1 EURIPIDES' TROJAN WOMEN PREFACE, TRANSLATION, and ...

She is one of the defeated slaves, along with the other Trojan women.
My men, who conquered Troy, handed her over to me to kill, or not kill,
or take her back home if I want. I think it’s best not to kill her at Troy,
but take her home on my ship and then execute her in Greece
as payment for all my men who died in Troy.
[Menelaus to guards]
Go to the tents and bring her to me; drag her here by her bloodstained hair.
When the wind starts to blow, we’ll take her to Greece.
Hecuba
O God, who guides and rules the earth,
Whoever you are, dark riddle of the universe,
Whether law of nature, or mind of man,
I pray to you who silently but surely
Leads mankind in the ways of justice.
Menelaus
What’s that? Some new prayer you have made up?
Hecuba
Please Menelaus: kill your wife. But be careful;
if you look at her you will come under her spell.
Her eyes enslave men, destroy cities, and set homes on fire;
such is the power of their enchantment I, and all those.
who have suffered because of her, know her all too well.
[Enter Helen, dragged by soldiers]
Helen
Menelaus, this beginning could well make a woman afraid.
I am dragged by force from my tent by your servants.
I imagine you must hate me, but I want to know
what you and the other Greeks have decided
to do with me: am I to live or die? 900
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