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！
the air to this loveless land； making me an object of unhappy strife
'twixt Hellas and the race of Priam。 And my name is but a sound
without reality beside the streams of Simois。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Well I know thou hast a bitter lot to bear； still 'tis best to
bear as lightly as we may the ills that life is heir to。
HELEN
Good friends； to what a fate am I united？ Did not my mother bear
me to be a monster to the world？ For no woman； Hellene or barbarian；
gives birth to babes in eggs inclosed； as they say Leda bare me to
Zeus。 My life and all I do is one miracle； partly owing to Hera； and
partly is my beauty to blame。 Would God I could rub my beauty out like
a picture； and assume hereafter in its stead a form less comely； and
oh！ that Hellas had forgotten the evil fate that now I bear； and
were now remembering my career of honour as surely as they do my deeds
of shame。 Now； if a man doth turn his eyes to a single phase of
fortune； and meets ill…usage at heaven's hands； 'tis hard no doubt；
but still it can be borne； but I in countless troubles am involved。
First； although I never sinned； my good name is gone。 And this is a
grief beyond the reality； if a man incurs blame for sins that are
not his。 Next； have the gods removed me from my native land； to
dwell with men of barbarous ways； and reft of every friend； I arn
become a slave though free by birth； for amongst barbarians all are
slaves but one。 And the last anchor that held my fortunes； the hope
that my husband would return one day； and rid me of my woes； is now no
more； lost since the day he died。 My mother too is dead； and I am
called her murderess； unjustly it is true； but still that injustice is
mine to bear； and she that was the glory of my house； my darling
child； is growing old and grey； unwedded still； and those twin
brethren； called the sons of Zeus； are now no more。 But 'tis
fortune； not my own doing； that hath crushed me with sorrow and
slain me。 And this is the last evil of all； if ever I come to my
native land。 they will shut me up in prison； thinking me that Helen of
Ilium； in quest of whom Menelaus came thither。 Were my husband still
alive； we might have recognized each other； by having recourse to
tokens which ourselves alone would know。 But now this may not be；
nor is there any chance of his escape。 Why then do I prolong my
life？ What fortune have I still in store？ Shall I choose marriage as
an alternative of evils； and dwell with a barbarian lord； seated at
his sumptuous board？ No！ when a husband she loathes is mated with a
woman； even life is loathly to her。 Best for her to die； but how shall
I die a noble death？ The dangling noose is an uncomely end； even
slaves consider it disgrace； to stab oneself hath something fair
and。 noble in it； 'tis a small thing that moment of ridding the
flesh of life。 Yes； it must be； I am plunged so deep in misery； for
that beauty； which to other women is a boon； to me hath been a very
bane。
LEADER
Helen； never believe that the stranger； whoe'er he was that
came； has spoken naught but truth。
HELEN
Yet he said so clearly that my lord was dead。
LEADER
There is much that falsehood seems to make quite clear。
HELEN
The word of truth hath a very different sound to falsehood。
LEADER
Thou art inclined to misfortune； rather than to luck。
HELEN
Fear girds me with terrors as with a garment； and takes me in
her train。
LEADER
What friends hast thou within the palace？
HELEN
All are my friends here save him who seeks to wed…me。
LEADER
Thy action then is clear； leave thy seat at the tomb。
HELEN
To what words or advice art thou leading up？
LEADER
Go in and question the daughter of the ocean Nereid； who knoweth
all things； even Theonoe； whether thy husband is still alive； or
whether he hath left the light of day； and when thou knowest for
certain； be glad or sorrowful； as fits thy fortune。 But before thou
hast right knowledge； what shall sorrow avail thee？ Nay； hearken to
me； leave this tomb and seek the maiden's company； that she may tell
thee the truth； for from her shalt thou learn all。 If thou abide
here in this seat； what prospect hast thou？ And I will myself go in
with thee； and with thee inquire of the maiden's oracles； for 'tis a
woman's bounden duty to share a sister's trouble。
（The following lines are chanted responsively by HELEN and the
CHORUS。）
HELEN
Kind friends； I welcome your advice。 Come in； come in； that ye may
learn the result of my struggle within the palace。
CHORUS
Thy invitation comes to very willing ears。
HELEN
Woe for this heavy day！ Ah me！ what mournful tidings shall hear？
CHORUS
Dear mistress mine； be not a prophetess of sorrow； forestalling
lamentation。
HELEN
What is the fate of my poor husband？ Doth he still behold the
light turning towards the sun…god's chariot and the stars in their
courses？ Or among the dead； beneath the earth； is he to death
consigned？
CHORUS
Of the future take a brighter view； whatever shall betide。
HELEN
On thee I call； and thee adjure； Eurotas green with river…reeds；
to tell me if this rumour of my husband's death be true。
CHORUS
What boots this meaningless appeal？
HELEN
About my neck will I fasten the deadly noose from above； or
drive the murderous knife with self…aimed thrust deep into my throat
to sever it； striving to cut my flesh； a sacrifice to those
goddesses three and to that son of Priam； who in days gone by would
wake the music of his pipe around his steading。
CHORUS
Oh may sorrow be averted otherwhither； and thou be blest！
HELEN
Woe is thee； unhappy Troy！ Thou through deeds not done by the
art ruined； and hast suffered direst woe； for the gift that Cypris
gave to me； hath caused a sea of blood to flow； and many an eye to
weep； with grief on grief and tear on tear。 All this hath Ilium
suffered and mothers have lost their children； and virgin sisters of
the slain have cut off their tresses by the swollen tide of Phrygian
Scamander。 And the land of Hellas hath lifted her voice of woe and
broken forth in wailing； smiting on her head； and making tender cheeks
to stream with gore beneath the rending nail。 Ah blest maid
Callisto； who long ago in Arcady didst find favour with Zeus； in the
semblance of beast four…footed； how much happier was thy lot than my
mother's； for thou hast changed the burden of thy grief and now with
savage eye art weeping o'er thy shaggy monster…shape； aye； and hers
was a happier lot； whom on a day Artemis drove from her choir； changed
to a hind with horns of gold； the fair Titanian maid； daughter of
Merops； because of her beauty； but my fair form hath proved the
curse of Dardan Troy and doomed Achaea's sons。
（HELEN and the CHORUS go into the palace。 After the doors have
closed upon them； MENELAUS enters。 He is alone and