatly
encompassed thy mind, on account of shameless me, and of the guilt of
Alexander; on whom Jove hath imposed an unhappy lot, that, even in time
to come, we should be a subject of song to future men."

But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: "Do not bid me sit,
Helen, though courteous, for thou wilt not persuade me. For now is my
mind urged on, that I may aid the Trojans, who have great regret for me
absent. But do thou arouse him [Paris], and let him hasten, that he may
overtake me being within the city. For I will go home, that I may see my
domestics, my beloved wife, and my infant son. For I know not whether I
shall ever again return to them, or whether the gods will now subdue me
under the hands of the Greeks."

Thus having said, crest-tossing Hector departed; and immediately he then
arrived at his well-situated palace, nor did he find white-armed
Andromache in the halls; but she stood lamenting and weeping on the
tower, with her son and her well-robed maid. But Hector, when he found
not his blameless wife within, went and stood at the threshold, and said
to the female servants:

"I pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white-armed Andromache
from the palace? Has she gone anywhere [to the dwellings] of her
husband's sisters, or [to those] of any of her well-robed
brother-in-laws' wives, or to the temple of Minerva, where the other
fair-haired Trojan matrons are appeasing the dreadful goddess?"

Him then the active housewife in turn addressed: "Hector, since thou
biddest me to tell the truth, she has not gone to any of her husband's
sisters, nor to any of her well-robed brother-in-laws' wives, nor to the
temple of Minerva, where the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are
appeasing the dreadful goddess. But she went to the lofty tower of
Ilium, when she heard that the Trojans were worn out, and that the
valour of the Greeks was great. She is now on her way, hastening t