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AEACUS Why do you dash at Helen, and choke her, Protesilaus? PROTESILAUS It was because of her that I was killed, Aeacus, and left my house half-built, Cf. Iliad, II, 701. and my newly-wed wife a widow. AEACUS Then blame Menelaus, for taking you to Troy to fight for a woman like that. PROTESILAUS Quite right. I should blame him. MENELAUS Don’t blame me, my good man; it would be fairer to blame Paris. Though I was his host, he carried off my wife with him, contrary to all justice. Paris ought to be strangled, and not by you only, but by all the soldiers on both sides, for bringing death to so many. PROTESILAUS A better idea; then you, accursed Paris, Cf. Iliad, III, 39, etc. are the one I’ll keep forever in my grip. PARIS That would be unjust too, Protesilaus, for I practise the same craft as you; I’m a lover too, and subject to the same god; you know how it’s none of our wishing, but some divine power leads us wherever it chooses, and it’s impossible to resist him.

PROTESILAUS True enough. Well, I wish I could catch Eros here. AEACUS I will answer you in defence of Eros. He will say that he may have been the cause of the love of Paris, but that you, Protesilaus, were the sole cause of your own death; for, when your fleet was approaching the land of Troy, you forgot your new-wed wife, and made that mad adventurous leap ashore before any of the others; you were in love with glory, and because of her were the first to die at the landing of the army. PROTESILAUS Then, Aeacus, I shall retort with an even stronger argument in my defence; the responsibility lies not with me, but with Fate and the way the thread was spun from the start. AEACUS Quite right; why, then, blame the present company?