helen-第7章
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never be any lack of strife in the towns of men； the maidens of the
land of Priam left their bridal bowers； though arbitration might
have put thy quarrel right； O Helen。 And now Troy's sons are in Hades'
keeping in the world below； and fire hath darted on her walls； as
darts the flame of Zeus； and thou art bringing woe on woe to hapless
sufferers in their misery。
（THEOCLYMENUS and his hunting attendants enter。）
THEOCLYMENUS
All hail； my father's tomb！ I buried thee； Proteus； at the place
where men go out； that I might often greet thee； and so； ever as I
go out and in； I； thy son Theoclymenus call on thee； father。 Ho！
servants； to the palace take my hounds and hunting nets！ How often
have I blamed myself for never punishing those miscreants with
death！ I have just heard that son of Hellas has come openly to my
land； escaping the notice of the guard； a spy maybe or a would…be
thief of Helen； death shall be his lot if only I can catch him。 Ha！
I find all my plans apparently frustrated； the daughter of Tyndareus
has deserted her seat at the tomb and sailed away from my shores。
Ho！ there； undo the bars； loose the horses from their stalls； bring
forth my chariot； servants； that the wife； on whom my heart is set；
may not get away from these shores unseen； for want of any trouble I
can take。 Yet stay； for I see the object of my pursuit is still in the
palace； and has not fled。 （HELEN enters from the palace； clad in the
garb of mourning。） How now； lady； why hast thou arrayed thee in
sable weeds instead of white raiment； and from thy fair head hast
shorn thy tresses with the steel； bedewing thy cheeks the while with
tears but lately shed？ Is it in response to visions of the night
that thou art mourning； or； because thou hast heard some warning voice
within； art thus distraught with grief？
HELEN
My lord；…for already I have learnt to say that name；I am undone；
my luck is gone； I cease to be。
THEOCLYMENUS
In what misfortune art thou plunged？ What hath happened？
HELEN
Menelaus； ah me！ how can I say it？ is dead； my husband。
THEOCLYMENUS
How knowest thou？ Did Theonoe tell thee this？
HELEN
Both she； and one who was there when he perished。
THEOCLYMENUS
What！ hath one arrived who actually announces this for certaint？
HELEN
One hath； oh may he come e'en as I wish him to！
THEOCLYMENUS
Who and where is he？ that I may learn this more surely。
HELEN
There he is； sitting crouched beneath the shelter of this tomb；
THEOCLYMENUS
Great Apollo！ how clad in unseemly rags！
HELEN
Ah me！ methinks my own husband too is in like plight。
THEOCLYMENUS
From what country is this fellow？ whence landed he here？
HELEN
From Hellas； one of the Achaeans who sailed with my husband。
THEOCLYMENUS
What kind of death doth he declare that Menelaus died？
HELEN
The most piteous of all； amid the watery waves at sea。
THEOCLYMENUS
On what part of the savage ocean was he sailing？
HELEN
Cast up on the harbourless rocks of Libya。
THEOCLYMENUS
How was it this man did not perish if he was with him aboard？
HELEN
There are times when churls have more luck than their betters。
THEOCLYMENUS
Where left he the wreck； on coming hither？
HELEN
There； where perdition catch it； but not Menelaus！
THEOCLYMENUS
He is lost； but on what vessel came this man？
HELEN
According to his story sailors fell in with him and picked him up。
THEOCLYMENUS
Where then is that ill thing that was sent to Troy in thy stead？
HELEN
Dost mean the phantom…form of cloud？ It hath passed into the air。
THEOCLYMENUS
O Priam； and thou land of Troy； how fruitless thy ruin！
HELEN
I too have shared with Priam's race their misfortunes。
THEOCLYMENUS
Did this fellow leave thy husband unburied； or consign him to
the grave？
HELEN
Unburied； woe is me for my sad lot！
THEOCLYMENUS
Wherefore hast thou shorn the tresses of thy golden hair？
HELEN
His memory lingers fondly in this heart； whate'er his fate。
THEOCLYMENUS
Are thy tears in genuine sorrow for this calamity？
HELEN
An easy task no doubt to escape thy sister's detection！
THEOCLYMENUS
No； surely； impossible。 Wilt thou still make this tomb thy abode？
HELEN
Why jeer at me？ canst thou not let the dead man be？
THEOCLYMENUS
No； thy loyalty to thy husband's memory makes thee fly from me。
HELEN
I will do so no more； prepare at once for my marriage。
THEOCLYMENUS
Thou hast been long in bringing thyself to it； still I do
commend the now。
HELEN
Dost know thy part？ Let us forget the past。
THEOCLYMENUS
On what terms？ One good turn deserves another。
HELEN
Let us make peace； be reconciled to me。
THEOCLYMENUS
I relinquish my quarrel with thee； let it take wings and fly away。
HELEN
Then by thy knees； since thou art my friend indeed；…
THEOCLYMENUS
What art so bent on winning； that to me thou stretchest out a
suppliant hand？
HELEN
My dead husband would I fain bury。
THEOCLYMENUS
What tomb can be bestowed on lost bodies？ Wilt thou bury a shade？
HELEN
In Hellas we have a custom； whene'er one is drowned at sea…
THEOCLYMENUS
What is your custom？ The race of Pelops truly hath some skill in
matters such as this。
HELEN
To hold a burial with woven robes that wrap no corpse。
THEOCLYMENUS
Perform the ceremony； rear the tomb where'er thou wilt。
HELEN
'Tis not thus we give drowned sailors burial。
THEOCLYMENUS
How then？ I know nothing of your customs in Hellas。
HELEN
We unmoor； and carry out to sea all that is the dead man's due。
THEOCLYMENUS
What am I to give thee then for thy dead husband？
HELEN
Myself I cannot say； I had no such experience in my previous happy
life。
THEOCLYMENUS
Stranger； thou art the bearer of tidings I welcome。
MENELAUS
Well； I do not； nor yet doth the dead man。
THEOCLYMENUS
How do ye bury those who have been drowned at sea？
MENELAUS
Each according to his means。
THEOCLYMENUS
As far as wealth goes； name thy wishes for this lady's sake。
MENELAUS
There must be a blood…offering first to the dead。
THEOCLYMENUS
Blood of what？ Do thou show me and I will comply。
MENELAUS
Decide that thyself； whate'er thou givest will suffice。
THEOCLYMENUS
Amongst barbarians 'tis customary to sacrifice a horse or bull；
MENELAUS
If thou givest at all； let there be nothing mean in thy gift。
THEOCLYMENUS
I have no lack of such in my rich herds
MENELAUS
Next an empty bier is decked and carried in procession。
THEOCLYMENUS
It shall be so； what else is it customary to add？
MENELAUS
Bronze arms； for war was his delight。
THEOCLYMENUS
These will be worthy of the race of Pelops； and these will we
give。
MENELAUS
And with them all the fair increase of productive earth。
THEOCLYMENUS
And next； how do ye pour these offerings into the billows？
MENELAUS
There must be a ship ready and rowers。
THEOCLYMENUS
How far from the shore does the ship put out？
MENELAUS
So far that the foam in her wake can scarce be seen from the
strand。
THEOCLYMENUS
Why so？ wherefore doth Hellas observe this custom？
MENELAUS
That the billow may not cast up again our expiatory offerings。
THEOCLYMENUS
Phoenician rowers will soon cover the distance。
MENELAUS
'Twill be well done； and gratifying to Menelaus； too。
THEOCLYMENUS
Canst thou not perform these rites well enough without Helen？
MENELAUS
This task belongs to mother； wife； or children。
THEOCLYMENUS
'Tis her task then； according to thee； to bury her husband。
MENELAUS
To be sure； piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their
due。
THEOCLYMENUS
Well； let her go； 'tis my interest to foster piety in a wife。
And thou； enter the house and choose adornment for the dead。
Thyself； too； will not send empty…handed away； since thou hast done
her a service。 And for the good news thou hast brought me； thou
shalt receive raiment instead of going bare； and food； too； that
thou mayst reach thy country； for as it is； I see thou art in sorry
plight。 As for thee； poor lady； waste not thyself in a hopeless
case； Menelaus has met his doom； and thy dead husband cannot come to
life。
MENELAUS
This then is thy duty； fair young wife； be content with thy
present husband； and forget him who has no existence； for this is
thy best course in face of what is happening。 And if ever I come to
Hellas and secure my safety； I will clear thee of thy former
ill…repute； if thou prove a dutiful wife to thy true husband。
HELEN
I will； never shall my husband have cause to blame me； thou
shalt thyself attend us and be witness thereto。 Now go within； poor
wanderer； and seek the bath； and change thy raiment。 I will show my
kindness to thee； and that without delay。 For thou wilt perform all
service due with kindlier feeling for my dear lord Menelaus； if at
my hands thou meet with thy deserts。
（THEOCLYMENUS； HELEN； MENELAUS enter the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Through wooded glen； o'er torrent's flood； and ocean's booming
waves rushed the mountain…goddess； mother of the gods； in frantic
haste； once long ago； yearning for her daughter lost； whose name men
dare not utter； loudly rattled the Bacchic castanets in shrill accord；
what time those maidens； swift as whirlwinds； sped forth with the
goddess on her chariot yoked to wild creatures； in quest of her that
was ravished from the circling choir of virgins； here was Artemis with
her bow； and there the grim…eyed goddess； sheathed in mail； and
spear in hand。 But Zeus looked down from his throne in heaven； and
turned the issue otherwhither。
antistrophe 1
Soon as the mother ceased from her wild wandering toil； in seeking
her daughter stolen so subtly as to baffle all pursuit； she crossed
the snow…capped heights of Ida's nymphs； and in anguish cast her
down amongst the rocks and brushwood deep in snow； and； denying to man
all increase to his tillage from those barren fields； she wasted the
human race； nor would she let the leafy tendrils yield luxuriant
fodder for the cattle； wherefore many a beast lay dying； no
sacrifice was offered to the gods； and on the altars were no cakes
to burn； yea； and she made the dew…fed founts of crystal water to
cease their flow； in her insatiate sorrow for her child。
