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It may be thou wilt find the daughters of Leucippus beside the
brimming river or before the temple of Pallas； when at last with dance
and revelry thou joinest in the merry midnight festival of Hyacinthus；
him whom Phoebus slew in the lists by a quoit hurled o'er the mark；
wherefore did the son of Zeus ordain that Laconia's land should set
apart that day for sacrifice； there too shalt thou find the tender
maid； whom ye left in your house； for as yet no nuptial torch has shed
its light for her。
strophe 2
Oh！ for wings to cleave the air in the track of Libyan cranes；
whose serried ranks leave far behind the wintry storm at the shrill
summons of some veteran leader； who raises his exultant cry as he
wings his way o'er plains that know no rain and yet bear fruitful
increase。 Ye feathered birds with necks outstretched； comrades of
the racing clouds； on on！ till ye reach the Pleiads in their central
station and Orion； lord of the night； and as ye settle on Eurotas'
banks proclaim the glad tidings that Menelaus hath sacked the city
of Dardanus； and will soon be home。
antistrophe 2
Ye sons of Tyndareus at length appear； speeding in your chariot
through the sky； denizens of heaven's courts beneath the radiant
whirling stars； guide this lady Helen safely o'er the azure main；
across the foam…flecked billows of the deep…blue sea； sending the
mariners a favouring gale from Zeus； and from your sister snatch the
ill…repute of wedding with a barbarian； even the punishment bequeathed
to her from that strife on Ida's mount； albeit she never went to the
land of Ilium； to the battlements of Phoebus。
（The SECOND MESSENGER enters in haste； as THEOCLYMENUS comes out
of the palace。）
SECOND MESSENGER
O king； at last have I found thee in the palace； for new tidings
of woe art thou soon to hear from me。
THEOCLYMENUS
How now？
MESSENGER
Make haste to woo a new wife； for Helen hath escaped。
THEOCLYMENUS
Borne aloft on soaring wings； or treading still the earth？
MESSENGER
Menelaus has succeeded in bearing her hence； 'twas he that brought
the news of his own death。
THEOCLYMENUS
O monstrous story！ what ship conveyed her from these shores？ Thy
tale is past belief。
MESSENGER
The very ship thou didst thyself give the stranger； and that
thou mayest briefly know all； he is gone； taking thy sailors with him。
THEOCLYMENUS
How was it？ I long to know； for I never thought that a single
arm could master all those sailors with whom thou wert despatched。
MESSENGER
Soon as the daughter of Zeus had left this royal mansion and
come unto the sea； daintily picking her way； most craftily she set
to mourn her husband； though he was not dead but at her side。 Now when
we reached thy docks well walled； we began to launch the fastest of
Sidonian ships； with her full complement of fifty rowers； and each
task in due succession followed； some set up the mast； others ranged
the oars with their blades ready； and stored the white sails within
the hold； and the rudder was let down astern and fastened securely。
While we were thus employed； those Hellenes； who had been
fellow…voyagers with Menelaus； were watching us； it seems； and they
drew nigh the beach； clad in the rags of shipwrecked men；…well built
enough； but squalid to look upon。 And the son of Atreus； directly he
saw them approach； bespoke them； craftily introducing the reason for
his mourning： 〃Ye hapless mariners； how have ye come hither？ your
Achaean ship where wrecked？ Are ye here to help bury dead Atreus' son；
whose missing body this lady； daughter of Tyndareas； is honouring with
a cenotaph？〃 Then they with feigned tears proceeded to the ship；
bearing aboard the offerings to be thrown into the deep for
Menelaus。 Thereat were we suspicious； and communed amongst ourselves
regarding the number of extra voyagers； but still we kept silence
out of respect for thy orders； for by intrusting the command of the
vessel to the stranger thou didst thus spoil all。 Now the other
victims gave no trouble； and we easily put them aboard； only the
bull refused to go forward along the gangway； but rolled his eyes
around and kept bellowing； and； arching his back and glaring askance
towards his horns； he would not let us touch him。 But Helen's lord
cried out： 〃O！ ye who laid waste the town of Ilium； come pick up yon
bull； the dead man's offering； on your stout shoulders； as is the
way in Hellas； and cast him into the hold；〃 and as he spoke he drew
his sword in readiness。 Then they at his command came and caught up
the bull and carried him bodily on to the deck。 And Menelaus stroked
the horse on neck and brow； coaxing it to go aboard。 At length； when
the ship was fully freighted； Helen climbed the ladder with graceful
step and took her seat midway betwixt the rowers' benches； and he
sat by her side； even Menelaus who was called dead； and the rest；
equally divided on the right and left side of the ship； sat them down；
each beside his man； with swords concealed beneath their cloaks； and
the billows soon were echoing to the rowers' song； as we heard the
boatswain's note。 Now when we were put out a space； not very far nor
very near； the helmsman asked； 〃Shall we； sir stranger； sail yet
further on our course； or will this serve？ For thine it is to
command the ship。〃 And he answered： 〃'Tis far enough for me；〃 while in
his right hand he gripped his sword and stepped on to the prow； then
standing o'er the bull to slay it； never a word said he of any dead
man； but cut its throat and thus made prayer： 〃Poseidon； lord of the
sea； whose home is in the deep； and ye holy daughters of Nereus； bring
me and my wife safe and sound to Nauplia's strand from hence！ Anon a
gush of blood； fair omen for the stranger； spouted into the tide。
One cried； 〃There is treachery in this voyage； why should we now
sail to Nauplia？ Give the order； helmsman； turn thy rudder。〃 But the
son of Atreus； standing where he slew the bull； called to his
comrades； 〃Why do ye； the pick of Hellas； delay to smite and slay
the barbarians and fling them from the ship into the waves？〃 While
to thy crew the boatswain cried the opposite command： 〃Ho！ some of you
catch up chance spars； break up the benches； or snatch the oar…blade
from the thole； and beat out the brains of these our foreign foes。〃
Forthwith up sprang each man； the one part armed with poles that
sailors use； the other with swords。 And the ship ran down with
blood； while Helen from her seat upon the stern thus cheered them
on： 〃Where is the fame ye won in Troy？ show it against these
barbarians。〃 Then as they hasted to the fray； some would fall and some
rise up again； while others hadst thou seen laid low in death。 But
Menelaus in full armour； made his way； sword in hand； to any point
where his watchf