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116 "Brother-in-law of me, shameless authoress of mischief-devising, fearful wretch, would that, on the day when first my brother brought me forth, a destructive tempest of wind had seized 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 any where [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