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delivering up my name； though not my person； to live amongst
barbarians。 Oh！ suffer me to die； if death is thy desire； in my native
land。 Why art thou so insatiate in mischief； employing every art of
love； of fraud； and guileful schemes； and spells that bring
bloodshed on families？ Wert thou but moderate； only that！…in all
else thou art by nature man's most well； come deity； and I have reason
so to say。
（HELEN enters the palace and MENELAUS withdraws into the
background。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Thee let me invoke； tearful Philomel； lurking 'neath the leafy
covert in thy place of song； most tuneful of all feathered
songsters； oh！ come to aid me in my dirge； trilling through thy
tawny throat； as I sing the piteous woes of Helen； and the tearful
fate of Trojan dames made subject to Achaea's spear； on the day that
there came to their plains one who sped with foreign oar across the
dashing billows； bringing to Priam's race from Lacedaemon thee his
hapless bride； Helen；…even Paris； luckless bridegroom； by the guidance
of Aphrodite。
antistrophe 1
And many an Achaean hath breathed his last amid the spearmen's
thrusts and hurtling hail of stones； and gone to his sad end； for
these their wives cut off their hair in sorrow； and their houses are
left without a bride； and one of the Achaeans； that had but a single
ship； did light a blazing beacon on sea…girt Euboea； and destroy
full many of them； wrecking them on the rocks of Caphareus and the
shores that front the Aegean main； by the treacherous gleam he
kindled； when thou； O Menelaus； from the very day of thy start；
didst drift to harbourless hills； far from thy country before the
breath of the storm； bearing on thy ship a prize that was no prize；
but a phantom made by Hera out of cloud for the Danai to struggle
over。
strophe 2
What mortal claims； by searching to the utmost limit； to have
found out the nature of God； or of his opposite； or of that which
comes between； seeing as he doth this world of man tossed to and fro
by waves of contradiction and strange vicissitudes？ Thou； Helen； art
the daughter of Zeus； for thy sire was the bird that nestled in Leda's
bosom； and yet for all that art thou become a by…word for
wickedness； through the length and breadth of Hellas； as faithless；
treacherous wife and godless woman； nor can I tell what certainty
is； whatever may pass for it amongst men。 That which gods pronounce
have I found true。
antistrophe 2
O fools！ all ye who try to win the meed of valour through war
and serried ranks of chivalry； seeking thus to still this mortal coil；
in senselessness； for if bloody contests are to decide； there will
never be any lack of strife in the towns of men； the maidens of the
land of Priam left their bridal bowers； though arbitration might
have put thy quarrel right； O Helen。 And now Troy's sons are in Hades'
keeping in the world below； and fire hath darted on her walls； as
darts the flame of Zeus； and thou art bringing woe on woe to hapless
sufferers in their misery。
（THEOCLYMENUS and his hunting attendants enter。）
THEOCLYMENUS
All hail； my father's tomb！ I buried thee； Proteus； at the place
where men go out； that I might often greet thee； and so； ever as I
go out and in； I； thy son Theoclymenus call on thee； father。 Ho！
servants； to the palace take my hounds and hunting nets！ How often
have I blamed myself for never punishing those miscreants with
death！ I have just heard that son of Hellas has come openly to my
land； escaping the notice of the guard； a spy maybe or a would…be
thief of Helen； death shall be his lot if only I can catch him。 Ha！
I find all my plans apparently frustrated； the daughter of Tyndareus
has deserted her seat at the tomb and sailed away from my shores。
Ho！ there； undo the bars； loose the horses from their stalls； bring
forth my chariot； servants； that the wife； on whom my heart is set；
may not get away from these shores unseen； for want of any trouble I
can take。 Yet stay； for I see the object of my pursuit is still in the
palace； and has not fled。 （HELEN enters from the palace； clad in the
garb of mourning。） How now； lady； why hast thou arrayed thee in
sable weeds instead of white raiment； and from thy fair head hast
shorn thy tresses with the steel； bedewing thy cheeks the while with
tears but lately shed？ Is it in response to visions of the night
that thou art mourning； or； because thou hast heard some warning voice
within； art thus distraught with grief？
HELEN
My lord；…for already I have learnt to say that name；I am undone；
my luck is gone； I cease to be。
THEOCLYMENUS
In what misfortune art thou plunged？ What hath happened？
HELEN
Menelaus； ah me！ how can I say it？ is dead； my husband。
THEOCLYMENUS
How knowest thou？ Did Theonoe tell thee this？
HELEN
Both she； and one who was there when he perished。
THEOCLYMENUS
What！ hath one arrived who actually announces this for certaint？
HELEN
One hath； oh may he come e'en as I wish him to！
THEOCLYMENUS
Who and where is he？ that I may learn this more surely。
HELEN
There he is； sitting crouched beneath the shelter of this tomb；
THEOCLYMENUS
Great Apollo！ how clad in unseemly rags！
HELEN
Ah me！ methinks my own husband too is in like plight。
THEOCLYMENUS
From what country is this fellow？ whence landed he here？
HELEN
From Hellas； one of the Achaeans who sailed with my husband。
THEOCLYMENUS
What kind of death doth he declare that Menelaus died？
HELEN
The most piteous of all； amid the watery waves at sea。
THEOCLYMENUS
On what part of the savage ocean was he sailing？
HELEN
Cast up on the harbourless rocks of Libya。
THEOCLYMENUS
How was it this man did not perish if he was with him aboard？
HELEN
There are times when churls have more luck than their betters。
THEOCLYMENUS
Where left he the wreck； on coming hither？
HELEN
There； where perdition catch it； but not Menelaus！
THEOCLYMENUS
He is lost； but on what vessel came this man？
HELEN
According to his story sailors fell in with him and picked him up。
THEOCLYMENUS
Where then is that ill thing that was sent to Troy in thy stead？
HELEN
Dost mean the phantom…form of cloud？ It hath passed into the air。
THEOCLYMENUS
O Priam； and thou land of Troy； how fruitless thy ruin！
HELEN
I too have shared with Priam's race their misfortunes。
THEOCLYMENUS
Did this fellow leave thy husband unburied； or consign him to
the grave？
HELEN
Unburied； woe is me for my sad lot！
THEOCLY