If Helen were in Ilium, the Trojans would have returned her to the Greeks, whether willingly or unwillingly by Alexander. For Priam was certainly not so foolish, nor were the other Trojans, as to wish to risk their own bodies, children, and city so that Alexander might live with Helen. And even if they recognized these things in the early days, since many of the other Trojans, especially his own sons, perished whenever they mingled with the Greeks, Priam, even if he himself lived with Helen, would have given her back to Menelaus so that he and his subjects might be freed from the present evils. But they did not have Helen to give back, nor did the Greeks believe the truth told to them, as I express my opinion, with the divine power arranging that they perish in utter destruction, making this evident to men, that great crimes bring great punishments from the gods.