按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cease their flow； in her insatiate sorrow for her child。
strophe 2
But when for gods and tribes of men alike she made an end to
festal cheer； Zeus spoke out； seeking to soothe the mother's moody
soul； 〃Ye stately Graces； go banish from Demeter's angry heart the
grief her wanderings bring upon her for her child； and go； ye Muses
too； with tuneful choir。〃 Thereon did Cypris； fairest of the blessed
gods； first catch up the crashing cymbals； native to that land； and
the drum with tight…stretched skin； and then Demeter smiled； and in
her hand。 did take the deep…toned flute； well pleased with its loud
note。
antistrophe 2
Thou hast wedded as thou never shouldst have done in defiance of
all right； and thou hast incurred； my daughter； the wrath of the great
mother by disregarding her sacrifices。 Oh！ mighty is the virtue in
dress of dappled fawn…skin； in ivy green that twineth round a sacred
thyrsus； in whirling tambourines struck as they revolve in air in
tresses wildly streaming for the revelry of Bromius； and likewise in
the sleepless vigils of the goddess； when the moon looks down and
sheds her radiance o'er the scene。 Thou wert confident in thy charms
alone。
（HELEN comes out of the palace alone。）
HELEN
My friends； within the palace all goes well for us； for the
daughter of Proteus； who is privy to our stealthy scheme； told her
brother nothing when questioned as to my husband's coming； but for
my sake declared him dead and buried。 Most fortunate it is my lord
hath had the luck to get these weapons； for he is now himself clad
in the harness he was to plunge into the sea； his stalwart arm
thrust through the buckler's strap； and in his right hand a spear；
on pretence of joining in homage to the dead。 He hath girded himself
most serviceably for the fray； as if to triumph o'er a host of
barbarian foes when once we are aboard yon oared ship； instead of
his rags from the wreck hath he donned the robes I gave for his
attire； and I have bathed his limbs in water from the stream； a bath
he long hath wanted。 But I must be silent； for from the house comes
forth the man who thinks he has me in his power； prepared to be his
bride； and thy goodwill I also claim and thy strict silence； if haply；
when we save ourselves； we may save thee too some day。
（THEOCLYMENUS and MENELAUS enter； with a train of attendants
bearing the offerings for the funeral rites。）
THEOCLYMENUS
Advance in order； servants； as the stranger hath directed； bearing
the funeral gifts the sea demands。 But thou； Helen； if thou wilt not
misconstrue my words； be persuaded and here abide； for thou wilt do
thy husband equal service whether thou art present or not。 For I am
afraid that some sudden shock of fond regret may prompt thee to plunge
into the swollen tide； in an ecstasy of gratitude toward thy former
husband； for thy grief for him； though he is lost； is running to
excess。
HELEN
O my new lord； needs must I honour him with whom I first shared
married joys； for I could even die with my husband； so well I loved
him； yet how could he thank me； were I to share death's doom with him？
Still； let me go and pay his funeral rites unto the dead in person。
The gods grant thee the boon I wish and this stranger too； for the
assistance he is lending here！ And thou shalt find in me a wife fit to
share thy house； since thou art rendering kindness to Menelaus and
to me； for surely these events are to some good fortune tending。 But
now appoint someone to give us a ship wherein to convey these gifts；
that I may find thy kindness made complete。
THEOCLYMENUS （to an attendant）
Go thou； and furnish them with a Sidonian galley of fifty oars and
rowers also。
HELEN
Shall not he command the ship who is ordering the funeral？
THEOCLYMENUS
Most certainly； my sailors are to obey him。
HELEN
Repeat the order； that they may clearly understand thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
I repeat it； and will do so yet again if that is thy pleasure。
HELEN
Good luck to thee and to me in my designs！
THEOCLYMENUS
Oh！ waste not thy fair complexion with excessive weeping。
HELEN
This day shall show my gratitude to thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
The state of the dead is nothingness； to toil for them is vain。
HELEN
In what I say； this world； as well as that； hath share。
THEOCLYMENUS
Thou shalt not find in me a husband at all inferior to Menelaus。
HELEN
With thee have I no fault to find； good luck is all I need。
THEOCLYMENUS
That rests with thyself； if thou show thyself a loving wife to me。
HELEN
This is not a lesson I shall have to learn now； to love my
friends。
THEOCLYMENUS
Is it thy wish that I should escort thee in person with active
aid？
HELEN
God forbid！ become not thy servant's servant； O king！
THEOCLYMENUS
Up and away！ I am not concerned with customs which the race of
Pelops holds。 My house is pure； for Menelaus did not die here； go some
one now and bid my vassal chiefs bring marriage…offerings to my
palace； for the whole earth must re…echo in glad accord the hymn of my
wedding with Helen； to make men envious。 Go； stranger； and pour into
the sea's embrace these offerings to Helen's former lord； and then
speed back again with my bride； that after sharing with me her
marriage…feast thou mayst set out for home； or here abide in
happiness。
（THEOCLYMENUS and his retinue enter the palace。）
MENELAUS
O Zeus； who art called the father of all and god of wisdom； look
down on us and change our woe to joy！ Lend us thy ready help； as we
seek to drag our fortunes up the rugged hill； if with but thy
finger…tip thou touch us； we shall reach our longed…for goal。
Sufficient are the troubles we ere this have undergone。 Full oft
have I invoked you gods to near my joys and sorrows； I do not
deserve to be for ever unhappy； but to advance and prosper。 Grant me
but this one boon； and so will ye crown my future with blessing。
（MENELAUS； HELEN and their train of attendants depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Hail！ thou swift Phoenician ship of Sidon！ dear to the rowers；
mother to the foam； leader of fair dolphins' gambols； what time the
deep is hushed and still； and Ocean's azure child； the queen of
calm； takes up her parable and says： 〃Away！ and spread your canvas
to the ocean…breeze。 Ho！ sailors； ho！ come grip your oars of pine；
speeding Helen on her way to the sheltered beach where Perseus dwelt
of yore。〃
antistrophe 1
It may be thou wilt find the daughters of Leucippus beside the
brimming river or before the temple of