helen-第8章
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cease their flow； in her insatiate sorrow for her child。
strophe 2
But when for gods and tribes of men alike she made an end to
festal cheer； Zeus spoke out； seeking to soothe the mother's moody
soul； 〃Ye stately Graces； go banish from Demeter's angry heart the
grief her wanderings bring upon her for her child； and go； ye Muses
too； with tuneful choir。〃 Thereon did Cypris； fairest of the blessed
gods； first catch up the crashing cymbals； native to that land； and
the drum with tight…stretched skin； and then Demeter smiled； and in
her hand。 did take the deep…toned flute； well pleased with its loud
note。
antistrophe 2
Thou hast wedded as thou never shouldst have done in defiance of
all right； and thou hast incurred； my daughter； the wrath of the great
mother by disregarding her sacrifices。 Oh！ mighty is the virtue in
dress of dappled fawn…skin； in ivy green that twineth round a sacred
thyrsus； in whirling tambourines struck as they revolve in air in
tresses wildly streaming for the revelry of Bromius； and likewise in
the sleepless vigils of the goddess； when the moon looks down and
sheds her radiance o'er the scene。 Thou wert confident in thy charms
alone。
（HELEN comes out of the palace alone。）
HELEN
My friends； within the palace all goes well for us； for the
daughter of Proteus； who is privy to our stealthy scheme； told her
brother nothing when questioned as to my husband's coming； but for
my sake declared him dead and buried。 Most fortunate it is my lord
hath had the luck to get these weapons； for he is now himself clad
in the harness he was to plunge into the sea； his stalwart arm
thrust through the buckler's strap； and in his right hand a spear；
on pretence of joining in homage to the dead。 He hath girded himself
most serviceably for the fray； as if to triumph o'er a host of
barbarian foes when once we are aboard yon oared ship； instead of
his rags from the wreck hath he donned the robes I gave for his
attire； and I have bathed his limbs in water from the stream； a bath
he long hath wanted。 But I must be silent； for from the house comes
forth the man who thinks he has me in his power； prepared to be his
bride； and thy goodwill I also claim and thy strict silence； if haply；
when we save ourselves； we may save thee too some day。
（THEOCLYMENUS and MENELAUS enter； with a train of attendants
bearing the offerings for the funeral rites。）
THEOCLYMENUS
Advance in order； servants； as the stranger hath directed； bearing
the funeral gifts the sea demands。 But thou； Helen； if thou wilt not
misconstrue my words； be persuaded and here abide； for thou wilt do
thy husband equal service whether thou art present or not。 For I am
afraid that some sudden shock of fond regret may prompt thee to plunge
into the swollen tide； in an ecstasy of gratitude toward thy former
husband； for thy grief for him； though he is lost； is running to
excess。
HELEN
O my new lord； needs must I honour him with whom I first shared
married joys； for I could even die with my husband； so well I loved
him； yet how could he thank me； were I to share death's doom with him？
Still； let me go and pay his funeral rites unto the dead in person。
The gods grant thee the boon I wish and this stranger too； for the
assistance he is lending here！ And thou shalt find in me a wife fit to
share thy house； since thou art rendering kindness to Menelaus and
to me； for surely these events are to some good fortune tending。 But
now appoint someone to give us a ship wherein to convey these gifts；
that I may find thy kindness made complete。
THEOCLYMENUS （to an attendant）
Go thou； and furnish them with a Sidonian galley of fifty oars and
rowers also。
HELEN
Shall not he command the ship who is ordering the funeral？
THEOCLYMENUS
Most certainly； my sailors are to obey him。
HELEN
Repeat the order； that they may clearly understand thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
I repeat it； and will do so yet again if that is thy pleasure。
HELEN
Good luck to thee and to me in my designs！
THEOCLYMENUS
Oh！ waste not thy fair complexion with excessive weeping。
HELEN
This day shall show my gratitude to thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
The state of the dead is nothingness； to toil for them is vain。
HELEN
In what I say； this world； as well as that； hath share。
THEOCLYMENUS
Thou shalt not find in me a husband at all inferior to Menelaus。
HELEN
With thee have I no fault to find； good luck is all I need。
THEOCLYMENUS
That rests with thyself； if thou show thyself a loving wife to me。
HELEN
This is not a lesson I shall have to learn now； to love my
friends。
THEOCLYMENUS
Is it thy wish that I should escort thee in person with active
aid？
HELEN
God forbid！ become not thy servant's servant； O king！
THEOCLYMENUS
Up and away！ I am not concerned with customs which the race of
Pelops holds。 My house is pure； for Menelaus did not die here； go some
one now and bid my vassal chiefs bring marriage…offerings to my
palace； for the whole earth must re…echo in glad accord the hymn of my
wedding with Helen； to make men envious。 Go； stranger； and pour into
the sea's embrace these offerings to Helen's former lord； and then
speed back again with my bride； that after sharing with me her
marriage…feast thou mayst set out for home； or here abide in
happiness。
（THEOCLYMENUS and his retinue enter the palace。）
MENELAUS
O Zeus； who art called the father of all and god of wisdom； look
down on us and change our woe to joy！ Lend us thy ready help； as we
seek to drag our fortunes up the rugged hill； if with but thy
finger…tip thou touch us； we shall reach our longed…for goal。
Sufficient are the troubles we ere this have undergone。 Full oft
have I invoked you gods to near my joys and sorrows； I do not
deserve to be for ever unhappy； but to advance and prosper。 Grant me
but this one boon； and so will ye crown my future with blessing。
（MENELAUS； HELEN and their train of attendants depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Hail！ thou swift Phoenician ship of Sidon！ dear to the rowers；
mother to the foam； leader of fair dolphins' gambols； what time the
deep is hushed and still； and Ocean's azure child； the queen of
calm； takes up her parable and says： 〃Away！ and spread your canvas
to the ocean…breeze。 Ho！ sailors； ho！ come grip your oars of pine；
speeding Helen on her way to the sheltered beach where Perseus dwelt
of yore。〃
antistrophe 1
It may be thou wilt find the daughters of Leucippus beside the
brimming river or before the temple of Pallas； when at last with dance
and revelry thou joinest in the merry midnight festival of Hyacinthus；
him whom Phoebus slew in the lists by a quoit hurled o'er the mark；
wherefore did the son of Zeus ordain that Laconia's land should set
apart that day for sacrifice； there too shalt thou find the tender
maid； whom ye left in your house； for as yet no nuptial torch has shed
its light for her。
strophe 2
Oh！ for wings to cleave the air in the track of Libyan cranes；
whose serried ranks leave far behind the wintry storm at the shrill
summons of some veteran leader； who raises his exultant cry as he
wings his way o'er plains that know no rain and yet bear fruitful
increase。 Ye feathered birds with necks outstretched； comrades of
the racing clouds； on on！ till ye reach the Pleiads in their central
station and Orion； lord of the night； and as ye settle on Eurotas'
banks proclaim the glad tidings that Menelaus hath sacked the city
of Dardanus； and will soon be home。
antistrophe 2
Ye sons of Tyndareus at length appear； speeding in your chariot
through the sky； denizens of heaven's courts beneath the radiant
whirling stars； guide this lady Helen safely o'er the azure main；
across the foam…flecked billows of the deep…blue sea； sending the
mariners a favouring gale from Zeus； and from your sister snatch the
ill…repute of wedding with a barbarian； even the punishment bequeathed
to her from that strife on Ida's mount； albeit she never went to the
land of Ilium； to the battlements of Phoebus。
（The SECOND MESSENGER enters in haste； as THEOCLYMENUS comes out
of the palace。）
SECOND MESSENGER
O king； at last have I found thee in the palace； for new tidings
of woe art thou soon to hear from me。
THEOCLYMENUS
How now？
MESSENGER
Make haste to woo a new wife； for Helen hath escaped。
THEOCLYMENUS
Borne aloft on soaring wings； or treading still the earth？
MESSENGER
Menelaus has succeeded in bearing her hence； 'twas he that brought
the news of his own death。
THEOCLYMENUS
O monstrous story！ what ship conveyed her from these shores？ Thy
tale is past belief。
MESSENGER
The very ship thou didst thyself give the stranger； and that
thou mayest briefly know all； he is gone； taking thy sailors with him。
THEOCLYMENUS
How was it？ I long to know； for I never thought that a single
arm could master all those sailors with whom thou wert despatched。
MESSENGER
Soon as the daughter of Zeus had left this royal mansion and
come unto the sea； daintily picking her way； most craftily she set
to mourn her husband； though he was not dead but at her side。 Now when
we reached thy docks well walled； we began to launch the fastest of
Sidonian ships； with her full complement of fifty rowers； and each
task in due succession followed； some set up the mast； others ranged
the oars with their blades ready； and stored the white sails within
the hold； and the rudder was let down astern and fastened securely。
While we were thus employed； those Hellenes； who had been
fellow…voyagers with Menelaus； were watching us； it seems； and they
drew nigh the beach； clad in the rags of shipwrecked men；…well built
enough； but squalid to look upon。 And the son of Atreus； directly he
saw them approach； bespoke them； craftily introducing the reason for
his mourning： 〃Ye hapless mariners； how have ye come hither？ your
Achaean ship where wrecked？ Are ye here to help bury dead Atreus' son；
whose missing body this lady； daughter of Tyndareas； is honouring with
a cenotaph？〃 Then they with feigned tears proceeded to the ship；
bearing aboard the offerings to be thrown into the deep for
Menelaus。 Thereat were we suspicious； and communed amongst ourselves
regarding the number of extra voyagers； but still
