helen-第9章
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Menelaus。 Thereat were we suspicious； and communed amongst ourselves
regarding the number of extra voyagers； but still we kept silence
out of respect for thy orders； for by intrusting the command of the
vessel to the stranger thou didst thus spoil all。 Now the other
victims gave no trouble； and we easily put them aboard； only the
bull refused to go forward along the gangway； but rolled his eyes
around and kept bellowing； and； arching his back and glaring askance
towards his horns； he would not let us touch him。 But Helen's lord
cried out： 〃O！ ye who laid waste the town of Ilium； come pick up yon
bull； the dead man's offering； on your stout shoulders； as is the
way in Hellas； and cast him into the hold；〃 and as he spoke he drew
his sword in readiness。 Then they at his command came and caught up
the bull and carried him bodily on to the deck。 And Menelaus stroked
the horse on neck and brow； coaxing it to go aboard。 At length； when
the ship was fully freighted； Helen climbed the ladder with graceful
step and took her seat midway betwixt the rowers' benches； and he
sat by her side； even Menelaus who was called dead； and the rest；
equally divided on the right and left side of the ship； sat them down；
each beside his man； with swords concealed beneath their cloaks； and
the billows soon were echoing to the rowers' song； as we heard the
boatswain's note。 Now when we were put out a space； not very far nor
very near； the helmsman asked； 〃Shall we； sir stranger； sail yet
further on our course； or will this serve？ For thine it is to
command the ship。〃 And he answered： 〃'Tis far enough for me；〃 while in
his right hand he gripped his sword and stepped on to the prow； then
standing o'er the bull to slay it； never a word said he of any dead
man； but cut its throat and thus made prayer： 〃Poseidon； lord of the
sea； whose home is in the deep； and ye holy daughters of Nereus； bring
me and my wife safe and sound to Nauplia's strand from hence！ Anon a
gush of blood； fair omen for the stranger； spouted into the tide。
One cried； 〃There is treachery in this voyage； why should we now
sail to Nauplia？ Give the order； helmsman； turn thy rudder。〃 But the
son of Atreus； standing where he slew the bull； called to his
comrades； 〃Why do ye； the pick of Hellas； delay to smite and slay
the barbarians and fling them from the ship into the waves？〃 While
to thy crew the boatswain cried the opposite command： 〃Ho！ some of you
catch up chance spars； break up the benches； or snatch the oar…blade
from the thole； and beat out the brains of these our foreign foes。〃
Forthwith up sprang each man； the one part armed with poles that
sailors use； the other with swords。 And the ship ran down with
blood； while Helen from her seat upon the stern thus cheered them
on： 〃Where is the fame ye won in Troy？ show it against these
barbarians。〃 Then as they hasted to the fray； some would fall and some
rise up again； while others hadst thou seen laid low in death。 But
Menelaus in full armour； made his way； sword in hand； to any point
where his watchful eye perceived his comrades in distress； so we leapt
from the ship and swam； and he cleared the benches of thy rowers。 Then
did the prince set himself to steer； and bade them make a straight
course to Hellas。 So they set up the mast； and favouring breezes blew；
and they are clear away； while I； from death escaped； let myself
down by the anchor chain into the sea； and； just as I was spent； one
threw me a rope and rescued me； and drew me to land to bring to thee
this message。 Ah！ there is naught more serviceable to mankind than a
prudent distrust。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I would never have believed that Menelaus could have eluded us and
thee； O king； in the way he did on his coming。
THEOCLYMENUS
Woe is me！ cozened by a woman's tricks！ My bride hath escaped
me。 If the ship could have been pursued and overtaken； I would have
used every means forthwith to catch the strangers； as it is； I will
avenge myself upon my treacherous sister； in that she saw Menelaus
in my palace and did not tell me。 Wherefore shall she nevermore
deceive another by her prophetic art。
（A SERVANT comes out of the palace。）
SERVANT
Ho； there！ whither away so fast； my lord？ on what bloody thought
intent？
THEOCLYMENUS
Whither justice calls me。 Out of my path！
SERVANT
I will not loose thy robe； for on grievous mischief art thou bent。
THEOCLYMENUS
Shalt thou； a slave； control thy master？
SERVANT
Yea； for I am in my senses。
THEOCLYMENUS
I should not say so； if thou wilt not let me
SERVANT
Nay； but that I never will。
THEOCLYMENUS
Slay my sister most accursed。
SERVANT
Say rather； most righteous。
THEOCLYMENUS
〃Righteous？〃 She who betrayed me？
SERVANT
There is an honourable treachery； which 'tis right to commit。
THEOCLYMENUS
By giving my bride to another？
SERVANT
Only to those who had a better right。
THEOCLYMENUS
Who hath any rights o'er mine？
SERVANT
He that received her from her father。
THEOCLYMENUS
Nay； but fortune gave her to me。
SERVANT
And destiny took her away。
THEOCLYMENUS
〃Tis not for thee to decide my affairs。
SERVANT
Only supposing mine be the better counsel。
THEOCLYMENUS
So I am thy subject； not thy ruler。
SERVANT
Aye； a subject bound to do the right； and eschew the wrong。
THEOCLYMENUS
It seems thou art eager to be slain。
SERVANT
Slay me； thy sister shalt thou never slay with my consent； but
me perchance； for to die for their masters is the fairest death that
noble slaves can find。
（THE DIOSCURI appear from above。）
DIOSCURI
Restrain those bursts of rage that hurry thee to undue lengths；
Theoclymenus； king of this country。 We are the twin sons of Zeus
that call to thee by name； whom Leda bore one day； with Helen too
who hath fled from thy palace。 For thou art wroth for a marriage never
destined for thee； nor is thy sister Theonoe； daughter of a Nereid
goddess； wronging thee because she honours the word of God and her
father's just behests。 For it was ordained that Helen should abide
within thy halls up till the present time； but since Troy is razed
to the ground and she hath lent her name to the goddesses； no longer
need she stay； now must she be united in the self…same wedlock as
before； and reach her home and share it with her husband。 Withhold
then thy malignant blade from thy sister； and believe that she
herein is acting with discretion。 Long； long ago had we our sister
saved； seeing that Zeus has made us gods； but we were too weak for
destiny as well as the deities； who willed these things to be。 This is
my bidding to thee； while to my sister I say； 〃Sail on with thy
husband； and ye shall have a prosperous breeze； for we； thy brethren
twain； will course along the deep and bring you safely to your
fatherland。 And when at last thy goal is reached and thy life ended；
thou shalt be famous as a goddess； and with thy twin brethren share
the drink…offering； and like us receive gifts from men； for such is
the will of Zeus。 Yea； and that spot where the son o Maia first
appointed thee a home when from Sparta he removed thee； after stealing
an image of thee from Heaven's mansions to prevent thy marriage with
Paris； even the isle that lies like a sentinel along the Attic
coast； shall henceforth be called by thy name amongst men； for that it
welcomed thee when stolen from thy home。 Moreover； Heaven ordains that
the wanderer Menelaus shall find a home within an island of the blest；
for to noble souls hath the deity no dislike； albeit these oft
suffer more than those of no account。〃
THEOCLYMENUS
Ye sons of Leda and of Zeus； I will forego my former quarrel about
your sister； nor no longer seek to slay mine own。 Let Helen to her
home repair； if such is Heaven's pleasure。 Ye know that ye are
sprung of the same stock as your sister； best of women； chastest
too； hail then for the true nobility of Helen's soul； a quality too
seldom found amongst her sex！
CHORUS （chanting）
Many are the forms the heavenly will assumes； and many a thing God
brings to pass contrary to expectation： that which was looked for is
not accomplished； while Heaven finds out a way for what we never
hoped； e'en such has been the issue here。
…THE END…
。
