Scene.— Tomb of Proteus in the island of Pharos.Helen: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,living 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, [because he spent his life in reverence of the gods,]and 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,having received this honor from her grandfather Nereus.My 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,which 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:Hera 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-stallsand came to Sparta, to have me in marriage.
Ἑλένη:Νείλου μὲν αἵδε καλλιπάρθενοι ῥοαί,ὃς ἀντὶ δίας ψακάδος Αἰγύπτου πέδονλευκῆς τακείσης χιόνος ὑγραίνει γύας.Πρωτεὺς δʼ ὅτʼ ἔζη τῆσδε γῆς τύραννος ἦν,Φάρον μὲν οἰκῶν νῆσον, Αἰγύπτου δʼ ἄναξ,ὃς τῶν κατʼ οἶδμα παρθένων μίαν γαμεῖ,Ψαμάθην, ἐπειδὴ λέκτρʼ ἀφῆκεν Αἰακοῦ.τίκτει δὲ τέκνα δισσὰ τοῖσδε δώμασι,Θεοκλύμενον ἄρσενʼ [ὅτι δὴ θεοὺς σέβων][βίον διήνεγκʼ] εὐγενῆ τε παρθένονΕἰδώ, τὸ μητρὸς ἀγλάισμʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν βρέφος·ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐς ἥβην ἦλθεν ὡραίαν γάμων,καλοῦσιν αὐτὴν Θεονόην· τὰ θεῖα γὰρτά τʼ ὄντα καὶ μέλλοντα πάντʼ ἠπίστατο,προγόνου λαβοῦσα Νηρέως τιμὰς πάρα.ἡμῖν δὲ γῆ μὲν πατρὶς οὐκ ἀνώνυμοςΣπάρτη, πατὴρ δὲ Τυνδάρεως· ἔστιν δὲ δὴλόγος τις ὡς Ζεὺς μητέρʼ ἔπτατʼ εἰς ἐμὴνΛήδαν κύκνου μορφώματʼ ὄρνιθος λαβών,ὃς δόλιον εὐνὴν ἐξέπραξʼ ὑπʼ αἰετοῦδίωγμα φεύγων, εἰ σαφὴς οὗτος λόγος·Ἑλένη δʼ ἐκλήθην. ἃ δὲ πεπόνθαμεν κακὰλέγοιμʼ ἄν. ἦλθον τρεῖς θεαὶ κάλλους πέριἸδαῖον ἐς κευθμῶνʼ Ἀλέξανδρον πάρα,Ἥρα Κύπρις τε διογενής τε παρθένος,μορφῆς θέλουσαι διαπεράνασθαι κρίσιν.τοὐμὸν δὲ κάλλος, εἰ καλὸν τὸ δυστυχές,Κύπρις προτείνασʼ ὡς Ἀλέξανδρος γαμεῖ,νικᾷ. λιπὼν δὲ βούσταθμʼ Ἰδαῖος ΠάριςΣπάρτην ἀφίκεθʼ ὡς ἐμὸν σχήσων λέχος.
But 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;and 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 earthof 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 andhid 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 husbandhas 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 husbandand 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.Well, 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,for 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.
Ἥρα δὲ μεμφθεῖσʼ οὕνεκʼ οὐ νικᾷ θεάς,ἐξηνέμωσε τἄμʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ λέχη,δίδωσι δʼ οὐκ ἔμʼ, ἀλλʼ ὁμοιώσασʼ ἐμοὶεἴδωλον ἔμπνουν οὐρανοῦ ξυνθεῖσʼ ἄπο,Πριάμου τυράννου παιδί· καὶ δοκεῖ μʼ ἔχειν —κενὴν δόκησιν, οὐκ ἔχων. τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὸςβουλεύματʼ ἄλλα τοῖσδε συμβαίνει κακοῖς·πόλεμον γὰρ εἰσήνεγκεν Ἑλλήνων χθονὶκαὶ Φρυξὶ δυστήνοισιν, ὡς ὄχλου βροτῶνπλήθους τε κουφίσειε μητέρα χθόναγνωτόν 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 αἰθέροςνεφέλῃ καλύψας — οὐ γὰρ ἠμέλησέ μουΖεύς — τόνδʼ ἐς οἶκον Πρωτέως ἱδρύσατο,πάντων προκρίνας σωφρονέστατον βροτῶν,ἀκέραιον ὡς σῴσαιμι Μενέλεῳ λέχος.κἀγὼ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ εἴμʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄθλιος πόσιςστράτευμʼ ἀθροίσας τὰς ἐμὰς ἀναρπαγὰςθηρᾷ πορευθεὶς Ἰλίου πυργώματα.ψυχαὶ δὲ πολλαὶ διʼ ἔμʼ ἐπὶ Σκαμανδρίοιςῥοαῖσιν ἔθανον· ἡ δὲ πάντα τλᾶσʼ ἐγὼκατάρατός εἰμι καὶ δοκῶ προδοῦσʼ ἐμὸνπόσιν συνάψαι πόλεμον Ἕλλησιν μέγαν.τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; θεοῦ τόδʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ἔποςἙρμοῦ, τὸ κλεινὸν ἔτι κατοικήσειν πέδονΣπάρτης σὺν ἀνδρί, γνόντος ὡς ἐς Ἴλιονοὐκ ἦλθον, ἵνα μὴ λέκτρʼ ὑποστρώσω τινί.ἕως μὲν οὖν φῶς ἡλίου τόδʼ ἔβλεπενΠρωτεύς, ἄσυλος ἦ γάμων· ἐπεὶ δὲ γῆςσκότῳ κέκρυπται, παῖς ὁ τοῦ τεθνηκότοςθηρᾷ γαμεῖν με. τὸν πάλαι δʼ ἐγὼ πόσιντιμῶσα Πρωτέως μνῆμα προσπίτνω τόδεἱκέτις, ἵνʼ ἀνδρὶ τἀμὰ διασῴσῃ λέχη,ὡς, εἰ καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ὄνομα δυσκλεὲς φέρω,μή μοι τὸ σῶμά γʼ ἐνθάδʼ αἰσχύνην ὄφλῃ.
Teucer:Who holds power over this fortified house? The dwelling is worthy of comparison with Ploutos’,its 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 likeHelen! 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.
Τεῦκρος:τίς τῶνδʼ ἐρυμνῶν δωμάτων ἔχει κράτος;πλούτου γὰρ οἶκος ἄξιος προσεικάσαι,βασίλειά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματʼ εὔθριγκοί θʼ ἕδραι.ἔα·ὦ θεοί, τίνʼ εἶδον ὄψιν; ἐχθίστην ὁρῶγυναικὸς εἰκὼ φόνιον, ἥ μʼ ἀπώλεσενπάντας τʼ Ἀχαιούς. θεοί σʼ, ὅσον μίμημʼ ἔχειςἙλένης, ἀποπτύσειαν. εἰ δὲ μὴ ʼν ξένῃγαίᾳ πόδʼ εἶχον, τῷδʼ ἂν εὐστόχῳ πτερῷἀπόλαυσιν εἰκοῦς ἔθανες ἂν Διὸς κόρης.
Helen:What is it, poor man—who are you, that you have turned away from me and loathe me for the misfortunes of that one?
Ἑλένη:τί δʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ — ὅστις ὤν μʼ ἀπεστράφηςκαὶ ταῖς ἐκείνης συμφοραῖς ἐμὲ στυγεῖς;
Teucer: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.
Τεῦκρος:ἥμαρτον· ὀργῇ δʼ εἶξα μᾶλλον ἤ με χρῆν·μισεῖ γὰρ Ἑλλὰς πᾶσα τὴν Διὸς κόρην.σύγγνωθι δʼ ἡμῖν τοῖς λελεγμένοις, γύναι.
Helen:Who are you? Where have you come from, to visit this land?
Ἑλένη:τίς δʼ εἶ; πόθεν γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐπεστράφης πέδον;
Teucer:I am one of those unfortunate Achaeans, lady.
Τεῦκρος:εἷς τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, ὦ γύναι, τῶν ἀθλίων.
Helen: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?
Ἑλένη:οὐ τἄρα σʼ Ἑλένην εἰ στυγεῖς θαυμαστέον.ἀτὰρ τίς εἶ πόθεν; τίνος δʼ αὐδᾶν σε χρή;
Teucer:My name is Teucer, my father is Telamon, and Salamis is the land that nurtured me.
Τεῦκρος:ὄνομα μὲν ἡμῖν Τεῦκρος, ὁ δὲ φύσας πατὴρΤελαμών, Σαλαμὶς δὲ πατρὶς ἡ θρέψασά με.
Helen:Then why are you visiting these lands of the Nile?
Ἑλένη:τί δῆτα Νείλου τούσδʼ ἐπιστρέφῃ γύας;
Teucer:I am an exile, driven out of my native land.
Τεῦκρος:φυγὰς πατρῴας ἐξελήλαμαι χθονός.
Helen:You must be unhappy! Who banished you from your fatherland?
Ἑλένη:τλήμων ἂν εἴης· τίς δέ σʼ ἐκβάλλει πάτρας;
Teucer:My father Telamon. Could you find anyone closer to me?
Τεῦκρος:Τελαμὼν ὁ φύσας. τίνʼ ἂν ἔχοις μᾶλλον φίλον;
Helen:But why? This matter is surely an unfortunate one.
Ἑλένη:ἐκ τοῦ; τὸ γάρ τοι πρᾶγμα συμφορὰν ἔχει.
Teucer:The death of my brother Aias at Troy was my ruin.
Τεῦκρος:Αἴας μʼ ἀδελφὸς ὤλεσʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ θανών.
Helen:How so? You didn’t take his life with your sword, did you?
Ἑλένη:πῶς; οὔ τί που σῷ φασγάνῳ βίον στερείς;
Teucer:He threw himself on his own sword and died.
Τεῦκρος:οἰκεῖον αὐτὸν ὤλεσʼ ἅλμʼ ἐπὶ ξίφος.
Helen:Was he mad? For what sensible man would dare such a thing?
Ἑλένη:μανέντʼ; ἐπεὶ τίς σωφρονῶν τλαίη τάδʼ ἄν;
Teucer:Do you know a certain Achilleus, the son of Peleus?
Τεῦκρος:τὸν Πηλέως τινʼ οἶσθʼ Ἀχιλλέα γόνον;
Helen:Yes; he came to woo Helen once, so I hear.
Ἑλένη:ναί·μνηστήρ ποθʼ Ἑλένης ἦλθεν, ὡς ἀκούομεν.
Teucer:When he died, he left a contest for his armor to his allies.
Τεῦκρος:θανὼν ὅδʼ ὅπλων ἔριν ἔθηκε συμμάχοις.
Helen:Well, if he did, what harm is this to Aias?
Ἑλένη:καὶ δὴ τί τοῦτʼ Αἴαντι γίγνεται κακόν;
Teucer:When someone else got the arms, he took his own life.
Τεῦκρος:ἄλλου λαβόντος ὅπλʼ ἀπηλλάχθη βίου.
Helen:Then are you ill through his suffering?
Ἑλένη:σὺ τοῖς ἐκείνου δῆτα πήμασιν νοσεῖς;
Teucer:Yes, because I did not die together with him.
Τεῦκρος:ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτῷ γʼ οὐ ξυνωλόμην ὁμοῦ.
Helen:So you went to the famous city of Ilion, stranger?
Ἑλένη:ἦλθες γάρ, ὦ ξένʼ, Ἰλίου κλεινὴν πόλιν;
Teucer:Yes, and by helping to sack it, I destroyed myself as well.
Τεῦκρος:καὶ ξύν γε πέρσας αὐτὸς ἀνταπωλόμην.
Helen:Has it already been set alight and completely consumed by fire?
Ἑλένη:ἤδη γὰρ ἧπται καὶ κατείργασται πυρί;
Teucer:So that not even a trace of the walls is evident.
Τεῦκρος:ὥστʼ οὐδʼ ἴχνος γε τειχέων εἶναι σαφές.
Helen:O miserable Helen! Because of you, the Phrygians have been destroyed.
Ἑλένη:ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλένη, διὰ σʼ ἀπόλλυνται Φρύγες.
Teucer:And also the Achaeans; great evils have been committed.
Τεῦκρος:καὶ πρός γʼ Ἀχαιοί· μεγάλα δʼ εἴργασται κακά.
Helen:How long is it since the city was sacked?
Ἑλένη:πόσον χρόνον γὰρ διαπεπόρθηται πόλις;
Teucer:Almost seven years have gone full circle, with their harvests.
Τεῦκρος:ἑπτὰ σχεδόν τι καρπίμους ἐτῶν κύκλους.
Helen:And how much longer were you waiting at Troy?
Ἑλένη:χρόνον δʼ ἐμείνατʼ ἄλλον ἐν Τροίᾳ πόσον;
Teucer:For many months; the moon held its course through ten years.
Τεῦκρος:πολλὰς σελήνας, δέκα διελθούσας ἔτη.
Helen:And did you capture the Spartan woman?
Ἑλένη:ἦ καὶ γυναῖκα Σπαρτιᾶτιν εἵλετε;
Teucer:Menelaos caught her by the hair to drag her away.
Τεῦκρος:Μενέλαος αὐτὴν ἦγʼ ἐπισπάσας κόμης.
Helen:Did you yourself see the wretched creature? Or do you speak from hearsay?
Ἑλένη:εἶδες σὺ τὴν δύστηνον; ἢ κλύων λέγεις;
Teucer:I saw her with my own eyes, just as I see you, no less.
Τεῦκρος:ὥσπερ γε σέ, οὐδὲν ἧσσον, ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶ.
Helen:Consider whether you had some fancy, sent by the gods.
Ἑλένη:σκοπεῖτε μὴ δόκησιν εἴχετʼ ἐκ θεῶν.
Teucer:Think of some other topic, not that woman still!
Τεῦκρος:ἄλλου λόγου μέμνησο, μὴ κείνης ἔτι.
Helen:Are you so sure this fancy was reliable?
Ἑλένη:οὕτω δοκεῖτε τὴν δόκησιν ἀσφαλῆ;
Teucer:I saw it with my own eyes; and the mind has sight.
Τεῦκρος:αὐτὸς γὰρ ὄσσοις εἰδόμην· καὶ νοῦς ὁρᾷ.
Helen:Is Menelaos already at home with his wife?
Ἑλένη:ἤδη δʼ ἐν οἴκοις σὺν δάμαρτι Μενέλεως;
Teucer:No; he is neither in Argos nor by the streams of the Eurotas.
Τεῦκρος:οὔκουν ἐν Ἄργει ⟨γʼ⟩ οὐδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοαῖς.
Helen:Alas! This is evil news for those to whom you bring it.
Ἑλένη:αἰαῖ· κακὸν τόδʼ εἶπας οἷς κακὸν λέγεις.
Teucer:He is said to have disappeared with his wife.
Τεῦκρος:ὡς κεῖνος ἀφανὴς σὺν δάμαρτι κλῄζεται.
Helen:Wasn’t there the same passage for all the Argives?
Ἑλένη:οὐ πᾶσι πορθμὸς αὑτὸς Ἀργείοισιν ἦν;
Teucer:Yes; but a tempest scattered them in every direction.
Τεῦκρος:ἦν, ἀλλὰ χειμὼν ἄλλοσʼ ἄλλον ὥρισεν.
Helen:On which surface of the salty ocean?
Ἑλένη:ποίοισιν ἐν νώτοισι ποντίας ἁλός;
Teucer:While they were crossing the Aegean in mid-channel.
Τεῦκρος:μέσον περῶσι πέλαγος Αἰγαίου πόρου.
Helen:And from that time does no one know of Menelaos’ arrival?
Ἑλένη:κἀκ τοῦδε Μενέλαν οὔτις εἶδʼ ἀφιγμένον;
Teucer:No one; but throughout Hellas he is reported to be dead.
Τεῦκρος:οὐδείς· θανὼν δὲ κλῄζεται καθʼ Ἑλλάδα.
Helen:I am wholly lost. Is the daughter of Thestius alive?
Ἑλένη:ἀπωλόμεσθα· Θεστιὰς δʼ ἔστιν κόρη;
Teucer:You speak of Leda? She is dead and gone, indeed.
Τεῦκρος:Λήδαν ἔλεξας; οἴχεται θανοῦσα δή.
Helen:It wasn’t Helen’s disgraceful fame that killed her, surely?
Ἑλένη:οὔ πού νιν Ἑλένης αἰσχρὸν ὤλεσεν κλέος;
Teucer:Yes, they say she tied a noose around her noble neck.
Τεῦκρος:φασίν, βρόχῳ γʼ ἅψασαν εὐγενῆ δέρην.
Helen:Are the sons of Tyndareus still alive or not?
Ἑλένη:οἱ Τυνδάρειοι δʼ εἰσὶν ἢ οὐκ εἰσὶν κόροι;
Teucer:They are dead, and not dead: it is a double story.
Τεῦκρος:τεθνᾶσι καὶ οὐ τεθνᾶσι· δύο δʼ ἐστὸν λόγω.
Helen:Which report is the stronger? I am so unhappy at these evils!
Ἑλένη:πότερος ὁ κρείσσων; ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.
Teucer:Men say that they are gods in the likeness of stars.
Τεῦκρος:ἄστροις σφʼ ὁμοιωθέντε φάσʼ εἶναι θεώ.
Helen:That is good news; but what is the other story?
Ἑλένη:καλῶς ἔλεξας τοῦτο· θάτερον δὲ τί;
Teucer: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,wanting 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 ofSalamis in honor of that fatherland over there.
Τεῦκρος:σφαγαῖς ἀδελφῆς οὕνεκʼ ἐκπνεῦσαι βίον.ἅλις δὲ μύθων· οὐ διπλᾶ χρῄζω στένειν.ὧν δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἦλθον τούσδε βασιλείους δόμους,τὴν θεσπιῳδὸν Θεονόην χρῄζων ἰδεῖν,σὺ προξένησον, ὡς τύχω μαντευμάτωνὅπῃ νεὼς στείλαιμʼ ἂν οὔριον πτερὸνἐς γῆν ἐναλίαν Κύπρον, οὗ μʼ ἐθέσπισενοἰκεῖν Ἀπόλλων, ὄνομα νησιωτικὸνΣαλαμῖνα θέμενον τῆς ἐκεῖ χάριν πάτρας.
Helen: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;for 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?
Ἑλένη:πλοῦς, ὦ ξένʼ, αὐτὸς σημανεῖ· σὺ δʼ ἐκλιπὼνγῆν τήνδε φεῦγε πρίν σε παῖδα Πρωτέωςἰδεῖν, ὃς ἄρχει τῆσδε γῆς· ἄπεστι δὲκυσὶν πεποιθὼς ἐν φοναῖς θηροκτόνοις·κτείνει γὰρ Ἕλληνʼ ὅντινʼ ἂν λάβῃ ξένον.ὅτου δʼ ἕκατι, μήτε σὺ ζήτει μαθεῖνἐγώ τε σιγῶ· τί γὰρ ἂν ὠφελοῖμί σε;
Teucer:Lady, you have spoken well. May the gods grant you a return for your kindness!Although 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.
Τεῦκρος:καλῶς ἔλεξας, ὦ γύναι· θεοὶ δέ σοιἐσθλῶν ἀμοιβὰς ἀντιδωρησαίατο.Ἑλένῃ δʼ ὅμοιον σῶμʼ ἔχουσʼ οὐ τὰς φρέναςἔχεις ὁμοίας, ἀλλὰ διαφόρους πολύ.κακῶς δʼ ὄλοιτο μηδʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρώτα ῥοὰςἔλθοι· σὺ δʼ εἴης εὐτυχὴς ἀεί, γύναι.
Exit Teucer.Helen:Oh, as I begin the great lament of my great distress,what mourning shall I strive to utter? or what Muse shall I approach with tears or songs of death or woe? Alas!
Ἑλένη:ὤ, μεγάλων ἀχέων καταβαλλομένα μέγαν οἶκτονποῖον ἁμιλλαθῶ γόον; ἢ τίνα μοῦσαν ἐπέλθωδάκρυσιν ἢ θρήνοις ἢ πένθεσιν; αἰαῖ.
Helen:Winged maidens, virgin daughters of Earth, the Sirens, may you come to my mourningwith 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 deathin 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.
Ἑλένη:πτεροφόροι νεάνιδες,παρθένοι Χθονὸς κόραιΣειρῆνες, εἴθʼ ἐμοῖς γόοιςμόλοιτʼ ἔχουσαι Λίβυνλωτὸν ἢ σύριγγας ἢφόρμιγγας, αἰλίνοις κακοῖςτοῖς ἐμοῖσι σύνοχα δάκρυα·πάθεσι πάθεα, μέλεσι μέλεα,μουσεῖα θρηνήμα-σι ξυνῳδὰ πέμψειεΦερσέφασσαφόνια, χάριτας ἵνʼ ἐπὶ δάκρυσιπαρʼ ἐμέθεν ὑπὸ μέλαθρα νύχιαπαιᾶνανέκυσιν ὀλομένοις λάβῃ.
Chorus:Beside the deep-blue waterand 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,I 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 screamsat the rape of Pan.
Χορός:κυανοειδὲς ἀμφʼ ὕδωρἔτυχον ἕλικά τʼ ἀνὰ χλόανφοίνικας ἁλίου πέπλουςαὐγαῖσιν ἐν χρυσέαιςἀμφὶ δόνακος ἔρνεσινθάλπουσα· ⟨ποτνίας δʼ ἐμᾶς,⟩ἔνθεν οἰκτρὸν ἀνεβόασεν,ὅμαδον ἔκλυον, ἄλυρον ἔλεγον,ὅτι ποτʼ ἔλακεν αἰάγμα-σι στένουσα, Νύμφα τιςοἷα Ναῒςὄρεσι φυγάδα νόμον ἱεῖσαγοερόν, ὑπὸ δὲ πέτρινα γύαλακλαγγαῖσιΠανὸς ἀναβοᾷ γάμους.
Helen:Oh! Oh! Maidens of Hellas, the prey of barbarian sailors! An Achaean sailorcame, 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.Leda sought death by hanging, in anguish over my disgrace. My husband, after much wandering in the sea, has died and is gone;and Castor and his brother, twin glory of their native land, have vanished, vanished, leaving the plains that shook to their galloping horses,and the schools of reed-fringed Eurotas, scene of youthful labors.
Ἑλένη:ἰὼ ἰώ·θήραμα βαρβάρου πλάτας,Ἑλλανίδες κόραι,ναύτας Ἀχαιῶντις ἔμολεν ἔμολε δάκρυα δάκρυσί μοι φέρων.Ἰλίου κατασκαφαὶπυρὶ μέλουσι δαΐῳδιʼ ἐμὲ τὰν πολυκτόνον,διʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομα πολύπονον.Λήδα δʼ ἐν ἀγχόναιςθάνατον ἔλαβεν αἰσχύ-νας ἐμᾶς ὑπʼ ἀλγέων.ὁ δʼ ἐμὸς ἐν ἁλὶ πολυπλανὴςπόσις ὀλόμενος οἴχεται,κάστορός τε συγγόνου τεδιδυμογενὲς ἄγαλμα πατρίδοςἀφανὲς ἀφανὲς ἱππόκροτα λέ-λοιπε δάπεδα γυμνάσιά τεδονακόεντος Εὐρώ-τα, νεανιᾶν πόνον.
Chorus: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,shining 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;the 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 overto 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.
Χορός:αἰαῖ αἰαῖ·ὦ δαίμονος πολυστόνουμοίρας τε σᾶς, γύναι.αἰὼν δυσαίωντις ἔλαχεν ἔλαχεν, ὅτε σʼ ἐτέκετο ματρόθενχιονόχρως κύκνου πτερῷΖεὺς πρέπων διʼ αἰθέρος·τί γὰρ ἄπεστί σοι κακῶν;τίνα δὲ βίοτον οὐκ ἔτλας;μάτηρ μὲν οἴχεται,δίδυμά τε Διὸς οὐκ εὐ-δαιμονεῖ τέκεα φίλα,χθόνα δὲ πάτριον οὐχ ὁρᾷς,διὰ δὲ πόλεας ἔρχεταιβάξις, ἅ σε βαρβάροισι,πότνια, παραδίδωσι λέχεσιν,ὁ δὲ σὸς ἐν ἁλὶ κύμασί τε λέ-λοιπε βίοτον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔτιπάτρια μέλαθρα καὶ τὰνΧαλκίοικον ὀλβιεῖς.
Helen:Ah! Who was it, either from Phrygiaor 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 oarsto 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.Oh, 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,so 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 namebeside the streams of Simois bears a false rumor.
Ἑλένη:φεῦ φεῦ, τίς ἢ Φρυγῶνἢ τίς Ἑλλανίας ἀπὸ χθονὸςἔτεμε τὰν δακρυόεσσανἸλίῳ πεύκαν;ἔνθεν ὀλόμενον σκάφοςσυναρμόσας ὁ Πριαμίδαςἔπλευσε βαρβάρῳ πλάτᾳτὰν ἐμὰν ἐφʼ ἑστίαν,ἐπὶ τὸ δυστυχέστατονκάλλος, ὡς ἕλοι, γάμωνἀμῶν· ἅ τε δόλιοςἁ πολυκτόνος ΚύπριςΔαναΐδαις ἄγουσα θάνατον [Πριαμίδαις],ὦ τάλαινα συμφορᾶς.ἁ δὲ χρυσέοις θρόνοιςΔιὸς ὑπαγκάλισμα σεμνὸνἭρα τὸν ὠκύπουνἔπεμψε Μαιάδος γόνον·ὅς με χλοερὰ δρεπομένανἔσω πέπλων ῥόδεα πέταλα,Χαλκίοικον ὡς [Ἀθάναν] μόλοιμʼ,ἀναρπάσας διʼ αἰθέροςτάνδε γαῖαν εἰς ἄνολβονἔριν ἔριν τάλαιναν ἔθετοΠριαμίδαισιν Ἑλλάδος.τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν ὄνομαπαρὰ Σιμουντίοις ῥοαῖσιμαψίδιον ἔχει φάτιν.
Chorus Leader:You have sorrows, I know; but it is best to bear as lightly as we can the necessary evils of life.
Χορός:ἔχεις μὲν ἀλγείνʼ, οἶδα· σύμφορον δέ τοιὡς ῥᾷστα τἀναγκαῖα τοῦ βίου φέρειν.
Helen:Dear friends, to what a fate am I yoked? Did my mother bear me as a wonder to mankind? [For no other woman, Hellene or barbarian, gives birth to a white vessel of chicks, in which they say Leda bore me to Zeus.]My 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,and would remember what part of my life is not evil, as they now remember what is.When 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.First, 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 friendsI 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.My 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.But 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.If 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.
Ἑλένη:φίλαι γυναῖκες, τίνι πότμῳ συνεζύγην;ἆρʼ ἡ τεκοῦσά μʼ ἔτεκεν ἀνθρώποις τέρας;[γυνὴ γὰρ οὔθʼ Ἑλληνὶς οὔτε βάρβαρος][τεῦχος νεοσσῶν λευκὸν ἐκλοχεύεται,][ἐν ᾧ με Λήδαν φασὶν ἐκ Διὸς τεκεῖν.]τέρας γὰρ ὁ βίος καὶ τὰ πράγματʼ ἐστί μου,τὰ μὲν διʼ Ἥραν, τὰ δὲ τὸ κάλλος αἴτιον.εἴθʼ ἐξαλειφθεῖσʼ ὡς ἄγαλμʼ αὖθις πάλιναἴσχιον εἶδος ἔλαβον ἀντὶ τοῦ καλοῦ,καὶ τὰς τύχας μὲν τὰς κακὰς ἃς νῦν ἔχωἝλληνες ἐπελάθοντο, τὰς δὲ μὴ κακὰςἔσῳζον ὥσπερ τὰς κακὰς σῴζουσί μου.ὅστις μὲν οὖν ἐς μίαν ἀποβλέπων τύχηνπρὸς 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.ἔπειτα πατρίδος θεοί μʼ ἀφιδρύσαντο γῆςἐς βάρβαρʼ ἤθη, καὶ φίλων τητωμένηδούλη καθέστηκʼ οὖσʼ ἐλευθέρων ἄπο·τὰ βαρβάρων γὰρ δοῦλα πάντα πλὴν ἑνός.ἄγκυρα δʼ ἥ μου τὰς τύχας ὤχει μόνη,πόσιν 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,θυγάτηρ ἄνανδρος πολιὰ παρθενεύεται·τὼ τοῦ Διὸς δὲ λεγομένω Διοσκόρωοὐκ ἐστόν. ἀλλὰ πάντʼ ἔχουσα δυστυχῆτοῖς πράγμασιν τέθνηκα, τοῖς δʼ ἔργοισιν οὔ.τὸ δʼ ἔσχατον τοῦτʼ, εἰ μόλοιμεν ἐς πάτραν,κλῄθροις ἂν εἰργοίμεσθα — τὴν ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳδοκοῦντες Ἑλένην Μενέλεώ μʼ ἐλθεῖν μέτα.εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἔζη πόσις, ἀνεγνώσθημεν ἂνἐλθόντες, ἃ φανέρʼ ἦν μόνοις, ἐς ξύμβολα.νῦν δʼ οὔτε τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ οὔτε μὴ σωθῇ ποτε.
Why then do I still live? What fortune do I have left? Shall I choose marriage in exchange for evils,and 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? [To hang oneself, high in the air, is unseemly,][even slaves consider it undignified; but to stab oneself is noble and good, and the moment of rending life from the body is short.] For I have come to such a depth of misery; other women have good fortune from their beauty,but the same thing has destroyed me.Chorus Leader:Helen, do not suppose that stranger who came here, whoever he was, has spoken the whole truth.
τί δῆτʼ ἔτι ζῶ; τίνʼ ὑπολείπομαι τύχην;γάμους ἑλομένη τῶν κακῶν ὑπαλλαγάς,μετʼ ἀνδρὸς οἰκεῖν βαρβάρου πρὸς πλουσίαντράπεζαν ἵζουσʼ; ἀλλʼ ὅταν πόσις πικρὸςξυνῇ γυναικί, καὶ τὸ σῶμʼ ἐστιν πικρόν.θανεῖν κράτιστον· πῶς θάνοιμʼ ἂν οὐ καλῶς;[ἀσχήμονες μὲν ἀγχόναι μετάρσιοι,][κἀν τοῖσι δούλοις δυσπρεπὲς νομίζεται·][σφαγαὶ δʼ ἔχουσιν εὐγενές τι καὶ καλόν,][σμικρὸν δʼ ὁ καιρὸς σάρκʼ ἀπαλλάξαι βίου.]ἐς γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἤλθομεν βάθος κακῶν·αἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλαι διὰ τὸ κάλλος εὐτυχεῖςγυναῖκες, ἡμᾶς δʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀπώλεσεν.Χορός:Ἑλένη, τὸν ἐλθόνθʼ, ὅστις ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος,μὴ πάντʼ ἀληθῆ δοξάσῃς εἰρηκέναι.
Helen:And yet he said very clearly that my husband was dead.
Ἑλένη:καὶ μὴν σαφῶς γʼ ἔλεξʼ ὀλωλέναι πόσιν.
Chorus Leader:Many words might be said in falsehood also.
Χορός:πόλλʼ ἂν γένοιτο καὶ διὰ ψευδῶν ἔπη.
Helen:And the opposite of falsehood is clear in its truth.
Ἑλένη:καὶ τἄμπαλίν γε τῶνδʼ ἀληθείᾳ σαφῆ.
Chorus Leader:You are carried towards misfortune instead of what is good.
Χορός:ἐς ξυμφορὰν γὰρ ἀντὶ τἀγαθοῦ φέρῃ.
Helen:Yes, for terror has embraced me and leads me to the thing I fear.
Ἑλένη:φόβος γὰρ ἐς τὸ δεῖμα περιβαλών μʼ ἄγει.
Chorus Leader:How much goodwill is there in this house for you?
Χορός:πῶς δʼ εὐμενείας τοισίδʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔχεις;
Helen:All are my friends, except the one who hunts me in marriage.
Ἑλένη:πάντες φίλοι μοι πλὴν ὁ θηρεύων γάμους.
Chorus Leader:Then do you know what you should do? Leave your seat at the monument—
Χορός:οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον; μνήματος λιποῦσʼ ἕδραν —
Helen:What sort of word of advice are you coming to?
Ἑλένη:ἐς ποῖον ἕρπεις μῦθον ἢ παραίνεσιν;
Chorus 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;and 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;when 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.
Χορός:ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐς οἴκους, ἣ τὰ πάντʼ ἐπίσταται,τῆς ποντίας Νηρῇδος ἐκγόνου κόρης,πυθοῦ πόσιν σὸν Θεονόης, εἴτʼ ἔστʼ ἔτιεἴτʼ ἐκλέλοιπε φέγγος· ἐκμαθοῦσα δʼ εὖπρὸς τὰς τύχας τὸ χάρμα τοὺς γόους τʼ ἔχε.πρὶν δʼ οὐδὲν ὀρθῶς εἰδέναι, τί σοι πλέονλυπουμένῃ γένοιτʼ ἄν; ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ·τάφον λιποῦσα τόνδε σύμμειξον κόρῃ·ὅθενπερ εἴσῃ πάντα τἀληθῆ μαθεῖνἔχουσʼ ἐν οἴκοις τοῖσδε, τί βλέπεις πρόσω;θέλω δὲ κἀγὼ σοὶ συνεισελθεῖν δόμουςκαὶ συμπυθέσθαι παρθένου θεσπίσματα·γυναῖκα γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖν γυναικὶ χρή.
Helen:Dear friends, I welcome your advice. Come in, come into the house, to learn within about my struggles.
Ἑλένη:φίλαι, λόγους ἐδεξάμαν·βᾶτε βᾶτε δʼ ἐς δόμους,ἀγῶνας ἐντὸς οἴκωνὡς πύθησθε τοὺς ἐμούς.
Chorus:You are calling on one who is wholly willing.
Χορός:θέλουσαν οὐ μόλις καλεῖς.
Helen:Oh, what an unhappy day! What tearful word shall I hear, unhappy as I am?
Ἑλένη:ἰὼ μέλεος ἁμέρα.τίνʼ ἄρα τάλαινα τίνα δακρυό-εντα λόγον ἀκούσομαι;
Chorus:Do not be a prophetess of sorrow, dear friend, anticipating lamentation.
Χορός:μὴ πρόμαντις ἀλγέωνπρολάμβανʼ, ὦ φίλα, γόους.
Helen: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 fateamong the dead beneath the earth?
Ἑλένη:τί μοι πόσις μέλεος ἔτλα;πότερα δέρκεται φάοςτέθριππά θʼ ἁλίου κέλευθά τʼ ἀστέρων,ἢ ʼν νέκυσι κατὰ χθονὸςτὰν χρόνιον ἔχει τύχαν;
Chorus:Take a brighter view of the future, whatever will happen.
Χορός:ἐς τὸ φέρτερον τίθειτὸ μέλλον, ὅ τι γενήσεται.
Helen:For I call on you, I swear to you, Eurotas green with watery reeds,if 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,a 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.
Ἑλένη:σὲ γὰρ ἐκάλεσα, σὲ δὲ κατόμοσα,τὸν ὑδρόεντι δόνακι χλωρὸνΕὐρώταν, θανόντοςεἰ βάξις ἔτυμος ἀνδρὸςἅδε μοι — τί τάδʼ ἀσύνετα; —φόνιον αἰώρημαδιὰ δέρης ὀρέξομαι,ἢ ξιφοκτόνον δίωγμαλαιμορρύτου σφαγᾶςαὐτοσίδαρον ἔσω πελάσω διὰ σαρκὸς ἅμιλλαν,θῦμα τριζύγοις θεαῖσιτῷ τε σήραγγας Ἰδαί-ας ἐνίζοντι Πριαμί-δᾳ ποτʼ ἀμφὶ βουστάθμους.
Chorus:May sorrow be turned aside elsewhere, and may your lot be fortunate!
Χορός:ἄλλοσʼ ἀποτροπὰ κακῶνγένοιτο, τὸ δὲ σὸν εὐτυχές.
Helen: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 bloodand 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.And 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.
Ἑλένη:ἰὼ Τροία τάλαινα,διʼ ἔργʼ ἄνεργʼ ὄλλυσαιμέλεά τʼ ἔτλας· τὰ δʼ ἐμὰ δῶραΚύπριδος ἔτεκε πολὺ μὲν αἷμα,πολὺ δὲ δάκρυον· ἄχεά τʼ ἄχεσι,δάκρυα δάκρυσιν ἔλαβε, πάθεα …ματέρες τε παῖδας ὄλεσαν,ἀπὸ δὲ παρθένοι κόμαςἔθεντο σύγγονοι νεκρῶν Σκαμάνδριονἀμφὶ Φρύγιον οἶδμα.βοὰν βοὰν δʼ Ἑλλὰςκελάδησε κἀνοτότυξεν,ἐπὶ δὲ κρατὶ χέρας ἔθηκεν,ὄνυχι δʼ ἁπαλόχροα γένυνδεῦσε φονίαισι πλαγαῖς.
O 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;and 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 andthe lost Achaeans.
ὦ μάκαρ Ἀρκαδίᾳ ποτὲ παρθένε Καλλιστοῖ, Διὸςἃ λεχέων ἐπέβας τετραβάμοσι γυίοις,ὡς πολὺ ματρὸς ἐμᾶς ἔλαχες πλέον,ἁ μορφᾷ θηρῶν λαχνογυίων —ὄμματι λάβρῷ σχῆμα λεαίνης —ἐξαλλάξασʼ ἄχθεα λύπης·ἅν τέ ποτʼ Ἄρτεμις ἐξεχορεύσατοχρυσοκέρατʼ ἔλαφον Μέροπος Τιτανίδα κούρανκαλλοσύνας ἕνεκεν· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν δέμαςὤλεσεν ὤλεσε πέργαμα Δαρδανίαςὀλομένους τʼ Ἀχαιούς.
Exit Helen.Menelaos: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,before 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,no 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.But 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;and 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.And now I am cast up on this shore, a miserable shipwrecked sailor who has lost his friends; and my ship isbroken 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 countryand 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.But 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 caveI 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.When 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.Hello! Is there some gatekeeper who might come from the house and announce my troubles within?
Μενελέως:ὦ τὰς τεθρίππους Οἰνομάῳ Πῖσαν κάταΠέλοψ ἁμίλλας ἐξαμιλληθείς ποτε,εἴθʼ ὤφελες τόθʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἔρανον εἰς θεοὺςπεισθεὶς ἐποίεις, ἐν θεοῖς λιπεῖν βίον,πρὶν τὸν ἐμὸν Ἀτρέα πατέρα γεννῆσαί ποτε,ὃς ἐξέφυσεν Ἀερόπης λέκτρων ἄποἈγαμέμνονʼ ἐμέ τε Μενέλεων, κλεινὸν ζυγόν·πλεῖστον γὰρ οἶμαι — καὶ τόδʼ οὐ κόμπῳ λέγω —στράτευμα κώπῃ διορίσαι Τροίαν ἔπι,τύραννος οὐδὲν πρὸς βίαν στρατηλατῶν,ἑκοῦσι 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 ἁλὸςτλήμων ἀλῶμαι χρόνον ὅσονπερ Ἰλίουπύργους ἔπερσα, κἀς πάτραν χρῄζων μολεῖνοὐκ ἀξιοῦμαι τοῦδε πρὸς θεῶν τυχεῖν.Λιβύης τʼ ἐρήμους ἀξένους τʼ ἐπιδρομὰςπέπλευκα πάσας· χὥταν ἐγγὺς ὦ πάτρας,πάλιν μʼ ἀπωθεῖ πνεῦμα, κοὔποτʼ οὔριονἐσῆλθε λαῖφος ὥστε μʼ ἐς πάτραν μολεῖν.καὶ νῦν τάλας ναυαγὸς ἀπολέσας φίλουςἐξέπεσον ἐς γῆν τήνδε· ναῦς δὲ πρὸς πέτραςπολλοὺς ἀριθμοὺς ἄγνυται ναυαγίων.τρόπις δʼ ἐλείφθη ποικίλων ἁρμοσμάτων,ἐφʼ ἧς ἐσώθην μόλις ἀνελπίστῳ τύχῃἙλένη τε, Τροίας ἣν ἀποσπάσας ἔχω.ὄνομα δὲ χώρας ἥτις ἥδε καὶ λεὼςοὐκ οἶδα· ὄχλον γὰρ ἐσπεσεῖν ᾐσχυνόμηνὥσθʼ ἱστορῆσαι, τὰς ἐμὰς δυσχλαινίαςκρύπτων ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς τῆς τύχης. ὅταν δʼ ἀνὴρπράξῃ κακῶς ὑψηλός, εἰς ἀηθίανπίπτει κακίω τοῦ πάλαι δυσδαίμονος.χρεία δὲ τείρει μʼ· οὔτε γὰρ σῖτος πάραοὔτʼ ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐσθῆτες· αὐτὰ δʼ εἰκάσαιπάρεστι ναὸς ἐκβόλοις ἃ ἀμπίσχομαι.πέπλους δὲ τοὺς πρὶν λαμπρά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματαχλιδάς τε πόντος ἥρπασʼ· ἐν δʼ ἄντρου μυχοῖςκρύψας γυναῖκα τὴν κακῶν πάντων ἐμοὶἄρξασαν ἥκω τούς τε περιλελειμμένουςφίλων φυλάσσειν τἄμʼ ἀναγκάσας λέχη.μόνος δὲ νοστῶ, τοῖς ἐκεῖ ζητῶν φίλοιςτὰ πρόσφορʼ ἤν πως ἐξερευνήσας λάβω.ἰδὼν δὲ δῶμα περιφερὲς θριγκοῖς τόδεπύλας τε σεμνὰς ἀνδρὸς ὀλβίου τινός,προσῆλθον· ἐλπὶς δʼ ἔκ γε πλουσίων δόμωνλαβεῖν τι ναύταις· ἐκ δὲ μὴ ἐχόντων βίον —οὐδʼ εἰ θέλοιεν, ὠφελεῖν ἔχοιεν ἄν.ὠή· τίς ἂν πυλωρὸς ἐκ δόμων μόλοι,ὅστις διαγγείλειε τἄμʼ ἔσω κακά;
Old 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 area Hellene, and they have no business here.
Γραῦς:τίς πρὸς πύλαισιν; οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ δόμωνκαὶ μὴ πρὸς αὐλείοισιν ἑστηκὼς πύλαιςὄχλον παρέξεις δεσπόταις; ἢ κατθανῇἝλλην πεφυκώς, οἷσιν οὐκ ἐπιστροφαί.
Menelaos:My good woman, you can say these same words in a different tone, for I shall be persuaded; but let go your angry speech.
Μενελέως:ὦ γραῖα, ταὐτὰ ταῦτʼ ἔπη κἄλλως λέγεινἔξεστι, πείσομαι γάρ· ἀλλʼ ἄνες λόγον.
Old woman:Go away! Stranger, my orders are to let no Hellene come near this house.
Γραῦς:ἄπελθʼ· ἐμοὶ γὰρ τοῦτο πρόσκειται, ξένε,μηδένα πελάζειν τοισίδʼ Ἑλλήνων δόμοις.
Menelaos:Ah! Do not push me, or thrust me away by force.
Μενελέως:ἆ· μὴ προσείλει χεῖρα μηδʼ ὤθει βίᾳ.
Old woman:You are to blame, for not heeding what I say.
Γραῦς:πείθῃ γὰρ οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω, σὺ δʼ αἴτιος.
Menelaos:Announce to your master inside—
Μενελέως:ἄγγειλον εἴσω δεσπόταισι τοῖσι σοῖς …
Old woman:I think someone would be sorry, if I announced your words.
Γραῦς:πικρῶς ἄρʼ οἶμαί γʼ ἀγγελεῖν τοὺς σοὺς λόγους.
Menelaos:I come as a shipwrecked man and a guest; such people are safe from violence.
Μενελέως:ναυαγὸς ἥκω ξένος, ἀσύλητον γένος.
Old woman:Well, go to some other house instead of this one.
Γραῦς:οἶκον πρὸς ἄλλον νύν τινʼ ἀντὶ τοῦδʼ ἴθι.
Menelaos:No; I am going inside. You listen to me.
Μενελέως:οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ἔσω πάρειμι· καὶ σύ μοι πιθοῦ.
Old woman:Know that you’re only causing trouble; and soon you’ll be thrown out by force.
Γραῦς:ὀχληρὸς ἴσθʼ ὤν· καὶ τάχʼ ὠσθήσῃ βίᾳ.
Menelaos:Alas! Where are those glorious armies of mine?
Μενελέως:αἰαῖ· τὰ κλεινὰ ποῦ ʼστί μοι στρατεύματα;
Old woman:Perhaps you were grand somewhere, but not here.
Γραῦς:οὐκοῦν ἐκεῖ που σεμνὸς ἦσθʼ, οὐκ ἐνθάδε.
Menelaos:O my fortune, how we have been unworthily dishonored.
Μενελέως:ὦ δαῖμον, ὡς ἀνάξιʼ ἠτιμώμεθα.
Old woman:Why are your eyes wet with tears? To whom are you lamenting?
Γραῦς:τί βλέφαρα τέγγεις δάκρυσι; πρὸς τίνʼ οἰκτρὸς εἶ;
Menelaos:To my fortunes, which were happy before this.
Μενελέως:πρὸς τὰς πάροιθεν συμφορὰς εὐδαίμονας.
Old woman:Well then, why don’t you go away and give these tears to your friends.
Γραῦς:οὔκουν ἀπελθὼν δάκρυα σοῖς δώσεις φίλοις;
Menelaos:What is this land? Whose palace is this?
Μενελέως:τίς δʼ ἥδε χώρα; τοῦ δὲ βασίλειοι δόμοι;
Old woman:Proteus lives here, the land is Egypt.
Γραῦς:Πρωτεὺς τάδʼ οἰκεῖ δώματʼ, Αἴγυπτος δὲ γῆ.
Menelaos:Egypt? O wretched, that I have sailed here!
Μενελέως:Αἴγυπτος; ὦ δύστηνος, οἷ πέπλευκʼ ἄρα.
Old woman:And why do you blame the bright gleam of the Nile?
Γραῦς:τί δὴ τὸ Νείλου μεμπτόν ἐστί σοι γάνος;
Menelaos:I do not blame it; I am sighing for my fate.
Μενελέως:οὐ τοῦτʼ ἐμέμφθην· τὰς ἐμὰς στένω τύχας.
Old woman:Many people are doing badly; you are not the only one.
Γραῦς:πολλοὶ κακῶς πράσσουσιν, οὐ σὺ δὴ μόνος.
Menelaos:Is the king you name in the house?
Μενελέως:ἔστʼ οὖν ἐν οἴκοις ὅντινʼ ὀνομάζεις ἄναξ;
Old woman:This is his tomb; his son rules the land.
Γραῦς:τόδʼ ἐστὶν αὐτοῦ μνῆμα, παῖς δʼ ἄρχει χθονός.
Menelaos:And where might he be? Abroad, or in the house?
Μενελέως:ποῦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη; πότερον ἐκτὸς ἢ ʼν δόμοις;
Old woman:He is not inside; he is most bitterly opposed to the Hellenes.
Γραῦς:οὐκ ἔνδον· Ἕλλησιν δὲ πολεμιώτατος.
Menelaos:What cause does he have? I have felt the consequences of it!
Μενελέως:τίνʼ αἰτίαν σχὼν ἧς ἐπηυρόμην ἐγώ;
Old woman:Helen, the daughter of Zeus, is in this house.
Γραῦς:Ἑλένη κατʼ οἴκους ἐστὶ τούσδʼ ἡ τοῦ Διός.
Menelaos:What do you mean? What did you say? Tell me again.
Μενελέως:πῶς φῄς; τίνʼ εἶπας μῦθον; αὖθίς μοι φράσον.
Old woman:The daughter of Tyndareus, who once lived in Sparta.
Γραῦς:ἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς, ἣ κατὰ Σπάρτην ποτʼ ἦν.
Menelaos:Where did she come from? What is the meaning of this?
Μενελέως:πόθεν μολοῦσα; τίνα τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχει λόγον;
Old woman:She came here from the land of Lakedaimon.
Γραῦς:Λακεδαίμονος γῆς δεῦρο νοστήσασʼ ἄπο.
Menelaos:When? Surely I have not been robbed of my wife from the cave?
Μενελέως:πότε; οὔ τί που λελῄσμεθʼ ἐξ ἄντρων λέχος;
Old 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 mastercatches 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.Exit Old woman.
Γραῦς:πρὶν τοὺς Ἀχαιούς, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐς Τροίαν μολεῖν.ἀλλʼ ἕρπʼ ἀπʼ οἴκων· ἔστι γάρ τις ἐν δόμοιςτύχη, τύραννος ᾗ ταράσσεται δόμος.καιρὸν γὰρ οὐδένʼ ἦλθες· ἢν δὲ δεσπότηςλάβῃ σε, θάνατος ξένιά σοι γενήσεται.εὔνους γάρ εἰμʼ Ἕλλησιν, οὐχ ὅσον πικροὺςλόγους ἔδωκα δεσπότην φοβουμένη.
Menelaos:What can I say? For after my former troubles, this present event that I hear of is an unhappy one,if 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.Can 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.Is 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.Besides, 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.I 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.This 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.
Μενελέως:τί φῶ; τί λέξω; συμφορὰς γὰρ ἀθλίαςἐκ τῶν πάροιθεν τὰς παρεστώσας κλύω,εἰ τὴν μὲν αἱρεθεῖσαν ἐκ Τροίας ἄγωνἥκω δάμαρτα καὶ κατʼ ἄντρα σῴζεται,ὄνομα δὲ ταὐτὸν τῆς ἐμῆς ἔχουσά τιςδάμαρτος ἄλλη τοισίδʼ ἐνναίει δόμοις.Διὸς δʼ ἔλεξε παῖδά νιν πεφυκέναι.ἀλλʼ ἦ τις ἔστι Ζηνὸς ὄνομʼ ἔχων ἀνὴρΝείλου παρʼ ὄχθας; εἷς γὰρ ὅ γε κατʼ οὐρανόν.Σπάρτη δὲ ποῦ γῆς ἐστι πλὴν ἵνα ῥοαὶτοῦ καλλιδόνακός εἰσιν Εὐρώτα μόνον;ἁπλοῦν δὲ Τυνδάρειον ὄνομα κλῄζεται.Λακεδαίμονος δὲ γαῖα τίς ξυνώνυμοςΤροίας τε; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἔχω τί χρὴ λέγειν.πολλοὶ γάρ, ὡς εἴξασιν, ἐν πολλῇ χθονὶὀνόματα ταὔτʼ ἔχουσι καὶ πόλις πόλειγυνὴ γυναικί τʼ· οὐδὲν οὖν θαυμαστέον.οὐδʼ αὖ τὸ δεινὸν προσπόλου φευξούμεθα·ἀνὴρ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ὧδε βάρβαρος φρένας,ὃς ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας τοὐμὸν οὐ δώσει βοράν.κλεινὸν τὸ Τροίας πῦρ ἐγώ θʼ ὃς ἧψά νιν,Μενέλαος, οὐκ ἄγνωστος ἐν πάσῃ χθονί.δόμων ἄνακτα προσμενῶ· δισσὰς δέ μοιἔχει φυλάξεις· ἢν μὲν ὠμόφρων τις ᾖ,κρύψας ἐμαυτὸν εἶμι πρὸς ναυάγια·ἢν δʼ ἐνδιδῷ τι μαλθακόν, τὰ πρόσφορατῆς νῦν παρούσης συμφορᾶς αἰτήσομαι.κακῶν μὲν ἡμῖν ἔσχατον τοῖς ἀθλίοις,ἄλλους τυράννους αὐτὸν ὄντα βασιλέαβίον προσαιτεῖν· ἀλλʼ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει.λόγος γάρ ἐστιν οὐκ ἐμός, σοφὸν δʼ ἔπος,δεινῆς ἀνάγκης οὐδὲν ἰσχύειν πλέον.
Chorus: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;but 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,bereft of every friend, approaching every land in his sea-going ship from the land of Troy.
Χορός:ἤκουσα τᾶς θεσπιῳδοῦ κόρας,ἃ χρῄζουσʼ ἐφάνη τυράννοιςδόμοις, ὡς Μενέλαος οὔ-πω μελαμφαὲς οἴχεταιδιʼ ἔρεβος χθονὶ κρυφθείς,ἀλλʼ ἔτι κατʼ οἶδμʼ ἅλιοντρυχόμενος οὔπω λιμένωνψαύσειεν πατρίας γᾶς,ἀλατείᾳ βιότουταλαίφρων, ἄφιλος φίλων,παντοδαπᾶς ἐπὶ γᾶς πόδαχριμπτόμενος εἰναλίῳκώπᾳ Τρῳάδος ἐκ γᾶς.
Helen:Here I am, once again coming back to the sanctuary of this tomb, after learning the welcome words of Theonoe,who 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.But 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.Oh, when will you come? How much I long for your arrival!Ah! 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 wildabout the looks of this man who is hunting me down.
Ἑλένη:ἥδʼ αὖ τάφου τοῦδʼ εἰς ἕδρας ἐγὼ πάλινστείχω, μαθοῦσα Θεονόης φίλους λόγους,ἣ πάντʼ ἀληθῶς οἶδε· φησὶ δʼ ἐν φάειπόσιν τὸν ἁμὸν ζῶντα φέγγος εἰσορᾶν,πορθμοὺς δʼ ἀλᾶσθαι μυρίους πεπλωκόταἐκεῖσε 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.ἐγγὺς 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 κρυπτεύομαιΠρωτέως ἀσέπτου παιδὸς ἐκ βουλευμάτων;οὐχ ὡς δρομαία πῶλος ἢ Βάκχη θεοῦτάφῳ ξυνάψω κῶλον; ἄγριος δέ τιςμορφὴν ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὅς με θηρᾶται λαβεῖν.
Menelaos: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.
Μενελέως:σὲ τὴν ὄρεγμα δεινὸν ἡμιλλημένηντύμβου ʼπὶ κρηπῖδʼ ἐμπύρους τʼ ὀρθοστάτας,μεῖνον· τί φεύγεις; ὡς δέμας δείξασα σὸνἔκπληξιν ἡμῖν ἀφασίαν τε προστίθης.
Helen: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.
Ἑλένη:ἀδικούμεθʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες· εἰργόμεσθα γὰρτάφου πρὸς ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καί μʼ ἑλὼν θέλειδοῦναι τυράννοις ὧν ἐφεύγομεν γάμους.
Menelaos:I am no thief, nor a servant of evil men.
Μενελέως:οὐ κλῶπές ἐσμεν, οὐχ ὑπηρέται κακῶν.
Helen:And yet the clothes you are wearing are unsightly enough.
Ἑλένη:καὶ μὴν στολήν γʼ ἄμορφον ἀμφὶ σῶμʼ ἔχεις.
Menelaos:Put fear aside and stop your rapid flight.
Μενελέως:στῆσον, φόβου μεθεῖσα, λαιψηρὸν πόδα.
Helen:I do so, now that I have reached this spot.
Ἑλένη:ἵστημʼ, ἐπεί γε τοῦδʼ ἐφάπτομαι τόπου.
Menelaos:Who are you? Whom do I see in you, lady?
Μενελέως:τίς εἶ; τίνʼ ὄψιν σήν, γύναι, προσδέρκομαι;
Helen:But who are you? The same reason prompts us both.
Ἑλένη:σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς; αὑτὸς γὰρ σὲ κἄμʼ ἔχει λόγος.
Menelaos:I never saw a closer resemblance.
Μενελέως:οὐπώποτʼ εἶδον προσφερέστερον δέμας.
Helen:O gods! For the recognizing of friends is a god.
Ἑλένη:ὦ θεοί· θεὸς γὰρ καὶ τὸ γιγνώσκειν φίλους.⟨⟩
Menelaos:Are you a woman from Hellas, or a native of this land?
Μενελέως:⟨Ἑλληνὶς εἶ τις ἢ ἐπιχωρία γυνή;⟩
Helen:From Hellas; but I want to learn your story too.
Ἑλένη:Ἑλληνίς· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ σὸν θέλω μαθεῖν.
Menelaos:You seem to me very much like Helen, lady.
Μενελέως:Ἑλένῃ σʼ ὁμοίαν δὴ μάλιστʼ εἶδον, γύναι.
Helen:And you seem to me like Menelaos; I don’t know what to say.
Ἑλένη:ἐγὼ δὲ Μενέλεῴ γε σέ· οὐδʼ ἔχω τί φῶ.
Menelaos:Well, you have correctly recognized a most unfortunate man.
Μενελέως:ἔγνως γὰρ ὀρθῶς ἄνδρα δυστυχέστατον.
Helen:Oh, at last you have come to the arms of your wife!
Ἑλένη:ὦ χρόνιος ἐλθὼν σῆς δάμαρτος ἐς χέρας.
Menelaos:What do you mean by wife? Do not touch my robe.
Μενελέως:ποίας δάμαρτος; μὴ θίγῃς ἐμῶν πέπλων.
Helen:The one whom Tyndareus, my father, gave to you.
Ἑλένη:ἥν σοι δίδωσι Τυνδάρεως, ἐμὸς πατήρ.
Menelaos:O torch-bearing Hekate, send visions that are favorable!
Μενελέως:ὦ φωσφόρʼ Ἑκάτη, πέμπε φάσματʼ εὐμενῆ.
Helen:You see in me no specter of the night, attendant on the queen of phantoms.
Ἑλένη:οὐ νυκτίφαντον πρόπολον Ἐνοδίας μʼ ὁρᾷς.
Menelaos:As one man, I am certainly not the husband of two women.
Μενελέως:οὐ μὴν γυναικῶν γʼ εἷς δυοῖν ἔφυν πόσις.
Helen:You are the master of what other wife?
Ἑλένη:ποίων δὲ λέκτρων δεσπότης ἄλλων ἔφυς;
Menelaos:The one hidden in the cave, whom I am bringing from Troy.
Μενελέως:ἣν ἄντρα κεύθει κἀκ Φρυγῶν κομίζομαι.
Helen:You have no other wife but me.
Ἑλένη:οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλη σή τις ἀντʼ ἐμοῦ γυνή.
Menelaos:Can it be that I am in my right mind, but my sight is failing?
Μενελέως:οὔ που φρονῶ μὲν εὖ, τὸ δʼ ὄμμα μου νοσεῖ;
Helen:Don’t you think that when you look at me you see your wife?
Ἑλένη:οὐ γάρ με λεύσσων σὴν δάμαρθʼ ὁρᾶν δοκεῖς;
Menelaos:Your body resembles hers, but the real truth robs me of this belief.
Μενελέως:τὸ σῶμʼ ὅμοιον, τὸ δὲ σαφές μʼ ἀποστερεῖ.