Contents — 25 sections
Part 1
1HELEN: These are the lovely pure streams of the Nile, which waters the plain and lands of Egypt, fed by white melting snow instead of rain from heaven. Proteus was king of this land when he was alive,
5living on the island of Pharos and lord of Egypt; and he married one of the daughters of the sea, Psamathe, after she left Aiakos’ bed. She bore two children in his palace here: a son Theoklymenos,
10and a noble daughter, her mother’s pride, called Eido in her infancy. But when she came to youth, the season of marriage, she was called Theonoe; for she knew whatever the gods design, both present and to come,
15having received this honor from her grandfather Nereus.
16My own fatherland, Sparta, is not without fame, and my father is Tyndareus; but there is indeed a story that Zeus flew to my mother Leda, taking the form of a bird, a swan,
20which accomplished the deceitful union, fleeing the pursuit of an eagle, if this story is true. My name is Helen; I will tell the evils I have suffered. For the sake of beauty, three goddesses came to a deep valley on Mount Ida, to Paris:
25Hera and Kypris, and the virgin daughter of Zeus, wishing to have the judgment of their loveliness decided. Kypris offered my beauty, if misfortune is beautiful, for Paris to marry, and so she won. Paris, the shepherd of Ida, left his ox-stalls
30and came to Sparta, to have me in marriage.
31But Hera, indignant at not defeating the goddesses, made an airy nothing of my marriage with Paris; she gave to the son of king Priam not me, but an image, alive and breathing, that she fashioned out of the sky and made to look like me;
35and he thinks he has me—an idle fancy, for he doesn’t have me. And in turn the plans of Zeus added further troubles to these; for he brought a war upon the land of the Hellenes and the unhappy Phrygians, so that he might lighten mother earth
40of her crowded mass of mortals, and bring fame to the bravest man of Hellas. So I was set up as the Hellenes’ spear-prize, to test the courage of the Trojans; or rather not me, but my name. Hermes caught me up in the folds of the air and
45hid me in a cloud—for Zeus was not neglectful of me—and he set me down here in the house of Proteus, having selected the most self-controlled of all mankind, so that I might keep my bed pure for Menelaos. And so I am here, while my wretched husband
50has gathered an army and gone over to the towers of Ilion to hunt down and recover me. And many lives have been lost for my sake by the streams of Skamandros; and I who have endured all this am accursed, and have in appearance betrayed my husband
55and brought a great war to the Hellenes. Why then am I still alive? I heard the god Hermes declare that I would yet live in the glorious country of Sparta, with my husband—for Hermes knew I never went to Ilion—so that I would not go to bed with another man.
60Well, as long as Proteus saw this light of the sun, I was safe from marriage; but now that he is hidden in the dark earth, the dead man’s son hunts after a marriage with me. But I, out of regard to my husband of long ago, am throwing myself down as a suppliant before this tomb of Proteus,
65for him to keep my bed safe for my husband, so that, if I bear a name infamous throughout Hellas, at least my body may not incur disgrace here.
68TEUCER: Who holds power over this fortified house? The dwelling is worthy of comparison with Ploutos’,
70its royal enclosures and towering buildings. Ah! Oh gods, what sight is here? I see the hateful deadly likeness of the woman who ruined me and all the Achaeans. May the gods spurn you, so much do you look like
75Helen! If I were not in a foreign land, you would have died by this well-aimed arrow as a reward for your likeness to the daughter of Zeus.
78HELEN: What is it, poor man—who are you, that you have turned away from me and loathe me for the misfortunes of that one?
80TEUCER: I was wrong; I gave way to my anger more than I should, for all Hellas hates that daughter of Zeus. Forgive me for what I said, lady.
83HELEN: Who are you? Where have you come from, to visit this land?
84TEUCER: I am one of those unfortunate Achaeans, lady.
85HELEN: Then it is no wonder that you loathe Helen. But who are you and where do you come from? Whose son should I call you?
87TEUCER: My name is Teucer, my father is Telamon, and Salamis is the land that nurtured me.
89HELEN: Then why are you visiting these lands of the Nile?
90TEUCER: I am an exile, driven out of my native land.
91HELEN: You must be unhappy! Who banished you from your fatherland?
92TEUCER: My father Telamon. Could you find anyone closer to me?
93HELEN: But why? This matter is surely an unfortunate one.
94TEUCER: The death of my brother Aias at Troy was my ruin.
95HELEN: How so? You didn’t take his life with your sword, did you?
96TEUCER: He threw himself on his own sword and died.
97HELEN: Was he mad? For what sensible man would dare such a thing?
98TEUCER: Do you know a certain Achilleus, the son of Peleus?
99HELEN: Yes; he came to woo Helen once, so I hear.
100TEUCER: When he died, he left a contest for his armor to his allies.
Part 2
101HELEN: Well, if he did, what harm is this to Aias?
102TEUCER: When someone else got the arms, he took his own life.
103HELEN: Then are you ill through his suffering?
104TEUCER: Yes, because I did not die together with him.
105HELEN: So you went to the famous city of Ilion, stranger?
106TEUCER: Yes, and by helping to sack it, I destroyed myself as well.
107HELEN: Has it already been set alight and completely consumed by fire?
108TEUCER: So that not even a trace of the walls is evident.
109HELEN: O miserable Helen! Because of you, the Phrygians have been destroyed.
110TEUCER: And also the Achaeans; great evils have been committed.
111HELEN: How long is it since the city was sacked?
112TEUCER: Almost seven years have gone full circle, with their harvests.
113HELEN: And how much longer were you waiting at Troy?
114TEUCER: For many months; the moon held its course through ten years.
115HELEN: And did you capture the Spartan woman?
116TEUCER: Menelaos caught her by the hair to drag her away.
117HELEN: Did you yourself see the wretched creature? Or do you speak from hearsay?
118TEUCER: I saw her with my own eyes, just as I see you, no less.
119HELEN: Consider whether you had some fancy, sent by the gods.
120TEUCER: Think of some other topic, not that woman still!
Part 3
121HELEN: Are you so sure this fancy was reliable?
122TEUCER: I saw it with my own eyes; and the mind has sight.
123HELEN: Is Menelaos already at home with his wife?
124TEUCER: No; he is neither in Argos nor by the streams of the Eurotas.
125HELEN: Alas! This is evil news for those to whom you bring it.
126TEUCER: He is said to have disappeared with his wife.
127HELEN: Wasn’t there the same passage for all the Argives?
128TEUCER: Yes; but a tempest scattered them in every direction.
129HELEN: On which surface of the salty ocean?
130TEUCER: While they were crossing the Aegean in mid-channel.
131HELEN: And from that time does no one know of Menelaos’ arrival?
132TEUCER: No one; but throughout Hellas he is reported to be dead.
133HELEN: I am wholly lost. Is the daughter of Thestius alive?
134TEUCER: You speak of Leda? She is dead and gone, indeed.
135HELEN: It wasn’t Helen’s disgraceful fame that killed her, surely?
136TEUCER: Yes, they say she tied a noose around her noble neck.
137HELEN: Are the sons of Tyndareus still alive or not?
138TEUCER: They are dead, and not dead: it is a double story.
139HELEN: Which report is the stronger? I am so unhappy at these evils!
140TEUCER: Men say that they are gods in the likeness of stars.
Part 4
141HELEN: That is good news; but what is the other story?
142TEUCER: That they killed themselves because of their sister. But enough of such talk! I do not need to grieve twice. As to why I came to this royal palace,
145wanting to see the prophetess Theonoe, you be my patron, so I might obtain an oracle: how I should steer a favorable course to the island of Cyprus, where Apollo has declared I am to live, giving it the island name of
150Salamis in honor of that fatherland over there.
151HELEN: The voyage itself will explain that, stranger; leave this land and escape, before the son of Proteus, the ruler of this land, catches sight of you; now he is away with his trusty hounds tracking his savage quarry to the death;
155for he kills every visitor from Hellas that he catches. Do not seek to learn his reason, and I will not say; for how could I help you?
158TEUCER: Lady, you have spoken well. May the gods grant you a return for your kindness!
160Although you have a body like Helen’s, your heart is not like hers, but very different. May she die miserably, and never reach the streams of Eurotas! But may you always have good fortune, lady.
164HELEN: Oh, as I begin the great lament of my great distress,
165what mourning shall I strive to utter? or what Muse shall I approach with tears or songs of death or woe? Alas!
167HELEN: Winged maidens, virgin daughters of Earth, the Sirens, may you come to my mourning
170with Libyan flute or pipe or lyre, tears to match my plaintive woes; grief for grief and mournful chant for chant, may Persephone send choirs of death
175in harmony with my lamentation, so that she may receive as thanks from me, in addition to my tears, a paean for the departed dead beneath her gloomy roof.
179CHORUS: Beside the deep-blue water
180and on the tangled grass, I happened to be drying purple robes in the sun’s golden blaze near the young reed shoots; from my mistress, from where she cried aloud her misery,
185I heard a sound, a mournful song not fit for the lyre, because she was then shrieking, lamenting with her wails; just as a Naiad nymph, who sends a song of woe ringing over the hills, cries out, under the rocky hollows, with screams
190at the rape of Pan.
191HELEN: Oh! Oh! Maidens of Hellas, the prey of barbarian sailors! An Achaean sailor
195came, he came bringing tears upon tears to me. Ilion has been destroyed and is left to the enemy’s fire through me, the death-giver, through my name, full of suffering.
200Leda sought death by hanging, in anguish over my disgrace. My husband, after much wandering in the sea, has died and is gone;
205and Castor and his brother, twin glory of their native land, have vanished, vanished, leaving the plains that shook to their galloping horses,
210and the schools of reed-fringed Eurotas, scene of youthful labors.
211CHORUS: Alas, alas! for your mournful fate and destiny, lady! You were fated, fated to have a life full of pain, when Zeus begot you on your mother,
215shining through the air on the wings of a snow-white swan. What evil is not yours? What life have you not endured? Your mother is dead;
220the twin beloved sons of Zeus do not enjoy happiness; and you do not see your fatherland, while through the cities a rumor goes, mistress, which hands you over
225to the bed of a barbarian; your husband has lost his life in the salty waves, and never again will you bring glee to your father’s halls and Athene of the Bronze House.
229HELEN: Ah! Who was it, either from Phrygia
230or from Hellas, who cut the pine that brought tears to Ilion? From this wood the son of Priam built his deadly ship, and sailed by barbarian oars
235to my home, to that most ill-fated beauty, to win me as his wife; and with him sailed deceitful and murderous Kypris, bearing death for the Danaans.
240Oh, unhappy in my misfortune! But Hera, the holy beloved of Zeus on her golden throne, sent the swift-footed son of Maia. I was gathering fresh rose leaves in the folds of my robe,
245so that I might go to the goddess of the Bronze House; he carried me off through the air to this luckless land, and made me an object of miserable strife, of strife between Hellas and the sons of Priam. And my name
250beside the streams of Simois bears a false rumor.
253CHORUS LEADER: You have sorrows, I know; but it is best to bear as lightly as we can the necessary evils of life.
255HELEN: Dear friends, to what a fate am I yoked? Did my mother bear me as a wonder to mankind?
260My life and all I do is a wonder, partly because of Hera, and partly my beauty is to blame. If only I could be rubbed out like a painting, and have again in turn a plainer form instead of beauty, and the Hellenes would have forgotten the evil fate that I now have,
265and would remember what part of my life is not evil, as they now remember what is.
267When someone looks to one event only, and is ill-treated by the gods, it is hard, but all the same it can be borne. But I am involved in countless troubles.
270First, although I never acted wrongly, my good name is gone. And this trouble is stronger than the reality, if someone incurs blame for wrongs that are not his own. Next, the gods have removed me from my native country to barbarian habits, and bereft of friends
275I have become a slave although I am free by birth; for among barbarians all are slaves except one. And the only anchor of my fortunes is gone, the hope that my husband would come one day and free me of my woes—he is dead, he no longer exists.
280My mother is dead, and I am called her murderer—unjustly, but that injustice is mine to bear; while the one who was born the glory of the house, my daughter, is growing gray as a virgin, without a husband; and those two Dioskouroi, called the sons of Zeus, are no more.
285But with all my misfortunes, I am as good as dead in my circumstances, though not in fact. And this is the last evil of all: if ever I should come home, I would be shut out by barred doors, for people would think I was that Helen of Troy, coming back with Menelaos.
290If my husband were still alive, we could have recognized each other by recourse to tokens which are evident to us alone. But now this is not so, and he can never be saved.
293Why then do I still live? What fortune do I have left? Shall I choose marriage in exchange for evils,
295and live with a barbarian man, seated at his sumptuous table? But whenever a husband she hates lives with a woman, her own body is also hateful to her. It is best to die; how could this not be well done?
300For I have come to such a depth of misery; other women have good fortune from their beauty,
305but the same thing has destroyed me.
306CHORUS LEADER: Helen, do not suppose that stranger who came here, whoever he was, has spoken the whole truth.
308HELEN: And yet he said very clearly that my husband was dead.
309CHORUS LEADER: Many words might be said in falsehood also.
310HELEN: And the opposite of falsehood is clear in its truth.
311CHORUS LEADER: You are carried towards misfortune instead of what is good.
312HELEN: Yes, for terror has embraced me and leads me to the thing I fear.
313CHORUS LEADER: How much goodwill is there in this house for you?
314HELEN: All are my friends, except the one who hunts me in marriage.
Part 5
315CHORUS LEADER: Then do you know what you should do? Leave your seat at the monument—
316HELEN: What sort of word of advice are you coming to?
317CHORUS LEADER: Go inside and question the daughter of the sea-nymph, Theonoe, who knows all things, about your husband, whether he is still alive, or has left the light of day;
320and when you know for certain, rejoice or be full of mourning, according to your fortune. Before you know anything correctly, what good would it do you to grieve? But be persuaded by me; leave this tomb and join the girl;
325when you have someone in this house from whom you can learn the whole truth, why do you look further? And I myself want to go in and ask about the prophecies of the maiden with you; for, truly, women ought to help each other.
330HELEN: Dear friends, I welcome your advice. Come in, come into the house, to learn within about my struggles.
334CHORUS: You are calling on one who is wholly willing.
335HELEN: Oh, what an unhappy day! What tearful word shall I hear, unhappy as I am?
338CHORUS: Do not be a prophetess of sorrow, dear friend, anticipating lamentation.
340HELEN: What has my poor husband suffered? Does he see the light and the sun’s chariot and the paths of the stars? Or does he have a lasting fate
345among the dead beneath the earth?
346CHORUS: Take a brighter view of the future, whatever will happen.
348HELEN: For I call on you, I swear to you, Eurotas green with watery reeds,
350if this rumor of my husband’s death is true—and what was obscure in those words?—I will stretch a deadly noose about my neck, or drive inward a murderous thrust of slaughter that gushes from the throat,
355a contest of the blade through my flesh, as a sacrifice to the three goddesses and to the son of Priam, who once sat on the hollows of Ida, near the ox-stalls.
360CHORUS: May sorrow be turned aside elsewhere, and may your lot be fortunate!
362HELEN: Oh, unhappy Troy! Through deeds not done by yourself, you are ruined, and have suffered pitiably; for the gift that Kypris gave me has caused much blood
365and many tears; it has added grief to grief and tear to tear, sorrows. . . . Mothers have lost their children and virgin sisters of the slain have cut off their hair by the swollen tide of Phrygian Skamandros.
370And Hellas has cried aloud, aloud, and broken forth in wailing, beating her head, and drenching her soft-skinned cheek with the bloody strokes of her nails.
375O maiden Kallisto, blessed once in Arcadia, who climbed into the bed of Zeus on four paws, how much happier was your lot than my mother’s, you who in the form of a shaggy-limbed beast—the bearing of a lioness with your fierce eye—changed your burden of sorrow;
380and also the one whom Artemis once drove from her chorus, as a deer with horns of gold, the Titan girl, daughter of Merops, because of her loveliness; but the beauty of my body has destroyed the Dardanian towers, it has destroyed them and
385the lost Achaeans.
386MENELAOS: O Pelops, who once held that chariot-race contest with Oinomaos over Pisa, if only, when you were persuaded to make a banquet for the gods, you had left your life then, inside the gods,
390before you ever begot my father, Atreus, to whom were born, from his marriage with Airope, Agamemnon and myself, Menelaos, a famous pair; for I believe that I carried a mighty army—and I say this not in boast—in ships to Troy,
395no tyrant commanding any troops by force, but leading the young men of Hellas by voluntary consent. And some of these can be counted no longer alive, others as having a joyful escape from the sea, bringing home again names thought to be of the dead.
400But I wander miserably over the swelling waves of the gray ocean, ever since I sacked the towers of Ilion; and although I long to come home, I am not thought worthy by the gods to achieve this. I have sailed to Libya’s deserts and all its inhospitable landing-places;
405and whenever I draw near my native land, the blast drives me back again, and no favoring wind has ever entered my sails to let me come home.
408And now I am cast up on this shore, a miserable shipwrecked sailor who has lost his friends; and my ship is
410broken into many pieces against the rocks. But out of its cleverly-wrought fastenings the keel was left, on which I made my difficult escape by an unexpected chance, and also Helen with me, whom I dragged away from Troy. But I do not know the name of this country
415and its people; for I was embarrassed to burst into a crowd and make inquiries, and so I concealed these shabby clothes, in shame over my misfortune. For whenever a man of high degree is badly off, he falls into an unaccustomed state which is worse than that of one who has long been unfortunate.
420But poverty is wearing me away; for I have neither food, nor clothes around my body; one can compare what I am wearing to rags cast out of the ship. The sea snatched away all the robes I once wore, splendid clothes and ornaments. Deep in a cave
425I hid the woman who caused all my troubles, and have come here, after compelling those of my friends who survived to guard my wife. I have come alone, seeking help for those friends there, if I may find it somehow after careful search.
430When I saw this home, surrounded by walls, and the majestic gateways of some prosperous man, I came near; sailors can hope to get something from wealthy homes; but from those who have no livelihood—they could not help us, even if they wanted to.
435Hello! Is there some gatekeeper who might come from the house and announce my troubles within?
437OLD WOMAN: Who’s at the door? Get away from the house and don’t annoy my master by standing at the court-yard gate! Or else you will die because you are
440a Hellene, and they have no business here.
441MENELAOS: My good woman, you can say these same words in a different tone, for I shall be persuaded; but let go your angry speech.
443OLD WOMAN: Go away! Stranger, my orders are to let no Hellene come near this house.
445MENELAOS: Ah! Do not push me, or thrust me away by force.
446OLD WOMAN: You are to blame, for not heeding what I say.
447MENELAOS: Announce to your master inside—
448OLD WOMAN: I think someone would be sorry, if I announced your words.
Part 6
449MENELAOS: I come as a shipwrecked man and a guest; such people are safe from violence.
450OLD WOMAN: Well, go to some other house instead of this one.
451MENELAOS: No; I am going inside. You listen to me.
452OLD WOMAN: Know that you’re only causing trouble; and soon you’ll be thrown out by force.
453MENELAOS: Alas! Where are those glorious armies of mine?
454OLD WOMAN: Perhaps you were grand somewhere, but not here.
455MENELAOS: O my fortune, how we have been unworthily dishonored.
456OLD WOMAN: Why are your eyes wet with tears? To whom are you lamenting?
457MENELAOS: To my fortunes, which were happy before this.
458OLD WOMAN: Well then, why don’t you go away and give these tears to your friends.
459MENELAOS: What is this land? Whose palace is this?
460OLD WOMAN: Proteus lives here, the land is Egypt.
461MENELAOS: Egypt? O wretched, that I have sailed here!
462OLD WOMAN: And why do you blame the bright gleam of the Nile?
463MENELAOS: I do not blame it; I am sighing for my fate.
464OLD WOMAN: Many people are doing badly; you are not the only one.
465MENELAOS: Is the king you name in the house?
466OLD WOMAN: This is his tomb; his son rules the land.
467MENELAOS: And where might he be? Abroad, or in the house?
468OLD WOMAN: He is not inside; he is most bitterly opposed to the Hellenes.
Part 7
469MENELAOS: What cause does he have? I have felt the consequences of it!
470OLD WOMAN: Helen, the daughter of Zeus, is in this house.
471MENELAOS: What do you mean? What did you say? Tell me again.
472OLD WOMAN: The daughter of Tyndareus, who once lived in Sparta.
473MENELAOS: Where did she come from? What is the meaning of this?
474OLD WOMAN: She came here from the land of Lakedaimon.
475MENELAOS: When? Surely I have not been robbed of my wife from the cave?
476OLD WOMAN: Before the Achaeans went to Troy, stranger. But get away from the house; for something is happening within, by which the palace is thrown into confusion. You have not come at the right time; and if my master
480catches you, death will be your guest-gift. For I am well-disposed to Hellenes, for all that I spoke harshly to you in fear of my master.
483MENELAOS: What can I say? For after my former troubles, this present event that I hear of is an unhappy one,
485if I have come here, bringing my wife who was taken from Troy, and she is kept safe in the cave, but some other woman who has the same name as my wife lives in this house. She said the woman was born the child of Zeus.
490Can there be a man with the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile? For there is only one in heaven. Where in the world is there a Sparta, except by the streams of Eurotas, with its lovely reeds? The name of Tyndareus is the name of one alone.
495Is there any land of the same name as Lakedaimon or Troy? I do not know what to say; for there are probably many things in the wide world that have the same names, both cities and women; there is nothing, then, to marvel at.
500Besides, I will not run away from a servant’s fears; for no man is so barbaric at heart as to refuse me food when he has heard my name. The fire of Troy is famous, and I, Menelaos, who lighted it, am well known in every land.
505I will wait for the master of the house; he gives me two things to look out for: if he is a cruel sort of person, I will keep myself hidden and go back to the shipwreck; but if he shows any softening, I will ask for help in my present state.
510This is the worst evil for me in my misery, to beg the means of life from other kings, when I am myself a king; but it is necessary. The saying is not mine, but it is a wise word: nothing is stronger than dreadful necessity.
515CHORUS: I have heard the prophetic maiden, who gave a clear answer within the palace: Menelaos is not yet dead and buried, gone to the land of shadows where darkness takes the place of light;
520but he is still wearing out his life on the ocean swell and has not yet reached the haven of his country, wretched in his wandering life,
525bereft of every friend, approaching every land in his sea-going ship from the land of Troy.
528HELEN: Here I am, once again coming back to the sanctuary of this tomb, after learning the welcome words of Theonoe,
530who knows all things truly; she says my husband is alive and sees the light of day; he is roaming here and there on countless voyages, not without practice in wandering, and he shall come here when he finds an end to his suffering.
535But she left one thing unsaid: if he will escape when he has come? And I refrained from asking that question clearly; I was so glad when she told me he was safe. She said that he was near this land somewhere, cast up, shipwrecked, with a few friends.
540Oh, when will you come? How much I long for your arrival!
541Ah! Who is this? I am not being ambushed by the plots of Proteus’ impious son, am I? Shall I not, like a young racehorse or a worshipper of Bacchus, reach the tomb? There is something wild
545about the looks of this man who is hunting me down.
546MENELAOS: You there! the one trying with fearful effort to reach the base of the tomb and the pillars of burnt sacrifice, stay where you are. Why do you flee? I am amazed and speechless at the sight of your body.
550HELEN: Women, I am being ill-treated. This man is keeping me from the tomb, and he wants to take me and give me to the king, whose wooing I was seeking to avoid.
553MENELAOS: I am no thief, nor a servant of evil men.
554HELEN: And yet the clothes you are wearing are unsightly enough.
555MENELAOS: Put fear aside and stop your rapid flight.
556HELEN: I do so, now that I have reached this spot.
557MENELAOS: Who are you? Whom do I see in you, lady?
558HELEN: But who are you? The same reason prompts us both.
559MENELAOS: I never saw a closer resemblance.
Part 8
560HELEN: O gods! For the recognizing of friends is a god.
561MENELAOS: Are you a woman from Hellas, or a native of this land?
562HELEN: From Hellas; but I want to learn your story too.
5563MENELAOS: You seem to me very much like Helen, lady.
564HELEN: And you seem to me like Menelaos; I don’t know what to say.
565MENELAOS: Well, you have correctly recognized a most unfortunate man.
566HELEN: Oh, at last you have come to the arms of your wife!
567MENELAOS: What do you mean by wife? Do not touch my robe.
568HELEN: The one whom Tyndareus, my father, gave to you.
569MENELAOS: O torch-bearing Hekate, send visions that are favorable!
570HELEN: You see in me no specter of the night, attendant on the queen of phantoms.
571MENELAOS: As one man, I am certainly not the husband of two women.
572HELEN: You are the master of what other wife?
573MENELAOS: The one hidden in the cave, whom I am bringing from Troy.
574HELEN: You have no other wife but me.
575MENELAOS: Can it be that I am in my right mind, but my sight is failing?
576HELEN: Don’t you think that when you look at me you see your wife?
577MENELAOS: Your body resembles hers, but the real truth robs me of this belief.
578HELEN: Look; what more do you need? Who knows better than you?
579MENELAOS: You are like her; I will not deny that at least.
Part 9
580HELEN: Who then shall teach you, if not your own eyes?
581MENELAOS: It is there that I am ailing, because I have another wife.
582HELEN: I did not go to Troy; that was a phantom.
583MENELAOS: And who fashions living bodies?
584HELEN: The air, out of which you have a wife that the gods labored over.
585MENELAOS: What god’s handiwork? You are saying things beyond hope.
586HELEN: Hera’s, as a substitute, so that Paris would not have me.
587MENELAOS: How then could you be here and in Troy at the same time?
588HELEN: The name may be in many places, though not the body.
589MENELAOS: Let me go! I have come here with enough pain.
590HELEN: Will you leave me, and take that phantom bride away?
591MENELAOS: Yes, and fare well, for your likeness to Helen.
592HELEN: I am ruined! I found you, my husband, but I will not have you.
593MENELAOS: The greatness of my troubles over there convinces me; you do not.
594HELEN: Ah me! Who was ever more miserable than I am?
595Those whom I love best are leaving me, and I shall never reach the Hellenes or my own country.
597MESSENGER: (entering hurriedly.) Menelaos, I find you, after taking great trouble to look for you, wandering over the whole of this foreign land; I am sent by the comrades whom you left behind.
600MENELAOS: What is it? Surely you are not being plundered by the foreigners?
601MESSENGER: It is a miracle; what I say is of less account than what happened.
602MENELAOS: Tell me; for, judging by this eagerness, you are certainly bringing something new.
603MESSENGER: I say that you have suffered countless labors in vain.
Part 10
604MENELAOS: You are mourning over old sorrows; what is your message?
605MESSENGER: Your wife has disappeared, taken up into the folds of the unseen air; she is hidden in heaven, and as she left the hallowed cave where we were keeping her, she said this: Miserable Phrygians, and all the Achaeans! On my account you were dying by the banks of Skamandros,
610through Hera’s contrivance, for you thought that Paris had Helen when he didn’t. But I, since I have stayed my appointed time, and kept the laws of fate, will now depart into the sky, my father; but the unhappy daughter of Tyndareus,
615guilty in no way, has borne an evil name without reason.
616Welcome, daughter of Leda, were you here after all? I was just announcing your departure up to the hidden starry realms, not knowing that you had a winged body. I will not let you mock us like this again,
620for you gave your fill of trouble to your husband and his allies in Ilion.
622MENELAOS: This is the meaning of that; her words have turned out to be true. O longed-for day, that has given you to my arms!
625HELEN: O Menelaos, dearest of men, the time was long, but delight is just now ours.
627With joy I have found my husband, friends, I have embraced my dear one, after long days of blazing light.
630MENELAOS: And I have found you; but I have many questions about t; now I do not know what to begin with first.
632HELEN: I am so happy, the hair rises on my head and my tears run down. I fling my arms around your neck,
635dear husband, to have my delight.
636MENELAOS: O dearest sight! I have no fault to find: I have my wife, the daughter of Zeus and Leda; your brothers on their snow-white steeds
640blessed you, blessed you at an earlier time, while torches blazed, but the god who took you from my home is driving us on to another fortune, better than this. An evil that was good brought you together with me, your husband
645after a long time, but may I still benefit by my good luck.
646CHORUS: May you benefit indeed, and I join in the same prayer; for when there are two, it is not possible for one to be unhappy and the other not.
648HELEN: My dear friends, I no longer sigh or grieve over what is past.
650I have my husband, for whom I have been waiting to come from Troy for many years.
652MENELAOS: You have me, and I have you; although it was hard to live through so many days, I now understand the actions of the goddess. My joy is tearful; it has more
655delight than sorrow.
656HELEN: What can I say? What mortal could ever have hoped for this? I hold you to my heart, little as I ever thought to.
658MENELAOS: And I hold you, whom we thought to have gone to Ida’s city and the unhappy towers of Ilion.
660By the gods, how were you taken from my home?
661HELEN: Ah! ah! You are setting out on a bitter beginning. Ah! ah! You are asking about a bitter tale.
663MENELAOS: Speak; all gifts from the gods should be heard.
664HELEN: I detest the story I am now to introduce.
665MENELAOS: Tell it anyway. It is sweet to hear of troubles.
666HELEN: Not to the bed of the young barbarian, on the wings of oars, on the wings of desire for lawless marriage—
669MENELAOS: What god or fate tore you from your country?
670HELEN: Ah, my husband! The son of Zeus, of Zeus, brought me to the Nile.
672MENELAOS: Amazing! Who sent you there? O dreadful story!
Part 11
673HELEN: I have wept bitterly, and my eyes are wet with tears; the wife of Zeus ruined me.
675MENELAOS: Hera? Why did she want to bring trouble to the two of us?
676HELEN: Alas for my terrible fate, the baths and springs, where the goddesses brightened the beauty from which the judgment came.
679MENELAOS: Regarding the judgment, Hera made it a cause of these troubles for you?
680HELEN: To take me away from Paris—
680bMENELAOS: How? Tell me.
681HELEN: To whom Kypris had promised me.
681bMENELAOS: O unhappy one!
682HELEN: Unhappy, unhappy; and so she brought me to Egypt.
683MENELAOS: Then she gave him a phantom instead, as I hear from you.
684HELEN: Sorrow, sorrow to your house,
685mother, alas.
685bMENELAOS: What do you mean?
686HELEN: My mother is no more; through shame of my disgraceful marriage she tied a noose around her neck.
688MENELAOS: Alas! Is our daughter Hermione alive?
689HELEN: Ah, my husband! Unmarried, and without children, she mourns my
690fatal marriage.
691MENELAOS: O Paris, who utterly destroyed my whole house, these things ruined you also, and countless bronze-clad Danaans.
694HELEN: The god cast me out, ill-fated and accursed, from my country,
695from my city, and from you, when I left my home and bed—yet I did not leave them—for a shameful marriage.
698CHORUS LEADER: If indeed you should find happiness in the future, it would be a match for the past.
700MESSENGER: Menelaos, give me as well a share of that joy which I understand, but not clearly.
702MENELAOS: Come and take part in our talk, old man, you too.
Part 12
703MESSENGER: This woman is not the arbitrator of all the trouble in Troy?
704MENELAOS: She is not; I was tricked by the gods
705and had in my arms the baneful image of a cloud.
706MESSENGER: What are you saying? We suffered in vain for the sake of a cloud?
708MENELAOS: It was the work of Hera, and the rivalry of the three goddesses.
709MESSENGER: And the one who is truly your wife is this woman here?
710MENELAOS: This is she; trust my word for that.
711MESSENGER: O daughter, how intricate and hard to trace out is the nature of the god! In some way that is good, he twists everything about, now up, now down; one man suffers, and one who has not suffered comes afterwards to a bad end,
715having no security in his current fortune. You and your husband have had your share of trouble, you in repute, he in the heat of battle. In his eagerness, while he was eager, he got nothing; but now that he has achieved the greatest good fortune, he has it without cause.
720You did not, after all, bring shame upon your old father or on the twin sons of Zeus, nor did you do such things as were spoken of. Now again I renew your wedding rites and remember the blazing torch I bore, running beside the four yoked horses; and you,
725in the chariot as a bride, were leaving your happy home with this man here. Whoever pays no reverence to his master’s affairs, rejoicing with him and grieving with his troubles, is worthless. Although I was born a servant, let me still be numbered among honest
730slaves; my mind is free, if not my name. For this is better than to suffer double misery as one man: to have a worthless heart and, being a slave, to owe obedience to any other.
734MENELAOS: Come, old man—often by my shield
735you have had your full share of trouble and hard work—now also have a share in my success, and go tell the friends I left behind the state of matters here, as you found them, and how my fortune stands; and bid them wait at the beach and watch eagerly for the
740struggle which I expect awaits me; and if we should be able somehow to steal this woman away from the land, tell them to keep good watch so that we may share the luck and escape, if we can, from the barbarians.
744MESSENGER: It shall be done, lord. Now indeed I see how worthless
745the seers’ doings are, and how full of falsehood; there was no health in the blaze of sacrifice after all, or in the cry of winged birds; even to think that birds can help mankind is certainly foolish. For Calchas gave no word or sign to the army,
750when he saw his friends dying on behalf of a cloud, nor did Helenos; but the city was taken by storm in vain. You might say: because the god did not want them to? Then why do we consult prophets? We ought to sacrifice to the gods and ask a blessing, but leave divination alone;
755for this was invented otherwise, as a bait for a livelihood, and no man grows rich by sacrifices if he is idle. But sound judgment and discernment are the best of seers. Exit Messenger.
758CHORUS LEADER: My views about seers coincide exactly with this old man’s; whoever has the gods as friends
760would have the best prophecy at home.
761HELEN: All right; so far all is well. But how you were saved, my poor husband, from Troy, there is no gain in knowing, yet friends have a desire to learn what their friends have suffered.
765MENELAOS: Truly you have asked a great deal all at once. Why should I tell you about our losses in the Aegean, and Nauplios’ beacons on Euboia, and my visits to Crete and the cities of Libya, and the mountain-peaks of Perseus? For I would not satisfy you with the tale,
770and by telling you these evils I would suffer still, as I did when I experienced them; and so my grief would be doubled.
772HELEN: Your answer is better than my question. Leave out the rest, and tell me only this: how long were you a weary wanderer over the surface of the sea?
775MENELAOS: Besides those ten years in Troy, I went through seven cycles of years on board ship.
777HELEN: Alas, poor man, you have spoken of a long time; and, saved from there, you have come here to the slaughter.
779MENELAOS: What do you mean? What will you say? Ah, my wife, you have ruined me.
780HELEN: Escape from this land and flee as quickly as possible. The man who lives in this house will kill you.
782MENELAOS: What have I done to deserve such a fate?
783HELEN: You have come unexpectedly to hinder my marriage.
784MENELAOS: What! Does someone plan to marry my wife?
Part 13
785HELEN: And to act in violence against me, which I have endured.
786MENELAOS: Does he have private power, or is he the ruler of the country?
787HELEN: He is the lord of this land, the son of Proteus.
788MENELAOS: This is that riddle I heard from the servant.
789HELEN: Which one of the barbarian’s gates were you standing beside?
790MENELAOS: This one, from which I was being driven away like a beggar.
791HELEN: You were surely not begging for food, were you? How unhappy I am!
792MENELAOS: That was the deed, though it did not have that name.
793HELEN: Then you know everything, it seems, about my marriage.
794MENELAOS: I do. But if you have escaped his bed—that I do not know.
795HELEN: Know that I have saved myself untouched for you.
796MENELAOS: What could persuade me of this? If true, your words are sweet.
797HELEN: Do you see my wretched sanctuary at this tomb?
798MENELAOS: I see a miserable bed of straw, but what do you have to do with it?
799HELEN: Here, as a suppliant, I am asking for an escape from his bed.
800MENELAOS: For want of an altar, or because it is the barbarians’ way?
801HELEN: This was as good a protection to me as the temples of the gods.
802MENELAOS: Then it’s not possible for me to take you home by ship?
803HELEN: A sword is waiting for you, rather than my bed.
804MENELAOS: So I would be the most wretched of mortals.
Part 14
805HELEN: Do not feel shame now, but escape from this land.
806MENELAOS: Leaving you behind? I ravaged Troy for your sake.
807HELEN: Yes, for that is better than that our union should cause your death.
808MENELAOS: Oh! these are coward’s words, unworthy of those days at Troy.
809HELEN: You could not kill the tyrant, your possible intention.
810MENELAOS: Does he then have a body that cannot be wounded by a sword?
811HELEN: You will hear. But to undertake impossibilities is no mark of wisdom.
812MENELAOS: And so I am to offer my hands to be bound, in silence?
813HELEN: You are in a dilemma; we need some contrivance.
814MENELAOS: Yes, for it is sweeter to die in action than by not acting.
815HELEN: There is one hope, and only one, for our safety.
816MENELAOS: Are we to buy it, or dare it, or win it with words?
817HELEN: If the tyrant were not to learn of your arrival.
818MENELAOS: Will any one tell him about me? He will certainly not know who I am.
819HELEN: He has within an ally equal to the gods.
820MENELAOS: A voice that has settled in the inmost parts of his house?
821HELEN: No, but his sister; she is called Theonoe.
822MENELAOS: The name is prophetic; tell me what she does.
823HELEN: She knows everything, and she will tell her brother that you are here.
824MENELAOS: We must die; for I cannot escape her notice.
Part 15
825HELEN: Perhaps we might persuade her by supplication—
826MENELAOS: To do what? What hope are you leading me to?
827HELEN: Not to tell her brother that you are here in this land.
828MENELAOS: If we persuade her, could we get away from this country?
829HELEN: Easily, in common with her; but secretly we could not.
830MENELAOS: The task is yours; it is suitable for women to deal with women.
831HELEN: Be sure that I will clasp her knees.
832MENELAOS: Well, then, what if she rejects our proposals?
833HELEN: You will die. And I, the unhappy one, will be married by force.
834MENELAOS: You would be a traitor; that force of yours is all an excuse.
835HELEN: But I have sworn a sacred oath by your life—
836MENELAOS: What do you mean? To die? And never to take his bed in exchange for mine?
837HELEN: Yes, by the same sword; I will lie at your side.
838MENELAOS: Then on these conditions touch my right hand.
839HELEN: I touch it, swearing that I will leave the light of day if you die.
840MENELAOS: And I will end my life if I lose you.
841HELEN: How then shall we die so as to insure our reputation for this?
842MENELAOS: I will kill you on the tomb’s surface, and then kill myself. But first I will fight a great contest for your bed. Let anyone who wishes come near!
845For I will not disgrace my Trojan fame, nor, on my return to Hellas, will I receive great blame—I who robbed Thetis of Achilleus, and saw the slaughter of Aias, son of Telamon, and the son of Neleus made childless;
850shall I not resolve to die for my wife? Most certainly; for if the gods are wise, they lightly bury in the earth a brave man who has been killed by his enemies, while cowards they cast up out of the earth onto a harsh rock.
855CHORUS LEADER: O gods, may the race of Tantalos be fortunate at last, and may it be set free from evils!
857HELEN: Ah, I am unhappy, for so is my fate! Menelaos, we are destroyed. The prophetess Theonoe is coming out of the house; it resounds as the
860bolts are unfastened. Try to escape! But what is the use of trying? For whether she is absent or present she knows of your arrival here. Oh, I am lost, unfortunate! Saved from Troy and from a barbarian land, you have come only to fall upon barbarian swords.
Part 16
865THEONOE: Please lead the way with blazing torches, and purify, according to the sacred law, the inmost corners of the air, so I may receive the pure breath of heaven; and you in turn, if someone has harmed the path by treading with unholy foot, submit it to the cleansing fire,
870and strike the torch in front of me, so that I may pass through. And when you have paid back to the gods my customary observance, take the household flame within.
873Helen, what about my prophecy—how is it? This man, your husband Menelaos, has openly arrived,
875robbed of his ships and of your counterfeit. O unhappy man! What troubles you have escaped to come here; nor do you know whether you are to return home or to stay here. For there will be strife among the gods, and a solemn assembly held by Zeus on your account this very day.
880Hera, who was hostile to you before, is now friendly and wants to bring you safely home, with this woman, so that Hellas may learn that the marriage of Paris, Kypris’ gift, was false; but Kypris wishes to ruin your journey home,
885so that she may not be convicted, or seem to have bought the prize of beauty by a marriage that was profitless as regards Helen. Now the decision rests with me, whether to ruin you, as Kypris wishes, by telling my brother of your presence here, or to save your life by taking Hera’s side,
890keeping my brother in the dark, for his orders are for me to tell him, whenever you happen to come to this land.
892One of you, go show my brother this man is here, so that I may secure my position.
894HELEN: Maiden, I fall at your knees as a suppliant,
895and seat myself in this sad posture on behalf of myself and of this man; I am on the point of seeing him slain, after I have found him with such difficulty. Please do not tell your brother that my husband has returned to my loving arms,
900but save us, I beseech you; do not forsake the piety that was once yours for your brother’s sake, buying favors that are wicked and unjust. For the god hates violence, and commands everyone to have their possessions without robbery.
905Heaven is common to all mortals, and so is the earth, where people ought to fill up their homes without having another’s property, or taking it away by force.
910At a critical time, but unhappily for me, Hermes gave me to your father to keep safe for my husband, this man who is here and wishes to have me back. But how could he recover me if he is dead? How could your father ever restore the living to the dead? Now examine the will of the god and of your father;
915would the deity and your dead father be willing to give back again their neighbor’s goods, or would they not? I think they would. It is not, therefore, right that you should attach more importance to a thoughtless brother more than a good father. If you, who are a prophet and believe in divine affairs,
920ruin the lawful intention of your father and gratify your lawless brother, it is disgraceful that you should have full knowledge of divine matters, both what is and what will be, and yet not know what is right. Save me, the unhappy one, enveloped in these troubles,
925and give me this addition to my fate; for there is no mortal who does not hate Helen; I am famous throughout Hellas as the one who betrayed my husband and lived in Phrygia’s golden halls. If I come to Hellas and set foot once more in Sparta,
930they will hear and see how they were ruined by the wiles of gods, while I was no traitor to my friends after all; and so they will lead me back to virtue again, and I shall betroth my daughter, whom no man now will marry; and, leaving this bitter beggar’s life here, shall enjoy the goods that are in my home.
935And if this man were dead and slaughtered on a funeral pyre, I would be cherishing his memory with tears far away; but shall I be robbed of him when he is now alive and safe?
939Ah! not that, maiden, I beseech you:
940grant me this favor, and imitate the character of a just father; for this is the fairest glory for children, when the child of a good father resembles its parents in character.
944CHORUS LEADER: The arguments here proposed are worthy of pity,
945and so are you. But I am anxious to hear what Menelaos will say to save his life.
947MENELAOS: I could not endure to fall at your knees, or wet my eyes with tears; for if I were cowardly, I would greatly dishonor Troy.
950And yet they say that it is fitting for a noble man to let tears fall from his eyes in misfortune. But I will not choose this honorable course, if it is honorable, in preference to bravery. But, if you think it right to save a stranger
955seeking justly to recover his wife, then restore her and save us in addition; if not, I would be wretched, not now for the first time but as often before, and you will seem to be an evil woman. What I consider honest and worthy of me,
960and what will touch your heart most closely, these things I will say at the tomb of your father, with regret for his loss.
962Old man, dwelling in this tomb of stone, give her back, I demand of you my wife, whom Zeus sent here for you to keep for me.
965I know you will never restore her to me yourself, for you are dead; but this woman here will not think it right that her father, invoked from below, once so glorious, should bear a tarnished name; for she is the one in authority now.
969You, too, Hades of the world below, I call as an ally;
970you who have received so many bodies slain by my sword for Helen’s sake, you have your payment; either restore them to life again now, or compel this woman to show herself better than her pious father, and give me back my wife.
975But if you will rob me of her, I will tell you what she omitted in her speech. So that you may know, maiden, I am bound by an oath, first to go into battle with your brother; he or I must die; the matter is simple.
980If he refuses to meet me face to face, but hunts us down, two suppliants at the tomb, by starvation, I am resolved to kill this woman, and then to plunge this two-edged sword through my heart, on the surface of the tomb, so that streams of blood may
985run down the grave; we will lie, two corpses side by side upon this polished slab, a deathless grief to you, and a reproach to your father. Your brother will never marry this woman, nor will any other; but I will carry her off,
990if not to my house, at any rate to death.
991Why do I say this? If I turned to women’s ways with tears, rather than being active, I would be pitied more. Kill me, if it seems good to you; you will not kill those who are without fame; but it is better to yield to what I say,
995so that you may act with justice, and I recover my wife.
996CHORUS LEADER: You must judge these arguments, maiden. Decide in such a way as to please all.
998THEONOE: My nature and my inclination lean towards piety; and I respect myself, and I would not defile
1000my father’s fame, or gratify my brother at the cost of seeming infamous. There is a great temple of justice in my nature; and having this heritage from Nereus, I will try to keep it, Menelaos.
1005Since Hera wishes to serve you, I will cast my vote on her side. May Kypris be gracious to me; but she has had nothing to do with me, and I will try to remain a virgin always. As for your reproaches against my father at this tomb,
1010I have the same words to say. I would be doing wrong if I do not give her back; for that man, if he were alive, would have given her back for you to have, and you to her.
1013For truly there is retribution for these things, both among the dead and among all men living. The mind
1015of the dead does not live, yet it has eternal thought as it falls into eternal ether. So as not to give advice at length, I will be silent as to what you have entreated, and I will never aid my brother’s folly with my counsel.
1020For I am doing him a service, though he does not think it, if I turn him from his godless life to holiness. You yourselves devise some course of action; I will stand out of your way by my silence. Begin with the gods, and beg
1025Kypris to allow you to return to your country, and Hera that her intention to save you and your husband may remain the same. And you, my own dead father, never, as far as I have strength, shall you be called impious instead of pious. Exit Theonoe.
1030CHORUS LEADER: No one born lawless ever prospered, but in a lawful cause there is hope of safety.
1032HELEN: Menelaos, as far as the maiden is concerned, we are safe. For the rest, you must contribute your advice and frame a device to save ourselves.
1035MENELAOS: Then listen; you have been in the house for a long time and are intimate with the king’s servants.
1037HELEN: What do you mean by that? You are offering hope, as if you were really about to do something useful for both of us.
1039MENELAOS: Could you persuade someone in charge of the wagons
1040and horses to give us a chariot?
1041HELEN: I might; but how will we escape, in our ignorance of the country and the barbarian land?
1043MENELAOS: You are right; a dilemma. Well, what if I were to hide in the house and kill the king with this two-edged sword?
1045HELEN: His sister would never be silent or allow you to intend her own brother’s death.
1047MENELAOS: Nor indeed is there a ship in which we might safely escape; for the sea holds the one we had.
1049HELEN: Listen to me, if even a woman can say something wise.
1050Are you willing to be called dead in word, though you are not dead?
1051MENELAOS: It is a bad omen; but if I profit by it, I am ready to be called dead in word, though I am not dead.
1053HELEN: And truly I would mourn you, as women do, with hair cut short and laments before this impious man.
1055MENELAOS: What saving remedy does this have for us two? There is a flavor of deception in your scheme.
1057HELEN: I will beg the tyrant of this country for permission to bury you in an empty tomb, as if you had really died at sea.
Part 17
1059MENELAOS: Soppose he allows it; then how shall we escape with no ship,
1060when we have buried my body in the empty tomb?
1061HELEN: I will urge him to give me a vessel, from which I shall have the offerings from your tomb let down into the sea’s embrace.
1063MENELAOS: You have spoken well, except for one thing: if he commands you to set up a tomb on the dry land, your pretext comes to nothing.
1065HELEN: But I will say it is not the custom in Hellas to bury those who have died at sea on the dry land.
1067MENELAOS: You are setting this right, too; then I will sail with you, and help let down the funeral offerings, in the same ship.
1069HELEN: You must above all be at hand,
1070with your sailors who escaped from the wreck.
1071MENELAOS: Be sure that if I have a ship at anchor, they will be posted, man beside man, each with his sword.
1073HELEN: You must direct everything; only let there be winds in our sails to guide us, and a speedy ship.
1075MENELAOS: It will be so; for the deities will bring my troubles to an end. But from whom will you say that you heard I was dead?
1077HELEN: From you; allege that you were the only one to escape death, when you were sailing with the son of Atreus, and that you saw him dead.
1079MENELAOS: It is true that these rags thrown around my body
1080will bear witness with me as to the shipwreck.
1081HELEN: They have come at the right time, although then they seemed an ill-timed loss. Perhaps that misery may turn to good fortune.
1083MENELAOS: Should I to enter the house with you, or am I to sit quietly here at this tomb?
1085HELEN: Stay here; for if he does something harsh to you, this tomb and your sword would protect you. But I will go into the house, cut off my hair, exchange my white robe for a dark one, and tear my cheek with nails that make the flesh bloody.
1090For the contest is a great one, and I see two turns of the scale: either I must die if I am detected in my plot, or else come home and save you as well.
1093Lady Hera, you who lie in the bed of Zeus, grant relief from their labors to two pitiable creatures;
1095we beg you, casting our arms straight towards heaven, where you have your home in an embroidery of stars. And you, who won the prize of beauty at the price of my marriage, Kypris, daughter of Dione, do not destroy me utterly. You have maltreated me enough before now,
1100handing over my name, though not my body, to barbarians. Let me die, if you want to kill me, in my native land. Why are you so insatiable for mischief, practising arts of love, deceits, and treacherous schemes, and magic spells that bring bloodshed on families?
1105If you were only moderate, in other ways you are by nature the sweetest of gods for men; I don’t deny it. Exeunt Helen and Menelaos.
1107CHORUS: Let me call on you, beneath leafy haunts, sitting in your place of song, you, the most sweetly singing bird,
1110tearful nightingale, oh, come, trilling through your tawny throat, to aid me in my lament, as I sing the piteous woes of Helen and
1115the tearful fate of Trojan women under the Achaeans’ spears; when he sped over the surging plains with foreign oar, when he came, came bringing to Priam’s race from Lacedaemon
1120you, Helen, his unhappy bride—Paris, fatally wedded, under the guidance of Aphrodite.
1122CHORUS: Many of the Achaeans have breathed out their last amid the spears and hurling stones and have gone to unhappy Hades; their wives have cut off their hair in sorrow,
1125and their homes are left without a bride; an Achaean man, who had only a single ship, lit a blazing beacon on sea-girt Euboia, and destroyed many of them, casting them onto the rocks of Kaphareus
1130and the sea-shores of the Aegean, by the treacherous flame he kindled. The mountains of Malea provided no harbor, in the gusts of the storm, when Menelaos sped far away from his country, bearing on his ships a prize of the barbarian expedition, no prize but strife
1135with the Danaans, Hera’s holy phantom.
1137CHORUS: What is god, or what is not god, or what is in between— what mortal says he has found it by searching the farthest limit,
1140when he sees divine affairs leaping here and there again and back, in contradictory and unexpected chances? You, Helen, are the daughter of Zeus;
1145for a winged father begot you in Leda’s womb; and then you were proclaimed throughout Hellas, betrayer, faithless, lawless, godless. I do not know whatever certainty is among mortals,
1150but the word of the gods I have found true.
1151CHORUS: You are fools, who try to win a reputation for virtue through war and marshalled lines of spears, senselessly putting an end to mortal troubles;
1155for if a bloody quarrel is to decide it, strife will never leave off in the towns of men; by it they won as their lot bed-chambers of Priam’s earth, when they could have set right by discussion
1160the strife over you, O Helen. And now they are below in Hades’ keeping, and fire has darted onto the walls like the bolt of Zeus, and you are bringing woe on woe . . . .
1165THEOKLYMENOS: Greetings, tomb of my father! For I buried you, Proteus, in the passageway so that I could address you; and always as I leave and enter the house, I, your son Theoklymenos, call on you, father. You servants, take the hounds and hunting nets
1170into the palace. I have rebuked myself many times; for do we not punish evil men with death? And now I have heard that some Hellene has come openly to the land, without the guards’ notice,
1175either as a spy or thievishly hunting after Helen; he will die if only I can catch him. Ah! But it seems I have found everything in ruins; for the daughter of Tyndareus has deserted her seat at the tomb and has been carried away from the land.
1180Ho there! undo the bars; loose the horses from their stalls, servants, and bring out my chariot, so that the wife whom I long for may not be carried away from this land without my notice, for want of effort.
1184Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing
1185is still in the house, and has not fled.
1186You there, why have you put black robes instead of white on your body, and cut the hair from your noble head with a sword, and why do you drench your cheeks with pale tears,
1190lamenting? Do you mourn, persuaded by dreams in the night, or have you broken your heart with grief because you heard some voice within?
1193HELEN: My lord—for now I give you that name—I am destroyed; everything of mine is gone and I am nothing.
Part 18
1195THEOKYLMENOS: In what misfortune are you plunged? What has happened?
1196HELEN: Menelaos—alas, how shall I say it?—is dead, my husband.
1197THEOKLYMENOS: I do not rejoice at your words, but it is good fortune for me. How do you know? Did Theonoe tell you this?
1199HELEN: Both she, and one who was there when he perished.
1200THEOKLYMENOS: Someone has come who announces this for certain?
1201HELEN: Someone has come; and may he go where I want him to go!
1202THEOKLYMENOS: Who is it? Where is he? so that I may learn this more clearly.
1203HELEN: That one, who is sitting crouched at this tomb.
1204THEOKLYMENOS: Apollo! He certainly has unattractive clothing.
1205HELEN: Alas! I think my husband is in the same situation also.
1206THEOKLYMENOS: What is this man’s country, and where did he come from, to land here?
1207HELEN: He is a Hellene, one of the Achaeans who saiIed with my husband.
1208THEOKLYMENOS: What kind of death does he say Menelaos died?
1209HELEN: The most piteous, in the watery waves at sea.
1210THEOKLYMENOS: On what part of the barbarous ocean was he sailing?
1211HELEN: He was cast up on the harborless rocks of Libya.
1212THEOKLYMENOS: How did this man not perish if he was sailing with him?
1213HELEN: There are times when common men have more luck than their betters.
1214THEOKLYMENOS: Where did he leave the wreckage of his ship before coming here?
1215HELEN: Where ruin may come upon it— but not on Menelaos!
Part 19
1216THEOKLYMENOS: He is already ruined. In what ship did this man come?
1217HELEN: Sailors happened to meet him and took him up, as he says.
1218THEOKLYMENOS: Where then is that mischievous creature that was sent to Troy in your place?
1219HELEN: You mean the cloud image? It has gone into the air.
1220THEOKLYMENOS: O Priam, and Trojan lands, how you have perished in vain!
1221HELEN: I too have shared misfortunes with Priam’s race.
1222THEOKLYMENOS: Did he leave your husband unburied, or did he hide him in the earth?
1223HELEN: He is unburied; I am so unhappy in my troubles!
1224THEOKLYMENOS: It is for this that you have cut your locks of golden hair?
1225HELEN: Yes, for he is dear to me, whoever he is, being here.
1226THEOKLYMENOS: She rightly weeps for this misfortune. . .
1227HELEN: It is certainly easy to escape your sister’s notice!
1228THEOKLYMENOS: No, indeed. Well, what now? Will you continue to live at this tomb?
1229HELEN: Why do you jeer at me? Won’t you let the dead man be?
1230THEOKLYMENOS: No, for you are loyal to your husband and avoid me.
1231HELEN: No longer; begin my wedding now.
1232THEOKLYMENOS: It has come after a long time, but still I commend you for it.
1233HELEN: Do you know what you should do? Let us forget what is past.
1234THEOKLYMENOS: On what terms? One good turn deserves another.
1235HELEN: Let us make a truce; be reconciled to me.
Part 20
1236THEOKLYMENOS: I relinquish my quarrel with you; may it go away on wings.
1237HELEN: Now by your knees, since you are indeed a friend—
1238THEOKLYMENOS: What thing do you hunt after, that you stretch out a suppliant hand to me?
1239HELEN: I wish to bury my dead husband.
1240THEOKLYMENOS: What? Is there a tomb for the absent? Or will you bury a shadow?
1241HELEN: It is customary among the Hellenes, whenever someone dies at sea—
1242THEOKLYMENOS: To do what? The race of Pelops is certainly clever in such matters.
1243HELEN: To carry out the funeral rites in empty woven robes.
1244THEOKLYMENOS: Hold the funeral; set up the tomb wherever you wish.
1245HELEN: We do not give burial like this to sailors who have perished.
1246THEOKLYMENOS: How then? I know nothing of the customs in Hellas.
1247HELEN: We take out of harbor to the sea all that is the dead man’s due.
1248THEOKLYMENOS: Then what am I to give you for the dead man?
1249HELEN: This man knows, but I have no experience, as I was fortunate before.
1250THEOKLYMENOS: Stranger, you have brought welcome news.
1251MENELAOS: Not for me, certainly, nor for the dead man.
1252THEOKLYMENOS: How do you bury those who have died at sea?
1253MENELAOS: Each according to his means.
1254THEOKLYMENOS: As far as wealth goes, say what you want, for her sake.
1255MENELAOS: There must be a blood-offering first to the dead.
Part 21
1256THEOKLYMENOS: Blood of what? Explain it to me, and I will obey.
1257MENELAOS: You decide that yourself; whatever you give will suffice.
1258THEOKLYMENOS: Among barbarians it is customary to sacrifice a horse or a bull.
1259MENELAOS: If you make a gift, take care to give nothing mean.
1260THEOKYLEMNOS: I have no lack of such in my rich herds.
1261MENELAOS: Next, a couch empty of the body is decked and carried in procession.
1262THEOKLYMENOS: It wall be done; what else is it customary to add?
1263MENELAOS: Bronze arms; for war was his delight.
1264THEOKLYMENOS: These will be worthy of the race of Pelops, and these we will give.
1265MENELAOS: And for the rest, all the lovely offspring that the earth bears.
1266THEOKLYMENOS: How then? In what way do you let them fall into the waves?
1267MENELAOS: A ship must be ready, and rowers.
1268THEOKLYMENOS: How far from the shore does the ship put out?
1269MENELAOS: So far that the foam in her wake can scarcely be seen from the land.
1270THEOKLYMENOS: But why? Why does Hellas observe this custom.
1271MENELAOS: So that the waves may not wash pollution back ashore.
1272THEOKLYMENOS: A swift Phoenician ship will be there.
1273MENELAOS: That would be well done, and pleasing to Menelaos, too.
1274THEOKLYMENOS: Can you not perform these rites well enough without Helen?
1275MENELAOS: This task belongs to mother, or wife, or children.
Part 22
1276THEOKLYMENOS: According to you, the work of burying her husband belongs to her.
1277MENELAOS: Yes indeed; piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their due.
1278THEOKLYMENOS: Let her go; it is in my interest to foster piety in a wife. Go inside and choose adornment for the dead;
1280I will not send you away from the land empty-handed either, since you have done her a favor. As you have brought me good news, you will receive clothing instead of going in rags, and food, so that you may reach your country, since now I see you doing very badly indeed.
1285As for you, poor lady, do not wear yourself out in a hopeless case; Menelaos has met his doom, and your dead husband could not return to life.
1288MENELAOS: This is your duty, young woman; you must be content with the husband at your side, and let go the one that no longer exists;
1290for this is best for you, according to what has happened. And if I come to Hellas and find safety, I will put to an end your former bad reputation, if you are such a wife as you ought to be to your husband.
1294HELEN: I will; my husband will never find fault with me;
1295you yourself will be at hand to know it. Now go inside, unhappy man, and find the bath, and change your clothes. I will show my kindness to you without delay. For you will perform the due services with more kindly feeling for my dearest Menelaos,
1300if you get from me what you ought to have. Exeunt Theoklymenos, Helen, Menelaos.
1301CHORUS: Once with swift foot the mountain mother of the gods rushed through the wooded glen, and the river’s streams
1305and the deep-thundering sea wave, yearning for her lost daughter, whose name may not be spoken. The loudly rattling castanets cried out a shrill sound,
1310when they, swift-footed as whirlwinds, followed the goddess on her chariot yoked to wild creatures, after the girl that was snatched away from the circling chorus of maidens—
1315here Artemis with her bow, and there the grim-eyed goddess, in full armor, with her spear. But Zeus, who sees clearly from his throne in heaven, brought to pass another destiny.
1319CHORUS: When the mother ceased from her wild
1320wandering toil, searching for the treacherous rape of her daughter, she crossed the snow-capped heights of the nymphs of Mount Ida;
1325and in sorrow cast herself down in the rocky woods deep in snow; and, by not making fruitful with crops the barren fields of the earth for mortals, she destroyed the human race.
1330She would not send forth the rich nourishment of leafy tendrils for the herds, and life was leaving the cities. No sacrifice was offered to the gods, and on the altars were no cakes to burn;
1335she made the dew-fed springs of clear water cease flowing, the avenger in sorrow for her child.
1338CHORUS: When she made an end to banquets for gods and the race of men, Zeus spoke out, appeasing the
1340Mother’s gloomy wrath: Go, holy Graces, go and with a loud cry take from Demeter’s angry heart her grief for the maiden;
1345and you, Muses, with song and dance. Then Kypris, fairest of the blessed gods, first took up the rumbling voice of bronze and the drum with tight-stretched skin; and the goddess smiled,
1350and received in her hand the deep-toned flute, pleased with its loud note.
1353CHORUS: You made burnt offerings that were neither right nor holy, in the chambers of the gods,
1355and you have incurred the wrath of the great mother, child, by not honoring her sacrifices. Oh! Great is the power of dappled fawn-skin robes,
1360and green ivy that crowns a sacred thyrsos, the whirling beat of the tambourine circling in the air, hair streaming wildly for the revelry of Bromios,
1365and the night-long festivals of the goddess. . . . You gloried in your beauty alone.
1369HELEN: My friends, all goes well for us inside;
1370for the daughter of Proteus, who aids us in our theft, has told her brother nothing when questioned as to my husband’s coming; for my sake she said that he was not alive, but dead and buried. . . . My husband has snatched up by chance fine things indeed;
1375for he is carrying away the armor he was intending to let fall into the sea, putting his noble arm through the shield-strap and holding a spear in his right hand, on pretence of joining in the service to the dead. He has equipped his body with weapons conveniently for the battle,
1380in order to to set up the trophies of countless barbarians, whenever we embark on the oared ship. I adorned him with robes in place of his shipwrecked garments, and I washed him, a long-delayed bath in water from the stream.
1385But I must be silent, for the man is coming from the house who thinks he holds my marriage ready in his hands; and I claim your goodwill and strict silence, so that, when we have saved ourselves, we may be able some day to save you also.
1390THEOKLYMENOS: Advance in order, servants, as the stranger directed, bearing the funeral gifts for the sea. But you, Helen, if you will agree with my words, be persuaded and stay here; for you will do your husband equal service whether you are present or not.
1395For I am afraid that some sudden passion should persuade you to throw your body into the swelling waves, stricken by love for your former husband; you are grieving for him too much, although he is lost.
1399HELEN: O my new husband, I must honor
1400my first marriage-bed and the one whose company I shared as a bride; for I could even die with my husband, I loved him so much. But how could he thank me, if I were to share death with him? Let me go and pay funeral rites to the dead in person.
1405May the gods give to you the things I wish and also to this stranger here, for his assistance! And you will have in me such a wife at home as you ought to have, since you are doing a good service to Menelaos and to me; for surely these events are leading to some good fortune.
1410But now appoint someone to give us a ship in which to carry these gifts, so that I may have your kindness in full.
1412THEOKLYMENOS: (to an attendant.) You, go and give them a Sidonian ship of fifty oars, and rowers also.
1414HELEN: This man who is ordering the funeral will be in command of the ship, won’t he?
1415THEOKLYMENOS: Most certainly; my sailors must obey him.
1416HELEN: Repeat the order, so that they may clearly understand you.
1417THEOKLYMENOS: I repeat the order, and a third time too, if you wish it.
1418HELEN: May you have benefit from it—and I from my plans!
1419THOEKLYMENOS: Do not ruin your skin with too much weeping now.
1420HELEN: This day will show my gratitude to you.
Part 23
1421THEOKLYMENOS: The state of the dead is nothingness; toil for them is vain.
1422HELEN: There is something of what I say both there and here.
1423THEOKLYMENOS: You will not find in me a husband at all inferior to Menelaos.
1424HELEN: You are not at fault in any way; good luck is all I need.
1425THEOKLYMENOS: That is in your power, if you show kindness to me.
1426HELEN: This is not a lesson I shall have to learn now, to love my friends.
1427THEOKLYMENOS: Would you like me to send out the equipment in person, working together with you?
1428HELEN: Not at all! Do not become a slave to your slaves, lord.
1429THEOKLYMENOS: Come then! I have no concern with the customs of the race of Pelops.
1430My house is pure; for Menelaos did not die here. Let someone go and tell my chieftans to bring marriage-offerings to my house; the whole earth must ring with joyful wedding-songs
1435in celebration of my wedding with Helen, so that it may be envied. You, stranger, go and give to the sea’s embrace these offerings to this woman’s husband, who was once alive; and then hurry back home with my wife, so that after sharing with me her marriage-feast, you may
1440set out for home or remain here in happiness. Exit Theoklymenos.
1441MENELAOS: O Zeus, called father and god of wisdom, look on us and alter our woes! As we drag our fortunes to the rocky hill, make haste to join with us; if you touch us with your finger-tip only,
1445we shall reach our longed-for goal. There has been enough distress in what we have suffered before. I have invoked you, gods, with many names, good and painful; I am not bound to be unfortunate forever, but to advance in a straight course. If you grant me one favor,
1450you will make me fortunate hereafter. Exeunt Menelaos and Helen.
1451CHORUS: O swift Phoenician ship of Sidon, dear to the surging waves, mother of the oar, leader of the lovely dancing
1455of dolphins, when the sea is clear of breezes and Ocean’s gray-green daughter, spirit of calm, says these words: Spread your sails
1460to the sea-breezes, as you go on your way, grasp your oars of pine, oh! sailors, sailors, speeding Helen on her way to the shore with good harbor, where once Perseus lived..
1465CHORUS: Perhaps you may find the daughters of Leukippos beside the swell of the river or before the temple of Pallas, when at last you join in the dances or the revels of Hyakinthos
1470in night-long joy—Hyakinthos, whom Phoebus killed with the round discus, contesting for the farthest throw—a day of the sacrifice of oxen in the Lakonian land;
1475the son of Zeus declared that his race would be honored; and you may find the girl whom you left at home, Hermione, for as yet no torch has lit the way to her marriage.
1478CHORUS: Oh, that we had wings to cleave the air, where the birds of Libya go in their ranks,
1480leaving the winter rain, obedient to the piping of their veteran leader, who raises his exultant cry
1485as he wings his way over unmoistened and crop-bearing plains of the earth. O you winged long-necked comrades of the racing clouds, go on beneath the Pleiades in their central station
1490and Orion of the night; deliver the message, as you settle on Eurotas’ banks, that Menelaos has sacked the city of Dardanos, and will come home.
1495CHORUS: May you come at last, speeding over your horses’ path through the sky, sons of Tyndareus, under the whirling of the radiant stars; you who dwell in heaven, Helen’s rescuers,
1500go over the gray-green swell and the dark gray surge of sea-waves, sending the sailors
1505favoring breezes from Zeus; and cast away from your sister her ill-fame from marriage with a barbarian, the punishment she received from the contest on Ida;
1510but she never went to the land of Ilion, to the towers of Phoebus.
1512SECOND MESSENGER: (entering hurriedly.) O king, . . . troubles are you soon to hear from me.
1514THEOKLYMENOS: What is it?
1514bMESSENGER: Go to work on the courtship of another
1515woman; for Helen has left the country.
1516THEOKLYMENOS: Carried up on wings, or treading on the earth?
1517MESSENGER: Menelaos has taken her off as plunder, out of the land; he was the one that came with the news of his own death.
1519THEOKLYMENOS: O dreadful story! What ship carried her
1520off from this land? Your story is unbelievable.
Part 24
1521MESSENGER: The very one that you gave to the stranger; and he has gone with your sailors, so that you may know everything in brief.
1523THEOKLYMENOS: How? I am eager to know; for I never expected that a single hand could excel over
1525so many sailors, with whom you were sent.
1526MESSENGER: When the daughter of Zeus had left this royal house and started for the sea, delicately picking her way, she most cleverly began to mourn her husband, though he was close at hand and not dead.
1530When we reached the enclosure of your dockyards, we began to launch the Sidonian ship on her first voyage, with her fifty benches and full measure of rowers. Task gave way to task: one set up the mast, another set up the oars
1535. . . and the rudders were lowered by their cross-bars. And during this labor, men of Hellas who had been fellow-voyagers with Menelaos were watching us, it seems, and they drew near to the beach, clad in the rags of shipwrecked men,
1540handsome, but rough to look upon. And the son of Atreus, when he saw them approach, spoke to them, craftily introducing the reason for his mourning: Unhappy sailors, how have you arrived? From the wreckage of what Achaean ship?
1545Are you here to help bury the dead son of Atreus, whose missing body this lady, daughter of Tyndareus, is honoring with an empty grave? They wept in a feigned manner, and went to the ship, carrying aboard the offerings to be thrown into the sea for Menelaos. We were suspicious at this,
1550and said to each other that there would be a crowd of those additional passengers; but still we remained silent, out of respect for your orders; for by bidding the stranger command the vessel, you threw everything into confusion.
1554Well, we easily put the other victims on the ship, for they were light;
1555but the bull did not want to go forward along the plank, but kept bellowing loudly, rolling his eyes around; and, arching his back and peering along his horns, he prevented us from touching him. But Helen’s husband
1560called out: O you who sacked the town of Ilion, come pick up this bull on young shoulders, as is the way in Hellas, and cast him into the prow . . . the sacrifice to the dead man.
1565Then they came at his summons, and caught up the bull and carried him on to the deck. And Menelaos stroked the horse on neck and brow, coaxing it to go aboard.
1569Finally, when the ship was fully loaded,
1570Helen climbed up the ladder with elegant step, and took her seat in the middle of the rowers’ benches, and he was near by, Menelaos who was called dead. The rest, equally divided on the right and left sides of the ship, sat down, each beside his man, with swords concealed beneath their cloaks,
1575and the waves were filled with shouting as we heard the voice of the boatswain.
1577Now when we had put out from land, neither very far nor very near, the helmsman asked, Shall we sail yet further, stranger, or is this far enough?
1580For the command of this ship is yours. And he answered, Far enough for me. Holding a sword in his right hand, he stepped into the prow; and, standing over the bull to slay it, with no mention of any dead man, he cut its throat and prayed: O Poseidon of the sea,
1585who lives in the deep, and you holy daughters of Nereus, bring me and my wife safe and sound from here to Nauplia’s shore! Streams of blood, a good omen for the stranger, darted into the waves. And someone said, There is treachery in this voyage;
1590let us sail back again! You, give an order for the right oar, you, turn your rudder. But the son of Atreus, standing where he slew the bull, cried out to his comrades, Why do you, the pick of Hellas, delay to slaughter and kill the barbarians
1595and hurl them from the ship into the waves? And the boatswain cried the opposite command to your rowers: Some of you catch up planks at the end, break up the benches, or snatch the oars from the locks, and make the heads of these foreign enemies bloody!.
1600They all leapt upright, some with oars in their hands, others with swords; and the ship ran with blood. Helen cheered them on from the stern: Where is the fame you won in Troy? Show it against the barbarians! In their eagerness, some would
1605fall, some stood upright, you would have seen others lying dead. But Menelaos, in full armor, wherever he spied that his comrades were suffering, would go there, sword in hand; and so we dived
1610from the ship, and he cleared the benches of your rowers. Then going to the helmsman he told him to sail a straight course to Hellas. So they set up the mast, and favoring breezes blew.
1613They are gone from here. But I escaped death and let myself down by the anchor into the sea;
1615and just as I was worn out, some fisherman took me up, and put me out on land, to bring you this report. Nothing is more useful to mankind than a prudent distrust.
1619CHORUS LEADER: I never would have believed that Menelaos could have eluded both us
1620and you, O king, the way he did on his arrival.
1621THEOKLYMENOS: Caught by a woman’s tricks, unhappy that I am! My bride has escaped me. If the ship could have been pursued and overtaken, I would have made an effort to catch the strangers at once; but now I will avenge myself upon my treacherous sister,
1625for she saw Menelaos in my house and did not tell me. Therefore she will never deceive another man by her oracles.
1627SERVANT: You, there! Where are you rushing off to, my lord? to what bloody deed?
1628THEOKLYMENOS: Where justice calls me. Get out of my way!
1629SERVANT: I will not let go of your robe, for you are striving after great wickedness.
1630THEOKLYMENOS: Will you rule over your master, although you are a slave?
1630bSERVANT: Yes, for I am in my right mind.
1631THEOKLYMENOS: Not in my opinion, if you will not let me—
1631bSERVANT: No, I will not let you!
1632THEOKLYMENOS: Let me kill my most wicked sister—
1632bSERVANT: No, she is most pious.
1633THEOKLYMENOS: Who betrayed me—
1633bSERVANT: It was a noble betrayal, correctly done.
1634THEOKLYMENOS: When she gave my bride to another.
1634bSERVANT: To the one who had a better right.
1635THEOKLYMENOS: Who has rights over my property?
1635bSERVANT: The one who received her from her father.
Part 25
1636THEOKLYMENOS: But fortune gave her to me.
1636bSERVANT: And necessity took her away.
1637THEOKLYMENOS: It is not for you to judge my affairs.
1637bSERVANT: Yes, if my counsel is better.
1638THEOKLYMENOS: So I am your subject, not your ruler.
1638bSERVANT: Subject to do right, not wrong.
1639THEOKLYMENOS: It seems you desire to be killed.
1639bSERVANT: Kill me;
1640you will not kill your sister with my consent, but me instead; to die for their masters is the most glorious act for noble slaves.
1642DIOSKOUROI: Restrain the anger that is wrongly carrying you away, Theoklymenos, king of this land. We, the twin sons of Zeus, are calling you; Leda once gave birth to us,
1645with Helen, who has fled from your home. For you are angry about a marriage that is not destined for you; and your sister Theonoe, daughter of a Nereid goddess, does not wrong you when she honors the word of the gods and her father’s just commands.
1650For it was ordained that Helen should live in your house up to the present time; but no longer, since Troy is wholly destroyed and she has provided her name to the gods; she must be united in her own marriage,
1655and come home and live with her husband. But hold your black sword away from your sister, and believe that she is acting with discretion in this matter. Long ago, before this, we would have saved our sister, seeing that Zeus has made us gods;
1660but we are weaker than fate and also than the gods, who decreed these things to happen in this way.
1662This is my bidding to you, while I say to my sister: Sail on with your husband; and you shall have a favorable breeze; for we, your two savior brothers,
1665riding over the sea, will send you to your fatherland. And when you make the last turn of the race-course and end your life, you will be named as a goddess, and share libations with the Dioskouroi, and receive gifts from men with us; for such is the will of Zeus.
1670And the place where the son of Maia first set the boundary to your course through the air, when he took you away from Sparta, stealing your body so that Paris would not marry you—I mean the island stretched like a sentinel along the coast of Attica—shall be called by your name among men for the future, since it welcomed you
1675when you were stolen from your home. And it is destined by the gods that the wanderer Menelaos will dwell in the islands of the blessed; for deities do not hate the well-born, but the sufferings of the multitude are greater.
1680THEOKLYMENOS: You sons of Leda and Zeus, I will let go my former quarrel over your sister; and mine I shall no longer try to kill. Let Helen go home, if the gods think it right. Know that you are born from the same blood as a sister
1685who is the best and also most self-controlled; may you fare well, for the sake of Helen’s most noble mind, a quality not to be found in many women.
1688CHORUS: Many are the forms of divinities, and many things the gods bring to pass unhoped for.
1690And what was expected has not been fulfilled; for what was not expected, a god finds a way. Such was the result of this action.
Contents — 25 sections
Part 1
1ἙΛΈΝΗ: Νείλου μὲν αἵδε καλλιπάρθενοι ῥοαί, ὃς ἀντὶ δίας ψακάδος Αἰγύπτου πέδον λευκῆς τακείσης χιόνος ὑγραίνει γύας. Πρωτεὺς δʼ ὅτʼ ἔζη τῆσδε γῆς τύραννος ἦν, Φάρον μὲν οἰκῶν νῆσον, Αἰγύπτου δʼ ἄναξ,
6ὃς τῶν κατʼ οἶδμα παρθένων μίαν γαμεῖ, Ψαμάθην, ἐπειδὴ λέκτρʼ ἀφῆκεν Αἰακοῦ. τίκτει δὲ τέκνα δισσὰ τοῖσδε δώμασι, Θεοκλύμενον ἄρσενʼ εὐγενῆ τε παρθένον
11Εἰδώ, τὸ μητρὸς ἀγλάισμʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν βρέφος· ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐς ἥβην ἦλθεν ὡραίαν γάμων, καλοῦσιν αὐτὴν Θεονόην· τὰ θεῖα γὰρ τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα πάντʼ ἠπίστατο, προγόνου λαβοῦσα Νηρέως τιμὰς πάρα.
16ἡμῖν δὲ γῆ μὲν πατρὶς οὐκ ἀνώνυμος Σπάρτη, πατὴρ δὲ Τυνδάρεως· ἔστιν δὲ δὴ λόγος τις ὡς Ζεὺς μητέρʼ ἔπτατʼ εἰς ἐμὴν Λήδαν κύκνου μορφώματʼ ὄρνιθος λαβών, ὃς δόλιον εὐνὴν ἐξέπραξʼ ὑπʼ αἰετοῦ
21δίωγμα φεύγων, εἰ σαφὴς οὗτος λόγος· Ἑλένη δʼ ἐκλήθην. ἃ δὲ πεπόνθαμεν κακὰ λέγοιμʼ ἄν. ἦλθον τρεῖς θεαὶ κάλλους πέρι Ἰδαῖον ἐς κευθμῶνʼ Ἀλέξανδρον πάρα, Ἥρα Κύπρις τε διογενής τε παρθένος,
26μορφῆς θέλουσαι διαπεράνασθαι κρίσιν. τοὐμὸν δὲ κάλλος, εἰ καλὸν τὸ δυστυχές, Κύπρις προτείνασʼ ὡς Ἀλέξανδρος γαμεῖ, νικᾷ. λιπὼν δὲ βούσταθμʼ Ἰδαῖος Πάρις Σπάρτην ἀφίκεθʼ ὡς ἐμὸν σχήσων λέχος.
31Ἥρα δὲ μεμφθεῖσʼ οὕνεκʼ οὐ νικᾷ θεάς, ἐξηνέμωσε τἄμʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ λέχη, δίδωσι δʼ οὐκ ἔμʼ, ἀλλʼ ὁμοιώσασʼ ἐμοὶ εἴδωλον ἔμπνουν οὐρανοῦ ξυνθεῖσʼ ἄπο, Πριάμου τυράννου παιδί· καὶ δοκεῖ μʼ ἔχειν —
36κενὴν δόκησιν, οὐκ ἔχων. τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὸς βουλεύματʼ ἄλλα τοῖσδε συμβαίνει κακοῖς· πόλεμον γὰρ εἰσήνεγκεν Ἑλλήνων χθονὶ καὶ Φρυξὶ δυστήνοισιν, ὡς ὄχλου βροτῶν πλήθους τε κουφίσειε μητέρα χθόνα
41γνωτόν τε θείη τὸν κράτιστον Ἑλλάδος. Φρυγῶν δʼ ἐς ἀλκὴν προυτέθην ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ, τὸ δʼ ὄνομα τοὐμόν, ἆθλον Ἕλλησιν δορός. λαβὼν δέ μʼ Ἑρμῆς ἐν πτυχαῖσιν αἰθέρος νεφέλῃ καλύψας — οὐ γὰρ ἠμέλησέ μου
46Ζεύς — τόνδʼ ἐς οἶκον Πρωτέως ἱδρύσατο, πάντων προκρίνας σωφρονέστατον βροτῶν, ἀκέραιον ὡς σῴσαιμι Μενέλεῳ λέχος. κἀγὼ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ εἴμʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄθλιος πόσις στράτευμʼ ἀθροίσας τὰς ἐμὰς ἀναρπαγὰς
51θηρᾷ πορευθεὶς Ἰλίου πυργώματα. ψυχαὶ δὲ πολλαὶ διʼ ἔμʼ ἐπὶ Σκαμανδρίοις ῥοαῖσιν ἔθανον· ἡ δὲ πάντα τλᾶσʼ ἐγὼ κατάρατός εἰμι καὶ δοκῶ προδοῦσʼ ἐμὸν πόσιν συνάψαι πόλεμον Ἕλλησιν μέγαν.
56τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; θεοῦ τόδʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ἔπος Ἑρμοῦ, τὸ κλεινὸν ἔτι κατοικήσειν πέδον Σπάρτης σὺν ἀνδρί, γνόντος ὡς ἐς Ἴλιον οὐκ ἦλθον, ἵνα μὴ λέκτρʼ ὑποστρώσω τινί. ἕως μὲν οὖν φῶς ἡλίου τόδʼ ἔβλεπεν
61Πρωτεύς, ἄσυλος ἦ γάμων· ἐπεὶ δὲ γῆς σκότῳ κέκρυπται, παῖς ὁ τοῦ τεθνηκότος θηρᾷ γαμεῖν με. τὸν πάλαι δʼ ἐγὼ πόσιν τιμῶσα Πρωτέως μνῆμα προσπίτνω τόδε ἱκέτις, ἵνʼ ἀνδρὶ τἀμὰ διασῴσῃ λέχη,
66ὡς, εἰ καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ὄνομα δυσκλεὲς φέρω, μή μοι τὸ σῶμά γʼ ἐνθάδʼ αἰσχύνην ὄφλῃ.
68ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τίς τῶνδʼ ἐρυμνῶν δωμάτων ἔχει κράτος; πλούτου γὰρ οἶκος ἄξιος προσεικάσαι, βασίλειά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματʼ εὔθριγκοί θʼ ἕδραι. ἔα· ὦ θεοί, τίνʼ εἶδον ὄψιν; ἐχθίστην ὁρῶ
73γυναικὸς εἰκὼ φόνιον, ἥ μʼ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας τʼ Ἀχαιούς. θεοί σʼ, ὅσον μίμημʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένης, ἀποπτύσειαν. εἰ δὲ μὴ ʼν ξένῃ γαίᾳ πόδʼ εἶχον, τῷδʼ ἂν εὐστόχῳ πτερῷ ἀπόλαυσιν εἰκοῦς ἔθανες ἂν Διὸς κόρης.
78ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί δʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ — ὅστις ὤν μʼ ἀπεστράφης
79καὶ ταῖς ἐκείνης συμφοραῖς ἐμὲ στυγεῖς;
80ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἥμαρτον· ὀργῇ δʼ εἶξα μᾶλλον ἤ με χρῆν·
81μισεῖ γὰρ Ἑλλὰς πᾶσα τὴν Διὸς κόρην.
82σύγγνωθι δʼ ἡμῖν τοῖς λελεγμένοις, γύναι.
83ἙΛΈΝΗ: τίς δʼ εἶ; πόθεν γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐπεστράφης πέδον;
84ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: εἷς τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, ὦ γύναι, τῶν ἀθλίων.
85ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ τἄρα σʼ Ἑλένην εἰ στυγεῖς θαυμαστέον.
86ἀτὰρ τίς εἶ πόθεν; τίνος δʼ αὐδᾶν σε χρή;
87ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὄνομα μὲν ἡμῖν Τεῦκρος, ὁ δὲ φύσας πατὴρ
88Τελαμών, Σαλαμὶς δὲ πατρὶς ἡ θρέψασά με.
89ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί δῆτα Νείλου τούσδʼ ἐπιστρέφῃ γύας;
90ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: φυγὰς πατρῴας ἐξελήλαμαι χθονός.
91ἙΛΈΝΗ: τλήμων ἂν εἴης· τίς δέ σʼ ἐκβάλλει πάτρας;
92ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Τελαμὼν ὁ φύσας. τίνʼ ἂν ἔχοις μᾶλλον φίλον;
93ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐκ τοῦ; τὸ γάρ τοι πρᾶγμα συμφορὰν ἔχει.
94ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Αἴας μʼ ἀδελφὸς ὤλεσʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ θανών.
95ἙΛΈΝΗ: πῶς; οὔ τί που σῷ φασγάνῳ βίον στερείς;
96ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οἰκεῖον αὐτὸν ὤλεσʼ ἅλμʼ ἐπὶ ξίφος.
97ἙΛΈΝΗ: μανέντʼ; ἐπεὶ τίς σωφρονῶν τλαίη τάδʼ ἄν;
98ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τὸν Πηλέως τινʼ οἶσθʼ Ἀχιλλέα γόνον;
99ἙΛΈΝΗ: ναί·
99aμνηστήρ ποθʼ Ἑλένης ἦλθεν, ὡς ἀκούομεν.
100ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: θανὼν ὅδʼ ὅπλων ἔριν ἔθηκε συμμάχοις.
Part 2
101ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ δὴ τί τοῦτʼ Αἴαντι γίγνεται κακόν;
102ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄλλου λαβόντος ὅπλʼ ἀπηλλάχθη βίου.
103ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὺ τοῖς ἐκείνου δῆτα πήμασιν νοσεῖς;
104ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτῷ γʼ οὐ ξυνωλόμην ὁμοῦ.
105ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἦλθες γάρ, ὦ ξένʼ, Ἰλίου κλεινὴν πόλιν;
106ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καὶ ξύν γε πέρσας αὐτὸς ἀνταπωλόμην.
107ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἤδη γὰρ ἧπται καὶ κατείργασται πυρί;
108ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὥστʼ οὐδʼ ἴχνος γε τειχέων εἶναι σαφές.
109ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλένη, διὰ σʼ ἀπόλλυνται Φρύγες.
110ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καὶ πρός γʼ Ἀχαιοί· μεγάλα δʼ εἴργασται κακά.
111ἙΛΈΝΗ: πόσον χρόνον γὰρ διαπεπόρθηται πόλις;
112ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἑπτὰ σχεδόν τι καρπίμους ἐτῶν κύκλους.
113ἙΛΈΝΗ: χρόνον δʼ ἐμείνατʼ ἄλλον ἐν Τροίᾳ πόσον;
114ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: πολλὰς σελήνας, δέκα διελθούσας ἔτη.
115ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἦ καὶ γυναῖκα Σπαρτιᾶτιν εἵλετε;
116ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Μενέλαος αὐτὴν ἦγʼ ἐπισπάσας κόμης.
117ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἶδες σὺ τὴν δύστηνον; ἢ κλύων λέγεις;
118ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὥσπερ γε σέ, οὐδὲν ἧσσον, ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶ.
119ἙΛΈΝΗ: σκοπεῖτε μὴ δόκησιν εἴχετʼ ἐκ θεῶν.
120ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄλλου λόγου μέμνησο, μὴ κείνης ἔτι.
Part 3
121ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὕτω δοκεῖτε τὴν δόκησιν ἀσφαλῆ;
122ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: αὐτὸς γὰρ ὄσσοις εἰδόμην· καὶ νοῦς ὁρᾷ.
123ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἤδη δʼ ἐν οἴκοις σὺν δάμαρτι Μενέλεως;
124ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οὔκουν ἐν Ἄργει γʼ οὐδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοαῖς.
125ἙΛΈΝΗ: αἰαῖ· κακὸν τόδʼ εἶπας οἷς κακὸν λέγεις.
126ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὡς κεῖνος ἀφανὴς σὺν δάμαρτι κλῄζεται.
127ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ πᾶσι πορθμὸς αὑτὸς Ἀργείοισιν ἦν;
128ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἦν, ἀλλὰ χειμὼν ἄλλοσʼ ἄλλον ὥρισεν.
129ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίοισιν ἐν νώτοισι ποντίας ἁλός;
130ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: μέσον περῶσι πέλαγος Αἰγαίου πόρου.
131ἙΛΈΝΗ: κἀκ τοῦδε Μενέλαν οὔτις εἶδʼ ἀφιγμένον;
132ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οὐδείς· θανὼν δὲ κλῄζεται καθʼ Ἑλλάδα.
133ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπωλόμεσθα· Θεστιὰς δʼ ἔστιν κόρη;
134ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Λήδαν ἔλεξας; οἴχεται θανοῦσα δή.
135ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔ πού νιν Ἑλένης αἰσχρὸν ὤλεσεν κλέος;
136ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: φασίν, βρόχῳ γʼ ἅψασαν εὐγενῆ δέρην.
137ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἱ Τυνδάρειοι δʼ εἰσὶν ἢ οὐκ εἰσὶν κόροι;
138ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τεθνᾶσι καὶ οὐ τεθνᾶσι· δύο δʼ ἐστὸν λόγω.
139ἙΛΈΝΗ: πότερος ὁ κρείσσων; ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.
140ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄστροις σφʼ ὁμοιωθέντε φάσʼ εἶναι θεώ.
Part 4
141ἙΛΈΝΗ: καλῶς ἔλεξας τοῦτο· θάτερον δὲ τί;
142ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: σφαγαῖς ἀδελφῆς οὕνεκʼ ἐκπνεῦσαι βίον.
143ἅλις δὲ μύθων· οὐ διπλᾶ χρῄζω στένειν.
144ὧν δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον τούσδε βασιλείους δόμους,
145τὴν θεσπιῳδὸν Θεονόην χρῄζων ἰδεῖν,
146σὺ προξένησον, ὡς τύχω μαντευμάτων
147ὅπῃ νεὼς στείλαιμʼ ἂν οὔριον πτερὸν
148ἐς γῆν ἐναλίαν Κύπρον, οὗ μʼ ἐθέσπισεν
149οἰκεῖν Ἀπόλλων, ὄνομα νησιωτικὸν
150Σαλαμῖνα θέμενον τῆς ἐκεῖ χάριν πάτρας.
151ἙΛΈΝΗ: πλοῦς, ὦ ξένʼ, αὐτὸς σημανεῖ· σὺ δʼ ἐκλιπὼν
152γῆν τήνδε φεῦγε πρίν σε παῖδα Πρωτέως
153ἰδεῖν, ὃς ἄρχει τῆσδε γῆς· ἄπεστι δὲ
154κυσὶν πεποιθὼς ἐν φοναῖς θηροκτόνοις·
155κτείνει γὰρ Ἕλληνʼ ὅντινʼ ἂν λάβῃ ξένον.
156ὅτου δʼ ἕκατι, μήτε σὺ ζήτει μαθεῖν
157ἐγώ τε σιγῶ· τί γὰρ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;
158ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καλῶς ἔλεξας, ὦ γύναι· θεοὶ δέ σοι
159ἐσθλῶν ἀμοιβὰς ἀντιδωρησαίατο.
160Ἑλένῃ δʼ ὅμοιον σῶμʼ ἔχουσʼ οὐ τὰς φρένας
161ἔχεις ὁμοίας, ἀλλὰ διαφόρους πολύ.
162κακῶς δʼ ὄλοιτο μηδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοὰς
163ἔλθοι· σὺ δʼ εἴης εὐτυχὴς ἀεί, γύναι.
164ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὤ, μεγάλων ἀχέων καταβαλλομένα μέγαν οἶκτον
165ποῖον ἁμιλλαθῶ γόον; ἢ τίνα μοῦσαν ἐπέλθω
166δάκρυσιν ἢ θρήνοις ἢ πένθεσιν; αἰαῖ.
167ἙΛΈΝΗ: πτεροφόροι νεάνιδες, παρθένοι Χθονὸς κόραι Σειρῆνες, εἴθʼ ἐμοῖς γόοις μόλοιτʼ ἔχουσαι Λίβυν λωτὸν ἢ σύριγγας ἢ
171aφόρμιγγας, αἰλίνοις κακοῖς τοῖς ἐμοῖσι σύνοχα δάκρυα· πάθεσι πάθεα, μέλεσι μέλεα, μουσεῖα θρηνήμα- σι ξυνῳδὰ πέμψειε
175Φερσέφασσα φόνια, χάριτας ἵνʼ ἐπὶ δάκρυσι παρʼ ἐμέθεν ὑπὸ μέλαθρα νύχια παιᾶνα νέκυσιν ὀλομένοις λάβῃ.
179ΧΟΡΌΣ: κυανοειδὲς ἀμφʼ ὕδωρ ἔτυχον ἕλικά τʼ ἀνὰ χλόαν φοίνικας ἁλίου πέπλους αὐγαῖσιν ἐν χρυσέαις ἀμφὶ δόνακος ἔρνεσιν
183aθάλπουσα· ποτνίας δʼ ἐμᾶς, ἔνθεν οἰκτρὸν ἀνεβόασεν, ὅμαδον ἔκλυον, ἄλυρον ἔλεγον, ὅτι ποτʼ ἔλακεν αἰάγμα- σι στένουσα, Νύμφα τις
187οἷα Ναῒς ὄρεσι φυγάδα νόμον ἱεῖσα γοερόν, ὑπὸ δὲ πέτρινα γύαλα κλαγγαῖσι Πανὸς ἀναβοᾷ γάμους.
191ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ ἰώ· θήραμα βαρβάρου πλάτας, Ἑλλανίδες κόραι, ναύτας Ἀχαιῶν τις ἔμολεν ἔμολε δάκρυα δάκρυσί μοι φέρων.
196Ἰλίου κατασκαφαὶ πυρὶ μέλουσι δαΐῳ διʼ ἐμὲ τὰν πολυκτόνον, διʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομα πολύπονον. Λήδα δʼ ἐν ἀγχόναις
201θάνατον ἔλαβεν αἰσχύ- νας ἐμᾶς ὑπʼ ἀλγέων. ὁ δʼ ἐμὸς ἐν ἁλὶ πολυπλανὴς πόσις ὀλόμενος οἴχεται, κάστορός τε συγγόνου τε
206διδυμογενὲς ἄγαλμα πατρίδος ἀφανὲς ἀφανὲς ἱππόκροτα λέ- λοιπε δάπεδα γυμνάσιά τε δονακόεντος Εὐρώ- τα, νεανιᾶν πόνον.
211ΧΟΡΌΣ: αἰαῖ αἰαῖ· ὦ δαίμονος πολυστόνου μοίρας τε σᾶς, γύναι. αἰὼν δυσαίων τις ἔλαχεν ἔλαχεν, ὅτε σʼ ἐτέκετο ματρόθεν
215χιονόχρως κύκνου πτερῷ Ζεὺς πρέπων διʼ αἰθέρος· τί γὰρ ἄπεστί σοι κακῶν; τίνα δὲ βίοτον οὐκ ἔτλας; μάτηρ μὲν οἴχεται,
220δίδυμά τε Διὸς οὐκ εὐ- δαιμονεῖ τέκεα φίλα, χθόνα δὲ πάτριον οὐχ ὁρᾷς, διὰ δὲ πόλεας ἔρχεται βάξις, ἅ σε βαρβάροισι,
225πότνια, παραδίδωσι λέχεσιν, ὁ δὲ σὸς ἐν ἁλὶ κύμασί τε λέ- λοιπε βίοτον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔτι πάτρια μέλαθρα καὶ τὰν Χαλκίοικον ὀλβιεῖς.
229ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦ φεῦ, τίς ἢ Φρυγῶν ἢ τίς Ἑλλανίας ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἔτεμε τὰν δακρυόεσσαν Ἰλίῳ πεύκαν; ἔνθεν ὀλόμενον σκάφος
234συναρμόσας ὁ Πριαμίδας ἔπλευσε βαρβάρῳ πλάτᾳ τὰν ἐμὰν ἐφʼ ἑστίαν, ἐπὶ τὸ δυστυχέστατον κάλλος, ὡς ἕλοι, γάμων
238ἀμῶν· ἅ τε δόλιος ἁ πολυκτόνος Κύπρις Δαναΐδαις ἄγουσα θάνατον , ὦ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς. ἁ δὲ χρυσέοις θρόνοις
242Διὸς ὑπαγκάλισμα σεμνὸν Ἥρα τὸν ὠκύπουν ἔπεμψε Μαιάδος γόνον· ὅς με χλοερὰ δρεπομέναν ἔσω πέπλων ῥόδεα πέταλα,
245aΧαλκίοικον ὡς μόλοιμʼ, ἀναρπάσας διʼ αἰθέρος τάνδε γαῖαν εἰς ἄνολβον ἔριν ἔριν τάλαιναν ἔθετο Πριαμίδαισιν Ἑλλάδος.
249aτὸ δʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομα παρὰ Σιμουντίοις ῥοαῖσι μαψίδιον ἔχει φάτιν.
253ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἔχεις μὲν ἀλγείνʼ, οἶδα· σύμφορον δέ τοι
254ὡς ῥᾷστα τἀναγκαῖα τοῦ βίου φέρειν.
255ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι γυναῖκες, τίνι πότμῳ συνεζύγην; ἆρʼ ἡ τεκοῦσά μʼ ἔτεκεν ἀνθρώποις τέρας; τέρας γὰρ ὁ βίος καὶ τὰ πράγματʼ ἐστί μου, τὰ μὲν διʼ Ἥραν, τὰ δὲ τὸ κάλλος αἴτιον. εἴθʼ ἐξαλειφθεῖσʼ ὡς ἄγαλμʼ αὖθις πάλιν
263αἴσχιον εἶδος ἔλαβον ἀντὶ τοῦ καλοῦ, καὶ τὰς τύχας μὲν τὰς κακὰς ἃς νῦν ἔχω Ἕλληνες ἐπελάθοντο, τὰς δὲ μὴ κακὰς ἔσῳζον ὥσπερ τὰς κακὰς σῴζουσί μου. ὅστις μὲν οὖν ἐς μίαν ἀποβλέπων τύχην
268πρὸς θεῶν κακοῦται, βαρὺ μέν, οἰστέον δʼ ὅμως· ἡμεῖς δὲ πολλαῖς συμφοραῖς ἐγκείμεθα. πρῶτον μὲν οὐκ οὖσʼ ἄδικος, εἰμὶ δυσκλεής· καὶ τοῦτο μεῖζον τῆς ἀληθείας κακόν, ὅστις τὰ μὴ προσόντα κέκτηται κακά.
273ἔπειτα πατρίδος θεοί μʼ ἀφιδρύσαντο γῆς ἐς βάρβαρʼ ἤθη, καὶ φίλων τητωμένη δούλη καθέστηκʼ οὖσʼ ἐλευθέρων ἄπο· τὰ βαρβάρων γὰρ δοῦλα πάντα πλὴν ἑνός. ἄγκυρα δʼ ἥ μου τὰς τύχας ὤχει μόνη,
278πόσιν ποθʼ ἥξειν καί μʼ ἀπαλλάξειν κακῶν — οὗτος τέθνηκεν, οὗτος οὐκέτʼ ἔστι δή. μήτηρ δʼ ὄλωλε, καὶ φονεὺς αὐτῆς ἐγώ, ἀδίκως μέν, ἀλλὰ τἄδικον τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐμόν· ὃ δʼ ἀγλάισμα δωμάτων ἐμοῦ τʼ ἔφυ,
283θυγάτηρ ἄνανδρος πολιὰ παρθενεύεται· τὼ τοῦ Διὸς δὲ λεγομένω Διοσκόρω οὐκ ἐστόν. ἀλλὰ πάντʼ ἔχουσα δυστυχῆ τοῖς πράγμασιν τέθνηκα, τοῖς δʼ ἔργοισιν οὔ. τὸ δʼ ἔσχατον τοῦτʼ, εἰ μόλοιμεν ἐς πάτραν,
288κλῄθροις ἂν εἰργοίμεσθα — τὴν ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳ δοκοῦντες Ἑλένην Μενέλεώ μʼ ἐλθεῖν μέτα. εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἔζη πόσις, ἀνεγνώσθημεν ἂν ἐλθόντες, ἃ φανέρʼ ἦν μόνοις, ἐς ξύμβολα. νῦν δʼ οὔτε τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ οὔτε μὴ σωθῇ ποτε.
293τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; τίνʼ ὑπολείπομαι τύχην; γάμους ἑλομένη τῶν κακῶν ὑπαλλαγάς, μετʼ ἀνδρὸς οἰκεῖν βαρβάρου πρὸς πλουσίαν τράπεζαν ἵζουσʼ; ἀλλʼ ὅταν πόσις πικρὸς ξυνῇ γυναικί, καὶ τὸ σῶμʼ ἐστιν πικρόν.
298θανεῖν κράτιστον· πῶς θάνοιμʼ ἂν οὐ καλῶς; ἐς γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἤλθομεν βάθος κακῶν· αἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλαι διὰ τὸ κάλλος εὐτυχεῖς γυναῖκες, ἡμᾶς δʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀπώλεσεν.
306ΧΟΡΌΣ: Ἑλένη, τὸν ἐλθόνθʼ, ὅστις ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος,
307μὴ πάντʼ ἀληθῆ δοξάσῃς εἰρηκέναι.
308ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν σαφῶς γʼ ἔλεξʼ ὀλωλέναι πόσιν.
309ΧΟΡΌΣ: πόλλʼ ἂν γένοιτο καὶ διὰ ψευδῶν ἔπη.
310ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ τἄμπαλίν γε τῶνδʼ ἀληθείᾳ σαφῆ.
311ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς ξυμφορὰν γὰρ ἀντὶ τἀγαθοῦ φέρῃ.
312ἙΛΈΝΗ: φόβος γὰρ ἐς τὸ δεῖμα περιβαλών μʼ ἄγει.
313ΧΟΡΌΣ: πῶς δʼ εὐμενείας τοισίδʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχεις;
314ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντες φίλοι μοι πλὴν ὁ θηρεύων γάμους.
Part 5
315ΧΟΡΌΣ: οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; μνήματος λιποῦσʼ ἕδραν —
316ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς ποῖον ἕρπεις μῦθον ἢ παραίνεσιν;
317ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐς οἴκους, ἣ τὰ πάντʼ ἐπίσταται, τῆς ποντίας Νηρῇδος ἐκγόνου κόρης, πυθοῦ πόσιν σὸν Θεονόης, εἴτʼ ἔστʼ ἔτι εἴτʼ ἐκλέλοιπε φέγγος· ἐκμαθοῦσα δʼ εὖ πρὸς τὰς τύχας τὸ χάρμα τοὺς γόους τʼ ἔχε.
322πρὶν δʼ οὐδὲν ὀρθῶς εἰδέναι, τί σοι πλέον λυπουμένῃ γένοιτʼ ἄν; ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ· τάφον λιποῦσα τόνδε σύμμειξον κόρῃ· ὅθενπερ εἴσῃ πάντα τἀληθῆ μαθεῖν ἔχουσʼ ἐν οἴκοις τοῖσδε, τί βλέπεις πρόσω;
327θέλω δὲ κἀγὼ σοὶ συνεισελθεῖν δόμους καὶ συμπυθέσθαι παρθένου θεσπίσματα· γυναῖκα γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖν γυναικὶ χρή.
330ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι, λόγους ἐδεξάμαν·
331βᾶτε βᾶτε δʼ ἐς δόμους,
332ἀγῶνας ἐντὸς οἴκων
333ὡς πύθησθε τοὺς ἐμούς.
334ΧΟΡΌΣ: θέλουσαν οὐ μόλις καλεῖς.
335ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ μέλεος ἁμέρα.
336τίνʼ ἄρα τάλαινα τίνα δακρυό-
337εντα λόγον ἀκούσομαι;
338ΧΟΡΌΣ: μὴ πρόμαντις ἀλγέων
339προλάμβανʼ, ὦ φίλα, γόους.
340ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί μοι πόσις μέλεος ἔτλα;
341πότερα δέρκεται φάος
342τέθριππά θʼ ἁλίου κέλευθά τʼ ἀστέρων,
344ἢ ʼν νέκυσι κατὰ χθονὸς
345τὰν χρόνιον ἔχει τύχαν;
346ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς τὸ φέρτερον τίθει
347τὸ μέλλον, ὅ τι γενήσεται.
348ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ γὰρ ἐκάλεσα, σὲ δὲ κατόμοσα, τὸν ὑδρόεντι δόνακι χλωρὸν Εὐρώταν, θανόντος εἰ βάξις ἔτυμος ἀνδρὸς ἅδε μοι — τί τάδʼ ἀσύνετα; —
353φόνιον αἰώρημα διὰ δέρης ὀρέξομαι, ἢ ξιφοκτόνον δίωγμα λαιμορρύτου σφαγᾶς αὐτοσίδαρον ἔσω πελάσω διὰ σαρκὸς ἅμιλλαν,
357θῦμα τριζύγοις θεαῖσι τῷ τε σήραγγας Ἰδαί- ας ἐνίζοντι Πριαμί- δᾳ ποτʼ ἀμφὶ βουστάθμους.
360ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἄλλοσʼ ἀποτροπὰ κακῶν
361γένοιτο, τὸ δὲ σὸν εὐτυχές.
362ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ Τροία τάλαινα, διʼ ἔργʼ ἄνεργʼ ὄλλυσαι μέλεά τʼ ἔτλας· τὰ δʼ ἐμὰ δῶρα Κύπριδος ἔτεκε πολὺ μὲν αἷμα, πολὺ δὲ δάκρυον· ἄχεά τʼ ἄχεσι,
366δάκρυα δάκρυσιν ἔλαβε, πάθεα [...] ματέρες τε παῖδας ὄλεσαν, ἀπὸ δὲ παρθένοι κόμας ἔθεντο σύγγονοι νεκρῶν Σκαμάνδριον ἀμφὶ Φρύγιον οἶδμα.
370βοὰν βοὰν δʼ Ἑλλὰς κελάδησε κἀνοτότυξεν, ἐπὶ δὲ κρατὶ χέρας ἔθηκεν, ὄνυχι δʼ ἁπαλόχροα γένυν δεῦσε φονίαισι πλαγαῖς.
375ὦ μάκαρ Ἀρκαδίᾳ ποτὲ παρθένε Καλλιστοῖ, Διὸς ἃ λεχέων ἐπέβας τετραβάμοσι γυίοις, ὡς πολὺ ματρὸς ἐμᾶς ἔλαχες πλέον, ἁ μορφᾷ θηρῶν λαχνογυίων — ὄμματι λάβρῷ σχῆμα λεαίνης —
380ἐξαλλάξασʼ ἄχθεα λύπης· ἅν τέ ποτʼ Ἄρτεμις ἐξεχορεύσατο χρυσοκέρατʼ ἔλαφον Μέροπος Τιτανίδα κούραν καλλοσύνας ἕνεκεν· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν δέμας ὤλεσεν ὤλεσε πέργαμα Δαρδανίας
385ὀλομένους τʼ Ἀχαιούς.
386ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ τὰς τεθρίππους Οἰνομάῳ Πῖσαν κάτα Πέλοψ ἁμίλλας ἐξαμιλληθείς ποτε, εἴθʼ ὤφελες τόθʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἔρανον εἰς θεοὺς πεισθεὶς ἐποίεις, ἐν θεοῖς λιπεῖν βίον, πρὶν τὸν ἐμὸν Ἀτρέα πατέρα γεννῆσαί ποτε,
391ὃς ἐξέφυσεν Ἀερόπης λέκτρων ἄπο Ἀγαμέμνονʼ ἐμέ τε Μενέλεων, κλεινὸν ζυγόν· πλεῖστον γὰρ οἶμαι — καὶ τόδʼ οὐ κόμπῳ λέγω — στράτευμα κώπῃ διορίσαι Τροίαν ἔπι, τύραννος οὐδὲν πρὸς βίαν στρατηλατῶν,
396ἑκοῦσι δʼ ἄρξας Ἑλλάδος νεανίαις. καὶ τοὺς μὲν οὐκέτʼ ὄντας ἀριθμῆσαι πάρα, τοὺς δʼ ἐκ θαλάσσης ἀσμένους πεφευγότας, νεκρῶν φέροντας ὀνόματʼ εἰς οἴκους πάλιν. ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπʼ οἶδμα πόντιον γλαυκῆς ἁλὸς
401τλήμων ἀλῶμαι χρόνον ὅσονπερ Ἰλίου πύργους ἔπερσα, κἀς πάτραν χρῄζων μολεῖν οὐκ ἀξιοῦμαι τοῦδε πρὸς θεῶν τυχεῖν. Λιβύης τʼ ἐρήμους ἀξένους τʼ ἐπιδρομὰς πέπλευκα πάσας· χὥταν ἐγγὺς ὦ πάτρας,
406πάλιν μʼ ἀπωθεῖ πνεῦμα, κοὔποτʼ οὔριον ἐσῆλθε λαῖφος ὥστε μʼ ἐς πάτραν μολεῖν. καὶ νῦν τάλας ναυαγὸς ἀπολέσας φίλους ἐξέπεσον ἐς γῆν τήνδε· ναῦς δὲ πρὸς πέτρας πολλοὺς ἀριθμοὺς ἄγνυται ναυαγίων.
411τρόπις δʼ ἐλείφθη ποικίλων ἁρμοσμάτων, ἐφʼ ἧς ἐσώθην μόλις ἀνελπίστῳ τύχῃ Ἑλένη τε, Τροίας ἣν ἀποσπάσας ἔχω. ὄνομα δὲ χώρας ἥτις ἥδε καὶ λεὼς οὐκ οἶδα· ὄχλον γὰρ ἐσπεσεῖν ᾐσχυνόμην
416ὥσθʼ ἱστορῆσαι, τὰς ἐμὰς δυσχλαινίας κρύπτων ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς τῆς τύχης. ὅταν δʼ ἀνὴρ πράξῃ κακῶς ὑψηλός, εἰς ἀηθίαν πίπτει κακίω τοῦ πάλαι δυσδαίμονος. χρεία δὲ τείρει μʼ· οὔτε γὰρ σῖτος πάρα
421οὔτʼ ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐσθῆτες· αὐτὰ δʼ εἰκάσαι πάρεστι ναὸς ἐκβόλοις ἃ ἀμπίσχομαι. πέπλους δὲ τοὺς πρὶν λαμπρά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματα χλιδάς τε πόντος ἥρπασʼ· ἐν δʼ ἄντρου μυχοῖς κρύψας γυναῖκα τὴν κακῶν πάντων ἐμοὶ
426ἄρξασαν ἥκω τούς τε περιλελειμμένους φίλων φυλάσσειν τἄμʼ ἀναγκάσας λέχη. μόνος δὲ νοστῶ, τοῖς ἐκεῖ ζητῶν φίλοις τὰ πρόσφορʼ ἤν πως ἐξερευνήσας λάβω. ἰδὼν δὲ δῶμα περιφερὲς θριγκοῖς τόδε
431πύλας τε σεμνὰς ἀνδρὸς ὀλβίου τινός, προσῆλθον· ἐλπὶς δʼ ἔκ γε πλουσίων δόμων λαβεῖν τι ναύταις· ἐκ δὲ μὴ ἐχόντων βίον — οὐδʼ εἰ θέλοιεν, ὠφελεῖν ἔχοιεν ἄν. ὠή· τίς ἂν πυλωρὸς ἐκ δόμων μόλοι,
436ὅστις διαγγείλειε τἄμʼ ἔσω κακά;
437ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τίς πρὸς πύλαισιν; οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ δόμων
438καὶ μὴ πρὸς αὐλείοισιν ἑστηκὼς πύλαις
439ὄχλον παρέξεις δεσπόταις; ἢ κατθανῇ
440Ἕλλην πεφυκώς, οἷσιν οὐκ ἐπιστροφαί.
441ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ γραῖα, ταὐτὰ ταῦτʼ ἔπη κἄλλως λέγειν
442ἔξεστι, πείσομαι γάρ· ἀλλʼ ἄνες λόγον.
443ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ἄπελθʼ· ἐμοὶ γὰρ τοῦτο πρόσκειται, ξένε,
444μηδένα πελάζειν τοισίδʼ Ἑλλήνων δόμοις.
445ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἆ· μὴ προσείλει χεῖρα μηδʼ ὤθει βίᾳ.
446ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πείθῃ γὰρ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω, σὺ δʼ αἴτιος.
447ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄγγειλον εἴσω δεσπόταισι τοῖσι σοῖς [...]
448ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πικρῶς ἄρʼ οἶμαί γʼ ἀγγελεῖν τοὺς σοὺς λόγους.
Part 6
449ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ναυαγὸς ἥκω ξένος, ἀσύλητον γένος.
450ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οἶκον πρὸς ἄλλον νύν τινʼ ἀντὶ τοῦδʼ ἴθι.
451ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ἔσω πάρειμι· καὶ σύ μοι πιθοῦ.
452ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ὀχληρὸς ἴσθʼ ὤν· καὶ τάχʼ ὠσθήσῃ βίᾳ.
453ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αἰαῖ· τὰ κλεινὰ ποῦ ʼστί μοι στρατεύματα;
454ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὐκοῦν ἐκεῖ που σεμνὸς ἦσθʼ, οὐκ ἐνθάδε.
455ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ δαῖμον, ὡς ἀνάξιʼ ἠτιμώμεθα.
456ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τί βλέφαρα τέγγεις δάκρυσι; πρὸς τίνʼ οἰκτρὸς εἶ;
457ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πρὸς τὰς πάροιθεν συμφορὰς εὐδαίμονας.
458ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὔκουν ἀπελθὼν δάκρυα σοῖς δώσεις φίλοις;
459ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς δʼ ἥδε χώρα; τοῦ δὲ βασίλειοι δόμοι;
460ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Πρωτεὺς τάδʼ οἰκεῖ δώματʼ, Αἴγυπτος δὲ γῆ.
461ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Αἴγυπτος; ὦ δύστηνος, οἷ πέπλευκʼ ἄρα.
462ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τί δὴ τὸ Νείλου μεμπτόν ἐστί σοι γάνος;
463ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ τοῦτʼ ἐμέμφθην· τὰς ἐμὰς στένω τύχας.
464ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πολλοὶ κακῶς πράσσουσιν, οὐ σὺ δὴ μόνος.
465ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔστʼ οὖν ἐν οἴκοις ὅντινʼ ὀνομάζεις ἄναξ;
466ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τόδʼ ἐστὶν αὐτοῦ μνῆμα, παῖς δʼ ἄρχει χθονός.
467ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη; πότερον ἐκτὸς ἢ ʼν δόμοις;
468ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὐκ ἔνδον· Ἕλλησιν δὲ πολεμιώτατος.
Part 7
469ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίνʼ αἰτίαν σχὼν ἧς ἐπηυρόμην ἐγώ;
470ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Ἑλένη κατʼ οἴκους ἐστὶ τούσδʼ ἡ τοῦ Διός.
471ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς φῄς; τίνʼ εἶπας μῦθον; αὖθίς μοι φράσον.
472ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς, ἣ κατὰ Σπάρτην ποτʼ ἦν.
473ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πόθεν μολοῦσα; τίνα τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχει λόγον;
474ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Λακεδαίμονος γῆς δεῦρο νοστήσασʼ ἄπο.
475ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πότε; οὔ τί που λελῄσμεθʼ ἐξ ἄντρων λέχος;
476ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πρὶν τοὺς Ἀχαιούς, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐς Τροίαν μολεῖν.
477ἀλλʼ ἕρπʼ ἀπʼ οἴκων· ἔστι γάρ τις ἐν δόμοις
478τύχη, τύραννος ᾗ ταράσσεται δόμος.
479καιρὸν γὰρ οὐδένʼ ἦλθες· ἢν δὲ δεσπότης
480λάβῃ σε, θάνατος ξένιά σοι γενήσεται.
481εὔνους γάρ εἰμʼ Ἕλλησιν, οὐχ ὅσον πικροὺς
482λόγους ἔδωκα δεσπότην φοβουμένη.
483ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῶ; τί λέξω; συμφορὰς γὰρ ἀθλίας ἐκ τῶν πάροιθεν τὰς παρεστώσας κλύω, εἰ τὴν μὲν αἱρεθεῖσαν ἐκ Τροίας ἄγων ἥκω δάμαρτα καὶ κατʼ ἄντρα σῴζεται, ὄνομα δὲ ταὐτὸν τῆς ἐμῆς ἔχουσά τις
488δάμαρτος ἄλλη τοισίδʼ ἐνναίει δόμοις. Διὸς δʼ ἔλεξε παῖδά νιν πεφυκέναι. ἀλλʼ ἦ τις ἔστι Ζηνὸς ὄνομʼ ἔχων ἀνὴρ Νείλου παρʼ ὄχθας; εἷς γὰρ ὅ γε κατʼ οὐρανόν. Σπάρτη δὲ ποῦ γῆς ἐστι πλὴν ἵνα ῥοαὶ
493τοῦ καλλιδόνακός εἰσιν Εὐρώτα μόνον; ἁπλοῦν δὲ Τυνδάρειον ὄνομα κλῄζεται. Λακεδαίμονος δὲ γαῖα τίς ξυνώνυμος Τροίας τε; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἔχω τί χρὴ λέγειν. πολλοὶ γάρ, ὡς εἴξασιν, ἐν πολλῇ χθονὶ
498ὀνόματα ταὔτʼ ἔχουσι καὶ πόλις πόλει γυνὴ γυναικί τʼ· οὐδὲν οὖν θαυμαστέον. οὐδʼ αὖ τὸ δεινὸν προσπόλου φευξούμεθα· ἀνὴρ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ὧδε βάρβαρος φρένας, ὃς ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας τοὐμὸν οὐ δώσει βοράν.
503κλεινὸν τὸ Τροίας πῦρ ἐγώ θʼ ὃς ἧψά νιν, Μενέλαος, οὐκ ἄγνωστος ἐν πάσῃ χθονί. δόμων ἄνακτα προσμενῶ· δισσὰς δέ μοι ἔχει φυλάξεις· ἢν μὲν ὠμόφρων τις ᾖ, κρύψας ἐμαυτὸν εἶμι πρὸς ναυάγια·
508ἢν δʼ ἐνδιδῷ τι μαλθακόν, τὰ πρόσφορα τῆς νῦν παρούσης συμφορᾶς αἰτήσομαι. κακῶν μὲν ἡμῖν ἔσχατον τοῖς ἀθλίοις, ἄλλους τυράννους αὐτὸν ὄντα βασιλέα βίον προσαιτεῖν· ἀλλʼ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει.
513λόγος γάρ ἐστιν οὐκ ἐμός, σοφὸν δʼ ἔπος, δεινῆς ἀνάγκης οὐδὲν ἰσχύειν πλέον.
515ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἤκουσα τᾶς θεσπιῳδοῦ κόρας, ἃ χρῄζουσʼ ἐφάνη τυράννοις δόμοις, ὡς Μενέλαος οὔ- πω μελαμφαὲς οἴχεται διʼ ἔρεβος χθονὶ κρυφθείς,
520ἀλλʼ ἔτι κατʼ οἶδμʼ ἅλιον τρυχόμενος οὔπω λιμένων ψαύσειεν πατρίας γᾶς, ἀλατείᾳ βιότου ταλαίφρων, ἄφιλος φίλων,
525παντοδαπᾶς ἐπὶ γᾶς πόδα χριμπτόμενος εἰναλίῳ κώπᾳ Τρῳάδος ἐκ γᾶς.
528ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥδʼ αὖ τάφου τοῦδʼ εἰς ἕδρας ἐγὼ πάλιν στείχω, μαθοῦσα Θεονόης φίλους λόγους, ἣ πάντʼ ἀληθῶς οἶδε· φησὶ δʼ ἐν φάει πόσιν τὸν ἁμὸν ζῶντα φέγγος εἰσορᾶν, πορθμοὺς δʼ ἀλᾶσθαι μυρίους πεπλωκότα
533ἐκεῖσε κἀκεῖσʼ οὐδʼ ἀγύμναστον πλάνοις, ἥξειν δʼ ὅταν δὴ πημάτων λάβῃ τέλος. ἓν δʼ οὐκ ἔλεξεν, εἰ μολὼν σωθήσεται. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπέστην τοῦτʼ ἐρωτῆσαι σαφῶς, ἡσθεῖσʼ ἐπεί νιν εἶπέ μοι σεσῳσμένον.
538ἐγγὺς δέ νίν που τῆσδʼ ἔφασκʼ εἶναι χθονός, ναυαγὸν ἐκπεσόντα σὺν παύροις φίλοις. ὤμοι, πόθʼ ἥξεις; ὡς ποθεινὸς ἂν μόλοις. ἔα, τίς οὗτος; οὔ τί που κρυπτεύομαι Πρωτέως ἀσέπτου παιδὸς ἐκ βουλευμάτων;
543οὐχ ὡς δρομαία πῶλος ἢ Βάκχη θεοῦ τάφῳ ξυνάψω κῶλον; ἄγριος δέ τις μορφὴν ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὅς με θηρᾶται λαβεῖν.
546ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὲ τὴν ὄρεγμα δεινὸν ἡμιλλημένην
547τύμβου ʼπὶ κρηπῖδʼ ἐμπύρους τʼ ὀρθοστάτας,
548μεῖνον· τί φεύγεις; ὡς δέμας δείξασα σὸν
549ἔκπληξιν ἡμῖν ἀφασίαν τε προστίθης.
550ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀδικούμεθʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες· εἰργόμεσθα γὰρ
551τάφου πρὸς ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καί μʼ ἑλὼν θέλει
552δοῦναι τυράννοις ὧν ἐφεύγομεν γάμους.
553ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ κλῶπές ἐσμεν, οὐχ ὑπηρέται κακῶν.
554ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν στολήν γʼ ἄμορφον ἀμφὶ σῶμʼ ἔχεις.
555ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: στῆσον, φόβου μεθεῖσα, λαιψηρὸν πόδα.
556ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἵστημʼ, ἐπεί γε τοῦδʼ ἐφάπτομαι τόπου.
557ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς εἶ; τίνʼ ὄψιν σήν, γύναι, προσδέρκομαι;
558ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; αὑτὸς γὰρ σὲ κἄμʼ ἔχει λόγος.
559ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐπώποτʼ εἶδον προσφερέστερον δέμας.
Part 8
560ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ θεοί· θεὸς γὰρ καὶ τὸ γιγνώσκειν φίλους.
561ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἑλληνὶς εἶ τις ἢ ἐπιχωρία γυνή;
562ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἑλληνίς· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σὸν θέλω μαθεῖν.
563ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἑλένῃ σʼ ὁμοίαν δὴ μάλιστʼ εἶδον, γύναι.
564ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐγὼ δὲ Μενέλεῴ γε σέ· οὐδʼ ἔχω τί φῶ.
565ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔγνως γὰρ ὀρθῶς ἄνδρα δυστυχέστατον.
566ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ χρόνιος ἐλθὼν σῆς δάμαρτος ἐς χέρας.
567ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ποίας δάμαρτος; μὴ θίγῃς ἐμῶν πέπλων.
568ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥν σοι δίδωσι Τυνδάρεως, ἐμὸς πατήρ.
569ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ φωσφόρʼ Ἑκάτη, πέμπε φάσματʼ εὐμενῆ.
570ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ νυκτίφαντον πρόπολον Ἐνοδίας μʼ ὁρᾷς.
571ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ μὴν γυναικῶν γʼ εἷς δυοῖν ἔφυν πόσις.
572ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίων δὲ λέκτρων δεσπότης ἄλλων ἔφυς;
573ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἣν ἄντρα κεύθει κἀκ Φρυγῶν κομίζομαι.
574ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλη σή τις ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ γυνή.
575ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔ που φρονῶ μὲν εὖ, τὸ δʼ ὄμμα μου νοσεῖ;
576ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ γάρ με λεύσσων σὴν δάμαρθʼ ὁρᾶν δοκεῖς;
577ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τὸ σῶμʼ ὅμοιον, τὸ δὲ σαφές μʼ ἀποστερεῖ.
578ἙΛΈΝΗ: σκέψαι· τί σοὐνδεῖ; τίς δὲ σοῦ σοφώτερος;
579ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔοικας· οὔτοι τοῦτό γʼ ἐξαρνήσομαι.
Part 9
580ἙΛΈΝΗ: τίς οὖν διδάξει σʼ ἄλλος ἢ τὰ σʼ ὄμματα;
581ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐκεῖ νοσοῦμεν, ὅτι δάμαρτʼ ἄλλην ἔχω.
582ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἦλθον ἐς γῆν Τρῳάδʼ, ἀλλʼ εἴδωλον ἦν.
583ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ τίς βλέποντα σώματʼ ἐξεργάζεται;
584ἙΛΈΝΗ: αἰθήρ, ὅθεν σὺ θεοπόνητʼ ἔχεις λέχη.
585ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίνος πλάσαντος θεῶν; ἄελπτα γὰρ λέγεις.
586ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἥρας, διάλλαγμʼ, ὡς Πάρις με μὴ λάβοι.
587ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς οὖν ἂν ἐνθάδʼ ἦσθά τʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ θʼ ἅμα;
588ἙΛΈΝΗ: τοὔνομα γένοιτʼ ἂν πολλαχοῦ, τὸ σῶμα δʼ οὔ.
589ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: μέθες με, λύπης ἅλις ἔχων ἐλήλυθα.
590ἙΛΈΝΗ: λείψεις γὰρ ἡμᾶς, τὰ δὲ κένʼ ἐξάξεις λέχη;
591ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ χαῖρέ γʼ, Ἑλένῃ προσφερὴς ὁθούνεκʼ εἶ.
592ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπωλόμην· λαβοῦσά σʼ οὐχ ἕξω πόσιν.
593ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοὐκεῖ με μέγεθος τῶν πόνων πείθει, σὺ δʼ οὔ.
594ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἲ ἐγώ· τίς ἡμῶν ἐγένετʼ ἀθλιωτέρα;
595οἱ φίλτατοι λείπουσί μʼ οὐδʼ ἀφίξομαι
596Ἕλληνας οὐδὲ πατρίδα τὴν ἐμήν ποτε.
597ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαε, μαστεύων σε κιγχάνω μόλις
598πᾶσαν πλανηθεὶς τήνδε βάρβαρον χθόνα,
599πεμφθεὶς ἑταίρων τῶν λελειμμένων ὕπο.
600ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί δʼ ἔστιν; οὔ που βαρβάρων συλᾶσθʼ ὕπο;
601ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: θαῦμʼ ἔστʼ, ἔλασσον τοὔνομʼ ἢ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχον.
602ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λέγʼ· ὡς φέρεις τι τῇδε τῇ σπουδῇ νέον.
603ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: λέγω πόνους σε μυρίους τλῆναι μάτην.
Part 10
604ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: παλαιὰ θρηνεῖς πήματʼ· ἀγγέλλεις δὲ τί;
605ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: βέβηκεν ἄλοχος σὴ πρὸς αἰθέρος πτυχὰς ἀρθεῖσʼ ἄφαντος· οὐρανῷ δὲ κρύπτεται λιποῦσα σεμνὸν ἄντρον οὗ σφʼ ἐσῴζομεν, τοσόνδε λέξασʼ· ὦ ταλαίπωροι Φρύγες πάντες τʼ Ἀχαιοί, διʼ ἔμʼ ἐπὶ Σκαμανδρίοις
610ἀκταῖσιν Ἥρας μηχαναῖς ἐθνῄσκετε, δοκοῦντες Ἑλένην οὐκ ἔχοντʼ ἔχειν Πάριν. ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ χρόνον ἔμεινʼ ὅσον με χρῆν, τὸ μόρσιμον σῴσασα, πατέρʼ ἐς οὐρανὸν ἄπειμι· φήμας δʼ ἡ τάλαινα Τυνδαρὶς
615ἄλλως κακὰς ἤκουσεν οὐδὲν αἰτία. ὦ χαῖρε, Λήδας θύγατερ, ἐνθάδʼ ἦσθʼ ἄρα; ἐγὼ δέ σʼ ἄστρων ὡς βεβηκυῖαν μυχοὺς ἤγγελλον εἰδὼς οὐδὲν ὡς ὑπόπτερον δέμας φοροίης. οὐκ ἐῶ σε κερτομεῖν
620ἡμᾶς τόδʼ αὖθις, ὡς ἄδην ἐν Ἰλίῳ πόνους παρεῖχες σῷ πόσει καὶ συμμάχοις.
622ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνο· ξυμβεβᾶσιν οἱ λόγοι
623οἱ τῆσδʼ ἀληθεῖς. ὦ ποθεινὸς ἡμέρα,
624ἥ σʼ εἰς ἐμὰς ἔδωκεν ὠλένας λαβεῖν.
625ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν Μενέλεως, ὁ μὲν χρόνος
626παλαιός, ἡ δὲ τέρψις ἀρτίως πάρα.
627ἔλαβον ἀσμένα πόσιν ἐμόν, φίλαι,
628περί τʼ ἐπέτασα χέρα
629φίλιον ἐν μακρᾷ φλογὶ φαεσφόρῳ.
630ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ σέ· πολλοὺς δʼ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους ἔχων
631οὐκ οἶδʼ ὁποίου πρῶτον ἄρξωμαι τὰ νῦν.
632ἙΛΈΝΗ: γέγηθα, κρατὶ δʼ ὀρθίους ἐθείρας
633ἀνεπτέρωκα καὶ δάκρυ σταλάσσω,
634περὶ δὲ γυῖα χέρας ἔβαλον, ἡδονάν,
635ὦ πόσις, ὡς λάβω.
636ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ φιλτάτη πρόσοψις, οὐκ ἐμέμφθην·
637ἔχω τὰ τῆς Διός τε λέκτρα Λήδας θʼ,
638ἃν ὑπὸ λαμπάδων κόροι λεύκιπποι
640ξυνομαίμονες ὤλβισαν ὤλβισαν
641τὸ πρόσθεν, ἐκ δόμων δὲ νοσφίσας σʼ ἐμοῦ
642πρὸς ἄλλαν ἐλαύνει
643θεὸς συμφορὰν τᾶσδε κρείσσω.
644τὸ κακὸν δʼ ἀγαθὸν σέ τε κἀμὲ συνάγαγε, πόσιν
645χρόνιον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως ὀναίμαν τύχας.
646ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὄναιο δῆτα. ταὐτὰ δὴ ξυνεύχομαι·
647δυοῖν γὰρ ὄντοιν οὐχ ὃ μὲν τλήμων, ὃ δʼ οὔ.
648ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι φίλαι, τὰ πάρος οὐκέτι
649στένομεν οὐδʼ ἀλγῶ.
650πόσιν ἐμὸν ἔχομεν ὃν
651ἔμενον ἐκ Τροίας πολυετῆ μολεῖν.
652ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔχεις, ἐγώ τε σέ· ἡλίους δὲ μυρίους
653μόλις διελθὼν ᾐσθόμην τὰ τῆς θεοῦ.
654ἐμὰ δὲ χαρμονὰ δάκρυα· πλέον ἔχει
655χάριτος ἢ λύπας.
656ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί φῶ; τίς ἂν τάδʼ ἤλπισεν βροτῶν ποτε;
657ἀδόκητον ἔχω σε πρὸς στέρνοις.
658ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ σὲ τὴν δοκοῦσαν Ἰδαίαν πόλιν
659μολεῖν Ἰλίου τε μελέους πύργους.
660πρὸς θεῶν, δόμων πῶς τῶν ἐμῶν ἀπεστάλης;
661ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἒ ἔ· πικρὰς ἐς ἀρχὰς βαίνεις,
662ἒ ἔ· πικρὰν δʼ ἐρευνᾷς φάτιν.
663ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λέγʼ· ὡς ἀκουστὰ πάντα δῶρα δαιμόνων.
664ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπέπτυσα μὲν λόγον, οἷον οἷον ἐσοίσομαι.
665ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὅμως δὲ λέξον· ἡδύ τοι μόχθων κλύειν.
666ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἐπὶ βαρβάρου λέκτρα νεανία
667πετομένας κώπας,
668πετομένου δʼ ἔρωτος ἀδίκων γάμων [...]
669ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς γάρ σε δαίμων ἢ πότμος συλᾷ πάτρας;
670ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὁ Διὸς ὁ Διός, ὦ πόσι, παῖς μʼ [...]
671ἐπέλασεν Νείλῳ.
672ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: θαυμαστά· τοῦ πέμψαντος; ὦ δεινοὶ λόγοι.
Part 11
673ἙΛΈΝΗ: κατεδάκρυσα καὶ βλέφαρον ὑγραίνω
674δάκρυσιν· ἁ Διός μʼ ἄλοχος ὤλεσεν.
675ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἥρα; τί νῷν χρῄζουσα προσθεῖναι κακόν;
676ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὤμοι ἐμῶν δεινῶν, λουτρῶν καὶ κρηνῶν,
677ἵνα θεαὶ μορφὰν
678ἐφαίδρυναν, ἔνθεν ἔμολεν κρίσις.
679ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τὰ δʼ ἐς κρίσιν σοι τῶνδʼ ἔθηχʼ Ἥρα κακῶν — ;
680ἙΛΈΝΗ: Πάριν ὡς ἀφέλοιτο —
680bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς; αὔδα.
681ἙΛΈΝΗ: Κύπρις ᾧ μʼ ἐπένευσεν —
681bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ τλᾶμον.
682ἙΛΈΝΗ: τλάμων, τλάμων· ὧδʼ ἐπέλασʼ Αἰγύπτῳ.
683ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: εἶτʼ ἀντέδωκʼ εἴδωλον, ὡς σέθεν κλύω.
684ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὰ δὲ σὰ κατὰ μέλαθρα πάθεα πάθεα, μᾶ-
685τερ, οἲ ʼγώ.
685bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῄς;
686ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἔστι μάτηρ· ἀγχόνιον δὲ βρόχον
687διʼ ἐμὰν κατεδήσατο δυσγάμου αἰσχύναν.
688ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὤμοι· θυγατρὸς δʼ Ἑρμιόνης ἔστιν βίος;
689ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄγαμος ἄτεκνος, ὦ πόσι, καταστένει
690γάμον ἄγαμον ἐμόν.
691ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ πᾶν κατʼ ἄκρας δῶμʼ ἐμὸν πέρσας Πάρις,
692τάδε καὶ σὲ διώλεσε μυριάδας τε
693χαλκεόπλων Δαναῶν.
694ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐμὲ δὲ πατρίδος ἄπο κακόποτμον ἀραίαν
695ἔβαλε θεὸς ἀπό τε πόλεος ἀπό τε σέθεν,
696ὅτε μέλαθρα λέχεά τʼ ἔλιπον — οὐ λιποῦσʼ
697ἐπʼ αἰσχροῖς γάμοις.
698ΧΟΡΌΣ: εἰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῆς τύχης εὐδαίμονος
699τύχοιτε, πρὸς τὰ πρόσθεν ἀρκέσειεν ἄν.
700ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαε, κἀμοὶ πρόσδοτον τῆς ἡδονῆς,
701ἣν μανθάνω μὲν καὐτός, οὐ σαφῶς δʼ ἔχω.
702ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀλλʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, καὶ σὺ κοινώνει λόγων.
Part 12
703ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: οὐχ ἥδε μόχθων τῶν ἐν Ἰλίῳ βραβεύς;
704ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐχ ἥδε, πρὸς θεῶν δʼ ἦμεν ἠπατημένοι,
705νεφέλης ἄγαλμʼ ἔχοντες ἐν χεροῖν λυγρόν.
706ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: τί φῄς;
707νεφέλης ἄρʼ ἄλλως εἴχομεν πόνους πέρι;
708ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἥρας τάδʼ ἔργα καὶ θεῶν τρισσῶν ἔρις.
709ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἡ δʼ οὖσʼ ἀληθῶς ἐστιν ἥδε σὴ δάμαρ;
710ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αὕτη· λόγοις ἐμοῖσι πίστευσον τάδε.
711ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ὦ θύγατερ, ὁ θεὸς ὡς ἔφυ τι ποικίλον καὶ δυστέκμαρτον. εὖ δέ πως πάντα στρέφει ἐκεῖσε κἀκεῖσʼ ἀναφέρων· ὃ μὲν πονεῖ, ὃ δʼ οὐ πονήσας αὖθις ὄλλυται κακῶς, βέβαιον οὐδὲν τῆς ἀεὶ τύχης ἔχων.
716σὺ γὰρ πόσις τε σὸς πόνων μετέσχετε, σὺ μὲν λόγοισιν, ὃ δὲ δορὸς προθυμίᾳ. σπεύδων δʼ ὅτʼ ἔσπευδʼ οὐδὲν εἶχε· νῦν δʼ ἔχει αὐτόματα πράξας τἀγάθʼ εὐτυχέστατα. οὐκ ἄρα γέροντα πατέρα καὶ Διοσκόρω
721ᾔσχυνας, οὐδʼ ἔδρασας οἷα κλῄζεται. νῦν ἀνανεοῦμαι τὸν σὸν ὑμέναιον πάλιν καὶ λαμπάδων μεμνήμεθʼ ἃς τετραόροις ἵπποις τροχάζων παρέφερον· σὺ δʼ ἐν δίφροις ξὺν τῷδε νύμφη δῶμʼ ἔλειπες ὄλβιον.
726κακὸς γὰρ ὅστις μὴ σέβει τὰ δεσποτῶν καὶ ξυγγέγηθε καὶ συνωδίνει κακοῖς. ἐγὼ μὲν εἴην, κεἰ πέφυχʼ ὅμως λάτρις, ἐν τοῖσι γενναίοισιν ἠριθμημένος δούλοισι, τοὔνομʼ οὐκ ἔχων ἐλεύθερον,
731τὸν νοῦν δέ· κρεῖσσον γὰρ τόδʼ ἢ δυοῖν κακοῖν ἕνʼ ὄντα χρῆσθαι, τὰς φρένας τʼ ἔχειν κακὰς ἄλλων τʼ ἀκούειν δοῦλον ὄντα τῶν πέλας.
734ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄγʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, πολλὰ μὲν παρʼ ἀσπίδα μοχθήματʼ ἐξέπλησας ἐκπονῶν ἐμοί, καὶ νῦν μετασχὼν τῆς ἐμῆς εὐπραξίας ἄγγειλον ἐλθὼν τοῖς λελειμμένοις φίλοις τάδʼ ὡς ἔχονθʼ ηὕρηκας οἷ τʼ ἐσμὲν τύχης,
739μένειν τʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς τούς τʼ ἐμοὺς καραδοκεῖν ἀγῶνας οἳ μένουσί μʼ, ὡς ἐλπίζομεν, κεἰ τήνδε πως δυναίμεθʼ ἐκκλέψαι χθονός, φρουρεῖν ὅπως ἂν εἰς ἓν ἐλθόντες τύχης ἐκ βαρβάρων σωθῶμεν, ἢν δυνώμεθα.
744ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἔσται τάδʼ, ὦναξ. ἀλλά τοι τὰ μάντεων ἐσεῖδον ὡς φαῦλʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ψευδῶν πλέα. οὐδʼ ἦν ἄρʼ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἐμπύρου φλογὸς οὐδὲ πτερωτῶν φθέγματʼ· εὔηθες δέ τοι τὸ καὶ δοκεῖν ὄρνιθας ὠφελεῖν βροτούς.
749Κάλχας γὰρ οὐκ εἶπʼ οὐδʼ ἐσήμηνε στρατῷ νεφέλης ὑπερθνῄσκοντας εἰσορῶν φίλους οὐδʼ Ἕλενος, ἀλλὰ πόλις ἀνηρπάσθη μάτην. εἴποις ἄν· οὕνεχʼ ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἠβούλετο; τί δῆτα μαντευόμεθα; τοῖς θεοῖσι χρὴ
754θύοντας αἰτεῖν ἀγαθά, μαντείας δʼ ἐᾶν· βίου γὰρ ἄλλως δέλεαρ ηὑρέθη τόδε, κοὐδεὶς ἐπλούτησʼ ἐμπύροισιν ἀργὸς ὤν· γνώμη δʼ ἀρίστη μάντις ἥ τʼ εὐβουλία.
758ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς ταὐτὸ κἀμοὶ δόξα μαντειῶν πέρι
759χωρεῖ γέροντι· τοὺς θεοὺς ἔχων τις ἂν
760φίλους ἀρίστην μαντικὴν ἔχοι δόμοις.
761ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἶἑν· τὰ μὲν δὴ δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ καλῶς ἔχει.
762ὅπως δʼ ἐσώθης, ὦ τάλας, Τροίας ἄπο,
763κέρδος μὲν οὐδὲν εἰδέναι, πόθος δέ τις
764τὰ τῶν φίλων φίλοισιν αἰσθέσθαι κακά.
765ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἦ πόλλʼ ἀνήρου μʼ ἑνὶ λόγῳ μιᾷ θʼ ὁδῷ.
766τί σοι λέγοιμʼ ἂν τὰς ἐν Αἰγαίῳ φθορὰς
767τὰ Ναυπλίου τʼ Εὐβοικὰ πυρπολήματα
768Κρήτην τε Λιβύης θʼ ἃς ἐπεστράφην πόλεις,
769σκοπιάς τε Περσέως; οὐ γὰρ ἐμπλήσαιμί σʼ ἂν
770μύθων, λέγων τʼ ἄν σοι κάκʼ ἀλγοίην ἔτι,
771πάσχων τʼ ἔκαμνον· δὶς δὲ λυπηθεῖμεν ἄν.
772ἙΛΈΝΗ: κάλλιον εἶπας ἤ σʼ ἀνηρόμην ἐγώ.
773ἓν δʼ εἰπὲ πάντα παραλιπών, πόσον χρόνον
774πόντου ʼπὶ νώτοις ἅλιον ἐφθείρου πλάνον;
775ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐν ναυσὶν ὢν πρὸς τοῖσιν ἐν Τροίᾳ δέκα
776ἔτεσι διῆλθον ἑπτὰ περιδρομὰς ἐτῶν.
777ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦ φεῦ· μακρόν γʼ ἔλεξας, ὦ τάλας, χρόνον
778σωθεὶς δʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἦλθες ἐς σφαγάς.
779ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς φῄς; τί λέξεις; ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας, γύναι.
780ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦγʼ ὡς τάχιστα τῆσδʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς χθονός.
781θανῇ πρὸς ἀνδρὸς οὗ τάδʼ ἐστὶ δώματα.
782ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί χρῆμα δράσας ἄξιον τῆς συμφορᾶς;
783ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκεις ἄελπτος ἐμποδὼν ἐμοῖς γάμοις.
784ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἦ γὰρ γαμεῖν τις τἄμʼ ἐβουλήθη λέχη;
Part 13
785ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὕβριν θʼ ὑβρίζειν εἰς ἔμʼ, ἣν ἔτλην ἐγώ.
786ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἰδίᾳ σθένων τις ἢ τυραννεύων χθονός;
787ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὃς γῆς ἀνάσσει τῆσδε Πρωτέως γόνος.
788ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνʼ αἴνιγμʼ ὃ προσπόλου κλύω.
789ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίοις ἐπιστὰς βαρβάροις πυλώμασιν;
790ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῖσδʼ, ἔνθεν ὥσπερ πτωχὸς ἐξηλαυνόμην.
791ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔ που προσῄτεις βίοτον; ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
792ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοὔργον μὲν ἦν τοῦτʼ, ὄνομα δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν τόδε.
793ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντʼ οἶσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὡς ἔοικας, ἀμφʼ ἐμῶν γάμων.
794ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οἶδʼ· εἰ δὲ λέκτρα διέφυγες τάδʼ οὐκ ἔχω.
795ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄθικτον εὐνὴν ἴσθι σοι σεσῳσμένην.
796ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς τοῦδε πειθώ; φίλα γάρ, εἰ σαφῆ λέγεις.
797ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὁρᾷς τάφου τοῦδʼ ἀθλίους ἕδρας ἐμάς;
798ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὁρῶ ταλαίνας στιβάδας, ὧν τί σοὶ μέτα;
799ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐνταῦθα λέκτρων ἱκετεύομεν φυγάς.
800ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: βωμοῦ σπανίζουσʼ ἢ νόμοισι βαρβάροις;
801ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐρρύεθʼ ἡμᾶς τοῦτʼ ἴσον ναοῖς θεῶν.
802ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐδʼ ἄρα πρὸς οἴκους ναυστολεῖν σʼ ἔξεστί μοι;
803ἙΛΈΝΗ: ξίφος μένει σε μᾶλλον ἢ τοὐμὸν λέχος.
804ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὕτως ἂν εἴην ἀθλιώτατος βροτῶν.
Part 14
805ἙΛΈΝΗ: μή νυν καταιδοῦ, φεῦγε δʼ ἐκ τῆσδε χθονός.
806ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λιπών σε; Τροίαν ἐξέπερσα σὴν χάριν.
807ἙΛΈΝΗ: κρεῖσσον γὰρ ἤ σε τἄμʼ ἀποκτεῖναι λέχη.
808ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄνανδρά γʼ εἶπας Ἰλίου τʼ οὐκ ἄξια.
809ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἂν κτάνοις τύραννον, ὃ σπεύδεις ἴσως.
810ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὕτω σιδήρῳ τρωτὸν οὐκ ἔχει δέμας;
811ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἴσῃ. τὸ τολμᾶν δʼ ἀδύνατʼ ἀνδρὸς οὐ σοφοῦ.
812ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σιγῇ παράσχω δῆτʼ ἐμὰς δῆσαι χέρας;
813ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς ἄπορον ἥκεις· δεῖ δὲ μηχανῆς τινος.
814ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: δρῶντας γὰρ ἢ μὴ δρῶντας ἥδιον θανεῖν.
815ἙΛΈΝΗ: μίʼ ἔστιν ἐλπίς, ᾗ μόνῃ σωθεῖμεν ἄν.
816ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὠνητὸς ἢ τολμητὸς ἢ λόγων ὕπο;
817ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἰ μὴ τύραννός σʼ ἐκπύθοιτʼ ἀφιγμένον.
818ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐρεῖ δὲ τίς μʼ; οὐ γνώσεταί γʼ ὅς εἰμʼ ἐγώ.
819ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔστʼ ἔνδον αὐτῷ ξύμμαχος θεοῖς ἴση.
820ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: φήμη τις οἴκων ἐν μυχοῖς ἱδρυμένη;
821ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ἀδελφή· Θεονόην καλοῦσί νιν.
822ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: χρηστήριον μὲν τοὔνομʼ· ὅ τι δὲ δρᾷ φράσον.
823ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντʼ οἶδʼ, ἐρεῖ τε συγγόνῳ παρόντα σε.
824ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: θνῄσκοιμεν ἄν· λαθεῖν γὰρ οὐχ οἷόν τέ μοι.
Part 15
825ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἴσως ἂν ἀναπείσαιμεν ἱκετεύοντέ νιν —
826ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; τίνʼ ὑπάγεις μʼ ἐς ἐλπίδα;
827ἙΛΈΝΗ: παρόντα γαίᾳ μὴ φράσαι σε συγγόνῳ.
828ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πείσαντε δʼ ἐκ γῆς διορίσαιμεν ἂν πόδα;
829ἙΛΈΝΗ: κοινῇ γʼ ἐκείνῃ ῥᾳδίως, λάθρᾳ δʼ ἂν οὔ.
830ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὸν ἔργον, ὡς γυναικὶ πρόσφορον γυνή.
831ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὡς οὐκ ἄχρωστα γόνατʼ ἐμῶν ἕξει χερῶν.
832ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: φέρʼ, ἢν δὲ δὴ νῷν μὴ ἀποδέξηται λόγους;
833ἙΛΈΝΗ: θανῇ· γαμοῦμαι δʼ ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ βίᾳ.
834ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: προδότις ἂν εἴης· τὴν βίαν σκήψασʼ ἔχεις.
835ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ ἁγνὸν ὅρκον σὸν κάρα κατώμοσα [...]
836ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῄς; θανεῖσθαι; κοὔποτʼ ἀλλάξεις λέχη;
837ἙΛΈΝΗ: ταὐτῷ ξίφει γε· κείσομαι δὲ σοῦ πέλας.
838ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐπὶ τοῖσδε τοίνυν δεξιᾶς ἐμῆς θίγε.
839ἙΛΈΝΗ: ψαύω, θανόντος σοῦ τόδʼ ἐκλείψειν φάος.
840ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ στερηθεὶς σοῦ τελευτήσειν βίον.
841ἙΛΈΝΗ: πῶς οὖν θανούμεθʼ ὥστε καὶ δόξαν λαβεῖν;
842ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τύμβου ʼπὶ νώτῳ σὲ κτανὼν ἐμὲ κτενῶ. πρῶτον δʼ ἀγῶνα μέγαν ἀγωνιούμεθα λέκτρων ὑπὲρ σῶν. ὁ δὲ θέλων ἴτω πέλας· τὸ Τρωικὸν γὰρ οὐ καταισχυνῶ κλέος οὐδʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἐλθὼν λήψομαι πολὺν ψόγον,
847ὅστις Θέτιν μὲν ἐστέρησʼ Ἀχιλλέως, Τελαμωνίου δʼ Αἴαντος εἰσεῖδον σφαγάς, τὸν Νηλέως τʼ ἄπαιδα· διὰ δὲ τὴν ἐμὴν οὐκ ἀξιώσω κατθανεῖν δάμαρτʼ ἐγώ; μάλιστά γε· εἰ γάρ εἰσιν οἱ θεοὶ σοφοί,
852εὔψυχον ἄνδρα πολεμίων θανόνθʼ ὕπο κούφῃ καταμπίσχουσιν ἐν τύμβῳ χθονί, κακοὺς δʼ ἐφʼ ἕρμα στερεὸν ἐκβάλλουσι γῆς.
855ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὦ θεοί, γενέσθω δή ποτʼ εὐτυχὲς γένος
856τὸ Ταντάλειον καὶ μεταστήτω κακῶν.
857ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἲ ἐγὼ τάλαινα· τῆς τύχης γὰρ ὧδʼ ἔχω.
858Μενέλαε, διαπεπράγμεθʼ· ἐκβαίνει δόμων
859ἡ θεσπιῳδὸς Θεονόη· κτυπεῖ δόμος
860κλῄθρων λυθέντων. φεῦγʼ· ἀτὰρ τί φευκτέον;
861ἀποῦσα γάρ σε καὶ παροῦσʼ ἀφιγμένον
862δεῦρʼ οἶδεν· ὦ δύστηνος, ὡς ἀπωλόμην.
863Τροίας δὲ σωθεὶς κἀπὸ βαρβάρου χθονὸς
864ἐς βάρβαρʼ ἐλθὼν φάσγανʼ αὖθις ἐμπεσῇ.
Part 16
865ΘΕΟΝΌΗ: ἡγοῦ σύ μοι φέρουσα λαμπτήρων σέλας θείου δε σεμνὸν θεσμὸν αἰθέρος μυχούς, ὡς πνεῦμα καθαρὸν οὐρανοῦ δεξώμεθα· σὺ δʼ αὖ κέλευθον εἴ τις ἔβλαψεν ποδὶ στείβων ἀνοσίῳ, δὸς καθαρσίῳ φλογί,
870κροῦσον δὲ πεύκην, ἵνα διεξέλθω, πυρός. νόμον δὲ τὸν ἐμὸν θεοῖσιν ἀποδοῦσαι πάρος ἐφέστιον φλόγʼ ἐς δόμους κομίζετε. Ἑλένη, τί τἀμὰ — πῶς ἔχει — θεσπίσματα; ἥκει πόσις σοι Μενέλεως ὅδʼ ἐμφανής,
875νεῶν στερηθεὶς τοῦ τε σοῦ μιμήματος. ὦ τλῆμον, οἵους διαφυγὼν ἦλθες πόνους, οὐδʼ οἶσθα νόστον οἴκαδʼ εἴτʼ αὐτοῦ μενεῖς· ἔρις γὰρ ἐν θεοῖς σύλλογός τε σοῦ πέρι ἔσται πάρεδρος Ζηνὶ τῷδʼ ἐν ἤματι.
880Ἥρα μέν, ἥ σοι δυσμενὴς πάροιθεν ἦν, νῦν ἐστιν εὔνους κἀς πάτραν σῷσαι θέλει ξὺν τῇδʼ, ἵνʼ Ἑλλὰς τοὺς Ἀλεξάνδρου γάμους, δώρημα Κύπριδος, ψευδονυμφεύτους μάθῃ· Κύπρις δὲ νόστον σὸν διαφθεῖραι θέλει,
885ὡς μὴ ʼξελεγχθῇ μηδὲ πριαμένη φανῇ τὸ κάλλος, Ἑλένης οὕνεκʼ, ἀνονήτοις γάμοις. τέλος δʼ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν, εἴθʼ, ἃ βούλεται Κύπρις, λέξασʼ ἀδελφῷ σʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὄντα διολέσω, εἴτʼ αὖ μεθʼ Ἥρας στᾶσα σὸν σώσω βίον,
890κρύψασʼ ὁμαίμονʼ, ὅς με προστάσσει τάδε εἰπεῖν, ὅταν γῆν τήνδε νοστήσας τύχῃς [...] τίς εἶσʼ ἀδελφῷ τόνδε σημανῶν ἐμῷ παρόνθʼ, ὅπως ἂν τοὐμὸν ἀσφαλῶς ἔχῃ;
894ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ παρθένʼ, ἱκέτις ἀμφὶ σὸν πίτνω γόνυ καὶ προσκαθίζω θᾶκον οὐκ εὐδαίμονα ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμαυτῆς τοῦδέ θʼ, ὃν μόλις ποτὲ λαβοῦσʼ ἐπʼ ἀκμῆς εἰμι κατθανόντʼ ἰδεῖν· μή μοι κατείπῃς σῷ κασιγνήτῳ πόσιν
899τόνδʼ εἰς ἐμὰς ἥκοντα φιλτάτας χέρας, σῷσον δέ, λίσσομαί σε· συγγόνῳ δὲ σῷ τὴν εὐσέβειαν μὴ προδῷς τὴν σήν ποτε, χάριτας πονηρὰς κἀδίκους ὠνουμένη. μισεῖ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τὴν βίαν, τὰ κτητὰ δὲ
904κτᾶσθαι κελεύει πάντας οὐκ ἐς ἁρπαγάς. κοινὸς γάρ ἐστιν οὐρανὸς πᾶσιν βροτοῖς καὶ γαῖʼ, ἐν ᾗ χρὴ δώματʼ ἀναπληρουμένους τἀλλότρια μὴ σχεῖν μηδʼ ἀφαιρεῖσθαι βίᾳ. ἡμᾶς δὲ καιρίως μέν, ἀθλίως δʼ ἐμοί,
910Ἑρμῆς ἔδωκε πατρὶ σῷ σῴζειν πόσει τῷδʼ ὃς πάρεστι κἀπολάζυσθαι θέλει. πῶς οὖν θανὼν ἂν ἀπολάβοι; κεῖνος δὲ πῶς τὰ ζῶντα τοῖς θανοῦσιν ἀποδοίη ποτʼ ἄν; ἤδη τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὰ τοῦ πατρὸς σκόπει·
915πότερον ὁ δαίμων χὡ θανὼν τὰ τῶν πέλας βούλοιντʼ ἂν ἢ οὐ βούλοιντʼ ἂν ἀποδοῦναι πάλιν; δοκῶ μέν. οὔκουν χρή σε συγγόνῳ πλέον νέμειν ματαίῳ μᾶλλον ἢ χρηστῷ πατρί. εἰ δʼ οὖσα μάντις καὶ τὰ θεῖʼ ἡγουμένη
920τὸ μὲν δίκαιον τοῦ πατρὸς διαφθερεῖς, τῷ δʼ οὐ δικαίῳ συγγόνῳ σώσεις χάριν, αἰσχρὸν τὰ μέν σε θεῖα πάντʼ ἐξειδέναι, τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα, τὰ δὲ δίκαια μή. τήν τʼ ἀθλίαν ἔμʼ, οἷσιν ἔγκειμαι κακοῖς,
925ῥῦσαι, πάρεργον δοῦσα τοῦτο τῆς τύχης· Ἑλένην γὰρ οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐ στυγεῖ βροτῶν· ἣ κλῄζομαι καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ὡς προδοῦσʼ ἐμὸν πόσιν Φρυγῶν ᾤκησα πολυχρύσους δόμους. ἢν δʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἔλθω κἀπιβῶ Σπάρτης πάλιν,
930κλύοντες εἰσιδόντες ὡς τέχναις θεῶν ὤλοντʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ προδότις οὐκ ἄρʼ ἦ φίλων, πάλιν μʼ ἀνάξουσʼ ἐς τὸ σῶφρον αὖθις αὖ, ἑδνώσομαί τε θυγατέρʼ, ἣν οὐδεὶς γαμεῖ, τὴν δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκλιποῦσʼ ἀλητείαν πικρὰν
935ὄντων ἐν οἴκοις χρημάτων ὀνήσομαι. κεἰ μὲν θανὼν ὅδʼ ἐν πυρᾷ κατεσφάγη, πρόσω σφʼ ἀπόντα δακρύοις ἂν ἠγάπων· νῦν δʼ ὄντα καὶ σωθέντʼ ἀφαιρεθήσομαι; μὴ δῆτα, παρθένʼ, ἀλλά σʼ ἱκετεύω τόδε·
940δὸς τὴν χάριν μοι τήνδε καὶ μιμοῦ τρόπους πατρὸς δικαίου· παισὶ γὰρ κλέος τόδε κάλλιστον, ὅστις ἐκ πατρὸς χρηστοῦ γεγὼς ἐς ταὐτὸν ἦλθε τοῖς τεκοῦσι τοὺς τρόπους.
944ΧΟΡΌΣ: οἰκτρὸν μὲν οἱ παρόντες ἐν μέσῳ λόγοι,
945οἰκτρὰ δὲ καὶ σύ. τοὺς δὲ Μενέλεω ποθῶ
946λόγους ἀκοῦσαι τίνας ἐρεῖ ψυχῆς πέρι.
947ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐγὼ σὸν οὔτʼ ἂν προσπεσεῖν τλαίην γόνυ οὔτʼ ἂν δακρῦσαι βλέφαρα· τὴν Τροίαν γὰρ ἂν δειλοὶ γενόμενοι πλεῖστον αἰσχύνοιμεν ἄν. καίτοι λέγουσιν ὡς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς εὐγενοῦς ἐν ξυμφοραῖσι δάκρυʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν βαλεῖν.
952ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ τοῦτο τὸ καλόν, εἰ καλὸν τόδε, αἱρήσομαι ʼγὼ πρόσθε τῆς εὐψυχίας. ἀλλʼ, εἰ μὲν ἄνδρα σοι δοκεῖ σῷσαι ξένον ζητοῦντά γʼ ὀρθῶς ἀπολαβεῖν δάμαρτʼ ἐμήν, ἀπόδος τε καὶ πρὸς σῷσον· εἰ δὲ μὴ δοκεῖ,
957ἐγὼ μὲν οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ἀλλὰ πολλάκις ἄθλιος ἂν εἴην, σὺ δὲ γυνὴ κακὴ φανῇ. ἃ δʼ ἄξιʼ ἡμῶν καὶ δίκαιʼ ἡγούμεθα καὶ σῆς μάλιστα καρδίας ἀνθάψεται, λέξω τάδʼ ἀμφὶ μνῆμα σοῦ πατρὸς πόθῳ·
962ὦ γέρον, ὃς οἰκεῖς τόνδε λάινον τάφον, ἀπόδος, ἀπαιτῶ τὴν ἐμὴν δάμαρτά σε, ἣν Ζεὺς ἔπεμψε δεῦρό σοι σῴζειν ἐμοί. οἶδʼ οὕνεκʼ ἡμῖν οὔποτʼ ἀποδώσεις θανών· ἀλλʼ ἥδε πατέρα νέρθεν ἀνακαλούμενον
967οὐκ ἀξιώσει τὸν πρὶν εὐκλεέστατον κακῶς ἀκοῦσαι· κυρία γάρ ἐστι νῦν. ὦ νέρτερʼ Ἅιδη, καὶ σὲ σύμμαχον καλῶ, ὃς πόλλʼ ἐδέξω τῆσδʼ ἕκατι σώματα πεσόντα τὠμῷ φασγάνῳ, μισθὸν δʼ ἔχεις·
972ἢ νῦν ἐκείνους ἀπόδος ἐμψύχους πάλιν, ἢ τήνδε πατρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἀνάγκασον κρείσσω φανεῖσαν τἀμά γʼ ἀποδοῦναι λέχη. εἰ δʼ ἐμὲ γυναῖκα τὴν ἐμὴν συλήσετε, ἅ σοι παρέλιπεν ἥδε τῶν λόγων, φράσω.
977ὅρκοις κεκλῄμεθʼ, ὡς μάθῃς, ὦ παρθένε, πρῶτον μὲν ἐλθεῖν διὰ μάχης σῷ συγγόνῳ κἀκεῖνον ἢ ʼμὲ δεῖ θανεῖν· ἁπλοῦς λόγος. ἢν δʼ ἐς μὲν ἀλκὴν μὴ πόδʼ ἀντιθῇ ποδί, λιμῷ δὲ θηρᾷ τύμβον ἱκετεύοντε νώ,
982κτανεῖν δέδοκται τήνδε μοι κἄπειτʼ ἐμὸν πρὸς ἧπαρ ὦσαι δίστομον ξίφος τόδε τύμβου ʼπὶ νώτοις τοῦδʼ, ἵνʼ αἵματος ῥοαὶ τάφου καταστάζωσι· κεισόμεσθα δὲ νεκρὼ δύʼ ἑξῆς τῷδʼ ἐπὶ ξεστῷ τάφῳ,
987ἀθάνατον ἄλγος σοί, ψόγος δὲ σῷ πατρί. οὐ γὰρ γαμεῖ τήνδʼ οὔτε σύγγονος σέθεν οὔτʼ ἄλλος οὐδείς· ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σφʼ ἀπάξομαι, εἰ μὴ πρὸς οἴκους δυνάμεθʼ, ἀλλὰ πρὸς νεκρούς. τί ταῦτα; δακρύοις ἐς τὸ θῆλυ τρεπόμενος
992ἐλεινὸς ἦν ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ δραστήριος. κτεῖνʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι· δυσκλεᾶς γὰρ οὐ κτενεῖς· μᾶλλόν γε μέντοι τοῖς ἐμοῖς πείθου λόγοις, ἵνʼ ᾖς δικαία καὶ δάμαρτʼ ἐγὼ λάβω.
996ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐν σοὶ βραβεύειν, ὦ νεᾶνι, τοὺς λόγους·
997οὕτω δὲ κρῖνον, ὡς ἅπασιν ἁνδάνῃς.
998ΘΕΟΝΌΗ: ἐγὼ πέφυκά τʼ εὐσεβεῖν καὶ βούλομαι, φιλῶ τʼ ἐμαυτήν, καὶ κλέος τοὐμοῦ πατρὸς οὐκ ἂν μιάναιμʼ, οὐδὲ συγγόνῳ χάριν δοίην ἂν ἐξ ἧς δυσκλεὴς φανήσομαι. ἔνεστι δʼ ἱερὸν τῆς δίκης ἐμοὶ μέγα
1003ἐν τῇ φύσει· καὶ τοῦτο Νηρέως πάρα ἔχουσα σῴζειν, Μενέλεως, πειράσομαι. Ἥρᾳ δʼ, ἐπείπερ βούλεταί σʼ εὐεργετεῖν, ἐς ταὐτὸν οἴσω ψῆφον· ἡ Κύπρις δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵλεως μὲν εἴη, ξυμβέβηκε δʼ οὐδαμοῦ·
1008πειράσομαι δὲ παρθένος μένειν ἀεί. ἃ δʼ ἀμφὶ τύμβῳ τῷδʼ ὀνειδίζεις πατρί, ἡμῖν ὅδʼ αὑτὸς μῦθος. ἀδικοίημεν ἄν, εἰ μὴ ἀποδώσω· καὶ γὰρ ἂν κεῖνος βλέπων ἀπέδωκεν ἂν σοὶ τήνδʼ ἔχειν, ταύτῃ δὲ σέ.
1013καὶ γὰρ τίσις τῶνδʼ ἐστὶ τοῖς τε νερτέροις καὶ τοῖς ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις· ὁ νοῦς τῶν κατθανόντων ζῇ μὲν οὔ, γνώμην δʼ ἔχει ἀθάνατον εἰς ἀθάνατον αἰθέρʼ ἐμπεσών. ὡς οὖν παραινῶ μὴ μακράν, σιγήσομαι
1018ἅ μου καθικετεύσατʼ, οὐδὲ μωρίᾳ ξύμβουλος ἔσομαι τῇ κασιγνήτου ποτέ. εὐεργετῶ γὰρ κεῖνον οὐ δοκοῦσʼ ὅμως, ἐκ δυσσεβείας ὅσιον εἰ τίθημί νιν. αὐτοὶ μὲν οὖν ὁδόν τινʼ ἐξευρίσκετε,
1023ἐγὼ δʼ ἀποστᾶσʼ ἐκποδὼν σιγήσομαι. ἐκ τῶν θεῶν δʼ ἄρχεσθε χἱκετεύετε τὴν μέν σʼ ἐᾶσαι πατρίδα νοστῆσαι Κύπριν, Ἥρας δὲ τὴν ἔννοιαν ἐν ταὐτῷ μένειν ἣν ἐς σὲ καὶ σὸν πόσιν ἔχει σωτηρίας.
1028σὺ δʼ, ὦ θανών μοι πάτερ, ὅσον γʼ ἐγὼ σθένω, οὔποτε κεκλήσῃ δυσσεβὴς ἀντʼ εὐσεβοῦς.
1030ΧΟΡΌΣ: οὐδείς ποτʼ εὐτύχησεν ἔκδικος γεγώς,
1031ἐν τῷ δικαίῳ δʼ ἐλπίδες σωτηρίας.
1032ἙΛΈΝΗ: Μενέλαε, πρὸς μὲν παρθένου σεσῴσμεθα·
1033τοὐνθένδε δὴ σὲ τοὺς λόγους φέροντα χρὴ
1034κοινὴν ξυνάπτειν μηχανὴν σωτηρίας.
1035ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄκουε δή νυν· χρόνιος εἶ κατὰ στέγας
1036καὶ συντέθραψαι προσπόλοισι βασιλέως.
1037ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; ἐσφέρεις γὰρ ἐλπίδας
1038ὡς δή τι δράσων χρηστὸν ἐς κοινόν γε νῷν.
1039ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πείσειας ἄν τινʼ οἵτινες τετραζύγων
1040ὄχων ἀνάσσουσʼ, ὥστε νῷν δοῦναι δίφρους;
1041ἙΛΈΝΗ: πείσαιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τίνα φυγὴν φευξούμεθα
1042πεδίων ἄπειροι βαρβάρου τʼ ὄντες χθονός;
1043ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀδύνατον εἶπας. φέρε, τί δʼ, εἰ κρυφθεὶς δόμοις
1044κτάνοιμʼ ἄνακτα τῷδε διστόμῳ ξίφει;
1045ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἄν σʼ ἀνάσχοιτʼ οὐδὲ σιγήσειεν ἂν
1046μέλλοντʼ ἀδελφὴ σύγγονον κατακτενεῖν.
1047ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὴν ναῦς ἔστιν ᾗ σωθεῖμεν ἂν
1048φεύγοντες· ἣν γὰρ εἴχομεν θάλασσʼ ἔχει.
1049ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄκουσον, ἤν τι καὶ γυνὴ λέξῃ σοφόν.
1050βούλῃ λέγεσθαι, μὴ θανών, λόγῳ θανεῖν;
1051ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κακὸς μὲν ὄρνις· εἰ δὲ κερδανῶ, λέγειν
1052ἕτοιμός εἰμι μὴ θανὼν λόγῳ θανεῖν.
1053ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν γυναικείοις σʼ ἂν οἰκτισαίμεθα
1054κουραῖσι καὶ θρήνοισι πρὸς τὸν ἀνόσιον.
1055ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σωτηρίας δὲ τοῦτʼ ἔχει τί νῷν ἄκος;
1056παλαιότης γὰρ τῷ λόγῳ γʼ ἔνεστί τις.
1057ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὡς δὴ θανόντα σʼ ἐνάλιον κενῷ τάφῳ
1058θάψαι τύραννον τῆσδε γῆς αἰτήσομαι.
Part 17
1059ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ δὴ παρεῖκεν· εἶτα πῶς ἄνευ νεὼς
1060σωθησόμεσθα κενοταφοῦντʼ ἐμὸν δέμας;
1061ἙΛΈΝΗ: δοῦναι κελεύσω πορθμίδʼ, ᾗ καθήσομαι
1062κόσμον τάφῳ σῷ πελαγίους ἐς ἀγκάλας.
1063ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς εὖ τόδʼ εἶπας πλὴν ἕν· εἰ χέρσῳ ταφὰς
1064θεῖναι κελεύσει σʼ, οὐδὲν ἡ σκῆψις φέρει.
1065ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ οὐ νομίζειν φήσομεν καθʼ Ἑλλάδα
1066χέρσῳ καλύπτειν τοὺς θανόντας ἐναλίους.
1067ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῦτʼ αὖ κατορθοῖς· εἶτʼ ἐγὼ συμπλεύσομαι
1068καὶ συγκαθήσω κόσμον ἐν ταὐτῷ σκάφει.
1069ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ καὶ παρεῖναι δεῖ μάλιστα τούς τε σοὺς
1070πλωτῆρας οἵπερ ἔφυγον ἐκ ναυαγίας.
1071ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ μὴν ἐάνπερ ναῦν ἐπʼ ἀγκύρας λάβω,
1072ἀνὴρ παρʼ ἄνδρα στήσεται ξιφηφόρος.
1073ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ χρὴ βραβεύειν πάντα· πόμπιμοι μόνον
1074λαίφει πνοαὶ γένοιντο καὶ νεὼς δρόμος.
1075ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔσται· πόνους γὰρ δαίμονες παύσουσί μου.
1076ἀτὰρ θανόντα τοῦ μʼ ἐρεῖς πεπυσμένη;
1077ἙΛΈΝΗ: σοῦ· καὶ μόνος γε φάσκε διαφυγεῖν μόρον
1078Ἀτρέως πλέων σὺν παιδὶ καὶ θανόνθʼ ὁρᾶν.
1079ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ μὴν τάδʼ ἀμφίβληστρα σώματος ῥάκη
1080ξυμμαρτυρήσει ναυτικῶν ἐρειπίων.
1081ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς καιρὸν ἦλθε, τότε δʼ ἄκαιρʼ ἀπώλλυτο·
1082τὸ δʼ ἄθλιον κεῖνʼ εὐτυχὲς τάχʼ ἂν πέσοι.
1083ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πότερα δʼ ἐς οἴκους σοὶ συνεισελθεῖν με χρὴ
1084ἢ πρὸς τάφῳ τῷδʼ ἥσυχοι καθώμεθα;
1085ἙΛΈΝΗ: αὐτοῦ μένʼ· ἢν γὰρ καί τι πλημμελές σε δρᾷ, τάφος σʼ ὅδʼ ἂν ῥύσαιτο φάσγανόν τε σόν. ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς οἴκους βᾶσα βοστρύχους τεμῶ πέπλων τε λευκῶν μέλανας ἀνταλλάξομαι παρῇδί τʼ ὄνυχα φόνιον ἐμβαλῶ χροός.
1090μέγας γὰρ ἁγών, καὶ βλέπω δύο ῥοπάς· ἢ γὰρ θανεῖν δεῖ μʼ, ἢν ἁλῶ τεχνωμένη, ἢ πατρίδα τʼ ἐλθεῖν καὶ σὸν ἐκσῷσαι δέμας. ὦ πότνιʼ ἣ Δίοισιν ἐν λέκτροις πίτνεις Ἥρα, δύʼ οἰκτρὼ φῶτʼ ἀνάψυξον πόνων,
1095αἰτούμεθʼ ὀρθὰς ὠλένας πρὸς οὐρανὸν ῥίπτονθʼ, ἵνʼ οἰκεῖς ἀστέρων ποικίλματα. σύ θʼ, ἣ ʼπὶ τὠμῷ κάλλος ἐκτήσω γάμῳ, κόρη Διώνης Κύπρι, μή μʼ ἐξεργάσῃ. ἅλις δὲ λύμης ἥν μʼ ἐλυμήνω πάρος
1100τοὔνομα παρασχοῦσʼ, οὐ τὸ σῶμʼ, ἐν βαρβάροις. θανεῖν δʼ ἔασόν μʼ, εἰ κατακτεῖναι θέλεις, ἐν γῇ πατρῴᾳ. τί ποτʼ ἄπληστος εἶ κακῶν, ἔρωτας ἀπάτας δόλιά τʼ ἐξευρήματα ἀσκοῦσα φίλτρα θʼ αἱματηρὰ δωμάτων;
1105εἰ δʼ ἦσθα μετρία, τἄλλα γʼ ἡδίστη θεῶν πέφυκας ἀνθρώποισιν· οὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.
1107ΧΟΡΌΣ: σὲ τὰν ἐναύλοις ὑπὸ δενδροκόμοις μουσεῖα καὶ θάκους ἐνί- ζουσαν ἀναβοάσω, σὲ τὰν ἀοιδοτάταν ὄρνιθα μελῳδὸν ἀηδόνα δακρυόεσσαν,
1111aἔλθʼ ὦ διὰ ξουθᾶν γενύων ἐλελιζομένα θρήνων ἐμοὶ ξυνεργός, Ἑλένας μελέας πόνους τὸν Ἰλιάδων τʼ ἀει-
1115aδούσᾳ δακρυόεντα πότμον Ἀχαιῶν ὑπὸ λόγχαις· ὅτʼ ἔδραμε ῥόθια πεδία βαρβάρῳ πλάτᾳ ὅτʼ ἔμολεν ἔμολε, μέλεα Πριαμίδαις ἄγων Λακεδαίμονος ἄπο λέχεα
1120σέθεν, ὦ Ἑλένα, Πάρις αἰνόγαμος πομπαῖσιν Ἀφροδίτας.
1122ΧΟΡΌΣ: πολλοὶ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν δορὶ καὶ πετρίναις ῥιπαῖσιν ἐκπνεύσαντες Ἅι- δαν μέλεον ἔχουσιν, ταλαινᾶν ἀλόχων κείραντες ἔθειραν· ἄνυμφα δὲ μέλαθρα κεῖται·
1126aπολλοὺς δὲ πυρσεύσας φλογερὸν σέλας ἀμφιρύταν Εὔβοιαν εἷλʼ Ἀχαιῶν μονόκωπος ἀνήρ, πέτραις Καφηρίσιν ἐμβαλὼν
1130Αἰγαίαις τʼ ἐνάλοις δόλιον ἀκταῖς ἀστέρα λάμψας. ἀλίμενα δʼ ὄρεα Μάλεα χειμάτων πνοᾷ, ὅτʼ ἔσυτο πατρίδος ἀποπρό, βαρβάρου στολᾶς γέρας, οὐ γέρας ἀλλʼ ἔριν,
1135Δαναῶν Μενέλας ἐπὶ ναυσὶν ἄγων, εἴδωλον ἱερὸν Ἥρας.
1137ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὅ τι θεὸς ἢ μὴ θεὸς ἢ τὸ μέσον, τίς φησʼ ἐρευνήσας βροτῶν μακρότατον πέρας εὑρεῖν ὃς τὰ θεῶν ἐσορᾷ δεῦρο καὶ αὖθις ἐκεῖσε
1142καὶ πάλιν ἀντιλόγοις πηδῶντʼ ἀνελπίστοις τύχαις; σὺ Διὸς ἔφυς, ὦ Ἑλένα, θυγάτηρ· πτανὸς γὰρ ἐν κόλποις σε Λή- δας ἐτέκνωσε πατήρ.
1147κᾆτʼ ἰαχήθης καθʼ Ἑλλανίαν προδότις ἄπιστος ἄδικος ἄθεος· οὐδʼ ἔχω τί τὸ σαφὲς ἔτι ποτʼ ἐν βροτοῖς· τὸ τῶν θεῶν δʼ ἔπος ἀλαθὲς ηὗρον.
1151ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἄφρονες ὅσοι τὰς ἀρετὰς πολέμῳ λόγχαισί τʼ ἀλκαίου δορὸς κτᾶσθε, πόνους ἀμαθῶς θνα- τῶν καταπαυόμενοι· εἰ γὰρ ἅμιλλα κρινεῖ νιν
1156αἵματος, οὔποτʼ ἔρις λείψει κατʼ ἀνθρώπων πόλεις· ᾇ Πριαμίδος γᾶς ἔλαχον θαλάμους, ἐξὸν διορθῶσαι λόγοις σὰν ἔριν, ὦ Ἑλένα.
1161νῦν δʼ οἳ μὲν Ἅιδᾳ μέλονται κάτω, τείχεα δὲ φλογμὸς ὥστε Διός ἐπέσυτο φλόξ, ἐπὶ δὲ πάθεα πάθεσι φέρεις ἀθλίοις συμφοραῖς αἰλίνοις.
1165ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ χαῖρε, πατρὸς μνῆμʼ· ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισι γὰρ ἔθαψα, Πρωτεῦ, σʼ ἕνεκʼ ἐμῆς προσρήσεως· ἀεὶ δέ σʼ ἐξιών τε κἀσιὼν δόμους Θεοκλύμενος παῖς ὅδε προσεννέπει, πάτερ. ὑμεῖς μὲν οὖν κύνας τε καὶ θηρῶν βρόχους,
1170δμῶες, κομίζετʼ ἐς δόμους τυραννικούς· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐμαυτὸν πόλλʼ ἐλοιδόρησα δή· οὐ γάρ τι θανάτῳ τοὺς κακοὺς κολάζομεν; καὶ νῦν πέπυσμαι φανερὸν Ἑλλήνων τινὰ ἐς γῆν ἀφῖχθαι καὶ λεληθέναι σκοπούς,
1175ἤτοι κατόπτην ἢ κλοπαῖς θηρώμενον Ἑλένην· θανεῖται δʼ, ἤν γε δὴ ληφθῇ μόνον. ἔα· ἀλλʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, πάντα διαπεπραγμένα ηὕρηκα· τύμβου γὰρ κενὰς λιποῦσʼ ἕδρας
1179aἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς ἐκπεπόρθμευται χθονός. ὠή, χαλᾶτε κλῇθρα· λύεθʼ ἱππικὰ φάτνης, ὀπαδοί, κἀκκομίζεθʼ ἅρματα, ὡς ἂν πόνου γʼ ἕκατι μὴ λάθῃ με γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐκκομισθεῖσʼ ἄλοχος, ἧς ἐφίεμαι. —
1184ἐπίσχετʼ· εἰσορῶ γὰρ οὓς διώκομεν παρόντας ἐν δόμοισι κοὐ πεφευγότας. αὕτη, τί πέπλους μέλανας ἐξήψω χροὸς λευκῶν ἀμείψασʼ ἔκ τε κρατὸς εὐγενοῦς κόμας σίδηρον ἐμβαλοῦσʼ ἀπέθρισας
1189χλωροῖς τε τέγγεις δάκρυσι σὴν παρηίδα κλαίουσα; πότερον ἐννύχοις πεπεισμένη στένεις ὀνείροις, ἢ φάτιν τινʼ οἴκοθεν κλύουσα λύπῃ σὰς διέφθαρσαι φρένας;
1193ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ δέσποτʼ — ἤδη γὰρ τόδʼ ὀνομάζω σʼ ἔπος —
1194ὄλωλα· φροῦδα τἀμὰ κοὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.
Part 18
1195ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν τῷ δὲ κεῖσαι συμφορᾶς; τίς ἡ τύχη;
1196ἙΛΈΝΗ: Μενέλαος — οἴμοι, πῶς φράσω; — τέθνηκέ μοι.
1197ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐδέν τι χαίρω σοῖς λόγοις, τὰ δʼ εὐτυχῶ.
1198πῶς δʼ οἶσθα; μῶν σοι Θεονόη λέγει τάδε;
1199ἙΛΈΝΗ: κείνη τε φησὶν ὅ τε παρὼν ὅτʼ ὤλλυτο.
1200ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἥκει γὰρ ὅστις καὶ τάδʼ ἀγγέλλει σαφῆ;
1201ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκει· μόλοι γὰρ οἷ σφʼ ἐγὼ χρῄζω μολεῖν.
1202ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τίς ἐστι; ποῦ ʼστιν; ἵνα σαφέστερον μάθω.
1203ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅδʼ ὃς κάθηται τῷδʼ ὑποπτήξας τάφῳ.
1204ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: Ἄπολλον, ὡς ἐσθῆτι δυσμόρφῳ πρέπει.
1205ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἴμοι, δοκῶ μὲν κἀμὸν ὧδʼ ἔχειν πόσιν.
1206ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποδαπὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ καὶ πόθεν κατέσχε γῆν;
1207ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἕλλην, Ἀχαιῶν εἷς ἐμῷ σύμπλους πόσει.
1208ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: θανάτῳ δὲ ποίῳ φησὶ Μενέλεων θανεῖν;
1209ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἰκτρόταθʼ, ὑγροῖσιν ἐν κλυδωνίοις ἁλός.
1210ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποῦ βαρβάροισι πελάγεσιν ναυσθλούμενον;
1211ἙΛΈΝΗ: Λιβύης ἀλιμένοις ἐκπεσόντα πρὸς πέτραις.
1212ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: καὶ πῶς ὅδʼ οὐκ ὄλωλε κοινωνῶν πλάτης;
1213ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐσθλῶν κακίους ἐνίοτʼ εὐτυχέστεροι.
1214ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: λιπὼν δὲ ναὸς ποῦ πάρεστιν ἔκβολα;
1215ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅπου κακῶς ὄλοιτο, Μενέλεως δὲ μή.
Part 19
1216ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὄλωλʼ ἐκεῖνος. ἦλθε δʼ ἐν ποίῳ σκάφει;
1217ἙΛΈΝΗ: ναῦταί σφʼ ἀνείλοντʼ ἐντυχόντες, ὡς λέγει.
1218ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποῦ δὴ τὸ πεμφθὲν ἀντὶ σοῦ Τροίᾳ κακόν;
1219ἙΛΈΝΗ: νεφέλης λέγεις ἄγαλμα; ἐς αἰθέρʼ οἴχεται.
1220ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ Πρίαμε καὶ γῆ Τρῳάς, ὡς ἔρρεις μάτην.
1221ἙΛΈΝΗ: κἀγὼ μετέσχον Πριαμίδαις δυσπραξίας.
1222ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πόσιν δʼ ἄθαπτον ἔλιπεν ἢ κρύπτει χθονί;
1223ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄθαπτον· οἲ ἐγὼ τῶν ἐμῶν τλήμων κακῶν.
1224ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τῶνδʼ οὕνεκʼ ἔταμες βοστρύχους ξανθῆς κόμης·
1225ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλος γάρ ἐστιν, ὅς ποτʼ ἐστίν, ἐνθάδʼ ὤν.
1226ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὀρθῶς μὲν ἥδε συμφορὰ δακρύεται —
1227ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐν εὐμαρεῖ γοῦν σὴν κασιγνήτην λαθεῖν.
1228ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ δῆτα. πῶς οὖν; τόνδʼ ἔτʼ οἰκήσεις τάφον;
1229ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί κερτομεῖς με, τὸν θανόντα δʼ οὐκ ἐᾷς;
1230ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πιστὴ γὰρ εἶ σὺ σῷ πόσει φεύγουσά με.
1231ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ· ἤδη δʼ ἄρχε τῶν ἐμῶν γάμων.
1232ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χρόνια μὲν ἦλθεν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως αἰνῶ τάδε.
1233ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; τῶν πάρος λαθώμεθα.
1234ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐπὶ τῷ; χάρις γὰρ ἀντὶ χάριτος ἐλθέτω.
1235ἙΛΈΝΗ: σπονδὰς τέμωμεν καὶ διαλλάχθητί μοι.
Part 20
1236ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μεθίημι νεῖκος τὸ σόν, ἴτω δʼ ὑπόπτερον.
1237ἙΛΈΝΗ: πρός νύν σε γονάτων τῶνδʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ φίλος —
1238ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί χρῆμα θηρῶσʼ ἱκέτις ὠρέχθης ἐμοῦ;
1239ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὸν κατθανόντα πόσιν ἐμὸν θάψαι θέλω.
1240ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δʼ; ἔστʼ ἀπόντων τύμβος; ἢ θάψεις σκιάν;
1241ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἕλλησίν ἐστι νόμος, ὃς ἂν πόντῳ θάνῃ —
1242ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δρᾶν; σοφοί τοι Πελοπίδαι τὰ τοιάδε.
1243ἙΛΈΝΗ: κενοῖσι θάπτειν ἐν πέπλων ὑφάσμασιν.
1244ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κτέριζʼ· ἀνίστη τύμβον οὗ χρῄζεις χθονός.
1245ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐχ ὧδε ναύτας ὀλομένους τυμβεύομεν.
1246ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς δαί; λέλειμμαι τῶν ἐν Ἕλλησιν νόμων.
1247ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς πόντον ὅσα χρὴ νέκυσιν ἐξορμίζομεν.
1248ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί σοι παράσχω δῆτα τῷ τεθνηκότι;
1249ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅδʼ οἶδʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἄπειρος, εὐτυχοῦσα πρίν.
1250ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ ξένε, λόγων μὲν κληδόνʼ ἤνεγκας φίλην.
1251ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔκουν ἐμαυτῷ γʼ οὐδὲ τῷ τεθνηκότι.
1252ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς τοὺς θανόντας θάπτετʼ ἐν πόντῳ νεκρούς;
1253ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς ἂν παρούσης οὐσίας ἕκαστος ᾖ.
1254ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πλούτου λέγʼ οὕνεχʼ ὅ τι θέλεις ταύτης χάριν.
1255ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: προσφάζεται μὲν αἷμα πρῶτα νερτέροις.
Part 21
1256ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τίνος; σύ μοι σήμαινε, πείσομαι δʼ ἐγώ.
1257ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αὐτὸς σὺ γίγνωσκʼ· ἀρκέσει γὰρ ἃν διδῷς.
1258ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν βαρβάροις μὲν ἵππον ἢ ταῦρον νόμος.
1259ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: διδούς γε μὲν δὴ δυσγενὲς μηδὲν δίδου.
1260ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ τῶνδʼ ἐν ἀγέλαις ὀλβίαις σπανίζομεν.
1261ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ στρωτὰ φέρεται λέκτρα σώματος κενά.
1262ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἔσται· τί δʼ ἄλλο προσφέρειν νομίζεται;
1263ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: χαλκήλαθʼ ὅπλα· καὶ γὰρ ἦν φίλος δορί.
1264ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἄξια τάδʼ ἔσται Πελοπιδῶν ἃ δώσομεν.
1265ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ τἄλλʼ ὅσα χθὼν καλὰ φέρει βλαστήματα.
1266ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς οὖν; ἐς οἶδμα τίνι τρόπῳ καθίετε;
1267ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ναῦν δεῖ παρεῖναι κἀρετμῶν ἐπιστάτας.
1268ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πόσον δʼ ἀπείργει μῆκος ἐκ γαίας δόρυ;
1269ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὥστʼ ἐξορᾶσθαι ῥόθια χερσόθεν μόλις.
1270ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δή; τόδʼ Ἑλλὰς νόμιμον ἐκ τίνος σέβει;
1271ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς μὴ πάλιν γῇ λύματʼ ἐκβάλῃ κλύδων.
1272ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: Φοίνισσα κώπη ταχύπορος γενήσεται.
1273ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καλῶς ἂν εἴη Μενέλεῴ τε πρὸς χάριν.
1274ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὔκουν σὺ χωρὶς τῆσδε δρῶν ἀρκεῖς τάδε;
1275ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: μητρὸς τόδʼ ἔργον ἢ γυναικὸς ἢ τέκνων.
Part 22
1276ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ταύτης ὁ μόχθος, ὡς λέγεις, θάπτειν πόσιν.
1277ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐν εὐσεβεῖ γοῦν νόμιμα μὴ κλέπτειν νεκρῶν.
1278ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἴτω· πρὸς ἡμῶν ἄλοχον εὐσεβῆ τρέφειν. ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς οἴκους ἐξελοῦ κόσμον νεκρῷ· καὶ σὲ οὐ κεναῖσι χερσὶ γῆς ἀποστελῶ, δράσαντα τῇδε πρὸς χάριν· φήμας δʼ ἐμοὶ ἐσθλὰς ἐνεγκὼν ἀντὶ τῆς ἀχλαινίας
1283ἐσθῆτα λήψῃ σῖτά θʼ, ὥστε σʼ ἐς πάτραν ἐλθεῖν, ἐπεὶ νῦν γʼ ἀθλίως ἔχονθʼ ὁρῶ. σὺ δʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, μὴ ʼπὶ τοῖς ἀνηνύτοις τρύχουσα σαυτήν — Μενέλεως δʼ ἔχει πότμον, κοὐκ ἂν δύναιτο ζῆν ὁ κατθανὼν πόσις.
1288ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὸν ἔργον, ὦ νεᾶνι· τὸν παρόντα μὲν
1289στέργειν πόσιν χρή, τὸν δὲ μηκέτʼ ὄντʼ ἐᾶν·
1290ἄριστα γάρ σοι ταῦτα πρὸς τὸ τυγχάνον.
1291ἢν δʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἔλθω καὶ τύχω σωτηρίας,
1293παύσω ψόγου σε τοῦ πρίν, ἢν γυνὴ γένῃ
1292οἵαν γενέσθαι χρή σε σῷ ξυνευνέτῃ.
1294ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔσται τάδʼ· οὐδὲ μέμψεται πόσις ποτὲ
1295ἡμῖν· σὺ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐγγὺς ὢν εἴσῃ τάδε.
1296ἀλλʼ, ὦ τάλας, εἴσελθε καὶ λουτρῶν τύχε
1297ἐσθῆτά τʼ ἐξάλλαξον. οὐκ ἐς ἀμβολὰς
1298εὐεργετήσω σʼ· εὐμενέστερον γὰρ ἂν
1299τῷ φιλτάτῳ μοι Μενέλεῳ τὰ πρόσφορα
1300δρῴης ἄν, ἡμῶν τυγχάνων οἵων σε χρή.
1301ΧΟΡΌΣ: Ὀρεία ποτὲ δρομάδι κώ- λῳ μάτηρ θεῶν ἐσύθη ἀνʼ ὑλάεντα νάπη ποτάμιόν τε χεῦμʼ ὑδάτων βαρύβρομόν τε κῦμʼ ἅλιον
1306πόθῳ τᾶς ἀποιχομένας ἀρρήτου κούρας. κρόταλα δὲ βρόμια διαπρύσιον ἱέντα κέλαδον ἀνεβόα, θηρῶν ὅτε ζυγίους
1311ζευξάσᾳ θεᾷ σατίνας τὰν ἁρπασθεῖσαν κυκλίων χορῶν ἔξω παρθενίων μετὰ κούραν, ἀελλόποδες, ἃ μὲν τόξοις Ἄρτεμις, ἃ δʼ
1316ἔγχει Γοργῶπις πάνοπλος, συνείποντο. Ζεὺς δʼ ἑδράνων αὐγάζων ἐξ οὐρανίων ἄλλαν μοῖραν ἔκραινε.
1319ΧΟΡΌΣ: δρομαῖον δʼ ὅτε πολυπλάνη- τον μάτηρ ἔπαυσε πόνον, μαστεύουσα πόνους θυγατρὸς ἁρπαγὰς δολίους, χιονοθρέμμονάς γʼ ἐπέρασʼ
1324Ἰδαιᾶν Νυμφᾶν σκοπιάς· ῥίπτει δʼ ἐν πένθει πέτρινα κατὰ δρία πολυνιφέα· βροτοῖσι δʼ ἄχλοα πεδία γᾶς οὐ καρπίζουσʼ ἀρότοις
1329λαῶν φθείρει γενεάν· ποίμναις δʼ οὐχ ἵει θαλερὰς βοσκὰς εὐφύλλων ἑλίκων, πόλεων δʼ ἀπέλειπε βίος· οὐδʼ ἦσαν θεῶν θυσίαι,
1334βωμοῖς δʼ ἄφλεκτοι πέλανοι· πηγὰς δʼ ἀμπαύει δροσερὰς λευκῶν ἐκβάλλειν ὑδάτων πένθει παιδὸς ἀλάστωρ.
1338ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐπεὶ δʼ ἔπαυσʼ εἰλαπίνας θεοῖς βροτείῳ τε γένει, Ζεὺς μειλίσσων στυγίους ματρὸς ὀργὰς ἐνέπει· βᾶτε, σεμναὶ Χάριτες,
1343ἴτε, τᾷ περὶ παρθένῳ Δηοῖ θυμωσαμένᾳ λύπαν ἐξαλλάξατʼ ἀλαλᾷ, Μοῦσαί θʼ ὕμνοισι χορῶν. χαλκοῦ δʼ αὐδὰν χθονίαν
1347τύπανά τʼ ἔλαβε βυρσοτενῆ καλλίστα τότε πρῶτα μακά- ρων Κύπρις· γέλασέν τε θεὰ δέξατό τʼ ἐς χέρας βαρύβρομον αὐλὸν
1352τερφθεῖσʼ ἀλαλαγμῷ.
1353ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὧν οὐ θέμις σʼ οὔθʼ ὁσία ʼπʼύρωσας ἐν θεῶν θαλάμοις, μῆνιν δʼ ἔσχες μεγάλας ματρός, ὦ παῖ, θυσίας οὐ σεβίζουσα θεᾶς.
1358μέγα τοι δύναται νεβρῶν παμποίκιλοι στολίδες κισσοῦ τε στεφθεῖσα χλόα νάρθηκας εἰς ἱερούς, ῥόμβου θʼ εἱλισσομένα
1363κύκλιος ἔνοσις αἰθερία, βακχεύουσά τʼ ἔθειρα Βρομί- ῳ καὶ παννυχίδες θεᾶς. εὖ δέ νιν ἄμασιν ὑπέρβαλε σελάνα
1368μορφᾷ μόνον ηὔχεις.
1369ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὰ μὲν κατʼ οἴκους εὐτυχοῦμεν, ὦ φίλαι· ἡ γὰρ συνεκκλέπτουσα Πρωτέως κόρη πόσιν παρόντα τὸν ἐμὸν ἱστορουμένη οὐκ εἶπʼ ἀδελφῷ· κατθανόντα δʼ ἐν χθονὶ οὔ φησιν αὐγὰς εἰσορᾶν ἐμὴν χάριν.
1374[...] κάλλιστα δῆτʼ ἀνήρπασʼ ἐν τύχῃ πόσις· ἃ γὰρ καθήσειν ὅπλʼ ἔμελλεν εἰς ἅλα, ταῦτʼ ἐμβαλὼν πόρπακι γενναίαν χέρα αὐτὸς κομίζει δόρυ τε δεξιᾷ λαβών,
1378ὡς τῷ θανόντι χάριτα δὴ συνεκπονῶν. προύργου δʼ ἐς ἀλκὴν σῶμʼ ὅπλοις ἠσκήσατο, ὡς βαρβάρων τρόπαια μυρίων χερὶ θήσων, ὅταν κωπῆρες ἐσβῶμεν σκάφος, πέπλους δʼ ἀμείψασʼ ἀντὶ ναυφθόρου στολῆς
1383ἐγώ νιν ἐξήσκησα, καὶ λουτροῖς χρόα ἔδωκα, χρόνια νίπτρα ποταμίας δρόσου. ἀλλʼ, ἐκπερᾷ γὰρ δωμάτων ὁ τοὺς ἐμοὺς γάμους ἑτοίμους ἐν χεροῖν ἔχειν δοκῶν, σιγητέον μοι· καὶ σὲ προσποιούμεθα
1388εὔνουν κρατεῖν τε στόματος, ἢν δυνώμεθα σωθέντες αὐτοὶ καὶ σὲ συνσῶσαί ποτε.
1390ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χωρεῖτʼ ἐφεξῆς, ὡς ἔταξεν ὁ ξένος,
1391δμῶες, φέροντες ἐνάλια κτερίσματα.
1392Ἑλένη, σὺ δʼ, ἤν σοι μὴ κακῶς δόξω λέγειν,
1393πείθου, μένʼ αὐτοῦ· ταὐτὰ γὰρ παροῦσά τε
1394πράξεις τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν σὸν ἤν τε μὴ παρῇς.
1395δέδοικα γάρ σε μή τις ἐμπεσὼν πόθος
1396πείσῃ μεθεῖναι σῶμʼ ἐς οἶδμα πόντιον
1397τοῦ πρόσθεν ἀνδρὸς χάρισιν ἐκπεπληγμένην·
1398ἄγαν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐ παρόνθʼ ὅμως στένεις.
1399ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ καινὸς ἡμῖν πόσις, ἀναγκαίως ἔχει τὰ πρῶτα λέκτρα νυμφικάς θʼ ὁμιλίας τιμᾶν· ἐγὼ δὲ διὰ τὸ μὲν στέργειν πόσιν καὶ ξυνθάνοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τίς κείνῳ χάρις ξὺν κατθανόντι κατθανεῖν; ἔα δέ με
1404αὐτὴν μολοῦσαν ἐντάφια δοῦναι νεκρῷ. θεοὶ δὲ σοί τε δοῖεν οἷʼ ἐγὼ θέλω, καὶ τῷ ξένῳ τῷδʼ, ὅτι συνεκπονεῖ τάδε. ἕξεις δέ μʼ οἵαν χρή σʼ ἔχειν ἐν δώμασι γυναῖκʼ, ἐπειδὴ Μενέλεων εὐεργετεῖς
1409κἄμʼ· ἔρχεται γὰρ δή τινʼ ἐς τύχην τάδε. ὅστις δὲ δώσει ναῦν ἐν ᾗ τάδʼ ἄξομεν, πρόσταξον, ὡς ἂν τὴν χάριν πλήρη λάβω.
1412ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χώρει σὺ καὶ ναῦν τοῖσδε πεντηκόντορον
1413Σιδωνίαν δὸς κἀρετμῶν ἐπιστάτας.
1414ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔκουν ὅδʼ ἄρξει ναὸς ὃς κοσμεῖ τάφον;
1415ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μάλιστʼ· ἀκούειν τοῦδε χρὴ ναύτας ἐμούς.
1416ἙΛΈΝΗ: αὖθις κέλευσον, ἵνα σαφῶς μάθωσί σου.
1417ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: αὖθις κελεύω καὶ τρίτον γʼ, εἴ σοι φίλον.
1418ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὄναιο· κἀγὼ τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων.
1419ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μή νυν ἄγαν σὸν δάκρυσιν ἐκτήξῃς χρόα.
1420ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥδʼ ἡμέρα σοι τὴν ἐμὴν δείξει χάριν.
Part 23
1421ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τὰ τῶν θανόντων οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πόνος.
1422ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔστιν τι κἀκεῖ κἀνθάδʼ ὧν ἐγὼ λέγω.
1423ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐδὲν κακίω Μενέλεώ μʼ ἕξεις πόσιν.
1424ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐδὲν σὺ μεμπτός· τῆς τύχης με δεῖ μόνον.
1425ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν σοὶ τόδʼ, ἢν σὴν εἰς ἔμʼ εὔνοιαν διδῷς.
1426ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ νῦν διδαξόμεσθα τοὺς φίλους φιλεῖν.
1427ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: βούλῃ ξυνεργῶν αὐτὸς ἐκπέμψω στόλον;
1428ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκιστα· μὴ δούλευε σοῖς δούλοις, ἄναξ.
1429ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλʼ εἶα· τοὺς μὲν Πελοπιδῶν ἐῶ νόμους· καθαρὰ γὰρ ἡμῖν δώματʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἐνθάδε ψυχὴν ἀφῆκε Μενέλεως· ἴτω δέ τις φράσων ὑπάρχοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς φέρειν γάμων ἀγάλματʼ οἴκους εἰς ἐμούς· πᾶσαν δὲ χρὴ
1434γαῖαν βοᾶσθαι μακαρίαις ὑμνῳδίαις ὑμέναιον Ἑλένης κἀμόν, ὡς ζηλωτὸς ᾖ. σὺ δʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐλθών, πελαγίους ἐς ἀγκάλας τῷ τῆσδε πρίν ποτʼ ὄντι δοὺς πόσει τάδε, πάλιν πρὸς οἴκους σπεῦδʼ ἐμὴν δάμαρτʼ ἔχων,
1439ὡς τοὺς γάμους τοὺς τῆσδε συνδαίσας ἐμοὶ στέλλῃ πρὸς οἴκους ἢ μένων εὐδαιμονῇς.
1441ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ Ζεῦ, πατήρ τε καὶ σοφὸς κλῄζῃ θεός, βλέψον πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ μετάστησον κακῶν. ἕλκουσι δʼ ἡμῖν πρὸς λέπας τὰς συμφορὰς σπουδῇ σύναψαι· κἂν ἄκρᾳ θίγῃς χερί, ἥξομεν ἵνʼ ἐλθεῖν βουλόμεσθα τῆς τύχης.
1446ἅλις δὲ μόχθων οὓς ἐμοχθοῦμεν πάρος. κέκλησθέ μοι, θεοί, πολλά χρήσθʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν καὶ λύπρʼ· ὀφείλω δʼ οὐκ ἀεὶ πράσσειν κακῶς, ὀρθῷ δὲ βῆναι ποδί· μίαν δέ μοι χάριν δόντες τὸ λοιπὸν εὐτυχῆ με θήσετε.
1451ΧΟΡΌΣ: Φοίνισσα Σιδωνιὰς ὦ ταχεῖα κώπα, ῥοθίοισι μάτηρ εἰρεσίας φίλα, χοραγὲ τῶν καλλιχόρων δελφίνων, ὅταν αὔραις
1456πέλαγος ἀνήνεμον ᾖ, γλαυκὰ δὲ Πόντου θυγάτηρ Γαλάνεια τάδʼ εἴπῃ· κατὰ μὲν ἱστία πετάσατʼ αὔ- ραις λιπόντες εἰναλίαις,
1461λάβετε δʼ εἰλατίνας πλάτας, ὦ ναῦται, ναῦται, πέμποντες εὐλιμένους Περσείων οἴκων Ἑλέναν ἐπʼ ἀκτάς.
1465ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἦ που κόρας ἂν ποταμοῦ παρʼ οἶδμα Λευκιππίδας ἢ πρὸ ναοῦ Παλλάδος ἂν λάβοις χρόνῳ ξυνελθοῦσα χοροῖς ἢ κώμοις Ὑακίνθου
1470νύχιον ἐς εὐφροσύναν, ὃν ἐξαμιλλησάμενος τροχῷ τέρμονα δίσκου ἔκανε Φοῖβος, τᾷ Λακαί- νᾳ γᾷ βούθυτον ἁμέραν·
1475ὁ Διὸς δʼ εἶπε σέβειν γόνος· μόσχον θʼ, ἃν οἴκοις ἔλειπες, Ἑρμιόναν, ἇς οὔπω πεῦκαι πρὸ γάμων ἔλαμψαν.
1478ΧΟΡΌΣ: διʼ ἀέρος εἴθε ποτανοὶ γενοίμεσθʼ ᾇ Λιβύας οἰωνοὶ στοχάδες ὄμβρον λιποῦσαι χειμέριον νίσονται πρεσβυτάτᾳ
1483σύριγγι πειθόμεναι ποιμένος, ὃς ἄβροχα πεδία καρποφόρα τε γᾶς ἐπιπετόμενος ἰαχεῖ. ὦ πταναὶ δολιχαύχενες, σύννομοι νεφέων δρόμου,
1489βᾶτε Πλειάδας ὑπὸ μέσας ὠρίωνά τʼ ἐννύχιον· καρύξατʼ ἀγγελίαν, Εὐρώταν ἐφεζόμεναι, Μενέλεως ὅτι Δαρδάνου
1494πόλιν ἑλὼν δόμον ἥξει.
1495ΧΟΡΌΣ: μόλοιτέ ποθʼ ἵππιον οἶμον διʼ αἰθέρος ἱέμενοι παῖδες Τυνδαρίδαι, λαμπρῶν ἄστρων ὑπʼ ἀέλλαισιν· οἳ ναίετʼ οὐράνιοι,
1500σωτῆρες τᾶς Ἑλένας, γλαυκὸν ἔπιτʼ οἶδμα κυανόχροά τε κυμάτων ῥόθια πολιὰ θαλάσσας, ναύταις εὐαεῖς ἀνέμων πέμποντες Διόθεν πνοάς·
1506δύσκλειαν δʼ ἀπὸ συγγόνου βάλετε βαρβάρων λεχέων, ἃν Ἰδαίων ἐρίδων ποιναθεῖσʼ ἐκτήσατο, γᾶν οὐκ ἐλθοῦσά ποτʼ Ἰλίου
1511Φοιβείους ἐπὶ πύργους.
1512ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἄναξ, τὰ κάκιστʼ ἐν δόμοις εὑρήκαμεν·
1513ὡς καίνʼ ἀκούσῃ πήματʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ τάχα.
1514ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δʼ ἔστιν;
1514bἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἄλλης ἐκπόνει μνηστεύματα
1515γυναικός· Ἑλένη γὰρ βέβηκʼ ἔξω χθονός.
1516ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πτεροῖσιν ἀρθεῖσʼ ἢ πεδοστιβεῖ ποδί;
1517ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαος αὐτὴν ἐκπεπόρθμευται χθονός,
1518ὃς αὐτὸς αὑτὸν ἦλθεν ἀγγέλλων θανεῖν.
1519ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ δεινὰ λέξας· τίς δέ νιν ναυκληρία
1520ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἀπῆρε χθονός; ἄπιστα γὰρ λέγεις.
Part 24
1521ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἥν γε ξένῳ δίδως σύ· τούς τε σοὺς ἔχων
1522ναύτας βέβηκεν, ὡς ἂν ἐν βραχεῖ μάθῃς.
1523ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς; εἰδέναι πρόθυμος· οὐ γὰρ ἐλπίδων
1524ἔσω βέβηκα μίαν ὑπερδραμεῖν χέρα
1525τοσούσδε ναύτας, ὧν ἀπεστάλης μέτα.
1526ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἐπεὶ λιποῦσα τούσδε βασιλείους δόμους ἡ τοῦ Διὸς παῖς πρὸς θάλασσαν ἐστάλη σοφώταθʼ ἁβρὸν πόδα τιθεῖσʼ ἀνέστενε πόσιν πέλας παρόντα κοὐ τεθνηκότα. ὡς δʼ ἤλθομεν σῶν περίβολον νεωρίων,
1531Σιδωνίαν ναῦν πρωτόπλουν καθείλκομεν ζυγῶν τε πεντήκοντα κἀρετμῶν μέτρα ἔχουσαν. ἔργου δʼ ἔργον ἐξημείβετο· ὃ μὲν γὰρ ἱστόν, ὃ δὲ πλάτην καθίσατο ταρσόν τε χειρί, λευκά θʼ ἱστίʼ εἰς ἓν ἦν
1536πηδάλιά τε ζεύγλαισι παρακαθίετο. κἀν τῷδε μόχθῳ, τοῦτʼ ἄρα σκοπούμενοι, Ἕλληνες ἄνδρες Μενέλεῳ ξυνέμποροι προσῆλθον ἀκταῖς ναυφθόροις ἠσθημένοι πέπλοισιν, εὐειδεῖς μέν, αὐχμηροὶ δʼ ὁρᾶν.
1541ἰδὼν δέ νιν παρόντας Ἀτρέως γόνος προσεῖπε δόλιον οἶκτον ἐς μέσον φέρων· ὦ τλήμονες, πῶς ἐκ τίνος νεώς ποτε Ἀχαιίδος θραύσαντες ἥκετε σκάφος; ἆρʼ Ἀτρέως παῖδʼ ὀλόμενον συνθάπτετε,
1546ὃν Τυνδαρὶς παῖς ἥδʼ ἀπόντα κενοταφεῖ; οἳ δʼ ἐκβαλόντες δάκρυα ποιητῷ τρόπῳ, ἐς ναῦν ἐχώρουν Μενέλεῳ ποντίσματα φέροντες. ἡμῖν δʼ ἦν μὲν ἥδʼ ὑποψία λόγος τʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισι, τῶν ἐπεσβατῶν
1551ὡς πλῆθος εἴη· διεσιωπῶμεν δʼ ὅμως τοὺς σοὺς λόγους σῴζοντες· ἄρχειν γὰρ νεὼς ξένον κελεύσας πάντα συνέχεας τάδε. καὶ τἄλλα μὲν δὴ ῥᾳδίως ἔσω νεὼς ἐθέμεθα κουφίζοντα· ταύρειος δὲ ποὺς
1556οὐκ ἤθελʼ ὀρθὸς σανίδα προσβῆναι κάτα, ἀλλʼ ἐξεβρυχᾶτʼ ὄμμʼ ἀναστρέφων κύκλῳ κυρτῶν τε νῶτα κἀς κέρας παρεμβλέπων μὴ θιγγάνειν ἀπεῖργεν. ὁ δʼ Ἑλένης πόσις ἐκάλεσεν· ὦ πέρσαντες Ἰλίου πόλιν,
1561οὐκ εἶʼ ἀναρπάσαντες Ἑλλήνων νόμῳ νεανίαις ὤμοισι ταύρειον δέμας ἐς πρῷραν ἐμβαλεῖτε, φάσγανόν θʼ ἅμα πρόχειρον ὤσει σφάγια τῷ τεθνηκότι; οἳ δʼ ἐς κέλευσμʼ ἐλθόντες ἐξανήρπασαν
1566ταῦρον φέροντές τʼ εἰσέθεντο σέλματα. μονάμπυκον δὲ Μενέλεως ψήχων δέρην μέτωπά τʼ ἐξέπεισεν ἐσβῆναι δόρυ. τέλος δʼ, ἐπειδὴ ναῦς τὰ πάντʼ ἐδέξατο, πλήσασα κλιμακτῆρας εὐσφύρῳ ποδί
1571Ἑλένη καθέζετʼ ἐν μέσοις ἑδωλίοις, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτʼ ὢν λόγοισι Μενέλεως πέλας· ἄλλοι δὲ τοίχους δεξιοὺς λαιούς τʼ ἴσοι ἀνὴρ παρʼ ἄνδρʼ ἕζονθʼ, ὑφʼ εἵμασι ξίφη λαθραῖʼ ἔχοντες, ῥόθιά τʼ ἐξεπίμπλατο
1576βοῆς κελευστοῦ φθέγμαθʼ ὡς ἠκούσαμεν. ἐπεὶ δὲ γαίας ἦμεν οὔτʼ ἄγαν πρόσω οὔτʼ ἐγγύς, οὕτως ἤρετʼ οἰάκων φύλαξ· ἔτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐς τὸ πρόσθεν — ἢ καλῶς ἔχει — πλεύσωμεν; ἀρχαὶ γὰρ νεὼς μέλουσι σοί.
1581ὃ δʼ εἶφʼ· ἅλις μοι. δεξιᾷ δʼ ἑλὼν ξίφος ἐς πρῷραν εἷρπε κἀπὶ ταυρείῳ σφαγῇ σταθεὶς νεκρῶν μὲν οὐδενὸς μνήμην ἔχων, τέμνων δὲ λαιμὸν ηὔχετʼ· ὦ ναίων ἅλα πόντιε Πόσειδον Νηρέως θʼ ἁγναὶ κόραι,
1586σώσατέ μʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτὰς Ναυπλίας δάμαρτά τε ἄσυλον ἐκ γῆς. αἵματος δʼ ἀπορροαὶ ἐς οἶδμʼ ἐσηκόντιζον οὔριοι ξένῳ. καί τις τόδʼ εἶπε· δόλιος ἡ ναυκληρία. πάλιν πλέωμεν· δεξιὰν κέλευε σύ,
1591σὺ δὲ στρέφʼ οἴακʼ. ἐκ δὲ ταυρείου φόνου Ἀτρέως σταθεὶς παῖς ἀνεβόησε συμμάχους· τί μέλλετʼ, ὦ γῆς Ἑλλάδος λωτίσματα, σφάζειν φονεύειν βαρβάρους νεώς τʼ ἄπο ῥίπτειν ἐς οἶδμα; ναυβάταις δὲ τοῖσι σοῖς
1596βοᾷ κελευστὴς τὴν ἐναντίαν ὄπα· οὐκ εἶʼ ὃ μέν τις λοῖσθον ἀρεῖται δόρυ, ὃ δὲ ζύγʼ ἄξας, ὃ δʼ ἀφελὼν σκαλμοῦ πλάτην καθαιματώσει κρᾶτα πολεμίων ξένων; ὀρθοὶ δʼ ἀνῇξαν πάντες, οἳ μὲν ἐν χεροῖν
1601κορμοὺς ἔχοντες ναυτικούς, οἳ δὲ ξίφη· φόνῳ δὲ ναῦς ἐρρεῖτο. παρακέλευσμα δʼ ἦν πρύμνηθεν Ἑλένης· ποῦ τὸ Τρωικὸν κλέος; δείξατε πρὸς ἄνδρας βαρβάρους· σπουδῆς δʼ ὕπο ἔπιπτον, οἳ δʼ ὠρθοῦντο, τοὺς δὲ κειμένους
1606νεκροὺς ἂν εἶδες. Μενέλεως δʼ ἔχων ὅπλα, ὅποι νοσοῖεν ξύμμαχοι κατασκοπῶν, ταύτῃ προσῆγε χειρὶ δεξιᾷ ξίφος, ὥστʼ ἐκκολυμβᾶν ναός, ἠρήμωσε δὲ σῶν ναυβατῶν ἐρετμά. ἐπʼ οἰάκων δὲ βὰς
1611ἄνακτʼ ἐς Ἑλλάδʼ εἶπεν εὐθύνειν δόρυ. οἳ δʼ ἱστὸν ᾖρον, οὔριαι δʼ ἧκον πνοαί. βεβᾶσι δʼ ἐκ γῆς. διαφυγὼν δʼ ἐγὼ φόνον καθῆκʼ ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἅλʼ ἄγκυραν πάρα· ἤδη δὲ κάμνονθʼ ὁρμιατόνων μέ τις
1616ἀνείλετʼ, ἐς δὲ γαῖαν ἐξέβησέ σοι τάδʼ ἀγγελοῦντα. σώφρονος δʼ ἀπιστίας οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν χρησιμώτερον βροτοῖς.
1619ΧΟΡΌΣ: οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ηὔχουν οὔτε σʼ οὔθʼ ἡμᾶς λαθεῖν
1620Μενέλαον, ὦναξ, ὡς ἐλάνθανεν παρών.
1621ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ γυναικείαις τέχναισιν αἱρεθεὶς ἐγὼ τάλας·
1622ἐκπεφεύγασιν γάμοι με. κεἰ μὲν ἦν ἁλώσιμος
1623ναῦς διώγμασιν, πονήσας εἷλον ἂν τάχα ξένους·
1624νῦν δὲ τὴν προδοῦσαν ἡμᾶς τεισόμεσθα σύγγονον,
1625ἥτις ἐν δόμοις ὁρῶσα Μενέλεων οὐκ εἶπέ μοι.
1626τοιγὰρ οὔποτʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρα ψεύσεται μαντεύμασιν.
1627ΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὗτος ὤ, ποῖ σὸν πόδʼ αἴρεις, δέσποτʼ, ἐς ποῖον φόνον;
1628ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οἷπερ ἡ δίκη κελεύει με· ἀλλʼ ἀφίστασʼ ἐκποδών.
1629ΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὐκ ἀφήσομαι πέπλων σῶν· μεγάλα γὰρ σπεύδεις κακά.
1630ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλὰ δεσποτῶν κρατήσεις δοῦλος ὤν;
1630bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: φρονῶ γὰρ εὖ.
1631ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐκ ἔμοιγʼ, εἰ μή μʼ ἐάσεις —
1631bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὐ μὲν οὖν σʼ ἐάσομεν.
1632ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: σύγγονον κτανεῖν κακίστην —
1632bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: εὐσεβεστάτην μὲν οὖν.
1633ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἥ με προύδωκεν —
1633bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: καλήν γε προδοσίαν, δίκαια δρᾶν.
1634ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τἀμὰ λέκτρʼ ἄλλῳ διδοῦσα.
1634bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: τοῖς γε κυριωτέροις.
1635ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κύριος δὲ τῶν ἐμῶν τίς;
1635bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ὃς ἔλαβεν πατρὸς πάρα.
Part 25
1636ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν ἡ τύχη μοι.
1636bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: τὸ δὲ χρεὼν ἀφείλετο.
1637ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ σὲ τἀμὰ χρὴ δικάζειν.
1637bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ἤν γε βελτίω λέγω.
1638ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀρχόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, οὐ κρατοῦμεν.
1638bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ὅσια δρᾶν, τὰ δʼ ἔκδικʼ οὔ.
1639ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κατθανεῖν ἐρᾶν ἔοικας.
1639bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: κτεῖνε· σύγγονον δὲ σὴν
1640οὐ κτενεῖς ἡμῶν ἑκόντων, ἀλλʼ ἔμε· ὡς πρὸ δεσποτῶν
1641τοῖσι γενναίοισι δούλοις εὐκλεέστατον θανεῖν.
1642ΔΙΌΣΚΟΡΟΙ: ἐπίσχες ὀργὰς αἷσιν οὐκ ὀρθῶς φέρῃ, Θεοκλύμενε, γαίας τῆσδʼ ἄναξ· δισσοὶ δέ σε Διόσκοροι καλοῦμεν, οὓς Λήδα ποτὲ ἔτικτεν Ἑλένην θʼ, ἣ πέφευγε σοὺς δόμους· οὐ γὰρ πεπρωμένοισιν ὀργίζῃ γάμοις,
1647οὐδʼ ἡ θεᾶς Νηρῇδος ἔκγονος κόρη ἀδικεῖ σʼ ἀδελφὴ Θεονόη, τὰ τῶν θεῶν τιμῶσα πατρός τʼ ἐνδίκους ἐπιστολάς. ἐς μὲν γὰρ αἰεὶ τὸν παρόντα νῦν χρόνον κείνην κατοικεῖν σοῖσιν ἐν δόμοις ἐχρῆν·
1652ἐπεὶ δὲ Τροίας ἐξανεστάθη βάθρα, καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς παρέσχε τοὔνομʼ, οὐκέτι· ἐν τοῖσι δʼ αὑτῆς δεῖ νιν ἐζεῦχθαι γάμοις ἐλθεῖν τʼ ἐς οἴκους καὶ συνοικῆσαι πόσει. ἀλλʼ ἴσχε μὲν σῆς συγγόνου μέλαν ξίφος,
1657νόμιζε δʼ αὐτὴν σωφρόνως πράσσειν τάδε. πάλαι δʼ ἀδελφὴν κἂν πρὶν ἐξεσώσαμεν, ἐπείπερ ἡμᾶς Ζεὺς ἐποίησεν θεούς· ἀλλʼ ἥσσονʼ ἦμεν τοῦ πεπρωμένου θʼ ἅμα καὶ τῶν θεῶν, οἷς ταῦτʼ ἔδοξεν ὧδʼ ἔχειν.
1662σοὶ μὲν τάδʼ αὐδῶ, συγγόνῳ δʼ ἐμῇ λέγω· πλεῖ ξὺν πόσει σῷ· πνεῦμα δʼ ἕξετʼ οὔριον· σωτῆρε δʼ ἡμεῖς σὼ κασιγνήτω διπλῶ πόντον παριππεύοντε πέμψομεν πάτραν. ὅταν δὲ κάμψῃς καὶ τελευτήσῃς βίον,
1667θεὸς κεκλήσῃ καὶ Διοσκόρων μέτα σπονδῶν μεθέξεις ξένιά τʼ ἀνθρώπων πάρα ἕξεις μεθʼ ἡμῶν· Ζεὺς γὰρ ὧδε βούλεται. οὗ δʼ ὥρισέν σοι πρῶτα Μαιάδος τόκος, Σπάρτης ἀπάρας, τὸν κατʼ οὐρανὸν δρόμον,
1672κλέψας δέμας σὸν μὴ Πάρις γήμειέ σε, — φρουρὸν παρʼ Ἀκτὴν τεταμένην νῆσον λέγω — Ἑλένη τὸ λοιπὸν ἐν βροτοῖς κεκλήσεται, ἐπεὶ κλοπαίαν σʼ ἐκ δόμων ἐδέξατο. καὶ τῷ πλανήτῃ Μενέλεῳ θεῶν πάρα
1677μακάρων κατοικεῖν νῆσόν ἐστι μόρσιμον· τοὺς εὐγενεῖς γὰρ οὐ στυγοῦσι δαίμονες, τῶν δʼ ἀναριθμήτων μᾶλλόν εἰσιν οἱ πόνοι.
1680ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ παῖδε Λήδας καὶ Διός, τὰ μὲν πάρος
1681νείκη μεθήσω σφῶν κασιγνήτης πέρι·
1682ἐγὼ δʼ ἀδελφὴν οὐκέτʼ ἂν κτάνοιμʼ ἐμήν.
1683κείνη δʼ ἴτω πρὸς οἶκον, εἰ θεοῖς δοκεῖ.
1684ἴστον δʼ ἀρίστης σωφρονεστάτης θʼ ἅμα
1685γεγῶτʼ ἀδελφῆς ὁμογενοῦς ἀφʼ αἵματος.
1686καὶ χαίρεθʼ Ἑλένης οὕνεκʼ εὐγενεστάτης
1687γνώμης, ὃ πολλαῖς ἐν γυναιξὶν οὐκ ἔνι.
1688ΧΟΡΌΣ: πολλαὶ μορφαὶ τῶν δαιμονίων,
1689πολλὰ δʼ ἀέλπτως κραίνουσι θεοί·
1690καὶ τὰ δοκηθέντʼ οὐκ ἐτελέσθη,
1691τῶν δʼ ἀδοκήτων πόρον ηὗρε θεός.
1692τοιόνδʼ ἀπέβη τόδε πρᾶγμα.
Part 1
1ἙΛΈΝΗ: Νείλου μὲν αἵδε καλλιπάρθενοι ῥοαί, ὃς ἀντὶ δίας ψακάδος Αἰγύπτου πέδον λευκῆς τακείσης χιόνος ὑγραίνει γύας. Πρωτεὺς δʼ ὅτʼ ἔζη τῆσδε γῆς τύραννος ἦν, Φάρον μὲν οἰκῶν νῆσον, Αἰγύπτου δʼ ἄναξ,
6ὃς τῶν κατʼ οἶδμα παρθένων μίαν γαμεῖ, Ψαμάθην, ἐπειδὴ λέκτρʼ ἀφῆκεν Αἰακοῦ. τίκτει δὲ τέκνα δισσὰ τοῖσδε δώμασι, Θεοκλύμενον ἄρσενʼ εὐγενῆ τε παρθένον
11Εἰδώ, τὸ μητρὸς ἀγλάισμʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν βρέφος· ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐς ἥβην ἦλθεν ὡραίαν γάμων, καλοῦσιν αὐτὴν Θεονόην· τὰ θεῖα γὰρ τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα πάντʼ ἠπίστατο, προγόνου λαβοῦσα Νηρέως τιμὰς πάρα.
16ἡμῖν δὲ γῆ μὲν πατρὶς οὐκ ἀνώνυμος Σπάρτη, πατὴρ δὲ Τυνδάρεως· ἔστιν δὲ δὴ λόγος τις ὡς Ζεὺς μητέρʼ ἔπτατʼ εἰς ἐμὴν Λήδαν κύκνου μορφώματʼ ὄρνιθος λαβών, ὃς δόλιον εὐνὴν ἐξέπραξʼ ὑπʼ αἰετοῦ
21δίωγμα φεύγων, εἰ σαφὴς οὗτος λόγος· Ἑλένη δʼ ἐκλήθην. ἃ δὲ πεπόνθαμεν κακὰ λέγοιμʼ ἄν. ἦλθον τρεῖς θεαὶ κάλλους πέρι Ἰδαῖον ἐς κευθμῶνʼ Ἀλέξανδρον πάρα, Ἥρα Κύπρις τε διογενής τε παρθένος,
26μορφῆς θέλουσαι διαπεράνασθαι κρίσιν. τοὐμὸν δὲ κάλλος, εἰ καλὸν τὸ δυστυχές, Κύπρις προτείνασʼ ὡς Ἀλέξανδρος γαμεῖ, νικᾷ. λιπὼν δὲ βούσταθμʼ Ἰδαῖος Πάρις Σπάρτην ἀφίκεθʼ ὡς ἐμὸν σχήσων λέχος.
31Ἥρα δὲ μεμφθεῖσʼ οὕνεκʼ οὐ νικᾷ θεάς, ἐξηνέμωσε τἄμʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ λέχη, δίδωσι δʼ οὐκ ἔμʼ, ἀλλʼ ὁμοιώσασʼ ἐμοὶ εἴδωλον ἔμπνουν οὐρανοῦ ξυνθεῖσʼ ἄπο, Πριάμου τυράννου παιδί· καὶ δοκεῖ μʼ ἔχειν —
36κενὴν δόκησιν, οὐκ ἔχων. τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὸς βουλεύματʼ ἄλλα τοῖσδε συμβαίνει κακοῖς· πόλεμον γὰρ εἰσήνεγκεν Ἑλλήνων χθονὶ καὶ Φρυξὶ δυστήνοισιν, ὡς ὄχλου βροτῶν πλήθους τε κουφίσειε μητέρα χθόνα
41γνωτόν τε θείη τὸν κράτιστον Ἑλλάδος. Φρυγῶν δʼ ἐς ἀλκὴν προυτέθην ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ, τὸ δʼ ὄνομα τοὐμόν, ἆθλον Ἕλλησιν δορός. λαβὼν δέ μʼ Ἑρμῆς ἐν πτυχαῖσιν αἰθέρος νεφέλῃ καλύψας — οὐ γὰρ ἠμέλησέ μου
46Ζεύς — τόνδʼ ἐς οἶκον Πρωτέως ἱδρύσατο, πάντων προκρίνας σωφρονέστατον βροτῶν, ἀκέραιον ὡς σῴσαιμι Μενέλεῳ λέχος. κἀγὼ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ εἴμʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄθλιος πόσις στράτευμʼ ἀθροίσας τὰς ἐμὰς ἀναρπαγὰς
51θηρᾷ πορευθεὶς Ἰλίου πυργώματα. ψυχαὶ δὲ πολλαὶ διʼ ἔμʼ ἐπὶ Σκαμανδρίοις ῥοαῖσιν ἔθανον· ἡ δὲ πάντα τλᾶσʼ ἐγὼ κατάρατός εἰμι καὶ δοκῶ προδοῦσʼ ἐμὸν πόσιν συνάψαι πόλεμον Ἕλλησιν μέγαν.
56τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; θεοῦ τόδʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ἔπος Ἑρμοῦ, τὸ κλεινὸν ἔτι κατοικήσειν πέδον Σπάρτης σὺν ἀνδρί, γνόντος ὡς ἐς Ἴλιον οὐκ ἦλθον, ἵνα μὴ λέκτρʼ ὑποστρώσω τινί. ἕως μὲν οὖν φῶς ἡλίου τόδʼ ἔβλεπεν
61Πρωτεύς, ἄσυλος ἦ γάμων· ἐπεὶ δὲ γῆς σκότῳ κέκρυπται, παῖς ὁ τοῦ τεθνηκότος θηρᾷ γαμεῖν με. τὸν πάλαι δʼ ἐγὼ πόσιν τιμῶσα Πρωτέως μνῆμα προσπίτνω τόδε ἱκέτις, ἵνʼ ἀνδρὶ τἀμὰ διασῴσῃ λέχη,
66ὡς, εἰ καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ὄνομα δυσκλεὲς φέρω, μή μοι τὸ σῶμά γʼ ἐνθάδʼ αἰσχύνην ὄφλῃ.
68ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τίς τῶνδʼ ἐρυμνῶν δωμάτων ἔχει κράτος; πλούτου γὰρ οἶκος ἄξιος προσεικάσαι, βασίλειά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματʼ εὔθριγκοί θʼ ἕδραι. ἔα· ὦ θεοί, τίνʼ εἶδον ὄψιν; ἐχθίστην ὁρῶ
73γυναικὸς εἰκὼ φόνιον, ἥ μʼ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας τʼ Ἀχαιούς. θεοί σʼ, ὅσον μίμημʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένης, ἀποπτύσειαν. εἰ δὲ μὴ ʼν ξένῃ γαίᾳ πόδʼ εἶχον, τῷδʼ ἂν εὐστόχῳ πτερῷ ἀπόλαυσιν εἰκοῦς ἔθανες ἂν Διὸς κόρης.
78ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί δʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ — ὅστις ὤν μʼ ἀπεστράφης
79καὶ ταῖς ἐκείνης συμφοραῖς ἐμὲ στυγεῖς;
80ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἥμαρτον· ὀργῇ δʼ εἶξα μᾶλλον ἤ με χρῆν·
81μισεῖ γὰρ Ἑλλὰς πᾶσα τὴν Διὸς κόρην.
82σύγγνωθι δʼ ἡμῖν τοῖς λελεγμένοις, γύναι.
83ἙΛΈΝΗ: τίς δʼ εἶ; πόθεν γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐπεστράφης πέδον;
84ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: εἷς τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, ὦ γύναι, τῶν ἀθλίων.
85ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ τἄρα σʼ Ἑλένην εἰ στυγεῖς θαυμαστέον.
86ἀτὰρ τίς εἶ πόθεν; τίνος δʼ αὐδᾶν σε χρή;
87ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὄνομα μὲν ἡμῖν Τεῦκρος, ὁ δὲ φύσας πατὴρ
88Τελαμών, Σαλαμὶς δὲ πατρὶς ἡ θρέψασά με.
89ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί δῆτα Νείλου τούσδʼ ἐπιστρέφῃ γύας;
90ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: φυγὰς πατρῴας ἐξελήλαμαι χθονός.
91ἙΛΈΝΗ: τλήμων ἂν εἴης· τίς δέ σʼ ἐκβάλλει πάτρας;
92ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Τελαμὼν ὁ φύσας. τίνʼ ἂν ἔχοις μᾶλλον φίλον;
93ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐκ τοῦ; τὸ γάρ τοι πρᾶγμα συμφορὰν ἔχει.
94ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Αἴας μʼ ἀδελφὸς ὤλεσʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ θανών.
95ἙΛΈΝΗ: πῶς; οὔ τί που σῷ φασγάνῳ βίον στερείς;
96ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οἰκεῖον αὐτὸν ὤλεσʼ ἅλμʼ ἐπὶ ξίφος.
97ἙΛΈΝΗ: μανέντʼ; ἐπεὶ τίς σωφρονῶν τλαίη τάδʼ ἄν;
98ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τὸν Πηλέως τινʼ οἶσθʼ Ἀχιλλέα γόνον;
99ἙΛΈΝΗ: ναί·
99aμνηστήρ ποθʼ Ἑλένης ἦλθεν, ὡς ἀκούομεν.
100ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: θανὼν ὅδʼ ὅπλων ἔριν ἔθηκε συμμάχοις.
Part 1
1HELEN: These are the lovely pure streams of the Nile, which waters the plain and lands of Egypt, fed by white melting snow instead of rain from heaven. Proteus was king of this land when he was alive,
5living on the island of Pharos and lord of Egypt; and he married one of the daughters of the sea, Psamathe, after she left Aiakos’ bed. She bore two children in his palace here: a son Theoklymenos,
10and a noble daughter, her mother’s pride, called Eido in her infancy. But when she came to youth, the season of marriage, she was called Theonoe; for she knew whatever the gods design, both present and to come,
15having received this honor from her grandfather Nereus.
16My own fatherland, Sparta, is not without fame, and my father is Tyndareus; but there is indeed a story that Zeus flew to my mother Leda, taking the form of a bird, a swan,
20which accomplished the deceitful union, fleeing the pursuit of an eagle, if this story is true. My name is Helen; I will tell the evils I have suffered. For the sake of beauty, three goddesses came to a deep valley on Mount Ida, to Paris:
25Hera and Kypris, and the virgin daughter of Zeus, wishing to have the judgment of their loveliness decided. Kypris offered my beauty, if misfortune is beautiful, for Paris to marry, and so she won. Paris, the shepherd of Ida, left his ox-stalls
30and came to Sparta, to have me in marriage.
31But Hera, indignant at not defeating the goddesses, made an airy nothing of my marriage with Paris; she gave to the son of king Priam not me, but an image, alive and breathing, that she fashioned out of the sky and made to look like me;
35and he thinks he has me—an idle fancy, for he doesn’t have me. And in turn the plans of Zeus added further troubles to these; for he brought a war upon the land of the Hellenes and the unhappy Phrygians, so that he might lighten mother earth
40of her crowded mass of mortals, and bring fame to the bravest man of Hellas. So I was set up as the Hellenes’ spear-prize, to test the courage of the Trojans; or rather not me, but my name. Hermes caught me up in the folds of the air and
45hid me in a cloud—for Zeus was not neglectful of me—and he set me down here in the house of Proteus, having selected the most self-controlled of all mankind, so that I might keep my bed pure for Menelaos. And so I am here, while my wretched husband
50has gathered an army and gone over to the towers of Ilion to hunt down and recover me. And many lives have been lost for my sake by the streams of Skamandros; and I who have endured all this am accursed, and have in appearance betrayed my husband
55and brought a great war to the Hellenes. Why then am I still alive? I heard the god Hermes declare that I would yet live in the glorious country of Sparta, with my husband—for Hermes knew I never went to Ilion—so that I would not go to bed with another man.
60Well, as long as Proteus saw this light of the sun, I was safe from marriage; but now that he is hidden in the dark earth, the dead man’s son hunts after a marriage with me. But I, out of regard to my husband of long ago, am throwing myself down as a suppliant before this tomb of Proteus,
65for him to keep my bed safe for my husband, so that, if I bear a name infamous throughout Hellas, at least my body may not incur disgrace here.
68TEUCER: Who holds power over this fortified house? The dwelling is worthy of comparison with Ploutos’,
70its royal enclosures and towering buildings. Ah! Oh gods, what sight is here? I see the hateful deadly likeness of the woman who ruined me and all the Achaeans. May the gods spurn you, so much do you look like
75Helen! If I were not in a foreign land, you would have died by this well-aimed arrow as a reward for your likeness to the daughter of Zeus.
78HELEN: What is it, poor man—who are you, that you have turned away from me and loathe me for the misfortunes of that one?
80TEUCER: I was wrong; I gave way to my anger more than I should, for all Hellas hates that daughter of Zeus. Forgive me for what I said, lady.
83HELEN: Who are you? Where have you come from, to visit this land?
84TEUCER: I am one of those unfortunate Achaeans, lady.
85HELEN: Then it is no wonder that you loathe Helen. But who are you and where do you come from? Whose son should I call you?
87TEUCER: My name is Teucer, my father is Telamon, and Salamis is the land that nurtured me.
89HELEN: Then why are you visiting these lands of the Nile?
90TEUCER: I am an exile, driven out of my native land.
91HELEN: You must be unhappy! Who banished you from your fatherland?
92TEUCER: My father Telamon. Could you find anyone closer to me?
93HELEN: But why? This matter is surely an unfortunate one.
94TEUCER: The death of my brother Aias at Troy was my ruin.
95HELEN: How so? You didn’t take his life with your sword, did you?
96TEUCER: He threw himself on his own sword and died.
97HELEN: Was he mad? For what sensible man would dare such a thing?
98TEUCER: Do you know a certain Achilleus, the son of Peleus?
99HELEN: Yes; he came to woo Helen once, so I hear.
100TEUCER: When he died, he left a contest for his armor to his allies.
Part 2
101ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ δὴ τί τοῦτʼ Αἴαντι γίγνεται κακόν;
102ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄλλου λαβόντος ὅπλʼ ἀπηλλάχθη βίου.
103ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὺ τοῖς ἐκείνου δῆτα πήμασιν νοσεῖς;
104ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτῷ γʼ οὐ ξυνωλόμην ὁμοῦ.
105ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἦλθες γάρ, ὦ ξένʼ, Ἰλίου κλεινὴν πόλιν;
106ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καὶ ξύν γε πέρσας αὐτὸς ἀνταπωλόμην.
107ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἤδη γὰρ ἧπται καὶ κατείργασται πυρί;
108ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὥστʼ οὐδʼ ἴχνος γε τειχέων εἶναι σαφές.
109ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλένη, διὰ σʼ ἀπόλλυνται Φρύγες.
110ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καὶ πρός γʼ Ἀχαιοί· μεγάλα δʼ εἴργασται κακά.
111ἙΛΈΝΗ: πόσον χρόνον γὰρ διαπεπόρθηται πόλις;
112ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἑπτὰ σχεδόν τι καρπίμους ἐτῶν κύκλους.
113ἙΛΈΝΗ: χρόνον δʼ ἐμείνατʼ ἄλλον ἐν Τροίᾳ πόσον;
114ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: πολλὰς σελήνας, δέκα διελθούσας ἔτη.
115ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἦ καὶ γυναῖκα Σπαρτιᾶτιν εἵλετε;
116ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Μενέλαος αὐτὴν ἦγʼ ἐπισπάσας κόμης.
117ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἶδες σὺ τὴν δύστηνον; ἢ κλύων λέγεις;
118ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὥσπερ γε σέ, οὐδὲν ἧσσον, ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶ.
119ἙΛΈΝΗ: σκοπεῖτε μὴ δόκησιν εἴχετʼ ἐκ θεῶν.
120ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄλλου λόγου μέμνησο, μὴ κείνης ἔτι.
Part 2
101HELEN: Well, if he did, what harm is this to Aias?
102TEUCER: When someone else got the arms, he took his own life.
103HELEN: Then are you ill through his suffering?
104TEUCER: Yes, because I did not die together with him.
105HELEN: So you went to the famous city of Ilion, stranger?
106TEUCER: Yes, and by helping to sack it, I destroyed myself as well.
107HELEN: Has it already been set alight and completely consumed by fire?
108TEUCER: So that not even a trace of the walls is evident.
109HELEN: O miserable Helen! Because of you, the Phrygians have been destroyed.
110TEUCER: And also the Achaeans; great evils have been committed.
111HELEN: How long is it since the city was sacked?
112TEUCER: Almost seven years have gone full circle, with their harvests.
113HELEN: And how much longer were you waiting at Troy?
114TEUCER: For many months; the moon held its course through ten years.
115HELEN: And did you capture the Spartan woman?
116TEUCER: Menelaos caught her by the hair to drag her away.
117HELEN: Did you yourself see the wretched creature? Or do you speak from hearsay?
118TEUCER: I saw her with my own eyes, just as I see you, no less.
119HELEN: Consider whether you had some fancy, sent by the gods.
120TEUCER: Think of some other topic, not that woman still!
Part 3
121ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὕτω δοκεῖτε τὴν δόκησιν ἀσφαλῆ;
122ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: αὐτὸς γὰρ ὄσσοις εἰδόμην· καὶ νοῦς ὁρᾷ.
123ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἤδη δʼ ἐν οἴκοις σὺν δάμαρτι Μενέλεως;
124ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οὔκουν ἐν Ἄργει γʼ οὐδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοαῖς.
125ἙΛΈΝΗ: αἰαῖ· κακὸν τόδʼ εἶπας οἷς κακὸν λέγεις.
126ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ὡς κεῖνος ἀφανὴς σὺν δάμαρτι κλῄζεται.
127ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ πᾶσι πορθμὸς αὑτὸς Ἀργείοισιν ἦν;
128ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἦν, ἀλλὰ χειμὼν ἄλλοσʼ ἄλλον ὥρισεν.
129ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίοισιν ἐν νώτοισι ποντίας ἁλός;
130ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: μέσον περῶσι πέλαγος Αἰγαίου πόρου.
131ἙΛΈΝΗ: κἀκ τοῦδε Μενέλαν οὔτις εἶδʼ ἀφιγμένον;
132ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: οὐδείς· θανὼν δὲ κλῄζεται καθʼ Ἑλλάδα.
133ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπωλόμεσθα· Θεστιὰς δʼ ἔστιν κόρη;
134ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: Λήδαν ἔλεξας; οἴχεται θανοῦσα δή.
135ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔ πού νιν Ἑλένης αἰσχρὸν ὤλεσεν κλέος;
136ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: φασίν, βρόχῳ γʼ ἅψασαν εὐγενῆ δέρην.
137ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἱ Τυνδάρειοι δʼ εἰσὶν ἢ οὐκ εἰσὶν κόροι;
138ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: τεθνᾶσι καὶ οὐ τεθνᾶσι· δύο δʼ ἐστὸν λόγω.
139ἙΛΈΝΗ: πότερος ὁ κρείσσων; ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.
140ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: ἄστροις σφʼ ὁμοιωθέντε φάσʼ εἶναι θεώ.
Part 3
121HELEN: Are you so sure this fancy was reliable?
122TEUCER: I saw it with my own eyes; and the mind has sight.
123HELEN: Is Menelaos already at home with his wife?
124TEUCER: No; he is neither in Argos nor by the streams of the Eurotas.
125HELEN: Alas! This is evil news for those to whom you bring it.
126TEUCER: He is said to have disappeared with his wife.
127HELEN: Wasn’t there the same passage for all the Argives?
128TEUCER: Yes; but a tempest scattered them in every direction.
129HELEN: On which surface of the salty ocean?
130TEUCER: While they were crossing the Aegean in mid-channel.
131HELEN: And from that time does no one know of Menelaos’ arrival?
132TEUCER: No one; but throughout Hellas he is reported to be dead.
133HELEN: I am wholly lost. Is the daughter of Thestius alive?
134TEUCER: You speak of Leda? She is dead and gone, indeed.
135HELEN: It wasn’t Helen’s disgraceful fame that killed her, surely?
136TEUCER: Yes, they say she tied a noose around her noble neck.
137HELEN: Are the sons of Tyndareus still alive or not?
138TEUCER: They are dead, and not dead: it is a double story.
139HELEN: Which report is the stronger? I am so unhappy at these evils!
140TEUCER: Men say that they are gods in the likeness of stars.
Part 4
141ἙΛΈΝΗ: καλῶς ἔλεξας τοῦτο· θάτερον δὲ τί;
142ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: σφαγαῖς ἀδελφῆς οὕνεκʼ ἐκπνεῦσαι βίον.
143ἅλις δὲ μύθων· οὐ διπλᾶ χρῄζω στένειν.
144ὧν δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον τούσδε βασιλείους δόμους,
145τὴν θεσπιῳδὸν Θεονόην χρῄζων ἰδεῖν,
146σὺ προξένησον, ὡς τύχω μαντευμάτων
147ὅπῃ νεὼς στείλαιμʼ ἂν οὔριον πτερὸν
148ἐς γῆν ἐναλίαν Κύπρον, οὗ μʼ ἐθέσπισεν
149οἰκεῖν Ἀπόλλων, ὄνομα νησιωτικὸν
150Σαλαμῖνα θέμενον τῆς ἐκεῖ χάριν πάτρας.
151ἙΛΈΝΗ: πλοῦς, ὦ ξένʼ, αὐτὸς σημανεῖ· σὺ δʼ ἐκλιπὼν
152γῆν τήνδε φεῦγε πρίν σε παῖδα Πρωτέως
153ἰδεῖν, ὃς ἄρχει τῆσδε γῆς· ἄπεστι δὲ
154κυσὶν πεποιθὼς ἐν φοναῖς θηροκτόνοις·
155κτείνει γὰρ Ἕλληνʼ ὅντινʼ ἂν λάβῃ ξένον.
156ὅτου δʼ ἕκατι, μήτε σὺ ζήτει μαθεῖν
157ἐγώ τε σιγῶ· τί γὰρ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;
158ΤΕΥ͂ΚΡΟΣ: καλῶς ἔλεξας, ὦ γύναι· θεοὶ δέ σοι
159ἐσθλῶν ἀμοιβὰς ἀντιδωρησαίατο.
160Ἑλένῃ δʼ ὅμοιον σῶμʼ ἔχουσʼ οὐ τὰς φρένας
161ἔχεις ὁμοίας, ἀλλὰ διαφόρους πολύ.
162κακῶς δʼ ὄλοιτο μηδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοὰς
163ἔλθοι· σὺ δʼ εἴης εὐτυχὴς ἀεί, γύναι.
164ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὤ, μεγάλων ἀχέων καταβαλλομένα μέγαν οἶκτον
165ποῖον ἁμιλλαθῶ γόον; ἢ τίνα μοῦσαν ἐπέλθω
166δάκρυσιν ἢ θρήνοις ἢ πένθεσιν; αἰαῖ.
167ἙΛΈΝΗ: πτεροφόροι νεάνιδες, παρθένοι Χθονὸς κόραι Σειρῆνες, εἴθʼ ἐμοῖς γόοις μόλοιτʼ ἔχουσαι Λίβυν λωτὸν ἢ σύριγγας ἢ
171aφόρμιγγας, αἰλίνοις κακοῖς τοῖς ἐμοῖσι σύνοχα δάκρυα· πάθεσι πάθεα, μέλεσι μέλεα, μουσεῖα θρηνήμα- σι ξυνῳδὰ πέμψειε
175Φερσέφασσα φόνια, χάριτας ἵνʼ ἐπὶ δάκρυσι παρʼ ἐμέθεν ὑπὸ μέλαθρα νύχια παιᾶνα νέκυσιν ὀλομένοις λάβῃ.
179ΧΟΡΌΣ: κυανοειδὲς ἀμφʼ ὕδωρ ἔτυχον ἕλικά τʼ ἀνὰ χλόαν φοίνικας ἁλίου πέπλους αὐγαῖσιν ἐν χρυσέαις ἀμφὶ δόνακος ἔρνεσιν
183aθάλπουσα· ποτνίας δʼ ἐμᾶς, ἔνθεν οἰκτρὸν ἀνεβόασεν, ὅμαδον ἔκλυον, ἄλυρον ἔλεγον, ὅτι ποτʼ ἔλακεν αἰάγμα- σι στένουσα, Νύμφα τις
187οἷα Ναῒς ὄρεσι φυγάδα νόμον ἱεῖσα γοερόν, ὑπὸ δὲ πέτρινα γύαλα κλαγγαῖσι Πανὸς ἀναβοᾷ γάμους.
191ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ ἰώ· θήραμα βαρβάρου πλάτας, Ἑλλανίδες κόραι, ναύτας Ἀχαιῶν τις ἔμολεν ἔμολε δάκρυα δάκρυσί μοι φέρων.
196Ἰλίου κατασκαφαὶ πυρὶ μέλουσι δαΐῳ διʼ ἐμὲ τὰν πολυκτόνον, διʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομα πολύπονον. Λήδα δʼ ἐν ἀγχόναις
201θάνατον ἔλαβεν αἰσχύ- νας ἐμᾶς ὑπʼ ἀλγέων. ὁ δʼ ἐμὸς ἐν ἁλὶ πολυπλανὴς πόσις ὀλόμενος οἴχεται, κάστορός τε συγγόνου τε
206διδυμογενὲς ἄγαλμα πατρίδος ἀφανὲς ἀφανὲς ἱππόκροτα λέ- λοιπε δάπεδα γυμνάσιά τε δονακόεντος Εὐρώ- τα, νεανιᾶν πόνον.
211ΧΟΡΌΣ: αἰαῖ αἰαῖ· ὦ δαίμονος πολυστόνου μοίρας τε σᾶς, γύναι. αἰὼν δυσαίων τις ἔλαχεν ἔλαχεν, ὅτε σʼ ἐτέκετο ματρόθεν
215χιονόχρως κύκνου πτερῷ Ζεὺς πρέπων διʼ αἰθέρος· τί γὰρ ἄπεστί σοι κακῶν; τίνα δὲ βίοτον οὐκ ἔτλας; μάτηρ μὲν οἴχεται,
220δίδυμά τε Διὸς οὐκ εὐ- δαιμονεῖ τέκεα φίλα, χθόνα δὲ πάτριον οὐχ ὁρᾷς, διὰ δὲ πόλεας ἔρχεται βάξις, ἅ σε βαρβάροισι,
225πότνια, παραδίδωσι λέχεσιν, ὁ δὲ σὸς ἐν ἁλὶ κύμασί τε λέ- λοιπε βίοτον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔτι πάτρια μέλαθρα καὶ τὰν Χαλκίοικον ὀλβιεῖς.
229ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦ φεῦ, τίς ἢ Φρυγῶν ἢ τίς Ἑλλανίας ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἔτεμε τὰν δακρυόεσσαν Ἰλίῳ πεύκαν; ἔνθεν ὀλόμενον σκάφος
234συναρμόσας ὁ Πριαμίδας ἔπλευσε βαρβάρῳ πλάτᾳ τὰν ἐμὰν ἐφʼ ἑστίαν, ἐπὶ τὸ δυστυχέστατον κάλλος, ὡς ἕλοι, γάμων
238ἀμῶν· ἅ τε δόλιος ἁ πολυκτόνος Κύπρις Δαναΐδαις ἄγουσα θάνατον , ὦ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς. ἁ δὲ χρυσέοις θρόνοις
242Διὸς ὑπαγκάλισμα σεμνὸν Ἥρα τὸν ὠκύπουν ἔπεμψε Μαιάδος γόνον· ὅς με χλοερὰ δρεπομέναν ἔσω πέπλων ῥόδεα πέταλα,
245aΧαλκίοικον ὡς μόλοιμʼ, ἀναρπάσας διʼ αἰθέρος τάνδε γαῖαν εἰς ἄνολβον ἔριν ἔριν τάλαιναν ἔθετο Πριαμίδαισιν Ἑλλάδος.
249aτὸ δʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομα παρὰ Σιμουντίοις ῥοαῖσι μαψίδιον ἔχει φάτιν.
253ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἔχεις μὲν ἀλγείνʼ, οἶδα· σύμφορον δέ τοι
254ὡς ῥᾷστα τἀναγκαῖα τοῦ βίου φέρειν.
255ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι γυναῖκες, τίνι πότμῳ συνεζύγην; ἆρʼ ἡ τεκοῦσά μʼ ἔτεκεν ἀνθρώποις τέρας; τέρας γὰρ ὁ βίος καὶ τὰ πράγματʼ ἐστί μου, τὰ μὲν διʼ Ἥραν, τὰ δὲ τὸ κάλλος αἴτιον. εἴθʼ ἐξαλειφθεῖσʼ ὡς ἄγαλμʼ αὖθις πάλιν
263αἴσχιον εἶδος ἔλαβον ἀντὶ τοῦ καλοῦ, καὶ τὰς τύχας μὲν τὰς κακὰς ἃς νῦν ἔχω Ἕλληνες ἐπελάθοντο, τὰς δὲ μὴ κακὰς ἔσῳζον ὥσπερ τὰς κακὰς σῴζουσί μου. ὅστις μὲν οὖν ἐς μίαν ἀποβλέπων τύχην
268πρὸς θεῶν κακοῦται, βαρὺ μέν, οἰστέον δʼ ὅμως· ἡμεῖς δὲ πολλαῖς συμφοραῖς ἐγκείμεθα. πρῶτον μὲν οὐκ οὖσʼ ἄδικος, εἰμὶ δυσκλεής· καὶ τοῦτο μεῖζον τῆς ἀληθείας κακόν, ὅστις τὰ μὴ προσόντα κέκτηται κακά.
273ἔπειτα πατρίδος θεοί μʼ ἀφιδρύσαντο γῆς ἐς βάρβαρʼ ἤθη, καὶ φίλων τητωμένη δούλη καθέστηκʼ οὖσʼ ἐλευθέρων ἄπο· τὰ βαρβάρων γὰρ δοῦλα πάντα πλὴν ἑνός. ἄγκυρα δʼ ἥ μου τὰς τύχας ὤχει μόνη,
278πόσιν ποθʼ ἥξειν καί μʼ ἀπαλλάξειν κακῶν — οὗτος τέθνηκεν, οὗτος οὐκέτʼ ἔστι δή. μήτηρ δʼ ὄλωλε, καὶ φονεὺς αὐτῆς ἐγώ, ἀδίκως μέν, ἀλλὰ τἄδικον τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐμόν· ὃ δʼ ἀγλάισμα δωμάτων ἐμοῦ τʼ ἔφυ,
283θυγάτηρ ἄνανδρος πολιὰ παρθενεύεται· τὼ τοῦ Διὸς δὲ λεγομένω Διοσκόρω οὐκ ἐστόν. ἀλλὰ πάντʼ ἔχουσα δυστυχῆ τοῖς πράγμασιν τέθνηκα, τοῖς δʼ ἔργοισιν οὔ. τὸ δʼ ἔσχατον τοῦτʼ, εἰ μόλοιμεν ἐς πάτραν,
288κλῄθροις ἂν εἰργοίμεσθα — τὴν ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳ δοκοῦντες Ἑλένην Μενέλεώ μʼ ἐλθεῖν μέτα. εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἔζη πόσις, ἀνεγνώσθημεν ἂν ἐλθόντες, ἃ φανέρʼ ἦν μόνοις, ἐς ξύμβολα. νῦν δʼ οὔτε τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ οὔτε μὴ σωθῇ ποτε.
293τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; τίνʼ ὑπολείπομαι τύχην; γάμους ἑλομένη τῶν κακῶν ὑπαλλαγάς, μετʼ ἀνδρὸς οἰκεῖν βαρβάρου πρὸς πλουσίαν τράπεζαν ἵζουσʼ; ἀλλʼ ὅταν πόσις πικρὸς ξυνῇ γυναικί, καὶ τὸ σῶμʼ ἐστιν πικρόν.
298θανεῖν κράτιστον· πῶς θάνοιμʼ ἂν οὐ καλῶς; ἐς γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἤλθομεν βάθος κακῶν· αἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλαι διὰ τὸ κάλλος εὐτυχεῖς γυναῖκες, ἡμᾶς δʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀπώλεσεν.
306ΧΟΡΌΣ: Ἑλένη, τὸν ἐλθόνθʼ, ὅστις ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος,
307μὴ πάντʼ ἀληθῆ δοξάσῃς εἰρηκέναι.
308ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν σαφῶς γʼ ἔλεξʼ ὀλωλέναι πόσιν.
309ΧΟΡΌΣ: πόλλʼ ἂν γένοιτο καὶ διὰ ψευδῶν ἔπη.
310ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ τἄμπαλίν γε τῶνδʼ ἀληθείᾳ σαφῆ.
311ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς ξυμφορὰν γὰρ ἀντὶ τἀγαθοῦ φέρῃ.
312ἙΛΈΝΗ: φόβος γὰρ ἐς τὸ δεῖμα περιβαλών μʼ ἄγει.
313ΧΟΡΌΣ: πῶς δʼ εὐμενείας τοισίδʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχεις;
314ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντες φίλοι μοι πλὴν ὁ θηρεύων γάμους.
Part 4
141HELEN: That is good news; but what is the other story?
142TEUCER: That they killed themselves because of their sister. But enough of such talk! I do not need to grieve twice. As to why I came to this royal palace,
145wanting to see the prophetess Theonoe, you be my patron, so I might obtain an oracle: how I should steer a favorable course to the island of Cyprus, where Apollo has declared I am to live, giving it the island name of
150Salamis in honor of that fatherland over there.
151HELEN: The voyage itself will explain that, stranger; leave this land and escape, before the son of Proteus, the ruler of this land, catches sight of you; now he is away with his trusty hounds tracking his savage quarry to the death;
155for he kills every visitor from Hellas that he catches. Do not seek to learn his reason, and I will not say; for how could I help you?
158TEUCER: Lady, you have spoken well. May the gods grant you a return for your kindness!
160Although you have a body like Helen’s, your heart is not like hers, but very different. May she die miserably, and never reach the streams of Eurotas! But may you always have good fortune, lady.
164HELEN: Oh, as I begin the great lament of my great distress,
165what mourning shall I strive to utter? or what Muse shall I approach with tears or songs of death or woe? Alas!
167HELEN: Winged maidens, virgin daughters of Earth, the Sirens, may you come to my mourning
170with Libyan flute or pipe or lyre, tears to match my plaintive woes; grief for grief and mournful chant for chant, may Persephone send choirs of death
175in harmony with my lamentation, so that she may receive as thanks from me, in addition to my tears, a paean for the departed dead beneath her gloomy roof.
179CHORUS: Beside the deep-blue water
180and on the tangled grass, I happened to be drying purple robes in the sun’s golden blaze near the young reed shoots; from my mistress, from where she cried aloud her misery,
185I heard a sound, a mournful song not fit for the lyre, because she was then shrieking, lamenting with her wails; just as a Naiad nymph, who sends a song of woe ringing over the hills, cries out, under the rocky hollows, with screams
190at the rape of Pan.
191HELEN: Oh! Oh! Maidens of Hellas, the prey of barbarian sailors! An Achaean sailor
195came, he came bringing tears upon tears to me. Ilion has been destroyed and is left to the enemy’s fire through me, the death-giver, through my name, full of suffering.
200Leda sought death by hanging, in anguish over my disgrace. My husband, after much wandering in the sea, has died and is gone;
205and Castor and his brother, twin glory of their native land, have vanished, vanished, leaving the plains that shook to their galloping horses,
210and the schools of reed-fringed Eurotas, scene of youthful labors.
211CHORUS: Alas, alas! for your mournful fate and destiny, lady! You were fated, fated to have a life full of pain, when Zeus begot you on your mother,
215shining through the air on the wings of a snow-white swan. What evil is not yours? What life have you not endured? Your mother is dead;
220the twin beloved sons of Zeus do not enjoy happiness; and you do not see your fatherland, while through the cities a rumor goes, mistress, which hands you over
225to the bed of a barbarian; your husband has lost his life in the salty waves, and never again will you bring glee to your father’s halls and Athene of the Bronze House.
229HELEN: Ah! Who was it, either from Phrygia
230or from Hellas, who cut the pine that brought tears to Ilion? From this wood the son of Priam built his deadly ship, and sailed by barbarian oars
235to my home, to that most ill-fated beauty, to win me as his wife; and with him sailed deceitful and murderous Kypris, bearing death for the Danaans.
240Oh, unhappy in my misfortune! But Hera, the holy beloved of Zeus on her golden throne, sent the swift-footed son of Maia. I was gathering fresh rose leaves in the folds of my robe,
245so that I might go to the goddess of the Bronze House; he carried me off through the air to this luckless land, and made me an object of miserable strife, of strife between Hellas and the sons of Priam. And my name
250beside the streams of Simois bears a false rumor.
253CHORUS LEADER: You have sorrows, I know; but it is best to bear as lightly as we can the necessary evils of life.
255HELEN: Dear friends, to what a fate am I yoked? Did my mother bear me as a wonder to mankind?
260My life and all I do is a wonder, partly because of Hera, and partly my beauty is to blame. If only I could be rubbed out like a painting, and have again in turn a plainer form instead of beauty, and the Hellenes would have forgotten the evil fate that I now have,
265and would remember what part of my life is not evil, as they now remember what is.
267When someone looks to one event only, and is ill-treated by the gods, it is hard, but all the same it can be borne. But I am involved in countless troubles.
270First, although I never acted wrongly, my good name is gone. And this trouble is stronger than the reality, if someone incurs blame for wrongs that are not his own. Next, the gods have removed me from my native country to barbarian habits, and bereft of friends
275I have become a slave although I am free by birth; for among barbarians all are slaves except one. And the only anchor of my fortunes is gone, the hope that my husband would come one day and free me of my woes—he is dead, he no longer exists.
280My mother is dead, and I am called her murderer—unjustly, but that injustice is mine to bear; while the one who was born the glory of the house, my daughter, is growing gray as a virgin, without a husband; and those two Dioskouroi, called the sons of Zeus, are no more.
285But with all my misfortunes, I am as good as dead in my circumstances, though not in fact. And this is the last evil of all: if ever I should come home, I would be shut out by barred doors, for people would think I was that Helen of Troy, coming back with Menelaos.
290If my husband were still alive, we could have recognized each other by recourse to tokens which are evident to us alone. But now this is not so, and he can never be saved.
293Why then do I still live? What fortune do I have left? Shall I choose marriage in exchange for evils,
295and live with a barbarian man, seated at his sumptuous table? But whenever a husband she hates lives with a woman, her own body is also hateful to her. It is best to die; how could this not be well done?
300For I have come to such a depth of misery; other women have good fortune from their beauty,
305but the same thing has destroyed me.
306CHORUS LEADER: Helen, do not suppose that stranger who came here, whoever he was, has spoken the whole truth.
308HELEN: And yet he said very clearly that my husband was dead.
309CHORUS LEADER: Many words might be said in falsehood also.
310HELEN: And the opposite of falsehood is clear in its truth.
311CHORUS LEADER: You are carried towards misfortune instead of what is good.
312HELEN: Yes, for terror has embraced me and leads me to the thing I fear.
313CHORUS LEADER: How much goodwill is there in this house for you?
314HELEN: All are my friends, except the one who hunts me in marriage.
Part 5
315ΧΟΡΌΣ: οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; μνήματος λιποῦσʼ ἕδραν —
316ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς ποῖον ἕρπεις μῦθον ἢ παραίνεσιν;
317ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐς οἴκους, ἣ τὰ πάντʼ ἐπίσταται, τῆς ποντίας Νηρῇδος ἐκγόνου κόρης, πυθοῦ πόσιν σὸν Θεονόης, εἴτʼ ἔστʼ ἔτι εἴτʼ ἐκλέλοιπε φέγγος· ἐκμαθοῦσα δʼ εὖ πρὸς τὰς τύχας τὸ χάρμα τοὺς γόους τʼ ἔχε.
322πρὶν δʼ οὐδὲν ὀρθῶς εἰδέναι, τί σοι πλέον λυπουμένῃ γένοιτʼ ἄν; ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ· τάφον λιποῦσα τόνδε σύμμειξον κόρῃ· ὅθενπερ εἴσῃ πάντα τἀληθῆ μαθεῖν ἔχουσʼ ἐν οἴκοις τοῖσδε, τί βλέπεις πρόσω;
327θέλω δὲ κἀγὼ σοὶ συνεισελθεῖν δόμους καὶ συμπυθέσθαι παρθένου θεσπίσματα· γυναῖκα γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖν γυναικὶ χρή.
330ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι, λόγους ἐδεξάμαν·
331βᾶτε βᾶτε δʼ ἐς δόμους,
332ἀγῶνας ἐντὸς οἴκων
333ὡς πύθησθε τοὺς ἐμούς.
334ΧΟΡΌΣ: θέλουσαν οὐ μόλις καλεῖς.
335ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ μέλεος ἁμέρα.
336τίνʼ ἄρα τάλαινα τίνα δακρυό-
337εντα λόγον ἀκούσομαι;
338ΧΟΡΌΣ: μὴ πρόμαντις ἀλγέων
339προλάμβανʼ, ὦ φίλα, γόους.
340ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί μοι πόσις μέλεος ἔτλα;
341πότερα δέρκεται φάος
342τέθριππά θʼ ἁλίου κέλευθά τʼ ἀστέρων,
344ἢ ʼν νέκυσι κατὰ χθονὸς
345τὰν χρόνιον ἔχει τύχαν;
346ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς τὸ φέρτερον τίθει
347τὸ μέλλον, ὅ τι γενήσεται.
348ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ γὰρ ἐκάλεσα, σὲ δὲ κατόμοσα, τὸν ὑδρόεντι δόνακι χλωρὸν Εὐρώταν, θανόντος εἰ βάξις ἔτυμος ἀνδρὸς ἅδε μοι — τί τάδʼ ἀσύνετα; —
353φόνιον αἰώρημα διὰ δέρης ὀρέξομαι, ἢ ξιφοκτόνον δίωγμα λαιμορρύτου σφαγᾶς αὐτοσίδαρον ἔσω πελάσω διὰ σαρκὸς ἅμιλλαν,
357θῦμα τριζύγοις θεαῖσι τῷ τε σήραγγας Ἰδαί- ας ἐνίζοντι Πριαμί- δᾳ ποτʼ ἀμφὶ βουστάθμους.
360ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἄλλοσʼ ἀποτροπὰ κακῶν
361γένοιτο, τὸ δὲ σὸν εὐτυχές.
362ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἰὼ Τροία τάλαινα, διʼ ἔργʼ ἄνεργʼ ὄλλυσαι μέλεά τʼ ἔτλας· τὰ δʼ ἐμὰ δῶρα Κύπριδος ἔτεκε πολὺ μὲν αἷμα, πολὺ δὲ δάκρυον· ἄχεά τʼ ἄχεσι,
366δάκρυα δάκρυσιν ἔλαβε, πάθεα [...] ματέρες τε παῖδας ὄλεσαν, ἀπὸ δὲ παρθένοι κόμας ἔθεντο σύγγονοι νεκρῶν Σκαμάνδριον ἀμφὶ Φρύγιον οἶδμα.
370βοὰν βοὰν δʼ Ἑλλὰς κελάδησε κἀνοτότυξεν, ἐπὶ δὲ κρατὶ χέρας ἔθηκεν, ὄνυχι δʼ ἁπαλόχροα γένυν δεῦσε φονίαισι πλαγαῖς.
375ὦ μάκαρ Ἀρκαδίᾳ ποτὲ παρθένε Καλλιστοῖ, Διὸς ἃ λεχέων ἐπέβας τετραβάμοσι γυίοις, ὡς πολὺ ματρὸς ἐμᾶς ἔλαχες πλέον, ἁ μορφᾷ θηρῶν λαχνογυίων — ὄμματι λάβρῷ σχῆμα λεαίνης —
380ἐξαλλάξασʼ ἄχθεα λύπης· ἅν τέ ποτʼ Ἄρτεμις ἐξεχορεύσατο χρυσοκέρατʼ ἔλαφον Μέροπος Τιτανίδα κούραν καλλοσύνας ἕνεκεν· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν δέμας ὤλεσεν ὤλεσε πέργαμα Δαρδανίας
385ὀλομένους τʼ Ἀχαιούς.
386ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ τὰς τεθρίππους Οἰνομάῳ Πῖσαν κάτα Πέλοψ ἁμίλλας ἐξαμιλληθείς ποτε, εἴθʼ ὤφελες τόθʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἔρανον εἰς θεοὺς πεισθεὶς ἐποίεις, ἐν θεοῖς λιπεῖν βίον, πρὶν τὸν ἐμὸν Ἀτρέα πατέρα γεννῆσαί ποτε,
391ὃς ἐξέφυσεν Ἀερόπης λέκτρων ἄπο Ἀγαμέμνονʼ ἐμέ τε Μενέλεων, κλεινὸν ζυγόν· πλεῖστον γὰρ οἶμαι — καὶ τόδʼ οὐ κόμπῳ λέγω — στράτευμα κώπῃ διορίσαι Τροίαν ἔπι, τύραννος οὐδὲν πρὸς βίαν στρατηλατῶν,
396ἑκοῦσι δʼ ἄρξας Ἑλλάδος νεανίαις. καὶ τοὺς μὲν οὐκέτʼ ὄντας ἀριθμῆσαι πάρα, τοὺς δʼ ἐκ θαλάσσης ἀσμένους πεφευγότας, νεκρῶν φέροντας ὀνόματʼ εἰς οἴκους πάλιν. ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπʼ οἶδμα πόντιον γλαυκῆς ἁλὸς
401τλήμων ἀλῶμαι χρόνον ὅσονπερ Ἰλίου πύργους ἔπερσα, κἀς πάτραν χρῄζων μολεῖν οὐκ ἀξιοῦμαι τοῦδε πρὸς θεῶν τυχεῖν. Λιβύης τʼ ἐρήμους ἀξένους τʼ ἐπιδρομὰς πέπλευκα πάσας· χὥταν ἐγγὺς ὦ πάτρας,
406πάλιν μʼ ἀπωθεῖ πνεῦμα, κοὔποτʼ οὔριον ἐσῆλθε λαῖφος ὥστε μʼ ἐς πάτραν μολεῖν. καὶ νῦν τάλας ναυαγὸς ἀπολέσας φίλους ἐξέπεσον ἐς γῆν τήνδε· ναῦς δὲ πρὸς πέτρας πολλοὺς ἀριθμοὺς ἄγνυται ναυαγίων.
411τρόπις δʼ ἐλείφθη ποικίλων ἁρμοσμάτων, ἐφʼ ἧς ἐσώθην μόλις ἀνελπίστῳ τύχῃ Ἑλένη τε, Τροίας ἣν ἀποσπάσας ἔχω. ὄνομα δὲ χώρας ἥτις ἥδε καὶ λεὼς οὐκ οἶδα· ὄχλον γὰρ ἐσπεσεῖν ᾐσχυνόμην
416ὥσθʼ ἱστορῆσαι, τὰς ἐμὰς δυσχλαινίας κρύπτων ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς τῆς τύχης. ὅταν δʼ ἀνὴρ πράξῃ κακῶς ὑψηλός, εἰς ἀηθίαν πίπτει κακίω τοῦ πάλαι δυσδαίμονος. χρεία δὲ τείρει μʼ· οὔτε γὰρ σῖτος πάρα
421οὔτʼ ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐσθῆτες· αὐτὰ δʼ εἰκάσαι πάρεστι ναὸς ἐκβόλοις ἃ ἀμπίσχομαι. πέπλους δὲ τοὺς πρὶν λαμπρά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματα χλιδάς τε πόντος ἥρπασʼ· ἐν δʼ ἄντρου μυχοῖς κρύψας γυναῖκα τὴν κακῶν πάντων ἐμοὶ
426ἄρξασαν ἥκω τούς τε περιλελειμμένους φίλων φυλάσσειν τἄμʼ ἀναγκάσας λέχη. μόνος δὲ νοστῶ, τοῖς ἐκεῖ ζητῶν φίλοις τὰ πρόσφορʼ ἤν πως ἐξερευνήσας λάβω. ἰδὼν δὲ δῶμα περιφερὲς θριγκοῖς τόδε
431πύλας τε σεμνὰς ἀνδρὸς ὀλβίου τινός, προσῆλθον· ἐλπὶς δʼ ἔκ γε πλουσίων δόμων λαβεῖν τι ναύταις· ἐκ δὲ μὴ ἐχόντων βίον — οὐδʼ εἰ θέλοιεν, ὠφελεῖν ἔχοιεν ἄν. ὠή· τίς ἂν πυλωρὸς ἐκ δόμων μόλοι,
436ὅστις διαγγείλειε τἄμʼ ἔσω κακά;
437ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τίς πρὸς πύλαισιν; οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ δόμων
438καὶ μὴ πρὸς αὐλείοισιν ἑστηκὼς πύλαις
439ὄχλον παρέξεις δεσπόταις; ἢ κατθανῇ
440Ἕλλην πεφυκώς, οἷσιν οὐκ ἐπιστροφαί.
441ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ γραῖα, ταὐτὰ ταῦτʼ ἔπη κἄλλως λέγειν
442ἔξεστι, πείσομαι γάρ· ἀλλʼ ἄνες λόγον.
443ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ἄπελθʼ· ἐμοὶ γὰρ τοῦτο πρόσκειται, ξένε,
444μηδένα πελάζειν τοισίδʼ Ἑλλήνων δόμοις.
445ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἆ· μὴ προσείλει χεῖρα μηδʼ ὤθει βίᾳ.
446ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πείθῃ γὰρ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω, σὺ δʼ αἴτιος.
447ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄγγειλον εἴσω δεσπόταισι τοῖσι σοῖς [...]
448ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πικρῶς ἄρʼ οἶμαί γʼ ἀγγελεῖν τοὺς σοὺς λόγους.
Part 5
315CHORUS LEADER: Then do you know what you should do? Leave your seat at the monument—
316HELEN: What sort of word of advice are you coming to?
317CHORUS LEADER: Go inside and question the daughter of the sea-nymph, Theonoe, who knows all things, about your husband, whether he is still alive, or has left the light of day;
320and when you know for certain, rejoice or be full of mourning, according to your fortune. Before you know anything correctly, what good would it do you to grieve? But be persuaded by me; leave this tomb and join the girl;
325when you have someone in this house from whom you can learn the whole truth, why do you look further? And I myself want to go in and ask about the prophecies of the maiden with you; for, truly, women ought to help each other.
330HELEN: Dear friends, I welcome your advice. Come in, come into the house, to learn within about my struggles.
334CHORUS: You are calling on one who is wholly willing.
335HELEN: Oh, what an unhappy day! What tearful word shall I hear, unhappy as I am?
338CHORUS: Do not be a prophetess of sorrow, dear friend, anticipating lamentation.
340HELEN: What has my poor husband suffered? Does he see the light and the sun’s chariot and the paths of the stars? Or does he have a lasting fate
345among the dead beneath the earth?
346CHORUS: Take a brighter view of the future, whatever will happen.
348HELEN: For I call on you, I swear to you, Eurotas green with watery reeds,
350if this rumor of my husband’s death is true—and what was obscure in those words?—I will stretch a deadly noose about my neck, or drive inward a murderous thrust of slaughter that gushes from the throat,
355a contest of the blade through my flesh, as a sacrifice to the three goddesses and to the son of Priam, who once sat on the hollows of Ida, near the ox-stalls.
360CHORUS: May sorrow be turned aside elsewhere, and may your lot be fortunate!
362HELEN: Oh, unhappy Troy! Through deeds not done by yourself, you are ruined, and have suffered pitiably; for the gift that Kypris gave me has caused much blood
365and many tears; it has added grief to grief and tear to tear, sorrows. . . . Mothers have lost their children and virgin sisters of the slain have cut off their hair by the swollen tide of Phrygian Skamandros.
370And Hellas has cried aloud, aloud, and broken forth in wailing, beating her head, and drenching her soft-skinned cheek with the bloody strokes of her nails.
375O maiden Kallisto, blessed once in Arcadia, who climbed into the bed of Zeus on four paws, how much happier was your lot than my mother’s, you who in the form of a shaggy-limbed beast—the bearing of a lioness with your fierce eye—changed your burden of sorrow;
380and also the one whom Artemis once drove from her chorus, as a deer with horns of gold, the Titan girl, daughter of Merops, because of her loveliness; but the beauty of my body has destroyed the Dardanian towers, it has destroyed them and
385the lost Achaeans.
386MENELAOS: O Pelops, who once held that chariot-race contest with Oinomaos over Pisa, if only, when you were persuaded to make a banquet for the gods, you had left your life then, inside the gods,
390before you ever begot my father, Atreus, to whom were born, from his marriage with Airope, Agamemnon and myself, Menelaos, a famous pair; for I believe that I carried a mighty army—and I say this not in boast—in ships to Troy,
395no tyrant commanding any troops by force, but leading the young men of Hellas by voluntary consent. And some of these can be counted no longer alive, others as having a joyful escape from the sea, bringing home again names thought to be of the dead.
400But I wander miserably over the swelling waves of the gray ocean, ever since I sacked the towers of Ilion; and although I long to come home, I am not thought worthy by the gods to achieve this. I have sailed to Libya’s deserts and all its inhospitable landing-places;
405and whenever I draw near my native land, the blast drives me back again, and no favoring wind has ever entered my sails to let me come home.
408And now I am cast up on this shore, a miserable shipwrecked sailor who has lost his friends; and my ship is
410broken into many pieces against the rocks. But out of its cleverly-wrought fastenings the keel was left, on which I made my difficult escape by an unexpected chance, and also Helen with me, whom I dragged away from Troy. But I do not know the name of this country
415and its people; for I was embarrassed to burst into a crowd and make inquiries, and so I concealed these shabby clothes, in shame over my misfortune. For whenever a man of high degree is badly off, he falls into an unaccustomed state which is worse than that of one who has long been unfortunate.
420But poverty is wearing me away; for I have neither food, nor clothes around my body; one can compare what I am wearing to rags cast out of the ship. The sea snatched away all the robes I once wore, splendid clothes and ornaments. Deep in a cave
425I hid the woman who caused all my troubles, and have come here, after compelling those of my friends who survived to guard my wife. I have come alone, seeking help for those friends there, if I may find it somehow after careful search.
430When I saw this home, surrounded by walls, and the majestic gateways of some prosperous man, I came near; sailors can hope to get something from wealthy homes; but from those who have no livelihood—they could not help us, even if they wanted to.
435Hello! Is there some gatekeeper who might come from the house and announce my troubles within?
437OLD WOMAN: Who’s at the door? Get away from the house and don’t annoy my master by standing at the court-yard gate! Or else you will die because you are
440a Hellene, and they have no business here.
441MENELAOS: My good woman, you can say these same words in a different tone, for I shall be persuaded; but let go your angry speech.
443OLD WOMAN: Go away! Stranger, my orders are to let no Hellene come near this house.
445MENELAOS: Ah! Do not push me, or thrust me away by force.
446OLD WOMAN: You are to blame, for not heeding what I say.
447MENELAOS: Announce to your master inside—
448OLD WOMAN: I think someone would be sorry, if I announced your words.
Part 6
449ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ναυαγὸς ἥκω ξένος, ἀσύλητον γένος.
450ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οἶκον πρὸς ἄλλον νύν τινʼ ἀντὶ τοῦδʼ ἴθι.
451ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ἔσω πάρειμι· καὶ σύ μοι πιθοῦ.
452ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ὀχληρὸς ἴσθʼ ὤν· καὶ τάχʼ ὠσθήσῃ βίᾳ.
453ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αἰαῖ· τὰ κλεινὰ ποῦ ʼστί μοι στρατεύματα;
454ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὐκοῦν ἐκεῖ που σεμνὸς ἦσθʼ, οὐκ ἐνθάδε.
455ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ δαῖμον, ὡς ἀνάξιʼ ἠτιμώμεθα.
456ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τί βλέφαρα τέγγεις δάκρυσι; πρὸς τίνʼ οἰκτρὸς εἶ;
457ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πρὸς τὰς πάροιθεν συμφορὰς εὐδαίμονας.
458ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὔκουν ἀπελθὼν δάκρυα σοῖς δώσεις φίλοις;
459ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς δʼ ἥδε χώρα; τοῦ δὲ βασίλειοι δόμοι;
460ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Πρωτεὺς τάδʼ οἰκεῖ δώματʼ, Αἴγυπτος δὲ γῆ.
461ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Αἴγυπτος; ὦ δύστηνος, οἷ πέπλευκʼ ἄρα.
462ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τί δὴ τὸ Νείλου μεμπτόν ἐστί σοι γάνος;
463ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ τοῦτʼ ἐμέμφθην· τὰς ἐμὰς στένω τύχας.
464ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πολλοὶ κακῶς πράσσουσιν, οὐ σὺ δὴ μόνος.
465ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔστʼ οὖν ἐν οἴκοις ὅντινʼ ὀνομάζεις ἄναξ;
466ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: τόδʼ ἐστὶν αὐτοῦ μνῆμα, παῖς δʼ ἄρχει χθονός.
467ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη; πότερον ἐκτὸς ἢ ʼν δόμοις;
468ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: οὐκ ἔνδον· Ἕλλησιν δὲ πολεμιώτατος.
Part 6
449MENELAOS: I come as a shipwrecked man and a guest; such people are safe from violence.
450OLD WOMAN: Well, go to some other house instead of this one.
451MENELAOS: No; I am going inside. You listen to me.
452OLD WOMAN: Know that you’re only causing trouble; and soon you’ll be thrown out by force.
453MENELAOS: Alas! Where are those glorious armies of mine?
454OLD WOMAN: Perhaps you were grand somewhere, but not here.
455MENELAOS: O my fortune, how we have been unworthily dishonored.
456OLD WOMAN: Why are your eyes wet with tears? To whom are you lamenting?
457MENELAOS: To my fortunes, which were happy before this.
458OLD WOMAN: Well then, why don’t you go away and give these tears to your friends.
459MENELAOS: What is this land? Whose palace is this?
460OLD WOMAN: Proteus lives here, the land is Egypt.
461MENELAOS: Egypt? O wretched, that I have sailed here!
462OLD WOMAN: And why do you blame the bright gleam of the Nile?
463MENELAOS: I do not blame it; I am sighing for my fate.
464OLD WOMAN: Many people are doing badly; you are not the only one.
465MENELAOS: Is the king you name in the house?
466OLD WOMAN: This is his tomb; his son rules the land.
467MENELAOS: And where might he be? Abroad, or in the house?
468OLD WOMAN: He is not inside; he is most bitterly opposed to the Hellenes.
Part 7
469ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίνʼ αἰτίαν σχὼν ἧς ἐπηυρόμην ἐγώ;
470ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Ἑλένη κατʼ οἴκους ἐστὶ τούσδʼ ἡ τοῦ Διός.
471ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς φῄς; τίνʼ εἶπας μῦθον; αὖθίς μοι φράσον.
472ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: ἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς, ἣ κατὰ Σπάρτην ποτʼ ἦν.
473ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πόθεν μολοῦσα; τίνα τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχει λόγον;
474ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: Λακεδαίμονος γῆς δεῦρο νοστήσασʼ ἄπο.
475ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πότε; οὔ τί που λελῄσμεθʼ ἐξ ἄντρων λέχος;
476ΓΡΑΥ͂Σ: πρὶν τοὺς Ἀχαιούς, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐς Τροίαν μολεῖν.
477ἀλλʼ ἕρπʼ ἀπʼ οἴκων· ἔστι γάρ τις ἐν δόμοις
478τύχη, τύραννος ᾗ ταράσσεται δόμος.
479καιρὸν γὰρ οὐδένʼ ἦλθες· ἢν δὲ δεσπότης
480λάβῃ σε, θάνατος ξένιά σοι γενήσεται.
481εὔνους γάρ εἰμʼ Ἕλλησιν, οὐχ ὅσον πικροὺς
482λόγους ἔδωκα δεσπότην φοβουμένη.
483ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῶ; τί λέξω; συμφορὰς γὰρ ἀθλίας ἐκ τῶν πάροιθεν τὰς παρεστώσας κλύω, εἰ τὴν μὲν αἱρεθεῖσαν ἐκ Τροίας ἄγων ἥκω δάμαρτα καὶ κατʼ ἄντρα σῴζεται, ὄνομα δὲ ταὐτὸν τῆς ἐμῆς ἔχουσά τις
488δάμαρτος ἄλλη τοισίδʼ ἐνναίει δόμοις. Διὸς δʼ ἔλεξε παῖδά νιν πεφυκέναι. ἀλλʼ ἦ τις ἔστι Ζηνὸς ὄνομʼ ἔχων ἀνὴρ Νείλου παρʼ ὄχθας; εἷς γὰρ ὅ γε κατʼ οὐρανόν. Σπάρτη δὲ ποῦ γῆς ἐστι πλὴν ἵνα ῥοαὶ
493τοῦ καλλιδόνακός εἰσιν Εὐρώτα μόνον; ἁπλοῦν δὲ Τυνδάρειον ὄνομα κλῄζεται. Λακεδαίμονος δὲ γαῖα τίς ξυνώνυμος Τροίας τε; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἔχω τί χρὴ λέγειν. πολλοὶ γάρ, ὡς εἴξασιν, ἐν πολλῇ χθονὶ
498ὀνόματα ταὔτʼ ἔχουσι καὶ πόλις πόλει γυνὴ γυναικί τʼ· οὐδὲν οὖν θαυμαστέον. οὐδʼ αὖ τὸ δεινὸν προσπόλου φευξούμεθα· ἀνὴρ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ὧδε βάρβαρος φρένας, ὃς ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας τοὐμὸν οὐ δώσει βοράν.
503κλεινὸν τὸ Τροίας πῦρ ἐγώ θʼ ὃς ἧψά νιν, Μενέλαος, οὐκ ἄγνωστος ἐν πάσῃ χθονί. δόμων ἄνακτα προσμενῶ· δισσὰς δέ μοι ἔχει φυλάξεις· ἢν μὲν ὠμόφρων τις ᾖ, κρύψας ἐμαυτὸν εἶμι πρὸς ναυάγια·
508ἢν δʼ ἐνδιδῷ τι μαλθακόν, τὰ πρόσφορα τῆς νῦν παρούσης συμφορᾶς αἰτήσομαι. κακῶν μὲν ἡμῖν ἔσχατον τοῖς ἀθλίοις, ἄλλους τυράννους αὐτὸν ὄντα βασιλέα βίον προσαιτεῖν· ἀλλʼ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει.
513λόγος γάρ ἐστιν οὐκ ἐμός, σοφὸν δʼ ἔπος, δεινῆς ἀνάγκης οὐδὲν ἰσχύειν πλέον.
515ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἤκουσα τᾶς θεσπιῳδοῦ κόρας, ἃ χρῄζουσʼ ἐφάνη τυράννοις δόμοις, ὡς Μενέλαος οὔ- πω μελαμφαὲς οἴχεται διʼ ἔρεβος χθονὶ κρυφθείς,
520ἀλλʼ ἔτι κατʼ οἶδμʼ ἅλιον τρυχόμενος οὔπω λιμένων ψαύσειεν πατρίας γᾶς, ἀλατείᾳ βιότου ταλαίφρων, ἄφιλος φίλων,
525παντοδαπᾶς ἐπὶ γᾶς πόδα χριμπτόμενος εἰναλίῳ κώπᾳ Τρῳάδος ἐκ γᾶς.
528ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥδʼ αὖ τάφου τοῦδʼ εἰς ἕδρας ἐγὼ πάλιν στείχω, μαθοῦσα Θεονόης φίλους λόγους, ἣ πάντʼ ἀληθῶς οἶδε· φησὶ δʼ ἐν φάει πόσιν τὸν ἁμὸν ζῶντα φέγγος εἰσορᾶν, πορθμοὺς δʼ ἀλᾶσθαι μυρίους πεπλωκότα
533ἐκεῖσε κἀκεῖσʼ οὐδʼ ἀγύμναστον πλάνοις, ἥξειν δʼ ὅταν δὴ πημάτων λάβῃ τέλος. ἓν δʼ οὐκ ἔλεξεν, εἰ μολὼν σωθήσεται. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπέστην τοῦτʼ ἐρωτῆσαι σαφῶς, ἡσθεῖσʼ ἐπεί νιν εἶπέ μοι σεσῳσμένον.
538ἐγγὺς δέ νίν που τῆσδʼ ἔφασκʼ εἶναι χθονός, ναυαγὸν ἐκπεσόντα σὺν παύροις φίλοις. ὤμοι, πόθʼ ἥξεις; ὡς ποθεινὸς ἂν μόλοις. ἔα, τίς οὗτος; οὔ τί που κρυπτεύομαι Πρωτέως ἀσέπτου παιδὸς ἐκ βουλευμάτων;
543οὐχ ὡς δρομαία πῶλος ἢ Βάκχη θεοῦ τάφῳ ξυνάψω κῶλον; ἄγριος δέ τις μορφὴν ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὅς με θηρᾶται λαβεῖν.
546ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὲ τὴν ὄρεγμα δεινὸν ἡμιλλημένην
547τύμβου ʼπὶ κρηπῖδʼ ἐμπύρους τʼ ὀρθοστάτας,
548μεῖνον· τί φεύγεις; ὡς δέμας δείξασα σὸν
549ἔκπληξιν ἡμῖν ἀφασίαν τε προστίθης.
550ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀδικούμεθʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες· εἰργόμεσθα γὰρ
551τάφου πρὸς ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καί μʼ ἑλὼν θέλει
552δοῦναι τυράννοις ὧν ἐφεύγομεν γάμους.
553ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ κλῶπές ἐσμεν, οὐχ ὑπηρέται κακῶν.
554ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν στολήν γʼ ἄμορφον ἀμφὶ σῶμʼ ἔχεις.
555ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: στῆσον, φόβου μεθεῖσα, λαιψηρὸν πόδα.
556ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἵστημʼ, ἐπεί γε τοῦδʼ ἐφάπτομαι τόπου.
557ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς εἶ; τίνʼ ὄψιν σήν, γύναι, προσδέρκομαι;
558ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; αὑτὸς γὰρ σὲ κἄμʼ ἔχει λόγος.
559ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐπώποτʼ εἶδον προσφερέστερον δέμας.
Part 7
469MENELAOS: What cause does he have? I have felt the consequences of it!
470OLD WOMAN: Helen, the daughter of Zeus, is in this house.
471MENELAOS: What do you mean? What did you say? Tell me again.
472OLD WOMAN: The daughter of Tyndareus, who once lived in Sparta.
473MENELAOS: Where did she come from? What is the meaning of this?
474OLD WOMAN: She came here from the land of Lakedaimon.
475MENELAOS: When? Surely I have not been robbed of my wife from the cave?
476OLD WOMAN: Before the Achaeans went to Troy, stranger. But get away from the house; for something is happening within, by which the palace is thrown into confusion. You have not come at the right time; and if my master
480catches you, death will be your guest-gift. For I am well-disposed to Hellenes, for all that I spoke harshly to you in fear of my master.
483MENELAOS: What can I say? For after my former troubles, this present event that I hear of is an unhappy one,
485if I have come here, bringing my wife who was taken from Troy, and she is kept safe in the cave, but some other woman who has the same name as my wife lives in this house. She said the woman was born the child of Zeus.
490Can there be a man with the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile? For there is only one in heaven. Where in the world is there a Sparta, except by the streams of Eurotas, with its lovely reeds? The name of Tyndareus is the name of one alone.
495Is there any land of the same name as Lakedaimon or Troy? I do not know what to say; for there are probably many things in the wide world that have the same names, both cities and women; there is nothing, then, to marvel at.
500Besides, I will not run away from a servant’s fears; for no man is so barbaric at heart as to refuse me food when he has heard my name. The fire of Troy is famous, and I, Menelaos, who lighted it, am well known in every land.
505I will wait for the master of the house; he gives me two things to look out for: if he is a cruel sort of person, I will keep myself hidden and go back to the shipwreck; but if he shows any softening, I will ask for help in my present state.
510This is the worst evil for me in my misery, to beg the means of life from other kings, when I am myself a king; but it is necessary. The saying is not mine, but it is a wise word: nothing is stronger than dreadful necessity.
515CHORUS: I have heard the prophetic maiden, who gave a clear answer within the palace: Menelaos is not yet dead and buried, gone to the land of shadows where darkness takes the place of light;
520but he is still wearing out his life on the ocean swell and has not yet reached the haven of his country, wretched in his wandering life,
525bereft of every friend, approaching every land in his sea-going ship from the land of Troy.
528HELEN: Here I am, once again coming back to the sanctuary of this tomb, after learning the welcome words of Theonoe,
530who knows all things truly; she says my husband is alive and sees the light of day; he is roaming here and there on countless voyages, not without practice in wandering, and he shall come here when he finds an end to his suffering.
535But she left one thing unsaid: if he will escape when he has come? And I refrained from asking that question clearly; I was so glad when she told me he was safe. She said that he was near this land somewhere, cast up, shipwrecked, with a few friends.
540Oh, when will you come? How much I long for your arrival!
541Ah! Who is this? I am not being ambushed by the plots of Proteus’ impious son, am I? Shall I not, like a young racehorse or a worshipper of Bacchus, reach the tomb? There is something wild
545about the looks of this man who is hunting me down.
546MENELAOS: You there! the one trying with fearful effort to reach the base of the tomb and the pillars of burnt sacrifice, stay where you are. Why do you flee? I am amazed and speechless at the sight of your body.
550HELEN: Women, I am being ill-treated. This man is keeping me from the tomb, and he wants to take me and give me to the king, whose wooing I was seeking to avoid.
553MENELAOS: I am no thief, nor a servant of evil men.
554HELEN: And yet the clothes you are wearing are unsightly enough.
555MENELAOS: Put fear aside and stop your rapid flight.
556HELEN: I do so, now that I have reached this spot.
557MENELAOS: Who are you? Whom do I see in you, lady?
558HELEN: But who are you? The same reason prompts us both.
559MENELAOS: I never saw a closer resemblance.
Part 8
560ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ θεοί· θεὸς γὰρ καὶ τὸ γιγνώσκειν φίλους.
561ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἑλληνὶς εἶ τις ἢ ἐπιχωρία γυνή;
562ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἑλληνίς· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σὸν θέλω μαθεῖν.
563ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἑλένῃ σʼ ὁμοίαν δὴ μάλιστʼ εἶδον, γύναι.
564ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐγὼ δὲ Μενέλεῴ γε σέ· οὐδʼ ἔχω τί φῶ.
565ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔγνως γὰρ ὀρθῶς ἄνδρα δυστυχέστατον.
566ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ χρόνιος ἐλθὼν σῆς δάμαρτος ἐς χέρας.
567ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ποίας δάμαρτος; μὴ θίγῃς ἐμῶν πέπλων.
568ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥν σοι δίδωσι Τυνδάρεως, ἐμὸς πατήρ.
569ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ φωσφόρʼ Ἑκάτη, πέμπε φάσματʼ εὐμενῆ.
570ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ νυκτίφαντον πρόπολον Ἐνοδίας μʼ ὁρᾷς.
571ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐ μὴν γυναικῶν γʼ εἷς δυοῖν ἔφυν πόσις.
572ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίων δὲ λέκτρων δεσπότης ἄλλων ἔφυς;
573ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἣν ἄντρα κεύθει κἀκ Φρυγῶν κομίζομαι.
574ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλη σή τις ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ γυνή.
575ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔ που φρονῶ μὲν εὖ, τὸ δʼ ὄμμα μου νοσεῖ;
576ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ γάρ με λεύσσων σὴν δάμαρθʼ ὁρᾶν δοκεῖς;
577ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τὸ σῶμʼ ὅμοιον, τὸ δὲ σαφές μʼ ἀποστερεῖ.
578ἙΛΈΝΗ: σκέψαι· τί σοὐνδεῖ; τίς δὲ σοῦ σοφώτερος;
579ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔοικας· οὔτοι τοῦτό γʼ ἐξαρνήσομαι.
Part 8
560HELEN: O gods! For the recognizing of friends is a god.
561MENELAOS: Are you a woman from Hellas, or a native of this land?
562HELEN: From Hellas; but I want to learn your story too.
5563MENELAOS: You seem to me very much like Helen, lady.
564HELEN: And you seem to me like Menelaos; I don’t know what to say.
565MENELAOS: Well, you have correctly recognized a most unfortunate man.
566HELEN: Oh, at last you have come to the arms of your wife!
567MENELAOS: What do you mean by wife? Do not touch my robe.
568HELEN: The one whom Tyndareus, my father, gave to you.
569MENELAOS: O torch-bearing Hekate, send visions that are favorable!
570HELEN: You see in me no specter of the night, attendant on the queen of phantoms.
571MENELAOS: As one man, I am certainly not the husband of two women.
572HELEN: You are the master of what other wife?
573MENELAOS: The one hidden in the cave, whom I am bringing from Troy.
574HELEN: You have no other wife but me.
575MENELAOS: Can it be that I am in my right mind, but my sight is failing?
576HELEN: Don’t you think that when you look at me you see your wife?
577MENELAOS: Your body resembles hers, but the real truth robs me of this belief.
578HELEN: Look; what more do you need? Who knows better than you?
579MENELAOS: You are like her; I will not deny that at least.
Part 9
580ἙΛΈΝΗ: τίς οὖν διδάξει σʼ ἄλλος ἢ τὰ σʼ ὄμματα;
581ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐκεῖ νοσοῦμεν, ὅτι δάμαρτʼ ἄλλην ἔχω.
582ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἦλθον ἐς γῆν Τρῳάδʼ, ἀλλʼ εἴδωλον ἦν.
583ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ τίς βλέποντα σώματʼ ἐξεργάζεται;
584ἙΛΈΝΗ: αἰθήρ, ὅθεν σὺ θεοπόνητʼ ἔχεις λέχη.
585ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίνος πλάσαντος θεῶν; ἄελπτα γὰρ λέγεις.
586ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἥρας, διάλλαγμʼ, ὡς Πάρις με μὴ λάβοι.
587ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς οὖν ἂν ἐνθάδʼ ἦσθά τʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ θʼ ἅμα;
588ἙΛΈΝΗ: τοὔνομα γένοιτʼ ἂν πολλαχοῦ, τὸ σῶμα δʼ οὔ.
589ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: μέθες με, λύπης ἅλις ἔχων ἐλήλυθα.
590ἙΛΈΝΗ: λείψεις γὰρ ἡμᾶς, τὰ δὲ κένʼ ἐξάξεις λέχη;
591ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ χαῖρέ γʼ, Ἑλένῃ προσφερὴς ὁθούνεκʼ εἶ.
592ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπωλόμην· λαβοῦσά σʼ οὐχ ἕξω πόσιν.
593ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοὐκεῖ με μέγεθος τῶν πόνων πείθει, σὺ δʼ οὔ.
594ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἲ ἐγώ· τίς ἡμῶν ἐγένετʼ ἀθλιωτέρα;
595οἱ φίλτατοι λείπουσί μʼ οὐδʼ ἀφίξομαι
596Ἕλληνας οὐδὲ πατρίδα τὴν ἐμήν ποτε.
597ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαε, μαστεύων σε κιγχάνω μόλις
598πᾶσαν πλανηθεὶς τήνδε βάρβαρον χθόνα,
599πεμφθεὶς ἑταίρων τῶν λελειμμένων ὕπο.
600ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί δʼ ἔστιν; οὔ που βαρβάρων συλᾶσθʼ ὕπο;
601ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: θαῦμʼ ἔστʼ, ἔλασσον τοὔνομʼ ἢ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχον.
602ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λέγʼ· ὡς φέρεις τι τῇδε τῇ σπουδῇ νέον.
603ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: λέγω πόνους σε μυρίους τλῆναι μάτην.
Part 9
580HELEN: Who then shall teach you, if not your own eyes?
581MENELAOS: It is there that I am ailing, because I have another wife.
582HELEN: I did not go to Troy; that was a phantom.
583MENELAOS: And who fashions living bodies?
584HELEN: The air, out of which you have a wife that the gods labored over.
585MENELAOS: What god’s handiwork? You are saying things beyond hope.
586HELEN: Hera’s, as a substitute, so that Paris would not have me.
587MENELAOS: How then could you be here and in Troy at the same time?
588HELEN: The name may be in many places, though not the body.
589MENELAOS: Let me go! I have come here with enough pain.
590HELEN: Will you leave me, and take that phantom bride away?
591MENELAOS: Yes, and fare well, for your likeness to Helen.
592HELEN: I am ruined! I found you, my husband, but I will not have you.
593MENELAOS: The greatness of my troubles over there convinces me; you do not.
594HELEN: Ah me! Who was ever more miserable than I am?
595Those whom I love best are leaving me, and I shall never reach the Hellenes or my own country.
597MESSENGER: (entering hurriedly.) Menelaos, I find you, after taking great trouble to look for you, wandering over the whole of this foreign land; I am sent by the comrades whom you left behind.
600MENELAOS: What is it? Surely you are not being plundered by the foreigners?
601MESSENGER: It is a miracle; what I say is of less account than what happened.
602MENELAOS: Tell me; for, judging by this eagerness, you are certainly bringing something new.
603MESSENGER: I say that you have suffered countless labors in vain.
Part 10
604ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: παλαιὰ θρηνεῖς πήματʼ· ἀγγέλλεις δὲ τί;
605ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: βέβηκεν ἄλοχος σὴ πρὸς αἰθέρος πτυχὰς ἀρθεῖσʼ ἄφαντος· οὐρανῷ δὲ κρύπτεται λιποῦσα σεμνὸν ἄντρον οὗ σφʼ ἐσῴζομεν, τοσόνδε λέξασʼ· ὦ ταλαίπωροι Φρύγες πάντες τʼ Ἀχαιοί, διʼ ἔμʼ ἐπὶ Σκαμανδρίοις
610ἀκταῖσιν Ἥρας μηχαναῖς ἐθνῄσκετε, δοκοῦντες Ἑλένην οὐκ ἔχοντʼ ἔχειν Πάριν. ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ χρόνον ἔμεινʼ ὅσον με χρῆν, τὸ μόρσιμον σῴσασα, πατέρʼ ἐς οὐρανὸν ἄπειμι· φήμας δʼ ἡ τάλαινα Τυνδαρὶς
615ἄλλως κακὰς ἤκουσεν οὐδὲν αἰτία. ὦ χαῖρε, Λήδας θύγατερ, ἐνθάδʼ ἦσθʼ ἄρα; ἐγὼ δέ σʼ ἄστρων ὡς βεβηκυῖαν μυχοὺς ἤγγελλον εἰδὼς οὐδὲν ὡς ὑπόπτερον δέμας φοροίης. οὐκ ἐῶ σε κερτομεῖν
620ἡμᾶς τόδʼ αὖθις, ὡς ἄδην ἐν Ἰλίῳ πόνους παρεῖχες σῷ πόσει καὶ συμμάχοις.
622ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνο· ξυμβεβᾶσιν οἱ λόγοι
623οἱ τῆσδʼ ἀληθεῖς. ὦ ποθεινὸς ἡμέρα,
624ἥ σʼ εἰς ἐμὰς ἔδωκεν ὠλένας λαβεῖν.
625ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν Μενέλεως, ὁ μὲν χρόνος
626παλαιός, ἡ δὲ τέρψις ἀρτίως πάρα.
627ἔλαβον ἀσμένα πόσιν ἐμόν, φίλαι,
628περί τʼ ἐπέτασα χέρα
629φίλιον ἐν μακρᾷ φλογὶ φαεσφόρῳ.
630ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ σέ· πολλοὺς δʼ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους ἔχων
631οὐκ οἶδʼ ὁποίου πρῶτον ἄρξωμαι τὰ νῦν.
632ἙΛΈΝΗ: γέγηθα, κρατὶ δʼ ὀρθίους ἐθείρας
633ἀνεπτέρωκα καὶ δάκρυ σταλάσσω,
634περὶ δὲ γυῖα χέρας ἔβαλον, ἡδονάν,
635ὦ πόσις, ὡς λάβω.
636ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ φιλτάτη πρόσοψις, οὐκ ἐμέμφθην·
637ἔχω τὰ τῆς Διός τε λέκτρα Λήδας θʼ,
638ἃν ὑπὸ λαμπάδων κόροι λεύκιπποι
640ξυνομαίμονες ὤλβισαν ὤλβισαν
641τὸ πρόσθεν, ἐκ δόμων δὲ νοσφίσας σʼ ἐμοῦ
642πρὸς ἄλλαν ἐλαύνει
643θεὸς συμφορὰν τᾶσδε κρείσσω.
644τὸ κακὸν δʼ ἀγαθὸν σέ τε κἀμὲ συνάγαγε, πόσιν
645χρόνιον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως ὀναίμαν τύχας.
646ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὄναιο δῆτα. ταὐτὰ δὴ ξυνεύχομαι·
647δυοῖν γὰρ ὄντοιν οὐχ ὃ μὲν τλήμων, ὃ δʼ οὔ.
648ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλαι φίλαι, τὰ πάρος οὐκέτι
649στένομεν οὐδʼ ἀλγῶ.
650πόσιν ἐμὸν ἔχομεν ὃν
651ἔμενον ἐκ Τροίας πολυετῆ μολεῖν.
652ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔχεις, ἐγώ τε σέ· ἡλίους δὲ μυρίους
653μόλις διελθὼν ᾐσθόμην τὰ τῆς θεοῦ.
654ἐμὰ δὲ χαρμονὰ δάκρυα· πλέον ἔχει
655χάριτος ἢ λύπας.
656ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί φῶ; τίς ἂν τάδʼ ἤλπισεν βροτῶν ποτε;
657ἀδόκητον ἔχω σε πρὸς στέρνοις.
658ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ σὲ τὴν δοκοῦσαν Ἰδαίαν πόλιν
659μολεῖν Ἰλίου τε μελέους πύργους.
660πρὸς θεῶν, δόμων πῶς τῶν ἐμῶν ἀπεστάλης;
661ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἒ ἔ· πικρὰς ἐς ἀρχὰς βαίνεις,
662ἒ ἔ· πικρὰν δʼ ἐρευνᾷς φάτιν.
663ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λέγʼ· ὡς ἀκουστὰ πάντα δῶρα δαιμόνων.
664ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀπέπτυσα μὲν λόγον, οἷον οἷον ἐσοίσομαι.
665ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὅμως δὲ λέξον· ἡδύ τοι μόχθων κλύειν.
666ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἐπὶ βαρβάρου λέκτρα νεανία
667πετομένας κώπας,
668πετομένου δʼ ἔρωτος ἀδίκων γάμων [...]
669ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς γάρ σε δαίμων ἢ πότμος συλᾷ πάτρας;
670ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὁ Διὸς ὁ Διός, ὦ πόσι, παῖς μʼ [...]
671ἐπέλασεν Νείλῳ.
672ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: θαυμαστά· τοῦ πέμψαντος; ὦ δεινοὶ λόγοι.
Part 10
604MENELAOS: You are mourning over old sorrows; what is your message?
605MESSENGER: Your wife has disappeared, taken up into the folds of the unseen air; she is hidden in heaven, and as she left the hallowed cave where we were keeping her, she said this: Miserable Phrygians, and all the Achaeans! On my account you were dying by the banks of Skamandros,
610through Hera’s contrivance, for you thought that Paris had Helen when he didn’t. But I, since I have stayed my appointed time, and kept the laws of fate, will now depart into the sky, my father; but the unhappy daughter of Tyndareus,
615guilty in no way, has borne an evil name without reason.
616Welcome, daughter of Leda, were you here after all? I was just announcing your departure up to the hidden starry realms, not knowing that you had a winged body. I will not let you mock us like this again,
620for you gave your fill of trouble to your husband and his allies in Ilion.
622MENELAOS: This is the meaning of that; her words have turned out to be true. O longed-for day, that has given you to my arms!
625HELEN: O Menelaos, dearest of men, the time was long, but delight is just now ours.
627With joy I have found my husband, friends, I have embraced my dear one, after long days of blazing light.
630MENELAOS: And I have found you; but I have many questions about t; now I do not know what to begin with first.
632HELEN: I am so happy, the hair rises on my head and my tears run down. I fling my arms around your neck,
635dear husband, to have my delight.
636MENELAOS: O dearest sight! I have no fault to find: I have my wife, the daughter of Zeus and Leda; your brothers on their snow-white steeds
640blessed you, blessed you at an earlier time, while torches blazed, but the god who took you from my home is driving us on to another fortune, better than this. An evil that was good brought you together with me, your husband
645after a long time, but may I still benefit by my good luck.
646CHORUS: May you benefit indeed, and I join in the same prayer; for when there are two, it is not possible for one to be unhappy and the other not.
648HELEN: My dear friends, I no longer sigh or grieve over what is past.
650I have my husband, for whom I have been waiting to come from Troy for many years.
652MENELAOS: You have me, and I have you; although it was hard to live through so many days, I now understand the actions of the goddess. My joy is tearful; it has more
655delight than sorrow.
656HELEN: What can I say? What mortal could ever have hoped for this? I hold you to my heart, little as I ever thought to.
658MENELAOS: And I hold you, whom we thought to have gone to Ida’s city and the unhappy towers of Ilion.
660By the gods, how were you taken from my home?
661HELEN: Ah! ah! You are setting out on a bitter beginning. Ah! ah! You are asking about a bitter tale.
663MENELAOS: Speak; all gifts from the gods should be heard.
664HELEN: I detest the story I am now to introduce.
665MENELAOS: Tell it anyway. It is sweet to hear of troubles.
666HELEN: Not to the bed of the young barbarian, on the wings of oars, on the wings of desire for lawless marriage—
669MENELAOS: What god or fate tore you from your country?
670HELEN: Ah, my husband! The son of Zeus, of Zeus, brought me to the Nile.
672MENELAOS: Amazing! Who sent you there? O dreadful story!
Part 11
673ἙΛΈΝΗ: κατεδάκρυσα καὶ βλέφαρον ὑγραίνω
674δάκρυσιν· ἁ Διός μʼ ἄλοχος ὤλεσεν.
675ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἥρα; τί νῷν χρῄζουσα προσθεῖναι κακόν;
676ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὤμοι ἐμῶν δεινῶν, λουτρῶν καὶ κρηνῶν,
677ἵνα θεαὶ μορφὰν
678ἐφαίδρυναν, ἔνθεν ἔμολεν κρίσις.
679ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τὰ δʼ ἐς κρίσιν σοι τῶνδʼ ἔθηχʼ Ἥρα κακῶν — ;
680ἙΛΈΝΗ: Πάριν ὡς ἀφέλοιτο —
680bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς; αὔδα.
681ἙΛΈΝΗ: Κύπρις ᾧ μʼ ἐπένευσεν —
681bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ τλᾶμον.
682ἙΛΈΝΗ: τλάμων, τλάμων· ὧδʼ ἐπέλασʼ Αἰγύπτῳ.
683ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: εἶτʼ ἀντέδωκʼ εἴδωλον, ὡς σέθεν κλύω.
684ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὰ δὲ σὰ κατὰ μέλαθρα πάθεα πάθεα, μᾶ-
685τερ, οἲ ʼγώ.
685bΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῄς;
686ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἔστι μάτηρ· ἀγχόνιον δὲ βρόχον
687διʼ ἐμὰν κατεδήσατο δυσγάμου αἰσχύναν.
688ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὤμοι· θυγατρὸς δʼ Ἑρμιόνης ἔστιν βίος;
689ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄγαμος ἄτεκνος, ὦ πόσι, καταστένει
690γάμον ἄγαμον ἐμόν.
691ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ πᾶν κατʼ ἄκρας δῶμʼ ἐμὸν πέρσας Πάρις,
692τάδε καὶ σὲ διώλεσε μυριάδας τε
693χαλκεόπλων Δαναῶν.
694ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐμὲ δὲ πατρίδος ἄπο κακόποτμον ἀραίαν
695ἔβαλε θεὸς ἀπό τε πόλεος ἀπό τε σέθεν,
696ὅτε μέλαθρα λέχεά τʼ ἔλιπον — οὐ λιποῦσʼ
697ἐπʼ αἰσχροῖς γάμοις.
698ΧΟΡΌΣ: εἰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῆς τύχης εὐδαίμονος
699τύχοιτε, πρὸς τὰ πρόσθεν ἀρκέσειεν ἄν.
700ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαε, κἀμοὶ πρόσδοτον τῆς ἡδονῆς,
701ἣν μανθάνω μὲν καὐτός, οὐ σαφῶς δʼ ἔχω.
702ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀλλʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, καὶ σὺ κοινώνει λόγων.
Part 11
673HELEN: I have wept bitterly, and my eyes are wet with tears; the wife of Zeus ruined me.
675MENELAOS: Hera? Why did she want to bring trouble to the two of us?
676HELEN: Alas for my terrible fate, the baths and springs, where the goddesses brightened the beauty from which the judgment came.
679MENELAOS: Regarding the judgment, Hera made it a cause of these troubles for you?
680HELEN: To take me away from Paris—
680bMENELAOS: How? Tell me.
681HELEN: To whom Kypris had promised me.
681bMENELAOS: O unhappy one!
682HELEN: Unhappy, unhappy; and so she brought me to Egypt.
683MENELAOS: Then she gave him a phantom instead, as I hear from you.
684HELEN: Sorrow, sorrow to your house,
685mother, alas.
685bMENELAOS: What do you mean?
686HELEN: My mother is no more; through shame of my disgraceful marriage she tied a noose around her neck.
688MENELAOS: Alas! Is our daughter Hermione alive?
689HELEN: Ah, my husband! Unmarried, and without children, she mourns my
690fatal marriage.
691MENELAOS: O Paris, who utterly destroyed my whole house, these things ruined you also, and countless bronze-clad Danaans.
694HELEN: The god cast me out, ill-fated and accursed, from my country,
695from my city, and from you, when I left my home and bed—yet I did not leave them—for a shameful marriage.
698CHORUS LEADER: If indeed you should find happiness in the future, it would be a match for the past.
700MESSENGER: Menelaos, give me as well a share of that joy which I understand, but not clearly.
702MENELAOS: Come and take part in our talk, old man, you too.
Part 12
703ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: οὐχ ἥδε μόχθων τῶν ἐν Ἰλίῳ βραβεύς;
704ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐχ ἥδε, πρὸς θεῶν δʼ ἦμεν ἠπατημένοι,
705νεφέλης ἄγαλμʼ ἔχοντες ἐν χεροῖν λυγρόν.
706ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: τί φῄς;
707νεφέλης ἄρʼ ἄλλως εἴχομεν πόνους πέρι;
708ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: Ἥρας τάδʼ ἔργα καὶ θεῶν τρισσῶν ἔρις.
709ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἡ δʼ οὖσʼ ἀληθῶς ἐστιν ἥδε σὴ δάμαρ;
710ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αὕτη· λόγοις ἐμοῖσι πίστευσον τάδε.
711ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ὦ θύγατερ, ὁ θεὸς ὡς ἔφυ τι ποικίλον καὶ δυστέκμαρτον. εὖ δέ πως πάντα στρέφει ἐκεῖσε κἀκεῖσʼ ἀναφέρων· ὃ μὲν πονεῖ, ὃ δʼ οὐ πονήσας αὖθις ὄλλυται κακῶς, βέβαιον οὐδὲν τῆς ἀεὶ τύχης ἔχων.
716σὺ γὰρ πόσις τε σὸς πόνων μετέσχετε, σὺ μὲν λόγοισιν, ὃ δὲ δορὸς προθυμίᾳ. σπεύδων δʼ ὅτʼ ἔσπευδʼ οὐδὲν εἶχε· νῦν δʼ ἔχει αὐτόματα πράξας τἀγάθʼ εὐτυχέστατα. οὐκ ἄρα γέροντα πατέρα καὶ Διοσκόρω
721ᾔσχυνας, οὐδʼ ἔδρασας οἷα κλῄζεται. νῦν ἀνανεοῦμαι τὸν σὸν ὑμέναιον πάλιν καὶ λαμπάδων μεμνήμεθʼ ἃς τετραόροις ἵπποις τροχάζων παρέφερον· σὺ δʼ ἐν δίφροις ξὺν τῷδε νύμφη δῶμʼ ἔλειπες ὄλβιον.
726κακὸς γὰρ ὅστις μὴ σέβει τὰ δεσποτῶν καὶ ξυγγέγηθε καὶ συνωδίνει κακοῖς. ἐγὼ μὲν εἴην, κεἰ πέφυχʼ ὅμως λάτρις, ἐν τοῖσι γενναίοισιν ἠριθμημένος δούλοισι, τοὔνομʼ οὐκ ἔχων ἐλεύθερον,
731τὸν νοῦν δέ· κρεῖσσον γὰρ τόδʼ ἢ δυοῖν κακοῖν ἕνʼ ὄντα χρῆσθαι, τὰς φρένας τʼ ἔχειν κακὰς ἄλλων τʼ ἀκούειν δοῦλον ὄντα τῶν πέλας.
734ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄγʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, πολλὰ μὲν παρʼ ἀσπίδα μοχθήματʼ ἐξέπλησας ἐκπονῶν ἐμοί, καὶ νῦν μετασχὼν τῆς ἐμῆς εὐπραξίας ἄγγειλον ἐλθὼν τοῖς λελειμμένοις φίλοις τάδʼ ὡς ἔχονθʼ ηὕρηκας οἷ τʼ ἐσμὲν τύχης,
739μένειν τʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς τούς τʼ ἐμοὺς καραδοκεῖν ἀγῶνας οἳ μένουσί μʼ, ὡς ἐλπίζομεν, κεἰ τήνδε πως δυναίμεθʼ ἐκκλέψαι χθονός, φρουρεῖν ὅπως ἂν εἰς ἓν ἐλθόντες τύχης ἐκ βαρβάρων σωθῶμεν, ἢν δυνώμεθα.
744ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἔσται τάδʼ, ὦναξ. ἀλλά τοι τὰ μάντεων ἐσεῖδον ὡς φαῦλʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ψευδῶν πλέα. οὐδʼ ἦν ἄρʼ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἐμπύρου φλογὸς οὐδὲ πτερωτῶν φθέγματʼ· εὔηθες δέ τοι τὸ καὶ δοκεῖν ὄρνιθας ὠφελεῖν βροτούς.
749Κάλχας γὰρ οὐκ εἶπʼ οὐδʼ ἐσήμηνε στρατῷ νεφέλης ὑπερθνῄσκοντας εἰσορῶν φίλους οὐδʼ Ἕλενος, ἀλλὰ πόλις ἀνηρπάσθη μάτην. εἴποις ἄν· οὕνεχʼ ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἠβούλετο; τί δῆτα μαντευόμεθα; τοῖς θεοῖσι χρὴ
754θύοντας αἰτεῖν ἀγαθά, μαντείας δʼ ἐᾶν· βίου γὰρ ἄλλως δέλεαρ ηὑρέθη τόδε, κοὐδεὶς ἐπλούτησʼ ἐμπύροισιν ἀργὸς ὤν· γνώμη δʼ ἀρίστη μάντις ἥ τʼ εὐβουλία.
758ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐς ταὐτὸ κἀμοὶ δόξα μαντειῶν πέρι
759χωρεῖ γέροντι· τοὺς θεοὺς ἔχων τις ἂν
760φίλους ἀρίστην μαντικὴν ἔχοι δόμοις.
761ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἶἑν· τὰ μὲν δὴ δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ καλῶς ἔχει.
762ὅπως δʼ ἐσώθης, ὦ τάλας, Τροίας ἄπο,
763κέρδος μὲν οὐδὲν εἰδέναι, πόθος δέ τις
764τὰ τῶν φίλων φίλοισιν αἰσθέσθαι κακά.
765ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἦ πόλλʼ ἀνήρου μʼ ἑνὶ λόγῳ μιᾷ θʼ ὁδῷ.
766τί σοι λέγοιμʼ ἂν τὰς ἐν Αἰγαίῳ φθορὰς
767τὰ Ναυπλίου τʼ Εὐβοικὰ πυρπολήματα
768Κρήτην τε Λιβύης θʼ ἃς ἐπεστράφην πόλεις,
769σκοπιάς τε Περσέως; οὐ γὰρ ἐμπλήσαιμί σʼ ἂν
770μύθων, λέγων τʼ ἄν σοι κάκʼ ἀλγοίην ἔτι,
771πάσχων τʼ ἔκαμνον· δὶς δὲ λυπηθεῖμεν ἄν.
772ἙΛΈΝΗ: κάλλιον εἶπας ἤ σʼ ἀνηρόμην ἐγώ.
773ἓν δʼ εἰπὲ πάντα παραλιπών, πόσον χρόνον
774πόντου ʼπὶ νώτοις ἅλιον ἐφθείρου πλάνον;
775ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐν ναυσὶν ὢν πρὸς τοῖσιν ἐν Τροίᾳ δέκα
776ἔτεσι διῆλθον ἑπτὰ περιδρομὰς ἐτῶν.
777ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦ φεῦ· μακρόν γʼ ἔλεξας, ὦ τάλας, χρόνον
778σωθεὶς δʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἦλθες ἐς σφαγάς.
779ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πῶς φῄς; τί λέξεις; ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας, γύναι.
780ἙΛΈΝΗ: φεῦγʼ ὡς τάχιστα τῆσδʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς χθονός.
781θανῇ πρὸς ἀνδρὸς οὗ τάδʼ ἐστὶ δώματα.
782ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί χρῆμα δράσας ἄξιον τῆς συμφορᾶς;
783ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκεις ἄελπτος ἐμποδὼν ἐμοῖς γάμοις.
784ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἦ γὰρ γαμεῖν τις τἄμʼ ἐβουλήθη λέχη;
Part 12
703MESSENGER: This woman is not the arbitrator of all the trouble in Troy?
704MENELAOS: She is not; I was tricked by the gods
705and had in my arms the baneful image of a cloud.
706MESSENGER: What are you saying? We suffered in vain for the sake of a cloud?
708MENELAOS: It was the work of Hera, and the rivalry of the three goddesses.
709MESSENGER: And the one who is truly your wife is this woman here?
710MENELAOS: This is she; trust my word for that.
711MESSENGER: O daughter, how intricate and hard to trace out is the nature of the god! In some way that is good, he twists everything about, now up, now down; one man suffers, and one who has not suffered comes afterwards to a bad end,
715having no security in his current fortune. You and your husband have had your share of trouble, you in repute, he in the heat of battle. In his eagerness, while he was eager, he got nothing; but now that he has achieved the greatest good fortune, he has it without cause.
720You did not, after all, bring shame upon your old father or on the twin sons of Zeus, nor did you do such things as were spoken of. Now again I renew your wedding rites and remember the blazing torch I bore, running beside the four yoked horses; and you,
725in the chariot as a bride, were leaving your happy home with this man here. Whoever pays no reverence to his master’s affairs, rejoicing with him and grieving with his troubles, is worthless. Although I was born a servant, let me still be numbered among honest
730slaves; my mind is free, if not my name. For this is better than to suffer double misery as one man: to have a worthless heart and, being a slave, to owe obedience to any other.
734MENELAOS: Come, old man—often by my shield
735you have had your full share of trouble and hard work—now also have a share in my success, and go tell the friends I left behind the state of matters here, as you found them, and how my fortune stands; and bid them wait at the beach and watch eagerly for the
740struggle which I expect awaits me; and if we should be able somehow to steal this woman away from the land, tell them to keep good watch so that we may share the luck and escape, if we can, from the barbarians.
744MESSENGER: It shall be done, lord. Now indeed I see how worthless
745the seers’ doings are, and how full of falsehood; there was no health in the blaze of sacrifice after all, or in the cry of winged birds; even to think that birds can help mankind is certainly foolish. For Calchas gave no word or sign to the army,
750when he saw his friends dying on behalf of a cloud, nor did Helenos; but the city was taken by storm in vain. You might say: because the god did not want them to? Then why do we consult prophets? We ought to sacrifice to the gods and ask a blessing, but leave divination alone;
755for this was invented otherwise, as a bait for a livelihood, and no man grows rich by sacrifices if he is idle. But sound judgment and discernment are the best of seers. Exit Messenger.
758CHORUS LEADER: My views about seers coincide exactly with this old man’s; whoever has the gods as friends
760would have the best prophecy at home.
761HELEN: All right; so far all is well. But how you were saved, my poor husband, from Troy, there is no gain in knowing, yet friends have a desire to learn what their friends have suffered.
765MENELAOS: Truly you have asked a great deal all at once. Why should I tell you about our losses in the Aegean, and Nauplios’ beacons on Euboia, and my visits to Crete and the cities of Libya, and the mountain-peaks of Perseus? For I would not satisfy you with the tale,
770and by telling you these evils I would suffer still, as I did when I experienced them; and so my grief would be doubled.
772HELEN: Your answer is better than my question. Leave out the rest, and tell me only this: how long were you a weary wanderer over the surface of the sea?
775MENELAOS: Besides those ten years in Troy, I went through seven cycles of years on board ship.
777HELEN: Alas, poor man, you have spoken of a long time; and, saved from there, you have come here to the slaughter.
779MENELAOS: What do you mean? What will you say? Ah, my wife, you have ruined me.
780HELEN: Escape from this land and flee as quickly as possible. The man who lives in this house will kill you.
782MENELAOS: What have I done to deserve such a fate?
783HELEN: You have come unexpectedly to hinder my marriage.
784MENELAOS: What! Does someone plan to marry my wife?
Part 13
785ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὕβριν θʼ ὑβρίζειν εἰς ἔμʼ, ἣν ἔτλην ἐγώ.
786ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἰδίᾳ σθένων τις ἢ τυραννεύων χθονός;
787ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὃς γῆς ἀνάσσει τῆσδε Πρωτέως γόνος.
788ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνʼ αἴνιγμʼ ὃ προσπόλου κλύω.
789ἙΛΈΝΗ: ποίοις ἐπιστὰς βαρβάροις πυλώμασιν;
790ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῖσδʼ, ἔνθεν ὥσπερ πτωχὸς ἐξηλαυνόμην.
791ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔ που προσῄτεις βίοτον; ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
792ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοὔργον μὲν ἦν τοῦτʼ, ὄνομα δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν τόδε.
793ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντʼ οἶσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὡς ἔοικας, ἀμφʼ ἐμῶν γάμων.
794ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οἶδʼ· εἰ δὲ λέκτρα διέφυγες τάδʼ οὐκ ἔχω.
795ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄθικτον εὐνὴν ἴσθι σοι σεσῳσμένην.
796ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τίς τοῦδε πειθώ; φίλα γάρ, εἰ σαφῆ λέγεις.
797ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὁρᾷς τάφου τοῦδʼ ἀθλίους ἕδρας ἐμάς;
798ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὁρῶ ταλαίνας στιβάδας, ὧν τί σοὶ μέτα;
799ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐνταῦθα λέκτρων ἱκετεύομεν φυγάς.
800ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: βωμοῦ σπανίζουσʼ ἢ νόμοισι βαρβάροις;
801ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐρρύεθʼ ἡμᾶς τοῦτʼ ἴσον ναοῖς θεῶν.
802ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὐδʼ ἄρα πρὸς οἴκους ναυστολεῖν σʼ ἔξεστί μοι;
803ἙΛΈΝΗ: ξίφος μένει σε μᾶλλον ἢ τοὐμὸν λέχος.
804ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὕτως ἂν εἴην ἀθλιώτατος βροτῶν.
Part 13
785HELEN: And to act in violence against me, which I have endured.
786MENELAOS: Does he have private power, or is he the ruler of the country?
787HELEN: He is the lord of this land, the son of Proteus.
788MENELAOS: This is that riddle I heard from the servant.
789HELEN: Which one of the barbarian’s gates were you standing beside?
790MENELAOS: This one, from which I was being driven away like a beggar.
791HELEN: You were surely not begging for food, were you? How unhappy I am!
792MENELAOS: That was the deed, though it did not have that name.
793HELEN: Then you know everything, it seems, about my marriage.
794MENELAOS: I do. But if you have escaped his bed—that I do not know.
795HELEN: Know that I have saved myself untouched for you.
796MENELAOS: What could persuade me of this? If true, your words are sweet.
797HELEN: Do you see my wretched sanctuary at this tomb?
798MENELAOS: I see a miserable bed of straw, but what do you have to do with it?
799HELEN: Here, as a suppliant, I am asking for an escape from his bed.
800MENELAOS: For want of an altar, or because it is the barbarians’ way?
801HELEN: This was as good a protection to me as the temples of the gods.
802MENELAOS: Then it’s not possible for me to take you home by ship?
803HELEN: A sword is waiting for you, rather than my bed.
804MENELAOS: So I would be the most wretched of mortals.
Part 14
805ἙΛΈΝΗ: μή νυν καταιδοῦ, φεῦγε δʼ ἐκ τῆσδε χθονός.
806ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: λιπών σε; Τροίαν ἐξέπερσα σὴν χάριν.
807ἙΛΈΝΗ: κρεῖσσον γὰρ ἤ σε τἄμʼ ἀποκτεῖναι λέχη.
808ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄνανδρά γʼ εἶπας Ἰλίου τʼ οὐκ ἄξια.
809ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἂν κτάνοις τύραννον, ὃ σπεύδεις ἴσως.
810ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὕτω σιδήρῳ τρωτὸν οὐκ ἔχει δέμας;
811ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἴσῃ. τὸ τολμᾶν δʼ ἀδύνατʼ ἀνδρὸς οὐ σοφοῦ.
812ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σιγῇ παράσχω δῆτʼ ἐμὰς δῆσαι χέρας;
813ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς ἄπορον ἥκεις· δεῖ δὲ μηχανῆς τινος.
814ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: δρῶντας γὰρ ἢ μὴ δρῶντας ἥδιον θανεῖν.
815ἙΛΈΝΗ: μίʼ ἔστιν ἐλπίς, ᾗ μόνῃ σωθεῖμεν ἄν.
816ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὠνητὸς ἢ τολμητὸς ἢ λόγων ὕπο;
817ἙΛΈΝΗ: εἰ μὴ τύραννός σʼ ἐκπύθοιτʼ ἀφιγμένον.
818ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐρεῖ δὲ τίς μʼ; οὐ γνώσεταί γʼ ὅς εἰμʼ ἐγώ.
819ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔστʼ ἔνδον αὐτῷ ξύμμαχος θεοῖς ἴση.
820ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: φήμη τις οἴκων ἐν μυχοῖς ἱδρυμένη;
821ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ἀδελφή· Θεονόην καλοῦσί νιν.
822ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: χρηστήριον μὲν τοὔνομʼ· ὅ τι δὲ δρᾷ φράσον.
823ἙΛΈΝΗ: πάντʼ οἶδʼ, ἐρεῖ τε συγγόνῳ παρόντα σε.
824ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: θνῄσκοιμεν ἄν· λαθεῖν γὰρ οὐχ οἷόν τέ μοι.
Part 14
805HELEN: Do not feel shame now, but escape from this land.
806MENELAOS: Leaving you behind? I ravaged Troy for your sake.
807HELEN: Yes, for that is better than that our union should cause your death.
808MENELAOS: Oh! these are coward’s words, unworthy of those days at Troy.
809HELEN: You could not kill the tyrant, your possible intention.
810MENELAOS: Does he then have a body that cannot be wounded by a sword?
811HELEN: You will hear. But to undertake impossibilities is no mark of wisdom.
812MENELAOS: And so I am to offer my hands to be bound, in silence?
813HELEN: You are in a dilemma; we need some contrivance.
814MENELAOS: Yes, for it is sweeter to die in action than by not acting.
815HELEN: There is one hope, and only one, for our safety.
816MENELAOS: Are we to buy it, or dare it, or win it with words?
817HELEN: If the tyrant were not to learn of your arrival.
818MENELAOS: Will any one tell him about me? He will certainly not know who I am.
819HELEN: He has within an ally equal to the gods.
820MENELAOS: A voice that has settled in the inmost parts of his house?
821HELEN: No, but his sister; she is called Theonoe.
822MENELAOS: The name is prophetic; tell me what she does.
823HELEN: She knows everything, and she will tell her brother that you are here.
824MENELAOS: We must die; for I cannot escape her notice.
Part 15
825ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἴσως ἂν ἀναπείσαιμεν ἱκετεύοντέ νιν —
826ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; τίνʼ ὑπάγεις μʼ ἐς ἐλπίδα;
827ἙΛΈΝΗ: παρόντα γαίᾳ μὴ φράσαι σε συγγόνῳ.
828ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πείσαντε δʼ ἐκ γῆς διορίσαιμεν ἂν πόδα;
829ἙΛΈΝΗ: κοινῇ γʼ ἐκείνῃ ῥᾳδίως, λάθρᾳ δʼ ἂν οὔ.
830ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὸν ἔργον, ὡς γυναικὶ πρόσφορον γυνή.
831ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὡς οὐκ ἄχρωστα γόνατʼ ἐμῶν ἕξει χερῶν.
832ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: φέρʼ, ἢν δὲ δὴ νῷν μὴ ἀποδέξηται λόγους;
833ἙΛΈΝΗ: θανῇ· γαμοῦμαι δʼ ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ βίᾳ.
834ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: προδότις ἂν εἴης· τὴν βίαν σκήψασʼ ἔχεις.
835ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ ἁγνὸν ὅρκον σὸν κάρα κατώμοσα [...]
836ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τί φῄς; θανεῖσθαι; κοὔποτʼ ἀλλάξεις λέχη;
837ἙΛΈΝΗ: ταὐτῷ ξίφει γε· κείσομαι δὲ σοῦ πέλας.
838ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐπὶ τοῖσδε τοίνυν δεξιᾶς ἐμῆς θίγε.
839ἙΛΈΝΗ: ψαύω, θανόντος σοῦ τόδʼ ἐκλείψειν φάος.
840ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κἀγὼ στερηθεὶς σοῦ τελευτήσειν βίον.
841ἙΛΈΝΗ: πῶς οὖν θανούμεθʼ ὥστε καὶ δόξαν λαβεῖν;
842ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τύμβου ʼπὶ νώτῳ σὲ κτανὼν ἐμὲ κτενῶ. πρῶτον δʼ ἀγῶνα μέγαν ἀγωνιούμεθα λέκτρων ὑπὲρ σῶν. ὁ δὲ θέλων ἴτω πέλας· τὸ Τρωικὸν γὰρ οὐ καταισχυνῶ κλέος οὐδʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἐλθὼν λήψομαι πολὺν ψόγον,
847ὅστις Θέτιν μὲν ἐστέρησʼ Ἀχιλλέως, Τελαμωνίου δʼ Αἴαντος εἰσεῖδον σφαγάς, τὸν Νηλέως τʼ ἄπαιδα· διὰ δὲ τὴν ἐμὴν οὐκ ἀξιώσω κατθανεῖν δάμαρτʼ ἐγώ; μάλιστά γε· εἰ γάρ εἰσιν οἱ θεοὶ σοφοί,
852εὔψυχον ἄνδρα πολεμίων θανόνθʼ ὕπο κούφῃ καταμπίσχουσιν ἐν τύμβῳ χθονί, κακοὺς δʼ ἐφʼ ἕρμα στερεὸν ἐκβάλλουσι γῆς.
855ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὦ θεοί, γενέσθω δή ποτʼ εὐτυχὲς γένος
856τὸ Ταντάλειον καὶ μεταστήτω κακῶν.
857ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἲ ἐγὼ τάλαινα· τῆς τύχης γὰρ ὧδʼ ἔχω.
858Μενέλαε, διαπεπράγμεθʼ· ἐκβαίνει δόμων
859ἡ θεσπιῳδὸς Θεονόη· κτυπεῖ δόμος
860κλῄθρων λυθέντων. φεῦγʼ· ἀτὰρ τί φευκτέον;
861ἀποῦσα γάρ σε καὶ παροῦσʼ ἀφιγμένον
862δεῦρʼ οἶδεν· ὦ δύστηνος, ὡς ἀπωλόμην.
863Τροίας δὲ σωθεὶς κἀπὸ βαρβάρου χθονὸς
864ἐς βάρβαρʼ ἐλθὼν φάσγανʼ αὖθις ἐμπεσῇ.
Part 15
825HELEN: Perhaps we might persuade her by supplication—
826MENELAOS: To do what? What hope are you leading me to?
827HELEN: Not to tell her brother that you are here in this land.
828MENELAOS: If we persuade her, could we get away from this country?
829HELEN: Easily, in common with her; but secretly we could not.
830MENELAOS: The task is yours; it is suitable for women to deal with women.
831HELEN: Be sure that I will clasp her knees.
832MENELAOS: Well, then, what if she rejects our proposals?
833HELEN: You will die. And I, the unhappy one, will be married by force.
834MENELAOS: You would be a traitor; that force of yours is all an excuse.
835HELEN: But I have sworn a sacred oath by your life—
836MENELAOS: What do you mean? To die? And never to take his bed in exchange for mine?
837HELEN: Yes, by the same sword; I will lie at your side.
838MENELAOS: Then on these conditions touch my right hand.
839HELEN: I touch it, swearing that I will leave the light of day if you die.
840MENELAOS: And I will end my life if I lose you.
841HELEN: How then shall we die so as to insure our reputation for this?
842MENELAOS: I will kill you on the tomb’s surface, and then kill myself. But first I will fight a great contest for your bed. Let anyone who wishes come near!
845For I will not disgrace my Trojan fame, nor, on my return to Hellas, will I receive great blame—I who robbed Thetis of Achilleus, and saw the slaughter of Aias, son of Telamon, and the son of Neleus made childless;
850shall I not resolve to die for my wife? Most certainly; for if the gods are wise, they lightly bury in the earth a brave man who has been killed by his enemies, while cowards they cast up out of the earth onto a harsh rock.
855CHORUS LEADER: O gods, may the race of Tantalos be fortunate at last, and may it be set free from evils!
857HELEN: Ah, I am unhappy, for so is my fate! Menelaos, we are destroyed. The prophetess Theonoe is coming out of the house; it resounds as the
860bolts are unfastened. Try to escape! But what is the use of trying? For whether she is absent or present she knows of your arrival here. Oh, I am lost, unfortunate! Saved from Troy and from a barbarian land, you have come only to fall upon barbarian swords.
Part 16
865ΘΕΟΝΌΗ: ἡγοῦ σύ μοι φέρουσα λαμπτήρων σέλας θείου δε σεμνὸν θεσμὸν αἰθέρος μυχούς, ὡς πνεῦμα καθαρὸν οὐρανοῦ δεξώμεθα· σὺ δʼ αὖ κέλευθον εἴ τις ἔβλαψεν ποδὶ στείβων ἀνοσίῳ, δὸς καθαρσίῳ φλογί,
870κροῦσον δὲ πεύκην, ἵνα διεξέλθω, πυρός. νόμον δὲ τὸν ἐμὸν θεοῖσιν ἀποδοῦσαι πάρος ἐφέστιον φλόγʼ ἐς δόμους κομίζετε. Ἑλένη, τί τἀμὰ — πῶς ἔχει — θεσπίσματα; ἥκει πόσις σοι Μενέλεως ὅδʼ ἐμφανής,
875νεῶν στερηθεὶς τοῦ τε σοῦ μιμήματος. ὦ τλῆμον, οἵους διαφυγὼν ἦλθες πόνους, οὐδʼ οἶσθα νόστον οἴκαδʼ εἴτʼ αὐτοῦ μενεῖς· ἔρις γὰρ ἐν θεοῖς σύλλογός τε σοῦ πέρι ἔσται πάρεδρος Ζηνὶ τῷδʼ ἐν ἤματι.
880Ἥρα μέν, ἥ σοι δυσμενὴς πάροιθεν ἦν, νῦν ἐστιν εὔνους κἀς πάτραν σῷσαι θέλει ξὺν τῇδʼ, ἵνʼ Ἑλλὰς τοὺς Ἀλεξάνδρου γάμους, δώρημα Κύπριδος, ψευδονυμφεύτους μάθῃ· Κύπρις δὲ νόστον σὸν διαφθεῖραι θέλει,
885ὡς μὴ ʼξελεγχθῇ μηδὲ πριαμένη φανῇ τὸ κάλλος, Ἑλένης οὕνεκʼ, ἀνονήτοις γάμοις. τέλος δʼ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν, εἴθʼ, ἃ βούλεται Κύπρις, λέξασʼ ἀδελφῷ σʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὄντα διολέσω, εἴτʼ αὖ μεθʼ Ἥρας στᾶσα σὸν σώσω βίον,
890κρύψασʼ ὁμαίμονʼ, ὅς με προστάσσει τάδε εἰπεῖν, ὅταν γῆν τήνδε νοστήσας τύχῃς [...] τίς εἶσʼ ἀδελφῷ τόνδε σημανῶν ἐμῷ παρόνθʼ, ὅπως ἂν τοὐμὸν ἀσφαλῶς ἔχῃ;
894ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ παρθένʼ, ἱκέτις ἀμφὶ σὸν πίτνω γόνυ καὶ προσκαθίζω θᾶκον οὐκ εὐδαίμονα ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμαυτῆς τοῦδέ θʼ, ὃν μόλις ποτὲ λαβοῦσʼ ἐπʼ ἀκμῆς εἰμι κατθανόντʼ ἰδεῖν· μή μοι κατείπῃς σῷ κασιγνήτῳ πόσιν
899τόνδʼ εἰς ἐμὰς ἥκοντα φιλτάτας χέρας, σῷσον δέ, λίσσομαί σε· συγγόνῳ δὲ σῷ τὴν εὐσέβειαν μὴ προδῷς τὴν σήν ποτε, χάριτας πονηρὰς κἀδίκους ὠνουμένη. μισεῖ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τὴν βίαν, τὰ κτητὰ δὲ
904κτᾶσθαι κελεύει πάντας οὐκ ἐς ἁρπαγάς. κοινὸς γάρ ἐστιν οὐρανὸς πᾶσιν βροτοῖς καὶ γαῖʼ, ἐν ᾗ χρὴ δώματʼ ἀναπληρουμένους τἀλλότρια μὴ σχεῖν μηδʼ ἀφαιρεῖσθαι βίᾳ. ἡμᾶς δὲ καιρίως μέν, ἀθλίως δʼ ἐμοί,
910Ἑρμῆς ἔδωκε πατρὶ σῷ σῴζειν πόσει τῷδʼ ὃς πάρεστι κἀπολάζυσθαι θέλει. πῶς οὖν θανὼν ἂν ἀπολάβοι; κεῖνος δὲ πῶς τὰ ζῶντα τοῖς θανοῦσιν ἀποδοίη ποτʼ ἄν; ἤδη τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὰ τοῦ πατρὸς σκόπει·
915πότερον ὁ δαίμων χὡ θανὼν τὰ τῶν πέλας βούλοιντʼ ἂν ἢ οὐ βούλοιντʼ ἂν ἀποδοῦναι πάλιν; δοκῶ μέν. οὔκουν χρή σε συγγόνῳ πλέον νέμειν ματαίῳ μᾶλλον ἢ χρηστῷ πατρί. εἰ δʼ οὖσα μάντις καὶ τὰ θεῖʼ ἡγουμένη
920τὸ μὲν δίκαιον τοῦ πατρὸς διαφθερεῖς, τῷ δʼ οὐ δικαίῳ συγγόνῳ σώσεις χάριν, αἰσχρὸν τὰ μέν σε θεῖα πάντʼ ἐξειδέναι, τά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα, τὰ δὲ δίκαια μή. τήν τʼ ἀθλίαν ἔμʼ, οἷσιν ἔγκειμαι κακοῖς,
925ῥῦσαι, πάρεργον δοῦσα τοῦτο τῆς τύχης· Ἑλένην γὰρ οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐ στυγεῖ βροτῶν· ἣ κλῄζομαι καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ὡς προδοῦσʼ ἐμὸν πόσιν Φρυγῶν ᾤκησα πολυχρύσους δόμους. ἢν δʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἔλθω κἀπιβῶ Σπάρτης πάλιν,
930κλύοντες εἰσιδόντες ὡς τέχναις θεῶν ὤλοντʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ προδότις οὐκ ἄρʼ ἦ φίλων, πάλιν μʼ ἀνάξουσʼ ἐς τὸ σῶφρον αὖθις αὖ, ἑδνώσομαί τε θυγατέρʼ, ἣν οὐδεὶς γαμεῖ, τὴν δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκλιποῦσʼ ἀλητείαν πικρὰν
935ὄντων ἐν οἴκοις χρημάτων ὀνήσομαι. κεἰ μὲν θανὼν ὅδʼ ἐν πυρᾷ κατεσφάγη, πρόσω σφʼ ἀπόντα δακρύοις ἂν ἠγάπων· νῦν δʼ ὄντα καὶ σωθέντʼ ἀφαιρεθήσομαι; μὴ δῆτα, παρθένʼ, ἀλλά σʼ ἱκετεύω τόδε·
940δὸς τὴν χάριν μοι τήνδε καὶ μιμοῦ τρόπους πατρὸς δικαίου· παισὶ γὰρ κλέος τόδε κάλλιστον, ὅστις ἐκ πατρὸς χρηστοῦ γεγὼς ἐς ταὐτὸν ἦλθε τοῖς τεκοῦσι τοὺς τρόπους.
944ΧΟΡΌΣ: οἰκτρὸν μὲν οἱ παρόντες ἐν μέσῳ λόγοι,
945οἰκτρὰ δὲ καὶ σύ. τοὺς δὲ Μενέλεω ποθῶ
946λόγους ἀκοῦσαι τίνας ἐρεῖ ψυχῆς πέρι.
947ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐγὼ σὸν οὔτʼ ἂν προσπεσεῖν τλαίην γόνυ οὔτʼ ἂν δακρῦσαι βλέφαρα· τὴν Τροίαν γὰρ ἂν δειλοὶ γενόμενοι πλεῖστον αἰσχύνοιμεν ἄν. καίτοι λέγουσιν ὡς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς εὐγενοῦς ἐν ξυμφοραῖσι δάκρυʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν βαλεῖν.
952ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ τοῦτο τὸ καλόν, εἰ καλὸν τόδε, αἱρήσομαι ʼγὼ πρόσθε τῆς εὐψυχίας. ἀλλʼ, εἰ μὲν ἄνδρα σοι δοκεῖ σῷσαι ξένον ζητοῦντά γʼ ὀρθῶς ἀπολαβεῖν δάμαρτʼ ἐμήν, ἀπόδος τε καὶ πρὸς σῷσον· εἰ δὲ μὴ δοκεῖ,
957ἐγὼ μὲν οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ἀλλὰ πολλάκις ἄθλιος ἂν εἴην, σὺ δὲ γυνὴ κακὴ φανῇ. ἃ δʼ ἄξιʼ ἡμῶν καὶ δίκαιʼ ἡγούμεθα καὶ σῆς μάλιστα καρδίας ἀνθάψεται, λέξω τάδʼ ἀμφὶ μνῆμα σοῦ πατρὸς πόθῳ·
962ὦ γέρον, ὃς οἰκεῖς τόνδε λάινον τάφον, ἀπόδος, ἀπαιτῶ τὴν ἐμὴν δάμαρτά σε, ἣν Ζεὺς ἔπεμψε δεῦρό σοι σῴζειν ἐμοί. οἶδʼ οὕνεκʼ ἡμῖν οὔποτʼ ἀποδώσεις θανών· ἀλλʼ ἥδε πατέρα νέρθεν ἀνακαλούμενον
967οὐκ ἀξιώσει τὸν πρὶν εὐκλεέστατον κακῶς ἀκοῦσαι· κυρία γάρ ἐστι νῦν. ὦ νέρτερʼ Ἅιδη, καὶ σὲ σύμμαχον καλῶ, ὃς πόλλʼ ἐδέξω τῆσδʼ ἕκατι σώματα πεσόντα τὠμῷ φασγάνῳ, μισθὸν δʼ ἔχεις·
972ἢ νῦν ἐκείνους ἀπόδος ἐμψύχους πάλιν, ἢ τήνδε πατρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἀνάγκασον κρείσσω φανεῖσαν τἀμά γʼ ἀποδοῦναι λέχη. εἰ δʼ ἐμὲ γυναῖκα τὴν ἐμὴν συλήσετε, ἅ σοι παρέλιπεν ἥδε τῶν λόγων, φράσω.
977ὅρκοις κεκλῄμεθʼ, ὡς μάθῃς, ὦ παρθένε, πρῶτον μὲν ἐλθεῖν διὰ μάχης σῷ συγγόνῳ κἀκεῖνον ἢ ʼμὲ δεῖ θανεῖν· ἁπλοῦς λόγος. ἢν δʼ ἐς μὲν ἀλκὴν μὴ πόδʼ ἀντιθῇ ποδί, λιμῷ δὲ θηρᾷ τύμβον ἱκετεύοντε νώ,
982κτανεῖν δέδοκται τήνδε μοι κἄπειτʼ ἐμὸν πρὸς ἧπαρ ὦσαι δίστομον ξίφος τόδε τύμβου ʼπὶ νώτοις τοῦδʼ, ἵνʼ αἵματος ῥοαὶ τάφου καταστάζωσι· κεισόμεσθα δὲ νεκρὼ δύʼ ἑξῆς τῷδʼ ἐπὶ ξεστῷ τάφῳ,
987ἀθάνατον ἄλγος σοί, ψόγος δὲ σῷ πατρί. οὐ γὰρ γαμεῖ τήνδʼ οὔτε σύγγονος σέθεν οὔτʼ ἄλλος οὐδείς· ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σφʼ ἀπάξομαι, εἰ μὴ πρὸς οἴκους δυνάμεθʼ, ἀλλὰ πρὸς νεκρούς. τί ταῦτα; δακρύοις ἐς τὸ θῆλυ τρεπόμενος
992ἐλεινὸς ἦν ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ δραστήριος. κτεῖνʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι· δυσκλεᾶς γὰρ οὐ κτενεῖς· μᾶλλόν γε μέντοι τοῖς ἐμοῖς πείθου λόγοις, ἵνʼ ᾖς δικαία καὶ δάμαρτʼ ἐγὼ λάβω.
996ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐν σοὶ βραβεύειν, ὦ νεᾶνι, τοὺς λόγους·
997οὕτω δὲ κρῖνον, ὡς ἅπασιν ἁνδάνῃς.
998ΘΕΟΝΌΗ: ἐγὼ πέφυκά τʼ εὐσεβεῖν καὶ βούλομαι, φιλῶ τʼ ἐμαυτήν, καὶ κλέος τοὐμοῦ πατρὸς οὐκ ἂν μιάναιμʼ, οὐδὲ συγγόνῳ χάριν δοίην ἂν ἐξ ἧς δυσκλεὴς φανήσομαι. ἔνεστι δʼ ἱερὸν τῆς δίκης ἐμοὶ μέγα
1003ἐν τῇ φύσει· καὶ τοῦτο Νηρέως πάρα ἔχουσα σῴζειν, Μενέλεως, πειράσομαι. Ἥρᾳ δʼ, ἐπείπερ βούλεταί σʼ εὐεργετεῖν, ἐς ταὐτὸν οἴσω ψῆφον· ἡ Κύπρις δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵλεως μὲν εἴη, ξυμβέβηκε δʼ οὐδαμοῦ·
1008πειράσομαι δὲ παρθένος μένειν ἀεί. ἃ δʼ ἀμφὶ τύμβῳ τῷδʼ ὀνειδίζεις πατρί, ἡμῖν ὅδʼ αὑτὸς μῦθος. ἀδικοίημεν ἄν, εἰ μὴ ἀποδώσω· καὶ γὰρ ἂν κεῖνος βλέπων ἀπέδωκεν ἂν σοὶ τήνδʼ ἔχειν, ταύτῃ δὲ σέ.
1013καὶ γὰρ τίσις τῶνδʼ ἐστὶ τοῖς τε νερτέροις καὶ τοῖς ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις· ὁ νοῦς τῶν κατθανόντων ζῇ μὲν οὔ, γνώμην δʼ ἔχει ἀθάνατον εἰς ἀθάνατον αἰθέρʼ ἐμπεσών. ὡς οὖν παραινῶ μὴ μακράν, σιγήσομαι
1018ἅ μου καθικετεύσατʼ, οὐδὲ μωρίᾳ ξύμβουλος ἔσομαι τῇ κασιγνήτου ποτέ. εὐεργετῶ γὰρ κεῖνον οὐ δοκοῦσʼ ὅμως, ἐκ δυσσεβείας ὅσιον εἰ τίθημί νιν. αὐτοὶ μὲν οὖν ὁδόν τινʼ ἐξευρίσκετε,
1023ἐγὼ δʼ ἀποστᾶσʼ ἐκποδὼν σιγήσομαι. ἐκ τῶν θεῶν δʼ ἄρχεσθε χἱκετεύετε τὴν μέν σʼ ἐᾶσαι πατρίδα νοστῆσαι Κύπριν, Ἥρας δὲ τὴν ἔννοιαν ἐν ταὐτῷ μένειν ἣν ἐς σὲ καὶ σὸν πόσιν ἔχει σωτηρίας.
1028σὺ δʼ, ὦ θανών μοι πάτερ, ὅσον γʼ ἐγὼ σθένω, οὔποτε κεκλήσῃ δυσσεβὴς ἀντʼ εὐσεβοῦς.
1030ΧΟΡΌΣ: οὐδείς ποτʼ εὐτύχησεν ἔκδικος γεγώς,
1031ἐν τῷ δικαίῳ δʼ ἐλπίδες σωτηρίας.
1032ἙΛΈΝΗ: Μενέλαε, πρὸς μὲν παρθένου σεσῴσμεθα·
1033τοὐνθένδε δὴ σὲ τοὺς λόγους φέροντα χρὴ
1034κοινὴν ξυνάπτειν μηχανὴν σωτηρίας.
1035ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἄκουε δή νυν· χρόνιος εἶ κατὰ στέγας
1036καὶ συντέθραψαι προσπόλοισι βασιλέως.
1037ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; ἐσφέρεις γὰρ ἐλπίδας
1038ὡς δή τι δράσων χρηστὸν ἐς κοινόν γε νῷν.
1039ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πείσειας ἄν τινʼ οἵτινες τετραζύγων
1040ὄχων ἀνάσσουσʼ, ὥστε νῷν δοῦναι δίφρους;
1041ἙΛΈΝΗ: πείσαιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τίνα φυγὴν φευξούμεθα
1042πεδίων ἄπειροι βαρβάρου τʼ ὄντες χθονός;
1043ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀδύνατον εἶπας. φέρε, τί δʼ, εἰ κρυφθεὶς δόμοις
1044κτάνοιμʼ ἄνακτα τῷδε διστόμῳ ξίφει;
1045ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐκ ἄν σʼ ἀνάσχοιτʼ οὐδὲ σιγήσειεν ἂν
1046μέλλοντʼ ἀδελφὴ σύγγονον κατακτενεῖν.
1047ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὴν ναῦς ἔστιν ᾗ σωθεῖμεν ἂν
1048φεύγοντες· ἣν γὰρ εἴχομεν θάλασσʼ ἔχει.
1049ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄκουσον, ἤν τι καὶ γυνὴ λέξῃ σοφόν.
1050βούλῃ λέγεσθαι, μὴ θανών, λόγῳ θανεῖν;
1051ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: κακὸς μὲν ὄρνις· εἰ δὲ κερδανῶ, λέγειν
1052ἕτοιμός εἰμι μὴ θανὼν λόγῳ θανεῖν.
1053ἙΛΈΝΗ: καὶ μὴν γυναικείοις σʼ ἂν οἰκτισαίμεθα
1054κουραῖσι καὶ θρήνοισι πρὸς τὸν ἀνόσιον.
1055ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σωτηρίας δὲ τοῦτʼ ἔχει τί νῷν ἄκος;
1056παλαιότης γὰρ τῷ λόγῳ γʼ ἔνεστί τις.
1057ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὡς δὴ θανόντα σʼ ἐνάλιον κενῷ τάφῳ
1058θάψαι τύραννον τῆσδε γῆς αἰτήσομαι.
Part 16
865THEONOE: Please lead the way with blazing torches, and purify, according to the sacred law, the inmost corners of the air, so I may receive the pure breath of heaven; and you in turn, if someone has harmed the path by treading with unholy foot, submit it to the cleansing fire,
870and strike the torch in front of me, so that I may pass through. And when you have paid back to the gods my customary observance, take the household flame within.
873Helen, what about my prophecy—how is it? This man, your husband Menelaos, has openly arrived,
875robbed of his ships and of your counterfeit. O unhappy man! What troubles you have escaped to come here; nor do you know whether you are to return home or to stay here. For there will be strife among the gods, and a solemn assembly held by Zeus on your account this very day.
880Hera, who was hostile to you before, is now friendly and wants to bring you safely home, with this woman, so that Hellas may learn that the marriage of Paris, Kypris’ gift, was false; but Kypris wishes to ruin your journey home,
885so that she may not be convicted, or seem to have bought the prize of beauty by a marriage that was profitless as regards Helen. Now the decision rests with me, whether to ruin you, as Kypris wishes, by telling my brother of your presence here, or to save your life by taking Hera’s side,
890keeping my brother in the dark, for his orders are for me to tell him, whenever you happen to come to this land.
892One of you, go show my brother this man is here, so that I may secure my position.
894HELEN: Maiden, I fall at your knees as a suppliant,
895and seat myself in this sad posture on behalf of myself and of this man; I am on the point of seeing him slain, after I have found him with such difficulty. Please do not tell your brother that my husband has returned to my loving arms,
900but save us, I beseech you; do not forsake the piety that was once yours for your brother’s sake, buying favors that are wicked and unjust. For the god hates violence, and commands everyone to have their possessions without robbery.
905Heaven is common to all mortals, and so is the earth, where people ought to fill up their homes without having another’s property, or taking it away by force.
910At a critical time, but unhappily for me, Hermes gave me to your father to keep safe for my husband, this man who is here and wishes to have me back. But how could he recover me if he is dead? How could your father ever restore the living to the dead? Now examine the will of the god and of your father;
915would the deity and your dead father be willing to give back again their neighbor’s goods, or would they not? I think they would. It is not, therefore, right that you should attach more importance to a thoughtless brother more than a good father. If you, who are a prophet and believe in divine affairs,
920ruin the lawful intention of your father and gratify your lawless brother, it is disgraceful that you should have full knowledge of divine matters, both what is and what will be, and yet not know what is right. Save me, the unhappy one, enveloped in these troubles,
925and give me this addition to my fate; for there is no mortal who does not hate Helen; I am famous throughout Hellas as the one who betrayed my husband and lived in Phrygia’s golden halls. If I come to Hellas and set foot once more in Sparta,
930they will hear and see how they were ruined by the wiles of gods, while I was no traitor to my friends after all; and so they will lead me back to virtue again, and I shall betroth my daughter, whom no man now will marry; and, leaving this bitter beggar’s life here, shall enjoy the goods that are in my home.
935And if this man were dead and slaughtered on a funeral pyre, I would be cherishing his memory with tears far away; but shall I be robbed of him when he is now alive and safe?
939Ah! not that, maiden, I beseech you:
940grant me this favor, and imitate the character of a just father; for this is the fairest glory for children, when the child of a good father resembles its parents in character.
944CHORUS LEADER: The arguments here proposed are worthy of pity,
945and so are you. But I am anxious to hear what Menelaos will say to save his life.
947MENELAOS: I could not endure to fall at your knees, or wet my eyes with tears; for if I were cowardly, I would greatly dishonor Troy.
950And yet they say that it is fitting for a noble man to let tears fall from his eyes in misfortune. But I will not choose this honorable course, if it is honorable, in preference to bravery. But, if you think it right to save a stranger
955seeking justly to recover his wife, then restore her and save us in addition; if not, I would be wretched, not now for the first time but as often before, and you will seem to be an evil woman. What I consider honest and worthy of me,
960and what will touch your heart most closely, these things I will say at the tomb of your father, with regret for his loss.
962Old man, dwelling in this tomb of stone, give her back, I demand of you my wife, whom Zeus sent here for you to keep for me.
965I know you will never restore her to me yourself, for you are dead; but this woman here will not think it right that her father, invoked from below, once so glorious, should bear a tarnished name; for she is the one in authority now.
969You, too, Hades of the world below, I call as an ally;
970you who have received so many bodies slain by my sword for Helen’s sake, you have your payment; either restore them to life again now, or compel this woman to show herself better than her pious father, and give me back my wife.
975But if you will rob me of her, I will tell you what she omitted in her speech. So that you may know, maiden, I am bound by an oath, first to go into battle with your brother; he or I must die; the matter is simple.
980If he refuses to meet me face to face, but hunts us down, two suppliants at the tomb, by starvation, I am resolved to kill this woman, and then to plunge this two-edged sword through my heart, on the surface of the tomb, so that streams of blood may
985run down the grave; we will lie, two corpses side by side upon this polished slab, a deathless grief to you, and a reproach to your father. Your brother will never marry this woman, nor will any other; but I will carry her off,
990if not to my house, at any rate to death.
991Why do I say this? If I turned to women’s ways with tears, rather than being active, I would be pitied more. Kill me, if it seems good to you; you will not kill those who are without fame; but it is better to yield to what I say,
995so that you may act with justice, and I recover my wife.
996CHORUS LEADER: You must judge these arguments, maiden. Decide in such a way as to please all.
998THEONOE: My nature and my inclination lean towards piety; and I respect myself, and I would not defile
1000my father’s fame, or gratify my brother at the cost of seeming infamous. There is a great temple of justice in my nature; and having this heritage from Nereus, I will try to keep it, Menelaos.
1005Since Hera wishes to serve you, I will cast my vote on her side. May Kypris be gracious to me; but she has had nothing to do with me, and I will try to remain a virgin always. As for your reproaches against my father at this tomb,
1010I have the same words to say. I would be doing wrong if I do not give her back; for that man, if he were alive, would have given her back for you to have, and you to her.
1013For truly there is retribution for these things, both among the dead and among all men living. The mind
1015of the dead does not live, yet it has eternal thought as it falls into eternal ether. So as not to give advice at length, I will be silent as to what you have entreated, and I will never aid my brother’s folly with my counsel.
1020For I am doing him a service, though he does not think it, if I turn him from his godless life to holiness. You yourselves devise some course of action; I will stand out of your way by my silence. Begin with the gods, and beg
1025Kypris to allow you to return to your country, and Hera that her intention to save you and your husband may remain the same. And you, my own dead father, never, as far as I have strength, shall you be called impious instead of pious. Exit Theonoe.
1030CHORUS LEADER: No one born lawless ever prospered, but in a lawful cause there is hope of safety.
1032HELEN: Menelaos, as far as the maiden is concerned, we are safe. For the rest, you must contribute your advice and frame a device to save ourselves.
1035MENELAOS: Then listen; you have been in the house for a long time and are intimate with the king’s servants.
1037HELEN: What do you mean by that? You are offering hope, as if you were really about to do something useful for both of us.
1039MENELAOS: Could you persuade someone in charge of the wagons
1040and horses to give us a chariot?
1041HELEN: I might; but how will we escape, in our ignorance of the country and the barbarian land?
1043MENELAOS: You are right; a dilemma. Well, what if I were to hide in the house and kill the king with this two-edged sword?
1045HELEN: His sister would never be silent or allow you to intend her own brother’s death.
1047MENELAOS: Nor indeed is there a ship in which we might safely escape; for the sea holds the one we had.
1049HELEN: Listen to me, if even a woman can say something wise.
1050Are you willing to be called dead in word, though you are not dead?
1051MENELAOS: It is a bad omen; but if I profit by it, I am ready to be called dead in word, though I am not dead.
1053HELEN: And truly I would mourn you, as women do, with hair cut short and laments before this impious man.
1055MENELAOS: What saving remedy does this have for us two? There is a flavor of deception in your scheme.
1057HELEN: I will beg the tyrant of this country for permission to bury you in an empty tomb, as if you had really died at sea.
Part 17
1059ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ δὴ παρεῖκεν· εἶτα πῶς ἄνευ νεὼς
1060σωθησόμεσθα κενοταφοῦντʼ ἐμὸν δέμας;
1061ἙΛΈΝΗ: δοῦναι κελεύσω πορθμίδʼ, ᾗ καθήσομαι
1062κόσμον τάφῳ σῷ πελαγίους ἐς ἀγκάλας.
1063ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς εὖ τόδʼ εἶπας πλὴν ἕν· εἰ χέρσῳ ταφὰς
1064θεῖναι κελεύσει σʼ, οὐδὲν ἡ σκῆψις φέρει.
1065ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ οὐ νομίζειν φήσομεν καθʼ Ἑλλάδα
1066χέρσῳ καλύπτειν τοὺς θανόντας ἐναλίους.
1067ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: τοῦτʼ αὖ κατορθοῖς· εἶτʼ ἐγὼ συμπλεύσομαι
1068καὶ συγκαθήσω κόσμον ἐν ταὐτῷ σκάφει.
1069ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ καὶ παρεῖναι δεῖ μάλιστα τούς τε σοὺς
1070πλωτῆρας οἵπερ ἔφυγον ἐκ ναυαγίας.
1071ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ μὴν ἐάνπερ ναῦν ἐπʼ ἀγκύρας λάβω,
1072ἀνὴρ παρʼ ἄνδρα στήσεται ξιφηφόρος.
1073ἙΛΈΝΗ: σὲ χρὴ βραβεύειν πάντα· πόμπιμοι μόνον
1074λαίφει πνοαὶ γένοιντο καὶ νεὼς δρόμος.
1075ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἔσται· πόνους γὰρ δαίμονες παύσουσί μου.
1076ἀτὰρ θανόντα τοῦ μʼ ἐρεῖς πεπυσμένη;
1077ἙΛΈΝΗ: σοῦ· καὶ μόνος γε φάσκε διαφυγεῖν μόρον
1078Ἀτρέως πλέων σὺν παιδὶ καὶ θανόνθʼ ὁρᾶν.
1079ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ μὴν τάδʼ ἀμφίβληστρα σώματος ῥάκη
1080ξυμμαρτυρήσει ναυτικῶν ἐρειπίων.
1081ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς καιρὸν ἦλθε, τότε δʼ ἄκαιρʼ ἀπώλλυτο·
1082τὸ δʼ ἄθλιον κεῖνʼ εὐτυχὲς τάχʼ ἂν πέσοι.
1083ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: πότερα δʼ ἐς οἴκους σοὶ συνεισελθεῖν με χρὴ
1084ἢ πρὸς τάφῳ τῷδʼ ἥσυχοι καθώμεθα;
1085ἙΛΈΝΗ: αὐτοῦ μένʼ· ἢν γὰρ καί τι πλημμελές σε δρᾷ, τάφος σʼ ὅδʼ ἂν ῥύσαιτο φάσγανόν τε σόν. ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς οἴκους βᾶσα βοστρύχους τεμῶ πέπλων τε λευκῶν μέλανας ἀνταλλάξομαι παρῇδί τʼ ὄνυχα φόνιον ἐμβαλῶ χροός.
1090μέγας γὰρ ἁγών, καὶ βλέπω δύο ῥοπάς· ἢ γὰρ θανεῖν δεῖ μʼ, ἢν ἁλῶ τεχνωμένη, ἢ πατρίδα τʼ ἐλθεῖν καὶ σὸν ἐκσῷσαι δέμας. ὦ πότνιʼ ἣ Δίοισιν ἐν λέκτροις πίτνεις Ἥρα, δύʼ οἰκτρὼ φῶτʼ ἀνάψυξον πόνων,
1095αἰτούμεθʼ ὀρθὰς ὠλένας πρὸς οὐρανὸν ῥίπτονθʼ, ἵνʼ οἰκεῖς ἀστέρων ποικίλματα. σύ θʼ, ἣ ʼπὶ τὠμῷ κάλλος ἐκτήσω γάμῳ, κόρη Διώνης Κύπρι, μή μʼ ἐξεργάσῃ. ἅλις δὲ λύμης ἥν μʼ ἐλυμήνω πάρος
1100τοὔνομα παρασχοῦσʼ, οὐ τὸ σῶμʼ, ἐν βαρβάροις. θανεῖν δʼ ἔασόν μʼ, εἰ κατακτεῖναι θέλεις, ἐν γῇ πατρῴᾳ. τί ποτʼ ἄπληστος εἶ κακῶν, ἔρωτας ἀπάτας δόλιά τʼ ἐξευρήματα ἀσκοῦσα φίλτρα θʼ αἱματηρὰ δωμάτων;
1105εἰ δʼ ἦσθα μετρία, τἄλλα γʼ ἡδίστη θεῶν πέφυκας ἀνθρώποισιν· οὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.
1107ΧΟΡΌΣ: σὲ τὰν ἐναύλοις ὑπὸ δενδροκόμοις μουσεῖα καὶ θάκους ἐνί- ζουσαν ἀναβοάσω, σὲ τὰν ἀοιδοτάταν ὄρνιθα μελῳδὸν ἀηδόνα δακρυόεσσαν,
1111aἔλθʼ ὦ διὰ ξουθᾶν γενύων ἐλελιζομένα θρήνων ἐμοὶ ξυνεργός, Ἑλένας μελέας πόνους τὸν Ἰλιάδων τʼ ἀει-
1115aδούσᾳ δακρυόεντα πότμον Ἀχαιῶν ὑπὸ λόγχαις· ὅτʼ ἔδραμε ῥόθια πεδία βαρβάρῳ πλάτᾳ ὅτʼ ἔμολεν ἔμολε, μέλεα Πριαμίδαις ἄγων Λακεδαίμονος ἄπο λέχεα
1120σέθεν, ὦ Ἑλένα, Πάρις αἰνόγαμος πομπαῖσιν Ἀφροδίτας.
1122ΧΟΡΌΣ: πολλοὶ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν δορὶ καὶ πετρίναις ῥιπαῖσιν ἐκπνεύσαντες Ἅι- δαν μέλεον ἔχουσιν, ταλαινᾶν ἀλόχων κείραντες ἔθειραν· ἄνυμφα δὲ μέλαθρα κεῖται·
1126aπολλοὺς δὲ πυρσεύσας φλογερὸν σέλας ἀμφιρύταν Εὔβοιαν εἷλʼ Ἀχαιῶν μονόκωπος ἀνήρ, πέτραις Καφηρίσιν ἐμβαλὼν
1130Αἰγαίαις τʼ ἐνάλοις δόλιον ἀκταῖς ἀστέρα λάμψας. ἀλίμενα δʼ ὄρεα Μάλεα χειμάτων πνοᾷ, ὅτʼ ἔσυτο πατρίδος ἀποπρό, βαρβάρου στολᾶς γέρας, οὐ γέρας ἀλλʼ ἔριν,
1135Δαναῶν Μενέλας ἐπὶ ναυσὶν ἄγων, εἴδωλον ἱερὸν Ἥρας.
1137ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὅ τι θεὸς ἢ μὴ θεὸς ἢ τὸ μέσον, τίς φησʼ ἐρευνήσας βροτῶν μακρότατον πέρας εὑρεῖν ὃς τὰ θεῶν ἐσορᾷ δεῦρο καὶ αὖθις ἐκεῖσε
1142καὶ πάλιν ἀντιλόγοις πηδῶντʼ ἀνελπίστοις τύχαις; σὺ Διὸς ἔφυς, ὦ Ἑλένα, θυγάτηρ· πτανὸς γὰρ ἐν κόλποις σε Λή- δας ἐτέκνωσε πατήρ.
1147κᾆτʼ ἰαχήθης καθʼ Ἑλλανίαν προδότις ἄπιστος ἄδικος ἄθεος· οὐδʼ ἔχω τί τὸ σαφὲς ἔτι ποτʼ ἐν βροτοῖς· τὸ τῶν θεῶν δʼ ἔπος ἀλαθὲς ηὗρον.
1151ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἄφρονες ὅσοι τὰς ἀρετὰς πολέμῳ λόγχαισί τʼ ἀλκαίου δορὸς κτᾶσθε, πόνους ἀμαθῶς θνα- τῶν καταπαυόμενοι· εἰ γὰρ ἅμιλλα κρινεῖ νιν
1156αἵματος, οὔποτʼ ἔρις λείψει κατʼ ἀνθρώπων πόλεις· ᾇ Πριαμίδος γᾶς ἔλαχον θαλάμους, ἐξὸν διορθῶσαι λόγοις σὰν ἔριν, ὦ Ἑλένα.
1161νῦν δʼ οἳ μὲν Ἅιδᾳ μέλονται κάτω, τείχεα δὲ φλογμὸς ὥστε Διός ἐπέσυτο φλόξ, ἐπὶ δὲ πάθεα πάθεσι φέρεις ἀθλίοις συμφοραῖς αἰλίνοις.
1165ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ χαῖρε, πατρὸς μνῆμʼ· ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισι γὰρ ἔθαψα, Πρωτεῦ, σʼ ἕνεκʼ ἐμῆς προσρήσεως· ἀεὶ δέ σʼ ἐξιών τε κἀσιὼν δόμους Θεοκλύμενος παῖς ὅδε προσεννέπει, πάτερ. ὑμεῖς μὲν οὖν κύνας τε καὶ θηρῶν βρόχους,
1170δμῶες, κομίζετʼ ἐς δόμους τυραννικούς· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐμαυτὸν πόλλʼ ἐλοιδόρησα δή· οὐ γάρ τι θανάτῳ τοὺς κακοὺς κολάζομεν; καὶ νῦν πέπυσμαι φανερὸν Ἑλλήνων τινὰ ἐς γῆν ἀφῖχθαι καὶ λεληθέναι σκοπούς,
1175ἤτοι κατόπτην ἢ κλοπαῖς θηρώμενον Ἑλένην· θανεῖται δʼ, ἤν γε δὴ ληφθῇ μόνον. ἔα· ἀλλʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, πάντα διαπεπραγμένα ηὕρηκα· τύμβου γὰρ κενὰς λιποῦσʼ ἕδρας
1179aἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς ἐκπεπόρθμευται χθονός. ὠή, χαλᾶτε κλῇθρα· λύεθʼ ἱππικὰ φάτνης, ὀπαδοί, κἀκκομίζεθʼ ἅρματα, ὡς ἂν πόνου γʼ ἕκατι μὴ λάθῃ με γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐκκομισθεῖσʼ ἄλοχος, ἧς ἐφίεμαι. —
1184ἐπίσχετʼ· εἰσορῶ γὰρ οὓς διώκομεν παρόντας ἐν δόμοισι κοὐ πεφευγότας. αὕτη, τί πέπλους μέλανας ἐξήψω χροὸς λευκῶν ἀμείψασʼ ἔκ τε κρατὸς εὐγενοῦς κόμας σίδηρον ἐμβαλοῦσʼ ἀπέθρισας
1189χλωροῖς τε τέγγεις δάκρυσι σὴν παρηίδα κλαίουσα; πότερον ἐννύχοις πεπεισμένη στένεις ὀνείροις, ἢ φάτιν τινʼ οἴκοθεν κλύουσα λύπῃ σὰς διέφθαρσαι φρένας;
1193ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ δέσποτʼ — ἤδη γὰρ τόδʼ ὀνομάζω σʼ ἔπος —
1194ὄλωλα· φροῦδα τἀμὰ κοὐδέν εἰμʼ ἔτι.
Part 17
1059MENELAOS: Soppose he allows it; then how shall we escape with no ship,
1060when we have buried my body in the empty tomb?
1061HELEN: I will urge him to give me a vessel, from which I shall have the offerings from your tomb let down into the sea’s embrace.
1063MENELAOS: You have spoken well, except for one thing: if he commands you to set up a tomb on the dry land, your pretext comes to nothing.
1065HELEN: But I will say it is not the custom in Hellas to bury those who have died at sea on the dry land.
1067MENELAOS: You are setting this right, too; then I will sail with you, and help let down the funeral offerings, in the same ship.
1069HELEN: You must above all be at hand,
1070with your sailors who escaped from the wreck.
1071MENELAOS: Be sure that if I have a ship at anchor, they will be posted, man beside man, each with his sword.
1073HELEN: You must direct everything; only let there be winds in our sails to guide us, and a speedy ship.
1075MENELAOS: It will be so; for the deities will bring my troubles to an end. But from whom will you say that you heard I was dead?
1077HELEN: From you; allege that you were the only one to escape death, when you were sailing with the son of Atreus, and that you saw him dead.
1079MENELAOS: It is true that these rags thrown around my body
1080will bear witness with me as to the shipwreck.
1081HELEN: They have come at the right time, although then they seemed an ill-timed loss. Perhaps that misery may turn to good fortune.
1083MENELAOS: Should I to enter the house with you, or am I to sit quietly here at this tomb?
1085HELEN: Stay here; for if he does something harsh to you, this tomb and your sword would protect you. But I will go into the house, cut off my hair, exchange my white robe for a dark one, and tear my cheek with nails that make the flesh bloody.
1090For the contest is a great one, and I see two turns of the scale: either I must die if I am detected in my plot, or else come home and save you as well.
1093Lady Hera, you who lie in the bed of Zeus, grant relief from their labors to two pitiable creatures;
1095we beg you, casting our arms straight towards heaven, where you have your home in an embroidery of stars. And you, who won the prize of beauty at the price of my marriage, Kypris, daughter of Dione, do not destroy me utterly. You have maltreated me enough before now,
1100handing over my name, though not my body, to barbarians. Let me die, if you want to kill me, in my native land. Why are you so insatiable for mischief, practising arts of love, deceits, and treacherous schemes, and magic spells that bring bloodshed on families?
1105If you were only moderate, in other ways you are by nature the sweetest of gods for men; I don’t deny it. Exeunt Helen and Menelaos.
1107CHORUS: Let me call on you, beneath leafy haunts, sitting in your place of song, you, the most sweetly singing bird,
1110tearful nightingale, oh, come, trilling through your tawny throat, to aid me in my lament, as I sing the piteous woes of Helen and
1115the tearful fate of Trojan women under the Achaeans’ spears; when he sped over the surging plains with foreign oar, when he came, came bringing to Priam’s race from Lacedaemon
1120you, Helen, his unhappy bride—Paris, fatally wedded, under the guidance of Aphrodite.
1122CHORUS: Many of the Achaeans have breathed out their last amid the spears and hurling stones and have gone to unhappy Hades; their wives have cut off their hair in sorrow,
1125and their homes are left without a bride; an Achaean man, who had only a single ship, lit a blazing beacon on sea-girt Euboia, and destroyed many of them, casting them onto the rocks of Kaphareus
1130and the sea-shores of the Aegean, by the treacherous flame he kindled. The mountains of Malea provided no harbor, in the gusts of the storm, when Menelaos sped far away from his country, bearing on his ships a prize of the barbarian expedition, no prize but strife
1135with the Danaans, Hera’s holy phantom.
1137CHORUS: What is god, or what is not god, or what is in between— what mortal says he has found it by searching the farthest limit,
1140when he sees divine affairs leaping here and there again and back, in contradictory and unexpected chances? You, Helen, are the daughter of Zeus;
1145for a winged father begot you in Leda’s womb; and then you were proclaimed throughout Hellas, betrayer, faithless, lawless, godless. I do not know whatever certainty is among mortals,
1150but the word of the gods I have found true.
1151CHORUS: You are fools, who try to win a reputation for virtue through war and marshalled lines of spears, senselessly putting an end to mortal troubles;
1155for if a bloody quarrel is to decide it, strife will never leave off in the towns of men; by it they won as their lot bed-chambers of Priam’s earth, when they could have set right by discussion
1160the strife over you, O Helen. And now they are below in Hades’ keeping, and fire has darted onto the walls like the bolt of Zeus, and you are bringing woe on woe . . . .
1165THEOKLYMENOS: Greetings, tomb of my father! For I buried you, Proteus, in the passageway so that I could address you; and always as I leave and enter the house, I, your son Theoklymenos, call on you, father. You servants, take the hounds and hunting nets
1170into the palace. I have rebuked myself many times; for do we not punish evil men with death? And now I have heard that some Hellene has come openly to the land, without the guards’ notice,
1175either as a spy or thievishly hunting after Helen; he will die if only I can catch him. Ah! But it seems I have found everything in ruins; for the daughter of Tyndareus has deserted her seat at the tomb and has been carried away from the land.
1180Ho there! undo the bars; loose the horses from their stalls, servants, and bring out my chariot, so that the wife whom I long for may not be carried away from this land without my notice, for want of effort.
1184Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing
1185is still in the house, and has not fled.
1186You there, why have you put black robes instead of white on your body, and cut the hair from your noble head with a sword, and why do you drench your cheeks with pale tears,
1190lamenting? Do you mourn, persuaded by dreams in the night, or have you broken your heart with grief because you heard some voice within?
1193HELEN: My lord—for now I give you that name—I am destroyed; everything of mine is gone and I am nothing.
Part 18
1195ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν τῷ δὲ κεῖσαι συμφορᾶς; τίς ἡ τύχη;
1196ἙΛΈΝΗ: Μενέλαος — οἴμοι, πῶς φράσω; — τέθνηκέ μοι.
1197ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐδέν τι χαίρω σοῖς λόγοις, τὰ δʼ εὐτυχῶ.
1198πῶς δʼ οἶσθα; μῶν σοι Θεονόη λέγει τάδε;
1199ἙΛΈΝΗ: κείνη τε φησὶν ὅ τε παρὼν ὅτʼ ὤλλυτο.
1200ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἥκει γὰρ ὅστις καὶ τάδʼ ἀγγέλλει σαφῆ;
1201ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκει· μόλοι γὰρ οἷ σφʼ ἐγὼ χρῄζω μολεῖν.
1202ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τίς ἐστι; ποῦ ʼστιν; ἵνα σαφέστερον μάθω.
1203ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅδʼ ὃς κάθηται τῷδʼ ὑποπτήξας τάφῳ.
1204ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: Ἄπολλον, ὡς ἐσθῆτι δυσμόρφῳ πρέπει.
1205ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἴμοι, δοκῶ μὲν κἀμὸν ὧδʼ ἔχειν πόσιν.
1206ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποδαπὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ καὶ πόθεν κατέσχε γῆν;
1207ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἕλλην, Ἀχαιῶν εἷς ἐμῷ σύμπλους πόσει.
1208ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: θανάτῳ δὲ ποίῳ φησὶ Μενέλεων θανεῖν;
1209ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἰκτρόταθʼ, ὑγροῖσιν ἐν κλυδωνίοις ἁλός.
1210ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποῦ βαρβάροισι πελάγεσιν ναυσθλούμενον;
1211ἙΛΈΝΗ: Λιβύης ἀλιμένοις ἐκπεσόντα πρὸς πέτραις.
1212ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: καὶ πῶς ὅδʼ οὐκ ὄλωλε κοινωνῶν πλάτης;
1213ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐσθλῶν κακίους ἐνίοτʼ εὐτυχέστεροι.
1214ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: λιπὼν δὲ ναὸς ποῦ πάρεστιν ἔκβολα;
1215ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅπου κακῶς ὄλοιτο, Μενέλεως δὲ μή.
Part 18
1195THEOKYLMENOS: In what misfortune are you plunged? What has happened?
1196HELEN: Menelaos—alas, how shall I say it?—is dead, my husband.
1197THEOKLYMENOS: I do not rejoice at your words, but it is good fortune for me. How do you know? Did Theonoe tell you this?
1199HELEN: Both she, and one who was there when he perished.
1200THEOKLYMENOS: Someone has come who announces this for certain?
1201HELEN: Someone has come; and may he go where I want him to go!
1202THEOKLYMENOS: Who is it? Where is he? so that I may learn this more clearly.
1203HELEN: That one, who is sitting crouched at this tomb.
1204THEOKLYMENOS: Apollo! He certainly has unattractive clothing.
1205HELEN: Alas! I think my husband is in the same situation also.
1206THEOKLYMENOS: What is this man’s country, and where did he come from, to land here?
1207HELEN: He is a Hellene, one of the Achaeans who saiIed with my husband.
1208THEOKLYMENOS: What kind of death does he say Menelaos died?
1209HELEN: The most piteous, in the watery waves at sea.
1210THEOKLYMENOS: On what part of the barbarous ocean was he sailing?
1211HELEN: He was cast up on the harborless rocks of Libya.
1212THEOKLYMENOS: How did this man not perish if he was sailing with him?
1213HELEN: There are times when common men have more luck than their betters.
1214THEOKLYMENOS: Where did he leave the wreckage of his ship before coming here?
1215HELEN: Where ruin may come upon it— but not on Menelaos!
Part 19
1216ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὄλωλʼ ἐκεῖνος. ἦλθε δʼ ἐν ποίῳ σκάφει;
1217ἙΛΈΝΗ: ναῦταί σφʼ ἀνείλοντʼ ἐντυχόντες, ὡς λέγει.
1218ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ποῦ δὴ τὸ πεμφθὲν ἀντὶ σοῦ Τροίᾳ κακόν;
1219ἙΛΈΝΗ: νεφέλης λέγεις ἄγαλμα; ἐς αἰθέρʼ οἴχεται.
1220ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ Πρίαμε καὶ γῆ Τρῳάς, ὡς ἔρρεις μάτην.
1221ἙΛΈΝΗ: κἀγὼ μετέσχον Πριαμίδαις δυσπραξίας.
1222ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πόσιν δʼ ἄθαπτον ἔλιπεν ἢ κρύπτει χθονί;
1223ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἄθαπτον· οἲ ἐγὼ τῶν ἐμῶν τλήμων κακῶν.
1224ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τῶνδʼ οὕνεκʼ ἔταμες βοστρύχους ξανθῆς κόμης·
1225ἙΛΈΝΗ: φίλος γάρ ἐστιν, ὅς ποτʼ ἐστίν, ἐνθάδʼ ὤν.
1226ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὀρθῶς μὲν ἥδε συμφορὰ δακρύεται —
1227ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐν εὐμαρεῖ γοῦν σὴν κασιγνήτην λαθεῖν.
1228ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ δῆτα. πῶς οὖν; τόνδʼ ἔτʼ οἰκήσεις τάφον;
1229ἙΛΈΝΗ: τί κερτομεῖς με, τὸν θανόντα δʼ οὐκ ἐᾷς;
1230ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πιστὴ γὰρ εἶ σὺ σῷ πόσει φεύγουσά με.
1231ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ· ἤδη δʼ ἄρχε τῶν ἐμῶν γάμων.
1232ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χρόνια μὲν ἦλθεν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως αἰνῶ τάδε.
1233ἙΛΈΝΗ: οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; τῶν πάρος λαθώμεθα.
1234ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐπὶ τῷ; χάρις γὰρ ἀντὶ χάριτος ἐλθέτω.
1235ἙΛΈΝΗ: σπονδὰς τέμωμεν καὶ διαλλάχθητί μοι.
Part 19
1216THEOKLYMENOS: He is already ruined. In what ship did this man come?
1217HELEN: Sailors happened to meet him and took him up, as he says.
1218THEOKLYMENOS: Where then is that mischievous creature that was sent to Troy in your place?
1219HELEN: You mean the cloud image? It has gone into the air.
1220THEOKLYMENOS: O Priam, and Trojan lands, how you have perished in vain!
1221HELEN: I too have shared misfortunes with Priam’s race.
1222THEOKLYMENOS: Did he leave your husband unburied, or did he hide him in the earth?
1223HELEN: He is unburied; I am so unhappy in my troubles!
1224THEOKLYMENOS: It is for this that you have cut your locks of golden hair?
1225HELEN: Yes, for he is dear to me, whoever he is, being here.
1226THEOKLYMENOS: She rightly weeps for this misfortune. . .
1227HELEN: It is certainly easy to escape your sister’s notice!
1228THEOKLYMENOS: No, indeed. Well, what now? Will you continue to live at this tomb?
1229HELEN: Why do you jeer at me? Won’t you let the dead man be?
1230THEOKLYMENOS: No, for you are loyal to your husband and avoid me.
1231HELEN: No longer; begin my wedding now.
1232THEOKLYMENOS: It has come after a long time, but still I commend you for it.
1233HELEN: Do you know what you should do? Let us forget what is past.
1234THEOKLYMENOS: On what terms? One good turn deserves another.
1235HELEN: Let us make a truce; be reconciled to me.
Part 20
1236ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μεθίημι νεῖκος τὸ σόν, ἴτω δʼ ὑπόπτερον.
1237ἙΛΈΝΗ: πρός νύν σε γονάτων τῶνδʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ φίλος —
1238ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί χρῆμα θηρῶσʼ ἱκέτις ὠρέχθης ἐμοῦ;
1239ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὸν κατθανόντα πόσιν ἐμὸν θάψαι θέλω.
1240ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δʼ; ἔστʼ ἀπόντων τύμβος; ἢ θάψεις σκιάν;
1241ἙΛΈΝΗ: Ἕλλησίν ἐστι νόμος, ὃς ἂν πόντῳ θάνῃ —
1242ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δρᾶν; σοφοί τοι Πελοπίδαι τὰ τοιάδε.
1243ἙΛΈΝΗ: κενοῖσι θάπτειν ἐν πέπλων ὑφάσμασιν.
1244ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κτέριζʼ· ἀνίστη τύμβον οὗ χρῄζεις χθονός.
1245ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐχ ὧδε ναύτας ὀλομένους τυμβεύομεν.
1246ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς δαί; λέλειμμαι τῶν ἐν Ἕλλησιν νόμων.
1247ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἐς πόντον ὅσα χρὴ νέκυσιν ἐξορμίζομεν.
1248ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί σοι παράσχω δῆτα τῷ τεθνηκότι;
1249ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅδʼ οἶδʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἄπειρος, εὐτυχοῦσα πρίν.
1250ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ ξένε, λόγων μὲν κληδόνʼ ἤνεγκας φίλην.
1251ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: οὔκουν ἐμαυτῷ γʼ οὐδὲ τῷ τεθνηκότι.
1252ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς τοὺς θανόντας θάπτετʼ ἐν πόντῳ νεκρούς;
1253ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς ἂν παρούσης οὐσίας ἕκαστος ᾖ.
1254ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πλούτου λέγʼ οὕνεχʼ ὅ τι θέλεις ταύτης χάριν.
1255ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: προσφάζεται μὲν αἷμα πρῶτα νερτέροις.
Part 20
1236THEOKLYMENOS: I relinquish my quarrel with you; may it go away on wings.
1237HELEN: Now by your knees, since you are indeed a friend—
1238THEOKLYMENOS: What thing do you hunt after, that you stretch out a suppliant hand to me?
1239HELEN: I wish to bury my dead husband.
1240THEOKLYMENOS: What? Is there a tomb for the absent? Or will you bury a shadow?
1241HELEN: It is customary among the Hellenes, whenever someone dies at sea—
1242THEOKLYMENOS: To do what? The race of Pelops is certainly clever in such matters.
1243HELEN: To carry out the funeral rites in empty woven robes.
1244THEOKLYMENOS: Hold the funeral; set up the tomb wherever you wish.
1245HELEN: We do not give burial like this to sailors who have perished.
1246THEOKLYMENOS: How then? I know nothing of the customs in Hellas.
1247HELEN: We take out of harbor to the sea all that is the dead man’s due.
1248THEOKLYMENOS: Then what am I to give you for the dead man?
1249HELEN: This man knows, but I have no experience, as I was fortunate before.
1250THEOKLYMENOS: Stranger, you have brought welcome news.
1251MENELAOS: Not for me, certainly, nor for the dead man.
1252THEOKLYMENOS: How do you bury those who have died at sea?
1253MENELAOS: Each according to his means.
1254THEOKLYMENOS: As far as wealth goes, say what you want, for her sake.
1255MENELAOS: There must be a blood-offering first to the dead.
Part 21
1256ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τίνος; σύ μοι σήμαινε, πείσομαι δʼ ἐγώ.
1257ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: αὐτὸς σὺ γίγνωσκʼ· ἀρκέσει γὰρ ἃν διδῷς.
1258ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν βαρβάροις μὲν ἵππον ἢ ταῦρον νόμος.
1259ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: διδούς γε μὲν δὴ δυσγενὲς μηδὲν δίδου.
1260ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ τῶνδʼ ἐν ἀγέλαις ὀλβίαις σπανίζομεν.
1261ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ στρωτὰ φέρεται λέκτρα σώματος κενά.
1262ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἔσται· τί δʼ ἄλλο προσφέρειν νομίζεται;
1263ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: χαλκήλαθʼ ὅπλα· καὶ γὰρ ἦν φίλος δορί.
1264ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἄξια τάδʼ ἔσται Πελοπιδῶν ἃ δώσομεν.
1265ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καὶ τἄλλʼ ὅσα χθὼν καλὰ φέρει βλαστήματα.
1266ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς οὖν; ἐς οἶδμα τίνι τρόπῳ καθίετε;
1267ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ναῦν δεῖ παρεῖναι κἀρετμῶν ἐπιστάτας.
1268ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πόσον δʼ ἀπείργει μῆκος ἐκ γαίας δόρυ;
1269ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὥστʼ ἐξορᾶσθαι ῥόθια χερσόθεν μόλις.
1270ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δή; τόδʼ Ἑλλὰς νόμιμον ἐκ τίνος σέβει;
1271ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὡς μὴ πάλιν γῇ λύματʼ ἐκβάλῃ κλύδων.
1272ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: Φοίνισσα κώπη ταχύπορος γενήσεται.
1273ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: καλῶς ἂν εἴη Μενέλεῴ τε πρὸς χάριν.
1274ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὔκουν σὺ χωρὶς τῆσδε δρῶν ἀρκεῖς τάδε;
1275ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: μητρὸς τόδʼ ἔργον ἢ γυναικὸς ἢ τέκνων.
Part 21
1256THEOKLYMENOS: Blood of what? Explain it to me, and I will obey.
1257MENELAOS: You decide that yourself; whatever you give will suffice.
1258THEOKLYMENOS: Among barbarians it is customary to sacrifice a horse or a bull.
1259MENELAOS: If you make a gift, take care to give nothing mean.
1260THEOKYLEMNOS: I have no lack of such in my rich herds.
1261MENELAOS: Next, a couch empty of the body is decked and carried in procession.
1262THEOKLYMENOS: It wall be done; what else is it customary to add?
1263MENELAOS: Bronze arms; for war was his delight.
1264THEOKLYMENOS: These will be worthy of the race of Pelops, and these we will give.
1265MENELAOS: And for the rest, all the lovely offspring that the earth bears.
1266THEOKLYMENOS: How then? In what way do you let them fall into the waves?
1267MENELAOS: A ship must be ready, and rowers.
1268THEOKLYMENOS: How far from the shore does the ship put out?
1269MENELAOS: So far that the foam in her wake can scarcely be seen from the land.
1270THEOKLYMENOS: But why? Why does Hellas observe this custom.
1271MENELAOS: So that the waves may not wash pollution back ashore.
1272THEOKLYMENOS: A swift Phoenician ship will be there.
1273MENELAOS: That would be well done, and pleasing to Menelaos, too.
1274THEOKLYMENOS: Can you not perform these rites well enough without Helen?
1275MENELAOS: This task belongs to mother, or wife, or children.
Part 22
1276ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ταύτης ὁ μόχθος, ὡς λέγεις, θάπτειν πόσιν.
1277ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ἐν εὐσεβεῖ γοῦν νόμιμα μὴ κλέπτειν νεκρῶν.
1278ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἴτω· πρὸς ἡμῶν ἄλοχον εὐσεβῆ τρέφειν. ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς οἴκους ἐξελοῦ κόσμον νεκρῷ· καὶ σὲ οὐ κεναῖσι χερσὶ γῆς ἀποστελῶ, δράσαντα τῇδε πρὸς χάριν· φήμας δʼ ἐμοὶ ἐσθλὰς ἐνεγκὼν ἀντὶ τῆς ἀχλαινίας
1283ἐσθῆτα λήψῃ σῖτά θʼ, ὥστε σʼ ἐς πάτραν ἐλθεῖν, ἐπεὶ νῦν γʼ ἀθλίως ἔχονθʼ ὁρῶ. σὺ δʼ, ὦ τάλαινα, μὴ ʼπὶ τοῖς ἀνηνύτοις τρύχουσα σαυτήν — Μενέλεως δʼ ἔχει πότμον, κοὐκ ἂν δύναιτο ζῆν ὁ κατθανὼν πόσις.
1288ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: σὸν ἔργον, ὦ νεᾶνι· τὸν παρόντα μὲν
1289στέργειν πόσιν χρή, τὸν δὲ μηκέτʼ ὄντʼ ἐᾶν·
1290ἄριστα γάρ σοι ταῦτα πρὸς τὸ τυγχάνον.
1291ἢν δʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἔλθω καὶ τύχω σωτηρίας,
1293παύσω ψόγου σε τοῦ πρίν, ἢν γυνὴ γένῃ
1292οἵαν γενέσθαι χρή σε σῷ ξυνευνέτῃ.
1294ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔσται τάδʼ· οὐδὲ μέμψεται πόσις ποτὲ
1295ἡμῖν· σὺ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐγγὺς ὢν εἴσῃ τάδε.
1296ἀλλʼ, ὦ τάλας, εἴσελθε καὶ λουτρῶν τύχε
1297ἐσθῆτά τʼ ἐξάλλαξον. οὐκ ἐς ἀμβολὰς
1298εὐεργετήσω σʼ· εὐμενέστερον γὰρ ἂν
1299τῷ φιλτάτῳ μοι Μενέλεῳ τὰ πρόσφορα
1300δρῴης ἄν, ἡμῶν τυγχάνων οἵων σε χρή.
1301ΧΟΡΌΣ: Ὀρεία ποτὲ δρομάδι κώ- λῳ μάτηρ θεῶν ἐσύθη ἀνʼ ὑλάεντα νάπη ποτάμιόν τε χεῦμʼ ὑδάτων βαρύβρομόν τε κῦμʼ ἅλιον
1306πόθῳ τᾶς ἀποιχομένας ἀρρήτου κούρας. κρόταλα δὲ βρόμια διαπρύσιον ἱέντα κέλαδον ἀνεβόα, θηρῶν ὅτε ζυγίους
1311ζευξάσᾳ θεᾷ σατίνας τὰν ἁρπασθεῖσαν κυκλίων χορῶν ἔξω παρθενίων μετὰ κούραν, ἀελλόποδες, ἃ μὲν τόξοις Ἄρτεμις, ἃ δʼ
1316ἔγχει Γοργῶπις πάνοπλος, συνείποντο. Ζεὺς δʼ ἑδράνων αὐγάζων ἐξ οὐρανίων ἄλλαν μοῖραν ἔκραινε.
1319ΧΟΡΌΣ: δρομαῖον δʼ ὅτε πολυπλάνη- τον μάτηρ ἔπαυσε πόνον, μαστεύουσα πόνους θυγατρὸς ἁρπαγὰς δολίους, χιονοθρέμμονάς γʼ ἐπέρασʼ
1324Ἰδαιᾶν Νυμφᾶν σκοπιάς· ῥίπτει δʼ ἐν πένθει πέτρινα κατὰ δρία πολυνιφέα· βροτοῖσι δʼ ἄχλοα πεδία γᾶς οὐ καρπίζουσʼ ἀρότοις
1329λαῶν φθείρει γενεάν· ποίμναις δʼ οὐχ ἵει θαλερὰς βοσκὰς εὐφύλλων ἑλίκων, πόλεων δʼ ἀπέλειπε βίος· οὐδʼ ἦσαν θεῶν θυσίαι,
1334βωμοῖς δʼ ἄφλεκτοι πέλανοι· πηγὰς δʼ ἀμπαύει δροσερὰς λευκῶν ἐκβάλλειν ὑδάτων πένθει παιδὸς ἀλάστωρ.
1338ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἐπεὶ δʼ ἔπαυσʼ εἰλαπίνας θεοῖς βροτείῳ τε γένει, Ζεὺς μειλίσσων στυγίους ματρὸς ὀργὰς ἐνέπει· βᾶτε, σεμναὶ Χάριτες,
1343ἴτε, τᾷ περὶ παρθένῳ Δηοῖ θυμωσαμένᾳ λύπαν ἐξαλλάξατʼ ἀλαλᾷ, Μοῦσαί θʼ ὕμνοισι χορῶν. χαλκοῦ δʼ αὐδὰν χθονίαν
1347τύπανά τʼ ἔλαβε βυρσοτενῆ καλλίστα τότε πρῶτα μακά- ρων Κύπρις· γέλασέν τε θεὰ δέξατό τʼ ἐς χέρας βαρύβρομον αὐλὸν
1352τερφθεῖσʼ ἀλαλαγμῷ.
1353ΧΟΡΌΣ: ὧν οὐ θέμις σʼ οὔθʼ ὁσία ʼπʼύρωσας ἐν θεῶν θαλάμοις, μῆνιν δʼ ἔσχες μεγάλας ματρός, ὦ παῖ, θυσίας οὐ σεβίζουσα θεᾶς.
1358μέγα τοι δύναται νεβρῶν παμποίκιλοι στολίδες κισσοῦ τε στεφθεῖσα χλόα νάρθηκας εἰς ἱερούς, ῥόμβου θʼ εἱλισσομένα
1363κύκλιος ἔνοσις αἰθερία, βακχεύουσά τʼ ἔθειρα Βρομί- ῳ καὶ παννυχίδες θεᾶς. εὖ δέ νιν ἄμασιν ὑπέρβαλε σελάνα
1368μορφᾷ μόνον ηὔχεις.
1369ἙΛΈΝΗ: τὰ μὲν κατʼ οἴκους εὐτυχοῦμεν, ὦ φίλαι· ἡ γὰρ συνεκκλέπτουσα Πρωτέως κόρη πόσιν παρόντα τὸν ἐμὸν ἱστορουμένη οὐκ εἶπʼ ἀδελφῷ· κατθανόντα δʼ ἐν χθονὶ οὔ φησιν αὐγὰς εἰσορᾶν ἐμὴν χάριν.
1374[...] κάλλιστα δῆτʼ ἀνήρπασʼ ἐν τύχῃ πόσις· ἃ γὰρ καθήσειν ὅπλʼ ἔμελλεν εἰς ἅλα, ταῦτʼ ἐμβαλὼν πόρπακι γενναίαν χέρα αὐτὸς κομίζει δόρυ τε δεξιᾷ λαβών,
1378ὡς τῷ θανόντι χάριτα δὴ συνεκπονῶν. προύργου δʼ ἐς ἀλκὴν σῶμʼ ὅπλοις ἠσκήσατο, ὡς βαρβάρων τρόπαια μυρίων χερὶ θήσων, ὅταν κωπῆρες ἐσβῶμεν σκάφος, πέπλους δʼ ἀμείψασʼ ἀντὶ ναυφθόρου στολῆς
1383ἐγώ νιν ἐξήσκησα, καὶ λουτροῖς χρόα ἔδωκα, χρόνια νίπτρα ποταμίας δρόσου. ἀλλʼ, ἐκπερᾷ γὰρ δωμάτων ὁ τοὺς ἐμοὺς γάμους ἑτοίμους ἐν χεροῖν ἔχειν δοκῶν, σιγητέον μοι· καὶ σὲ προσποιούμεθα
1388εὔνουν κρατεῖν τε στόματος, ἢν δυνώμεθα σωθέντες αὐτοὶ καὶ σὲ συνσῶσαί ποτε.
1390ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χωρεῖτʼ ἐφεξῆς, ὡς ἔταξεν ὁ ξένος,
1391δμῶες, φέροντες ἐνάλια κτερίσματα.
1392Ἑλένη, σὺ δʼ, ἤν σοι μὴ κακῶς δόξω λέγειν,
1393πείθου, μένʼ αὐτοῦ· ταὐτὰ γὰρ παροῦσά τε
1394πράξεις τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν σὸν ἤν τε μὴ παρῇς.
1395δέδοικα γάρ σε μή τις ἐμπεσὼν πόθος
1396πείσῃ μεθεῖναι σῶμʼ ἐς οἶδμα πόντιον
1397τοῦ πρόσθεν ἀνδρὸς χάρισιν ἐκπεπληγμένην·
1398ἄγαν γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐ παρόνθʼ ὅμως στένεις.
1399ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὦ καινὸς ἡμῖν πόσις, ἀναγκαίως ἔχει τὰ πρῶτα λέκτρα νυμφικάς θʼ ὁμιλίας τιμᾶν· ἐγὼ δὲ διὰ τὸ μὲν στέργειν πόσιν καὶ ξυνθάνοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τίς κείνῳ χάρις ξὺν κατθανόντι κατθανεῖν; ἔα δέ με
1404αὐτὴν μολοῦσαν ἐντάφια δοῦναι νεκρῷ. θεοὶ δὲ σοί τε δοῖεν οἷʼ ἐγὼ θέλω, καὶ τῷ ξένῳ τῷδʼ, ὅτι συνεκπονεῖ τάδε. ἕξεις δέ μʼ οἵαν χρή σʼ ἔχειν ἐν δώμασι γυναῖκʼ, ἐπειδὴ Μενέλεων εὐεργετεῖς
1409κἄμʼ· ἔρχεται γὰρ δή τινʼ ἐς τύχην τάδε. ὅστις δὲ δώσει ναῦν ἐν ᾗ τάδʼ ἄξομεν, πρόσταξον, ὡς ἂν τὴν χάριν πλήρη λάβω.
1412ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: χώρει σὺ καὶ ναῦν τοῖσδε πεντηκόντορον
1413Σιδωνίαν δὸς κἀρετμῶν ἐπιστάτας.
1414ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὔκουν ὅδʼ ἄρξει ναὸς ὃς κοσμεῖ τάφον;
1415ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μάλιστʼ· ἀκούειν τοῦδε χρὴ ναύτας ἐμούς.
1416ἙΛΈΝΗ: αὖθις κέλευσον, ἵνα σαφῶς μάθωσί σου.
1417ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: αὖθις κελεύω καὶ τρίτον γʼ, εἴ σοι φίλον.
1418ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὄναιο· κἀγὼ τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων.
1419ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: μή νυν ἄγαν σὸν δάκρυσιν ἐκτήξῃς χρόα.
1420ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥδʼ ἡμέρα σοι τὴν ἐμὴν δείξει χάριν.
Part 22
1276THEOKLYMENOS: According to you, the work of burying her husband belongs to her.
1277MENELAOS: Yes indeed; piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their due.
1278THEOKLYMENOS: Let her go; it is in my interest to foster piety in a wife. Go inside and choose adornment for the dead;
1280I will not send you away from the land empty-handed either, since you have done her a favor. As you have brought me good news, you will receive clothing instead of going in rags, and food, so that you may reach your country, since now I see you doing very badly indeed.
1285As for you, poor lady, do not wear yourself out in a hopeless case; Menelaos has met his doom, and your dead husband could not return to life.
1288MENELAOS: This is your duty, young woman; you must be content with the husband at your side, and let go the one that no longer exists;
1290for this is best for you, according to what has happened. And if I come to Hellas and find safety, I will put to an end your former bad reputation, if you are such a wife as you ought to be to your husband.
1294HELEN: I will; my husband will never find fault with me;
1295you yourself will be at hand to know it. Now go inside, unhappy man, and find the bath, and change your clothes. I will show my kindness to you without delay. For you will perform the due services with more kindly feeling for my dearest Menelaos,
1300if you get from me what you ought to have. Exeunt Theoklymenos, Helen, Menelaos.
1301CHORUS: Once with swift foot the mountain mother of the gods rushed through the wooded glen, and the river’s streams
1305and the deep-thundering sea wave, yearning for her lost daughter, whose name may not be spoken. The loudly rattling castanets cried out a shrill sound,
1310when they, swift-footed as whirlwinds, followed the goddess on her chariot yoked to wild creatures, after the girl that was snatched away from the circling chorus of maidens—
1315here Artemis with her bow, and there the grim-eyed goddess, in full armor, with her spear. But Zeus, who sees clearly from his throne in heaven, brought to pass another destiny.
1319CHORUS: When the mother ceased from her wild
1320wandering toil, searching for the treacherous rape of her daughter, she crossed the snow-capped heights of the nymphs of Mount Ida;
1325and in sorrow cast herself down in the rocky woods deep in snow; and, by not making fruitful with crops the barren fields of the earth for mortals, she destroyed the human race.
1330She would not send forth the rich nourishment of leafy tendrils for the herds, and life was leaving the cities. No sacrifice was offered to the gods, and on the altars were no cakes to burn;
1335she made the dew-fed springs of clear water cease flowing, the avenger in sorrow for her child.
1338CHORUS: When she made an end to banquets for gods and the race of men, Zeus spoke out, appeasing the
1340Mother’s gloomy wrath: Go, holy Graces, go and with a loud cry take from Demeter’s angry heart her grief for the maiden;
1345and you, Muses, with song and dance. Then Kypris, fairest of the blessed gods, first took up the rumbling voice of bronze and the drum with tight-stretched skin; and the goddess smiled,
1350and received in her hand the deep-toned flute, pleased with its loud note.
1353CHORUS: You made burnt offerings that were neither right nor holy, in the chambers of the gods,
1355and you have incurred the wrath of the great mother, child, by not honoring her sacrifices. Oh! Great is the power of dappled fawn-skin robes,
1360and green ivy that crowns a sacred thyrsos, the whirling beat of the tambourine circling in the air, hair streaming wildly for the revelry of Bromios,
1365and the night-long festivals of the goddess. . . . You gloried in your beauty alone.
1369HELEN: My friends, all goes well for us inside;
1370for the daughter of Proteus, who aids us in our theft, has told her brother nothing when questioned as to my husband’s coming; for my sake she said that he was not alive, but dead and buried. . . . My husband has snatched up by chance fine things indeed;
1375for he is carrying away the armor he was intending to let fall into the sea, putting his noble arm through the shield-strap and holding a spear in his right hand, on pretence of joining in the service to the dead. He has equipped his body with weapons conveniently for the battle,
1380in order to to set up the trophies of countless barbarians, whenever we embark on the oared ship. I adorned him with robes in place of his shipwrecked garments, and I washed him, a long-delayed bath in water from the stream.
1385But I must be silent, for the man is coming from the house who thinks he holds my marriage ready in his hands; and I claim your goodwill and strict silence, so that, when we have saved ourselves, we may be able some day to save you also.
1390THEOKLYMENOS: Advance in order, servants, as the stranger directed, bearing the funeral gifts for the sea. But you, Helen, if you will agree with my words, be persuaded and stay here; for you will do your husband equal service whether you are present or not.
1395For I am afraid that some sudden passion should persuade you to throw your body into the swelling waves, stricken by love for your former husband; you are grieving for him too much, although he is lost.
1399HELEN: O my new husband, I must honor
1400my first marriage-bed and the one whose company I shared as a bride; for I could even die with my husband, I loved him so much. But how could he thank me, if I were to share death with him? Let me go and pay funeral rites to the dead in person.
1405May the gods give to you the things I wish and also to this stranger here, for his assistance! And you will have in me such a wife at home as you ought to have, since you are doing a good service to Menelaos and to me; for surely these events are leading to some good fortune.
1410But now appoint someone to give us a ship in which to carry these gifts, so that I may have your kindness in full.
1412THEOKLYMENOS: (to an attendant.) You, go and give them a Sidonian ship of fifty oars, and rowers also.
1414HELEN: This man who is ordering the funeral will be in command of the ship, won’t he?
1415THEOKLYMENOS: Most certainly; my sailors must obey him.
1416HELEN: Repeat the order, so that they may clearly understand you.
1417THEOKLYMENOS: I repeat the order, and a third time too, if you wish it.
1418HELEN: May you have benefit from it—and I from my plans!
1419THOEKLYMENOS: Do not ruin your skin with too much weeping now.
1420HELEN: This day will show my gratitude to you.
Part 23
1421ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τὰ τῶν θανόντων οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πόνος.
1422ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἔστιν τι κἀκεῖ κἀνθάδʼ ὧν ἐγὼ λέγω.
1423ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐδὲν κακίω Μενέλεώ μʼ ἕξεις πόσιν.
1424ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐδὲν σὺ μεμπτός· τῆς τύχης με δεῖ μόνον.
1425ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἐν σοὶ τόδʼ, ἢν σὴν εἰς ἔμʼ εὔνοιαν διδῷς.
1426ἙΛΈΝΗ: οὐ νῦν διδαξόμεσθα τοὺς φίλους φιλεῖν.
1427ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: βούλῃ ξυνεργῶν αὐτὸς ἐκπέμψω στόλον;
1428ἙΛΈΝΗ: ἥκιστα· μὴ δούλευε σοῖς δούλοις, ἄναξ.
1429ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλʼ εἶα· τοὺς μὲν Πελοπιδῶν ἐῶ νόμους· καθαρὰ γὰρ ἡμῖν δώματʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἐνθάδε ψυχὴν ἀφῆκε Μενέλεως· ἴτω δέ τις φράσων ὑπάρχοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς φέρειν γάμων ἀγάλματʼ οἴκους εἰς ἐμούς· πᾶσαν δὲ χρὴ
1434γαῖαν βοᾶσθαι μακαρίαις ὑμνῳδίαις ὑμέναιον Ἑλένης κἀμόν, ὡς ζηλωτὸς ᾖ. σὺ δʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐλθών, πελαγίους ἐς ἀγκάλας τῷ τῆσδε πρίν ποτʼ ὄντι δοὺς πόσει τάδε, πάλιν πρὸς οἴκους σπεῦδʼ ἐμὴν δάμαρτʼ ἔχων,
1439ὡς τοὺς γάμους τοὺς τῆσδε συνδαίσας ἐμοὶ στέλλῃ πρὸς οἴκους ἢ μένων εὐδαιμονῇς.
1441ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ: ὦ Ζεῦ, πατήρ τε καὶ σοφὸς κλῄζῃ θεός, βλέψον πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ μετάστησον κακῶν. ἕλκουσι δʼ ἡμῖν πρὸς λέπας τὰς συμφορὰς σπουδῇ σύναψαι· κἂν ἄκρᾳ θίγῃς χερί, ἥξομεν ἵνʼ ἐλθεῖν βουλόμεσθα τῆς τύχης.
1446ἅλις δὲ μόχθων οὓς ἐμοχθοῦμεν πάρος. κέκλησθέ μοι, θεοί, πολλά χρήσθʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν καὶ λύπρʼ· ὀφείλω δʼ οὐκ ἀεὶ πράσσειν κακῶς, ὀρθῷ δὲ βῆναι ποδί· μίαν δέ μοι χάριν δόντες τὸ λοιπὸν εὐτυχῆ με θήσετε.
1451ΧΟΡΌΣ: Φοίνισσα Σιδωνιὰς ὦ ταχεῖα κώπα, ῥοθίοισι μάτηρ εἰρεσίας φίλα, χοραγὲ τῶν καλλιχόρων δελφίνων, ὅταν αὔραις
1456πέλαγος ἀνήνεμον ᾖ, γλαυκὰ δὲ Πόντου θυγάτηρ Γαλάνεια τάδʼ εἴπῃ· κατὰ μὲν ἱστία πετάσατʼ αὔ- ραις λιπόντες εἰναλίαις,
1461λάβετε δʼ εἰλατίνας πλάτας, ὦ ναῦται, ναῦται, πέμποντες εὐλιμένους Περσείων οἴκων Ἑλέναν ἐπʼ ἀκτάς.
1465ΧΟΡΌΣ: ἦ που κόρας ἂν ποταμοῦ παρʼ οἶδμα Λευκιππίδας ἢ πρὸ ναοῦ Παλλάδος ἂν λάβοις χρόνῳ ξυνελθοῦσα χοροῖς ἢ κώμοις Ὑακίνθου
1470νύχιον ἐς εὐφροσύναν, ὃν ἐξαμιλλησάμενος τροχῷ τέρμονα δίσκου ἔκανε Φοῖβος, τᾷ Λακαί- νᾳ γᾷ βούθυτον ἁμέραν·
1475ὁ Διὸς δʼ εἶπε σέβειν γόνος· μόσχον θʼ, ἃν οἴκοις ἔλειπες, Ἑρμιόναν, ἇς οὔπω πεῦκαι πρὸ γάμων ἔλαμψαν.
1478ΧΟΡΌΣ: διʼ ἀέρος εἴθε ποτανοὶ γενοίμεσθʼ ᾇ Λιβύας οἰωνοὶ στοχάδες ὄμβρον λιποῦσαι χειμέριον νίσονται πρεσβυτάτᾳ
1483σύριγγι πειθόμεναι ποιμένος, ὃς ἄβροχα πεδία καρποφόρα τε γᾶς ἐπιπετόμενος ἰαχεῖ. ὦ πταναὶ δολιχαύχενες, σύννομοι νεφέων δρόμου,
1489βᾶτε Πλειάδας ὑπὸ μέσας ὠρίωνά τʼ ἐννύχιον· καρύξατʼ ἀγγελίαν, Εὐρώταν ἐφεζόμεναι, Μενέλεως ὅτι Δαρδάνου
1494πόλιν ἑλὼν δόμον ἥξει.
1495ΧΟΡΌΣ: μόλοιτέ ποθʼ ἵππιον οἶμον διʼ αἰθέρος ἱέμενοι παῖδες Τυνδαρίδαι, λαμπρῶν ἄστρων ὑπʼ ἀέλλαισιν· οἳ ναίετʼ οὐράνιοι,
1500σωτῆρες τᾶς Ἑλένας, γλαυκὸν ἔπιτʼ οἶδμα κυανόχροά τε κυμάτων ῥόθια πολιὰ θαλάσσας, ναύταις εὐαεῖς ἀνέμων πέμποντες Διόθεν πνοάς·
1506δύσκλειαν δʼ ἀπὸ συγγόνου βάλετε βαρβάρων λεχέων, ἃν Ἰδαίων ἐρίδων ποιναθεῖσʼ ἐκτήσατο, γᾶν οὐκ ἐλθοῦσά ποτʼ Ἰλίου
1511Φοιβείους ἐπὶ πύργους.
1512ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἄναξ, τὰ κάκιστʼ ἐν δόμοις εὑρήκαμεν·
1513ὡς καίνʼ ἀκούσῃ πήματʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ τάχα.
1514ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τί δʼ ἔστιν;
1514bἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἄλλης ἐκπόνει μνηστεύματα
1515γυναικός· Ἑλένη γὰρ βέβηκʼ ἔξω χθονός.
1516ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πτεροῖσιν ἀρθεῖσʼ ἢ πεδοστιβεῖ ποδί;
1517ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: Μενέλαος αὐτὴν ἐκπεπόρθμευται χθονός,
1518ὃς αὐτὸς αὑτὸν ἦλθεν ἀγγέλλων θανεῖν.
1519ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ δεινὰ λέξας· τίς δέ νιν ναυκληρία
1520ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἀπῆρε χθονός; ἄπιστα γὰρ λέγεις.
Part 23
1421THEOKLYMENOS: The state of the dead is nothingness; toil for them is vain.
1422HELEN: There is something of what I say both there and here.
1423THEOKLYMENOS: You will not find in me a husband at all inferior to Menelaos.
1424HELEN: You are not at fault in any way; good luck is all I need.
1425THEOKLYMENOS: That is in your power, if you show kindness to me.
1426HELEN: This is not a lesson I shall have to learn now, to love my friends.
1427THEOKLYMENOS: Would you like me to send out the equipment in person, working together with you?
1428HELEN: Not at all! Do not become a slave to your slaves, lord.
1429THEOKLYMENOS: Come then! I have no concern with the customs of the race of Pelops.
1430My house is pure; for Menelaos did not die here. Let someone go and tell my chieftans to bring marriage-offerings to my house; the whole earth must ring with joyful wedding-songs
1435in celebration of my wedding with Helen, so that it may be envied. You, stranger, go and give to the sea’s embrace these offerings to this woman’s husband, who was once alive; and then hurry back home with my wife, so that after sharing with me her marriage-feast, you may
1440set out for home or remain here in happiness. Exit Theoklymenos.
1441MENELAOS: O Zeus, called father and god of wisdom, look on us and alter our woes! As we drag our fortunes to the rocky hill, make haste to join with us; if you touch us with your finger-tip only,
1445we shall reach our longed-for goal. There has been enough distress in what we have suffered before. I have invoked you, gods, with many names, good and painful; I am not bound to be unfortunate forever, but to advance in a straight course. If you grant me one favor,
1450you will make me fortunate hereafter. Exeunt Menelaos and Helen.
1451CHORUS: O swift Phoenician ship of Sidon, dear to the surging waves, mother of the oar, leader of the lovely dancing
1455of dolphins, when the sea is clear of breezes and Ocean’s gray-green daughter, spirit of calm, says these words: Spread your sails
1460to the sea-breezes, as you go on your way, grasp your oars of pine, oh! sailors, sailors, speeding Helen on her way to the shore with good harbor, where once Perseus lived..
1465CHORUS: Perhaps you may find the daughters of Leukippos beside the swell of the river or before the temple of Pallas, when at last you join in the dances or the revels of Hyakinthos
1470in night-long joy—Hyakinthos, whom Phoebus killed with the round discus, contesting for the farthest throw—a day of the sacrifice of oxen in the Lakonian land;
1475the son of Zeus declared that his race would be honored; and you may find the girl whom you left at home, Hermione, for as yet no torch has lit the way to her marriage.
1478CHORUS: Oh, that we had wings to cleave the air, where the birds of Libya go in their ranks,
1480leaving the winter rain, obedient to the piping of their veteran leader, who raises his exultant cry
1485as he wings his way over unmoistened and crop-bearing plains of the earth. O you winged long-necked comrades of the racing clouds, go on beneath the Pleiades in their central station
1490and Orion of the night; deliver the message, as you settle on Eurotas’ banks, that Menelaos has sacked the city of Dardanos, and will come home.
1495CHORUS: May you come at last, speeding over your horses’ path through the sky, sons of Tyndareus, under the whirling of the radiant stars; you who dwell in heaven, Helen’s rescuers,
1500go over the gray-green swell and the dark gray surge of sea-waves, sending the sailors
1505favoring breezes from Zeus; and cast away from your sister her ill-fame from marriage with a barbarian, the punishment she received from the contest on Ida;
1510but she never went to the land of Ilion, to the towers of Phoebus.
1512SECOND MESSENGER: (entering hurriedly.) O king, . . . troubles are you soon to hear from me.
1514THEOKLYMENOS: What is it?
1514bMESSENGER: Go to work on the courtship of another
1515woman; for Helen has left the country.
1516THEOKLYMENOS: Carried up on wings, or treading on the earth?
1517MESSENGER: Menelaos has taken her off as plunder, out of the land; he was the one that came with the news of his own death.
1519THEOKLYMENOS: O dreadful story! What ship carried her
1520off from this land? Your story is unbelievable.
Part 24
1521ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἥν γε ξένῳ δίδως σύ· τούς τε σοὺς ἔχων
1522ναύτας βέβηκεν, ὡς ἂν ἐν βραχεῖ μάθῃς.
1523ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: πῶς; εἰδέναι πρόθυμος· οὐ γὰρ ἐλπίδων
1524ἔσω βέβηκα μίαν ὑπερδραμεῖν χέρα
1525τοσούσδε ναύτας, ὧν ἀπεστάλης μέτα.
1526ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: ἐπεὶ λιποῦσα τούσδε βασιλείους δόμους ἡ τοῦ Διὸς παῖς πρὸς θάλασσαν ἐστάλη σοφώταθʼ ἁβρὸν πόδα τιθεῖσʼ ἀνέστενε πόσιν πέλας παρόντα κοὐ τεθνηκότα. ὡς δʼ ἤλθομεν σῶν περίβολον νεωρίων,
1531Σιδωνίαν ναῦν πρωτόπλουν καθείλκομεν ζυγῶν τε πεντήκοντα κἀρετμῶν μέτρα ἔχουσαν. ἔργου δʼ ἔργον ἐξημείβετο· ὃ μὲν γὰρ ἱστόν, ὃ δὲ πλάτην καθίσατο ταρσόν τε χειρί, λευκά θʼ ἱστίʼ εἰς ἓν ἦν
1536πηδάλιά τε ζεύγλαισι παρακαθίετο. κἀν τῷδε μόχθῳ, τοῦτʼ ἄρα σκοπούμενοι, Ἕλληνες ἄνδρες Μενέλεῳ ξυνέμποροι προσῆλθον ἀκταῖς ναυφθόροις ἠσθημένοι πέπλοισιν, εὐειδεῖς μέν, αὐχμηροὶ δʼ ὁρᾶν.
1541ἰδὼν δέ νιν παρόντας Ἀτρέως γόνος προσεῖπε δόλιον οἶκτον ἐς μέσον φέρων· ὦ τλήμονες, πῶς ἐκ τίνος νεώς ποτε Ἀχαιίδος θραύσαντες ἥκετε σκάφος; ἆρʼ Ἀτρέως παῖδʼ ὀλόμενον συνθάπτετε,
1546ὃν Τυνδαρὶς παῖς ἥδʼ ἀπόντα κενοταφεῖ; οἳ δʼ ἐκβαλόντες δάκρυα ποιητῷ τρόπῳ, ἐς ναῦν ἐχώρουν Μενέλεῳ ποντίσματα φέροντες. ἡμῖν δʼ ἦν μὲν ἥδʼ ὑποψία λόγος τʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισι, τῶν ἐπεσβατῶν
1551ὡς πλῆθος εἴη· διεσιωπῶμεν δʼ ὅμως τοὺς σοὺς λόγους σῴζοντες· ἄρχειν γὰρ νεὼς ξένον κελεύσας πάντα συνέχεας τάδε. καὶ τἄλλα μὲν δὴ ῥᾳδίως ἔσω νεὼς ἐθέμεθα κουφίζοντα· ταύρειος δὲ ποὺς
1556οὐκ ἤθελʼ ὀρθὸς σανίδα προσβῆναι κάτα, ἀλλʼ ἐξεβρυχᾶτʼ ὄμμʼ ἀναστρέφων κύκλῳ κυρτῶν τε νῶτα κἀς κέρας παρεμβλέπων μὴ θιγγάνειν ἀπεῖργεν. ὁ δʼ Ἑλένης πόσις ἐκάλεσεν· ὦ πέρσαντες Ἰλίου πόλιν,
1561οὐκ εἶʼ ἀναρπάσαντες Ἑλλήνων νόμῳ νεανίαις ὤμοισι ταύρειον δέμας ἐς πρῷραν ἐμβαλεῖτε, φάσγανόν θʼ ἅμα πρόχειρον ὤσει σφάγια τῷ τεθνηκότι; οἳ δʼ ἐς κέλευσμʼ ἐλθόντες ἐξανήρπασαν
1566ταῦρον φέροντές τʼ εἰσέθεντο σέλματα. μονάμπυκον δὲ Μενέλεως ψήχων δέρην μέτωπά τʼ ἐξέπεισεν ἐσβῆναι δόρυ. τέλος δʼ, ἐπειδὴ ναῦς τὰ πάντʼ ἐδέξατο, πλήσασα κλιμακτῆρας εὐσφύρῳ ποδί
1571Ἑλένη καθέζετʼ ἐν μέσοις ἑδωλίοις, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτʼ ὢν λόγοισι Μενέλεως πέλας· ἄλλοι δὲ τοίχους δεξιοὺς λαιούς τʼ ἴσοι ἀνὴρ παρʼ ἄνδρʼ ἕζονθʼ, ὑφʼ εἵμασι ξίφη λαθραῖʼ ἔχοντες, ῥόθιά τʼ ἐξεπίμπλατο
1576βοῆς κελευστοῦ φθέγμαθʼ ὡς ἠκούσαμεν. ἐπεὶ δὲ γαίας ἦμεν οὔτʼ ἄγαν πρόσω οὔτʼ ἐγγύς, οὕτως ἤρετʼ οἰάκων φύλαξ· ἔτʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐς τὸ πρόσθεν — ἢ καλῶς ἔχει — πλεύσωμεν; ἀρχαὶ γὰρ νεὼς μέλουσι σοί.
1581ὃ δʼ εἶφʼ· ἅλις μοι. δεξιᾷ δʼ ἑλὼν ξίφος ἐς πρῷραν εἷρπε κἀπὶ ταυρείῳ σφαγῇ σταθεὶς νεκρῶν μὲν οὐδενὸς μνήμην ἔχων, τέμνων δὲ λαιμὸν ηὔχετʼ· ὦ ναίων ἅλα πόντιε Πόσειδον Νηρέως θʼ ἁγναὶ κόραι,
1586σώσατέ μʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτὰς Ναυπλίας δάμαρτά τε ἄσυλον ἐκ γῆς. αἵματος δʼ ἀπορροαὶ ἐς οἶδμʼ ἐσηκόντιζον οὔριοι ξένῳ. καί τις τόδʼ εἶπε· δόλιος ἡ ναυκληρία. πάλιν πλέωμεν· δεξιὰν κέλευε σύ,
1591σὺ δὲ στρέφʼ οἴακʼ. ἐκ δὲ ταυρείου φόνου Ἀτρέως σταθεὶς παῖς ἀνεβόησε συμμάχους· τί μέλλετʼ, ὦ γῆς Ἑλλάδος λωτίσματα, σφάζειν φονεύειν βαρβάρους νεώς τʼ ἄπο ῥίπτειν ἐς οἶδμα; ναυβάταις δὲ τοῖσι σοῖς
1596βοᾷ κελευστὴς τὴν ἐναντίαν ὄπα· οὐκ εἶʼ ὃ μέν τις λοῖσθον ἀρεῖται δόρυ, ὃ δὲ ζύγʼ ἄξας, ὃ δʼ ἀφελὼν σκαλμοῦ πλάτην καθαιματώσει κρᾶτα πολεμίων ξένων; ὀρθοὶ δʼ ἀνῇξαν πάντες, οἳ μὲν ἐν χεροῖν
1601κορμοὺς ἔχοντες ναυτικούς, οἳ δὲ ξίφη· φόνῳ δὲ ναῦς ἐρρεῖτο. παρακέλευσμα δʼ ἦν πρύμνηθεν Ἑλένης· ποῦ τὸ Τρωικὸν κλέος; δείξατε πρὸς ἄνδρας βαρβάρους· σπουδῆς δʼ ὕπο ἔπιπτον, οἳ δʼ ὠρθοῦντο, τοὺς δὲ κειμένους
1606νεκροὺς ἂν εἶδες. Μενέλεως δʼ ἔχων ὅπλα, ὅποι νοσοῖεν ξύμμαχοι κατασκοπῶν, ταύτῃ προσῆγε χειρὶ δεξιᾷ ξίφος, ὥστʼ ἐκκολυμβᾶν ναός, ἠρήμωσε δὲ σῶν ναυβατῶν ἐρετμά. ἐπʼ οἰάκων δὲ βὰς
1611ἄνακτʼ ἐς Ἑλλάδʼ εἶπεν εὐθύνειν δόρυ. οἳ δʼ ἱστὸν ᾖρον, οὔριαι δʼ ἧκον πνοαί. βεβᾶσι δʼ ἐκ γῆς. διαφυγὼν δʼ ἐγὼ φόνον καθῆκʼ ἐμαυτὸν εἰς ἅλʼ ἄγκυραν πάρα· ἤδη δὲ κάμνονθʼ ὁρμιατόνων μέ τις
1616ἀνείλετʼ, ἐς δὲ γαῖαν ἐξέβησέ σοι τάδʼ ἀγγελοῦντα. σώφρονος δʼ ἀπιστίας οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν χρησιμώτερον βροτοῖς.
1619ΧΟΡΌΣ: οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ηὔχουν οὔτε σʼ οὔθʼ ἡμᾶς λαθεῖν
1620Μενέλαον, ὦναξ, ὡς ἐλάνθανεν παρών.
1621ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ γυναικείαις τέχναισιν αἱρεθεὶς ἐγὼ τάλας·
1622ἐκπεφεύγασιν γάμοι με. κεἰ μὲν ἦν ἁλώσιμος
1623ναῦς διώγμασιν, πονήσας εἷλον ἂν τάχα ξένους·
1624νῦν δὲ τὴν προδοῦσαν ἡμᾶς τεισόμεσθα σύγγονον,
1625ἥτις ἐν δόμοις ὁρῶσα Μενέλεων οὐκ εἶπέ μοι.
1626τοιγὰρ οὔποτʼ ἄλλον ἄνδρα ψεύσεται μαντεύμασιν.
1627ΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὗτος ὤ, ποῖ σὸν πόδʼ αἴρεις, δέσποτʼ, ἐς ποῖον φόνον;
1628ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οἷπερ ἡ δίκη κελεύει με· ἀλλʼ ἀφίστασʼ ἐκποδών.
1629ΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὐκ ἀφήσομαι πέπλων σῶν· μεγάλα γὰρ σπεύδεις κακά.
1630ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλὰ δεσποτῶν κρατήσεις δοῦλος ὤν;
1630bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: φρονῶ γὰρ εὖ.
1631ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐκ ἔμοιγʼ, εἰ μή μʼ ἐάσεις —
1631bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: οὐ μὲν οὖν σʼ ἐάσομεν.
1632ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: σύγγονον κτανεῖν κακίστην —
1632bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: εὐσεβεστάτην μὲν οὖν.
1633ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἥ με προύδωκεν —
1633bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: καλήν γε προδοσίαν, δίκαια δρᾶν.
1634ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: τἀμὰ λέκτρʼ ἄλλῳ διδοῦσα.
1634bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: τοῖς γε κυριωτέροις.
1635ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κύριος δὲ τῶν ἐμῶν τίς;
1635bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ὃς ἔλαβεν πατρὸς πάρα.
Part 24
1521MESSENGER: The very one that you gave to the stranger; and he has gone with your sailors, so that you may know everything in brief.
1523THEOKLYMENOS: How? I am eager to know; for I never expected that a single hand could excel over
1525so many sailors, with whom you were sent.
1526MESSENGER: When the daughter of Zeus had left this royal house and started for the sea, delicately picking her way, she most cleverly began to mourn her husband, though he was close at hand and not dead.
1530When we reached the enclosure of your dockyards, we began to launch the Sidonian ship on her first voyage, with her fifty benches and full measure of rowers. Task gave way to task: one set up the mast, another set up the oars
1535. . . and the rudders were lowered by their cross-bars. And during this labor, men of Hellas who had been fellow-voyagers with Menelaos were watching us, it seems, and they drew near to the beach, clad in the rags of shipwrecked men,
1540handsome, but rough to look upon. And the son of Atreus, when he saw them approach, spoke to them, craftily introducing the reason for his mourning: Unhappy sailors, how have you arrived? From the wreckage of what Achaean ship?
1545Are you here to help bury the dead son of Atreus, whose missing body this lady, daughter of Tyndareus, is honoring with an empty grave? They wept in a feigned manner, and went to the ship, carrying aboard the offerings to be thrown into the sea for Menelaos. We were suspicious at this,
1550and said to each other that there would be a crowd of those additional passengers; but still we remained silent, out of respect for your orders; for by bidding the stranger command the vessel, you threw everything into confusion.
1554Well, we easily put the other victims on the ship, for they were light;
1555but the bull did not want to go forward along the plank, but kept bellowing loudly, rolling his eyes around; and, arching his back and peering along his horns, he prevented us from touching him. But Helen’s husband
1560called out: O you who sacked the town of Ilion, come pick up this bull on young shoulders, as is the way in Hellas, and cast him into the prow . . . the sacrifice to the dead man.
1565Then they came at his summons, and caught up the bull and carried him on to the deck. And Menelaos stroked the horse on neck and brow, coaxing it to go aboard.
1569Finally, when the ship was fully loaded,
1570Helen climbed up the ladder with elegant step, and took her seat in the middle of the rowers’ benches, and he was near by, Menelaos who was called dead. The rest, equally divided on the right and left sides of the ship, sat down, each beside his man, with swords concealed beneath their cloaks,
1575and the waves were filled with shouting as we heard the voice of the boatswain.
1577Now when we had put out from land, neither very far nor very near, the helmsman asked, Shall we sail yet further, stranger, or is this far enough?
1580For the command of this ship is yours. And he answered, Far enough for me. Holding a sword in his right hand, he stepped into the prow; and, standing over the bull to slay it, with no mention of any dead man, he cut its throat and prayed: O Poseidon of the sea,
1585who lives in the deep, and you holy daughters of Nereus, bring me and my wife safe and sound from here to Nauplia’s shore! Streams of blood, a good omen for the stranger, darted into the waves. And someone said, There is treachery in this voyage;
1590let us sail back again! You, give an order for the right oar, you, turn your rudder. But the son of Atreus, standing where he slew the bull, cried out to his comrades, Why do you, the pick of Hellas, delay to slaughter and kill the barbarians
1595and hurl them from the ship into the waves? And the boatswain cried the opposite command to your rowers: Some of you catch up planks at the end, break up the benches, or snatch the oars from the locks, and make the heads of these foreign enemies bloody!.
1600They all leapt upright, some with oars in their hands, others with swords; and the ship ran with blood. Helen cheered them on from the stern: Where is the fame you won in Troy? Show it against the barbarians! In their eagerness, some would
1605fall, some stood upright, you would have seen others lying dead. But Menelaos, in full armor, wherever he spied that his comrades were suffering, would go there, sword in hand; and so we dived
1610from the ship, and he cleared the benches of your rowers. Then going to the helmsman he told him to sail a straight course to Hellas. So they set up the mast, and favoring breezes blew.
1613They are gone from here. But I escaped death and let myself down by the anchor into the sea;
1615and just as I was worn out, some fisherman took me up, and put me out on land, to bring you this report. Nothing is more useful to mankind than a prudent distrust.
1619CHORUS LEADER: I never would have believed that Menelaos could have eluded both us
1620and you, O king, the way he did on his arrival.
1621THEOKLYMENOS: Caught by a woman’s tricks, unhappy that I am! My bride has escaped me. If the ship could have been pursued and overtaken, I would have made an effort to catch the strangers at once; but now I will avenge myself upon my treacherous sister,
1625for she saw Menelaos in my house and did not tell me. Therefore she will never deceive another man by her oracles.
1627SERVANT: You, there! Where are you rushing off to, my lord? to what bloody deed?
1628THEOKLYMENOS: Where justice calls me. Get out of my way!
1629SERVANT: I will not let go of your robe, for you are striving after great wickedness.
1630THEOKLYMENOS: Will you rule over your master, although you are a slave?
1630bSERVANT: Yes, for I am in my right mind.
1631THEOKLYMENOS: Not in my opinion, if you will not let me—
1631bSERVANT: No, I will not let you!
1632THEOKLYMENOS: Let me kill my most wicked sister—
1632bSERVANT: No, she is most pious.
1633THEOKLYMENOS: Who betrayed me—
1633bSERVANT: It was a noble betrayal, correctly done.
1634THEOKLYMENOS: When she gave my bride to another.
1634bSERVANT: To the one who had a better right.
1635THEOKLYMENOS: Who has rights over my property?
1635bSERVANT: The one who received her from her father.
Part 25
1636ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν ἡ τύχη μοι.
1636bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: τὸ δὲ χρεὼν ἀφείλετο.
1637ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: οὐ σὲ τἀμὰ χρὴ δικάζειν.
1637bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ἤν γε βελτίω λέγω.
1638ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ἀρχόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, οὐ κρατοῦμεν.
1638bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: ὅσια δρᾶν, τὰ δʼ ἔκδικʼ οὔ.
1639ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: κατθανεῖν ἐρᾶν ἔοικας.
1639bΘΕΡΆΠΩΝ: κτεῖνε· σύγγονον δὲ σὴν
1640οὐ κτενεῖς ἡμῶν ἑκόντων, ἀλλʼ ἔμε· ὡς πρὸ δεσποτῶν
1641τοῖσι γενναίοισι δούλοις εὐκλεέστατον θανεῖν.
1642ΔΙΌΣΚΟΡΟΙ: ἐπίσχες ὀργὰς αἷσιν οὐκ ὀρθῶς φέρῃ, Θεοκλύμενε, γαίας τῆσδʼ ἄναξ· δισσοὶ δέ σε Διόσκοροι καλοῦμεν, οὓς Λήδα ποτὲ ἔτικτεν Ἑλένην θʼ, ἣ πέφευγε σοὺς δόμους· οὐ γὰρ πεπρωμένοισιν ὀργίζῃ γάμοις,
1647οὐδʼ ἡ θεᾶς Νηρῇδος ἔκγονος κόρη ἀδικεῖ σʼ ἀδελφὴ Θεονόη, τὰ τῶν θεῶν τιμῶσα πατρός τʼ ἐνδίκους ἐπιστολάς. ἐς μὲν γὰρ αἰεὶ τὸν παρόντα νῦν χρόνον κείνην κατοικεῖν σοῖσιν ἐν δόμοις ἐχρῆν·
1652ἐπεὶ δὲ Τροίας ἐξανεστάθη βάθρα, καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς παρέσχε τοὔνομʼ, οὐκέτι· ἐν τοῖσι δʼ αὑτῆς δεῖ νιν ἐζεῦχθαι γάμοις ἐλθεῖν τʼ ἐς οἴκους καὶ συνοικῆσαι πόσει. ἀλλʼ ἴσχε μὲν σῆς συγγόνου μέλαν ξίφος,
1657νόμιζε δʼ αὐτὴν σωφρόνως πράσσειν τάδε. πάλαι δʼ ἀδελφὴν κἂν πρὶν ἐξεσώσαμεν, ἐπείπερ ἡμᾶς Ζεὺς ἐποίησεν θεούς· ἀλλʼ ἥσσονʼ ἦμεν τοῦ πεπρωμένου θʼ ἅμα καὶ τῶν θεῶν, οἷς ταῦτʼ ἔδοξεν ὧδʼ ἔχειν.
1662σοὶ μὲν τάδʼ αὐδῶ, συγγόνῳ δʼ ἐμῇ λέγω· πλεῖ ξὺν πόσει σῷ· πνεῦμα δʼ ἕξετʼ οὔριον· σωτῆρε δʼ ἡμεῖς σὼ κασιγνήτω διπλῶ πόντον παριππεύοντε πέμψομεν πάτραν. ὅταν δὲ κάμψῃς καὶ τελευτήσῃς βίον,
1667θεὸς κεκλήσῃ καὶ Διοσκόρων μέτα σπονδῶν μεθέξεις ξένιά τʼ ἀνθρώπων πάρα ἕξεις μεθʼ ἡμῶν· Ζεὺς γὰρ ὧδε βούλεται. οὗ δʼ ὥρισέν σοι πρῶτα Μαιάδος τόκος, Σπάρτης ἀπάρας, τὸν κατʼ οὐρανὸν δρόμον,
1672κλέψας δέμας σὸν μὴ Πάρις γήμειέ σε, — φρουρὸν παρʼ Ἀκτὴν τεταμένην νῆσον λέγω — Ἑλένη τὸ λοιπὸν ἐν βροτοῖς κεκλήσεται, ἐπεὶ κλοπαίαν σʼ ἐκ δόμων ἐδέξατο. καὶ τῷ πλανήτῃ Μενέλεῳ θεῶν πάρα
1677μακάρων κατοικεῖν νῆσόν ἐστι μόρσιμον· τοὺς εὐγενεῖς γὰρ οὐ στυγοῦσι δαίμονες, τῶν δʼ ἀναριθμήτων μᾶλλόν εἰσιν οἱ πόνοι.
1680ΘΕΟΚΛΎΜΕΝΟΣ: ὦ παῖδε Λήδας καὶ Διός, τὰ μὲν πάρος
1681νείκη μεθήσω σφῶν κασιγνήτης πέρι·
1682ἐγὼ δʼ ἀδελφὴν οὐκέτʼ ἂν κτάνοιμʼ ἐμήν.
1683κείνη δʼ ἴτω πρὸς οἶκον, εἰ θεοῖς δοκεῖ.
1684ἴστον δʼ ἀρίστης σωφρονεστάτης θʼ ἅμα
1685γεγῶτʼ ἀδελφῆς ὁμογενοῦς ἀφʼ αἵματος.
1686καὶ χαίρεθʼ Ἑλένης οὕνεκʼ εὐγενεστάτης
1687γνώμης, ὃ πολλαῖς ἐν γυναιξὶν οὐκ ἔνι.
1688ΧΟΡΌΣ: πολλαὶ μορφαὶ τῶν δαιμονίων,
1689πολλὰ δʼ ἀέλπτως κραίνουσι θεοί·
1690καὶ τὰ δοκηθέντʼ οὐκ ἐτελέσθη,
1691τῶν δʼ ἀδοκήτων πόρον ηὗρε θεός.
1692τοιόνδʼ ἀπέβη τόδε πρᾶγμα.
Part 25
1636THEOKLYMENOS: But fortune gave her to me.
1636bSERVANT: And necessity took her away.
1637THEOKLYMENOS: It is not for you to judge my affairs.
1637bSERVANT: Yes, if my counsel is better.
1638THEOKLYMENOS: So I am your subject, not your ruler.
1638bSERVANT: Subject to do right, not wrong.
1639THEOKLYMENOS: It seems you desire to be killed.
1639bSERVANT: Kill me;
1640you will not kill your sister with my consent, but me instead; to die for their masters is the most glorious act for noble slaves.
1642DIOSKOUROI: Restrain the anger that is wrongly carrying you away, Theoklymenos, king of this land. We, the twin sons of Zeus, are calling you; Leda once gave birth to us,
1645with Helen, who has fled from your home. For you are angry about a marriage that is not destined for you; and your sister Theonoe, daughter of a Nereid goddess, does not wrong you when she honors the word of the gods and her father’s just commands.
1650For it was ordained that Helen should live in your house up to the present time; but no longer, since Troy is wholly destroyed and she has provided her name to the gods; she must be united in her own marriage,
1655and come home and live with her husband. But hold your black sword away from your sister, and believe that she is acting with discretion in this matter. Long ago, before this, we would have saved our sister, seeing that Zeus has made us gods;
1660but we are weaker than fate and also than the gods, who decreed these things to happen in this way.
1662This is my bidding to you, while I say to my sister: Sail on with your husband; and you shall have a favorable breeze; for we, your two savior brothers,
1665riding over the sea, will send you to your fatherland. And when you make the last turn of the race-course and end your life, you will be named as a goddess, and share libations with the Dioskouroi, and receive gifts from men with us; for such is the will of Zeus.
1670And the place where the son of Maia first set the boundary to your course through the air, when he took you away from Sparta, stealing your body so that Paris would not marry you—I mean the island stretched like a sentinel along the coast of Attica—shall be called by your name among men for the future, since it welcomed you
1675when you were stolen from your home. And it is destined by the gods that the wanderer Menelaos will dwell in the islands of the blessed; for deities do not hate the well-born, but the sufferings of the multitude are greater.
1680THEOKLYMENOS: You sons of Leda and Zeus, I will let go my former quarrel over your sister; and mine I shall no longer try to kill. Let Helen go home, if the gods think it right. Know that you are born from the same blood as a sister
1685who is the best and also most self-controlled; may you fare well, for the sake of Helen’s most noble mind, a quality not to be found in many women.
1688CHORUS: Many are the forms of divinities, and many things the gods bring to pass unhoped for.
1690And what was expected has not been fulfilled; for what was not expected, a god finds a way. Such was the result of this action.