I have wept bitterly, and my eyes are wet with tears; the wife of Zeus ruined me. Menelaos Hera? Why did she want to bring trouble to the two of us? Helen Alas for my terrible fate, the baths and springs, where the goddesses brightened the beauty from which the judgment came. Menelaos Regarding the judgment, Hera made it a cause of these troubles for you? Helen To take me away from Paris — Menelaos How? Tell me. Helen To whom Kypris had promised me. Menelaos O unhappy one! Helen Unhappy, unhappy; and so she brought me to Egypt . Menelaos Then she gave him a phantom instead, as I hear from you. Helen Sorrow, sorrow to your house, mother, alas. Menelaos What do you mean? Helen My mother is no more; through shame of my disgraceful marriage she tied a noose around her neck. Menelaos Alas! Is our daughter Hermione alive? Helen Ah, my husband! Unmarried, and without children, she mourns my fatal marriage. Menelaos O Paris, who utterly destroyed my whole house, these things ruined you also, and countless bronze-clad Danaans. Helen The god cast me out, ill-fated and accursed, from my country, from my city, and from you, when I left my home and bed—yet I did not leave them—for a shameful marriage. Chorus Leader If indeed you should find happiness in the future, it would be a match for the past. Messenger Menelaos, give me as well a share of that joy which I understand, but not clearly. Menelaos Come and take part in our talk, old man, you too. Messenger This woman is not the arbitrator of all the trouble in Troy ? Menelaos She is not; I was tricked by the gods and had in my arms the baneful image of a cloud. Messenger What are you saying? We suffered in vain for the sake of a cloud? Menelaos It was the work of Hera, and the rivalry of the three goddesses. Messenger And the one who is truly your wife is this woman here? Menelaos This is she; trust my word for that.