Helen
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
517
Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing
518
is still in the house, and has not fled.
519
You 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,
520
lamenting? Do you mourn, persuaded by dreams in the night, or have you broken your heart with grief because you heard some voice within?
521
521
Helen
521
My lord—for now I give you that name—I am destroyed; everything of mine is gone and I am nothing.
522
522
Theokylmenos
522
In what misfortune are you plunged? What has happened?
523
523
Helen
523
Menelaos—alas, how shall I say it?—is dead, my husband.
524
524
Theoklymenos
524
I do not rejoice at your words, but it is good fortune for me. How do you know? Did Theonoe tell you this?
525
525
Helen
525
Both she, and one who was there when he perished.
526
526
Theoklymenos
526
Someone has come who announces this for certain?
527
527
Helen
527
Someone has come; and may he go where I want him to go!
528
528
Theoklymenos
528
Who is it? Where is he? so that I may learn this more clearly.
529
529
Helen
529
That one, who is sitting crouched at this tomb.
530
530
Theoklymenos
530
Apollo! He certainly has unattractive clothing.
531
531
Helen
531
Alas! I think my husband is in the same situation also.
532
532
Theoklymenos
532
What is this man’s country, and where did he come from, to land here?
533
533
Helen
533
He is a Hellene, one of the Achaeans who saiIed with my husband.
534
534
Theoklymenos
534
What kind of death does he say Menelaos died?
535
535
Helen
535
The most piteous, in the watery waves at sea.
536
536
Theoklymenos
536
On what part of the barbarous ocean was he sailing?
537
537
Helen
537
He was cast up on the harborless rocks of Libya.
538
538
Theoklymenos
538
How did this man not perish if he was sailing with him?
539
539
Helen
539
There are times when common men have more luck than their betters.
540
540
Theoklymenos
540
Where did he leave the wreckage of his ship before coming here?
541
541
Helen
541
Where ruin may come upon it— but not on Menelaos!
542
542
Theoklymenos
542
He is already ruined. In what ship did this man come?
543
543
Helen
543
Sailors happened to meet him and took him up, as he says.
544
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Theoklymenos
544
Where then is that mischievous creature that was sent to Troy in your place?
545
545
Helen
545
You mean the cloud image? It has gone into the air.
546
546
Theoklymenos
546
O Priam, and Trojan lands, how you have perished in vain!
547
547
Helen
547
I too have shared misfortunes with Priam’s race.
548
548
Theoklymenos
548
Did he leave your husband unburied, or did he hide him in the earth?
549
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Helen
549
He is unburied; I am so unhappy in my troubles!
550
550
Theoklymenos
550
It is for this that you have cut your locks of golden hair?
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Helen
551
Yes, for he is dear to me, whoever he is, being here.
552
552
Theoklymenos
552
She rightly weeps for this misfortune. . .
553
553
Helen
553
It is certainly easy to escape your sister’s notice!
554
554
Theoklymenos
554
No, indeed. Well, what now? Will you continue to live at this tomb?
555
555
Helen
555
Why do you jeer at me? Won’t you let the dead man be?
556
556
Theoklymenos
556
No, for you are loyal to your husband and avoid me.
557
557
Helen
557
No longer; begin my wedding now.
558
558
Theoklymenos
558
It has come after a long time, but still I commend you for it.
559
559
Helen
559
Do you know what you should do? Let us forget what is past.
560
560
Theoklymenos
560
On what terms? One good turn deserves another.
561
561
Helen
561
Let us make a truce; be reconciled to me.
562
562
Theoklymenos
562
I relinquish my quarrel with you; may it go away on wings.
563
563
Helen
563
Now by your knees, since you are indeed a friend—
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Theoklymenos
564
What thing do you hunt after, that you stretch out a suppliant hand to me?
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Helen
565
I wish to bury my dead husband.
566
566
Theoklymenos
566
What? Is there a tomb for the absent? Or will you bury a shadow?
567
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Helen
567
It is customary among the Hellenes, whenever someone dies at sea—
568
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Theoklymenos
568
To do what? The race of Pelops is certainly clever in such matters.
569
569
Helen
569
To carry out the funeral rites in empty woven robes.
570
570
Theoklymenos
570
Hold the funeral; set up the tomb wherever you wish.
571
571
Helen
571
We do not give burial like this to sailors who have perished.
572
572
Theoklymenos
572
How then? I know nothing of the customs in Hellas.
573
573
Helen
573
We take out of harbor to the sea all that is the dead man’s due.
574
574
Theoklymenos
574
Then what am I to give you for the dead man?
575
575
Helen
575
This man knows, but I have no experience, as I was fortunate before.
576
576
Theoklymenos
576
Stranger, you have brought welcome news.
577
577
Menelaos
577
Not for me, certainly, nor for the dead man.
578
578
Theoklymenos
578
How do you bury those who have died at sea?
579
579
Menelaos
579
Each according to his means.
580
580
Theoklymenos
580
As far as wealth goes, say what you want, for her sake.
581
581
Menelaos
581
There must be a blood-offering first to the dead.
582
582
Theoklymenos
582
Blood of what? Explain it to me, and I will obey.
583
583
Menelaos
583
You decide that yourself; whatever you give will suffice.
584
584
Theoklymenos
584
Among barbarians it is customary to sacrifice a horse or a bull.
585
585
Menelaos
585
If you make a gift, take care to give nothing mean.
586
586
Theokylemnos
586
I have no lack of such in my rich herds.
587
587
Menelaos
587
Next, a couch empty of the body is decked and carried in procession.
588
588
Theoklymenos
588
It wall be done; what else is it customary to add?
589
589
Menelaos
589
Bronze arms; for war was his delight.
590
590
Theoklymenos
590
These will be worthy of the race of Pelops, and these we will give.
591
591
Menelaos
591
And for the rest, all the lovely offspring that the earth bears.
592
592
Theoklymenos
592
How then? In what way do you let them fall into the waves?
593
593
Menelaos
593
A ship must be ready, and rowers.
594
594
Theoklymenos
594
How far from the shore does the ship put out?
595
595
Menelaos
595
So far that the foam in her wake can scarcely be seen from the land.
596
596
Theoklymenos
596
But why? Why does Hellas observe this custom.
597
597
Menelaos
597
So that the waves may not wash pollution back ashore.
598
598
Theoklymenos
598
A swift Phoenician ship will be there.
599
599
Menelaos
599
That would be well done, and pleasing to Menelaos, too.
600
600
Theoklymenos
600
Can you not perform these rites well enough without Helen?
601
601
Menelaos
601
This task belongs to mother, or wife, or children.
602
602
Theoklymenos
602
According to you, the work of burying her husband belongs to her.
603
603
Menelaos
603
Yes indeed; piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their due.
604
604
Theoklymenos
604
Let her go; it is in my interest to foster piety in a wife. Go inside and choose adornment for the dead;
605
I 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.
606
As 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.
607
607
Menelaos
607
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;
608
for 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.
609
609
Helen
609
I will; my husband will never find fault with me;
610
you 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,
611
if you get from me what you ought to have. Exeunt Theoklymenos, Helen, Menelaos.
612
612
Chorus
612
Once with swift foot the mountain mother of the gods rushed through the wooded glen, and the river’s streams
613
and 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,
614
when 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—
615
here 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.
616
616
Chorus
616
When the mother ceased from her wild