Æne. He not proposes merely to himself
The pleasures such a beauty brings with it;
But he would have the stain of Helen's rape
283 Wiped off, in honourable keeping her.
Hect. Troilus and Æneas, you have said;
If saying superficial things be reason.
But if this Helen be another's wife,
The moral laws of nature and of nations
Speak loud she be restored. Thus to persist
In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong,
But makes it much more so. Hector's opinion
Is this, in way of truth: yet, ne'ertheless,
My sprightly brother, I incline to you
In resolution to defend her still:
For 'tis a cause on which our Trojan honour
And common reputation will depend.
Troil. Why there you touched the life of our design:
Were it not glory that we covet more
Than war and vengeance, (beasts' and women's pleasure)
I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood
Spent more in her defence; but oh! my brother,
She is a subject of renown and honour;
And I presume brave Hector would not lose
The rich advantage of his future fame
For the wide world's revenue:—I have business;
But glad I am to leave you thus resolved.
When such arms strike, ne'er doubt of the success.
Æn. May we not guess?
Troil. You may, and be deceived.[Exit Troil.
Hect. A woman, on my life: even so it happens,
Religion, state-affairs, whate'er's the theme,
It ends in woman still.
Enter Andromache.
Priam. See, here's your wife,
To make that maxim good.
Hect. Welcome, Andromache: your looks are chearful,
You bring some pleasing news.
Andro. Nothing that's serious.
284 Your little son Astyanax has employed me
As his ambassadress.