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closed upon them； MENELAUS enters。 He is alone and clad in rags。）
MENELAUS
Ah！ Pelops； easy victor long ago o'er thy rival Oenomaus in the
chariot…race on Pisa's plain； would thou hadst ended thy career
amongst the gods that day thou wert beguiled into making a banquet for
them； or ever thou hadst begotten my father Atreus； to whom were
born by Aerope his wife； Agamemnon and myself Menelaus； an illustrious
pair； and herein I make no idle boast； for 'twas a mighty host； I
trow； that I their leader carried o'er the sea to Troy； using no
violence to make them follow me； but leading all the chivalry of
Hellas by voluntary consent。 And some of these must we number 'mid the
slain； and some to their joy have 'scaped the sea； bearing to their
homes again names long reckoned dead。 But I； poor wretch； go wandering
o'er grey Ocean's swell a weary space； long as that which saw me
sick the towers of Ilium； and for all my longing to reach my country I
am not counted worthy of this boon by heaven； but to Libya's desert
cheerless roadsteads have I sailed； to each and all of them； and
whensoe'er I draw me near my native land； the storm…wind drives me
back again； and never yet have favouring breezes filled my sails； to
let me reach my fatherland。 And now a wretched； shipwrecked mariner；
my friends all lost； am I cast up upon this shore； and my ship is
shattered in a thousand pieces against the rocks； and its keel was
wrested from its cunning fastenings； thereon did I with difficulty
escape； most unexpectedly； and Helen also； for her had I rescued
from Troy and had with me。 But the name of this country and its people
I know not； for I blushed to mingle with the crowd to question them；
anxious for very shame to hide my misfortunes which reduce me to these
sorry rags。 For when a man of high degree meets with adversity； he
feels the strangeness of his fallen state more keenly than a
sufferer of long standing。 Dire want is wasting me； for I have neither
food； nor raiment to gird myself withal； behold the facts before you
to judge from…I am clad in tatters cast up from the ship； while all
the robes I once did wear； glorious attire and ornaments； bath the sea
swallowed； and in a cavern's deep recesses have I hidden my wife；
the cause of all my trouble； and have come hither； after straitly
charging the survivors of my friends to watch her。 Alone am I come；
seeking for those there left some help； if haply I may find it after
careful search。 So when I saw this palace girt with towering walls and
stately gates of some prosperous lord； I drew nigh； for I have hope to
obtain somewhat for my sailors from this wealthy house； whereas from
houses which have no store； the inmates for all their goodwill could
furnish naught。 Ho！ there； who keeps the gate and will come forth to
bear my tale of woe into the house？
（A PORTRESS comes out of the palace in answer to his call。）
PORTRESS
Who stands before the door？ Begone from the housel stand not at
the court…yard gate； annoying my masters！ otherwise shalt thou die；
for thou art a Hellene born。 and with them have we no dealings。
MENELAUS
Mother； herein sayest thou rightly on all points。 'Tis well； I
will obey； but moderate thy words。
PORTRESS
Away！ stranger； my orders are to admit no Hellene to this palace。
MENELAUS
Ha！ do not seek to push me hence； or thrust me away by violence。
PORTRESS
Thou dost not heed my words； and therefore hast thyself to blame。
MENELAUS
Carry my message to thy master in the palace。
PORTRESS
Some one would rue it； methinks； were I to take thy message。
MENELAUS
I come as a shipwrecked man and a stranger； whom heaven protects。
PORTRESS
Well； get thee to some other house than this。
MENELAUS
Nay； but I will pass into the house； so listen to me。
PORTRESS
Let me tell thee thou art unwelcome； and soon wilt be forcibly
ejected。
MENELAUS
Ah me！ where are now those famous troops of mine？
PORTRESS
Elsewhere maybe thou wert a mighty man； thou art not here。
MENELAUS
O fortune！ I have not deserved such insult。
PORTRESS
Why are thy eyes with tear…drops wet？ Why so sad？
MENELAUS
'Tis the contrast with my fortunes erst so blest。
PORTRESS
Hence！ then； and give thy friends those tears。
MENELAUS
What land is this？ whose is the palace？
PORTRESS
Proteus lives here。 It is the land of Egypt。
MENELAUS
Egypt？ Woe is me！ to think that hither I have sailed！
PORTRESS
Pray； what fault hast thou to find with the race of Nile？
MENELAUS
'Twas no fault I found； my own disasters I lament。
PORTRESS
There be plenty in evil case； thou art not the only one。
MENELAUS
Is the king； of whom thou speakest； here within？
PORTRESS
There is his tomb； his son rules in his stead。
MENELAUS
And where may he be？ abroad； or in the house？
PORTRESS
He is not within。 To Hellas is he a bitter foe。
MENELAUS
His reason； pray； for this enmity？ the results whereof I have
experienced。
PORTRESS
Beneath this roof dwells the daughter of Zeus； Helen。
MENELAUS
What mean'st thou？ what is it thou hast said？ Repeat； I pray； thy
words。
PORTRESS
The daughter of Tyndareus is here； who erst in Sparta dwelt。
MENELAUS
Whence came she？ What means this business？
PORTRESS
She came from Lacedaemon hither。
MENELAUS
When？ Surely I have never been robbed of my wife from the cave！
PORTRESS
Before the Achaeans went to Troy； sir stranger。 But get thee
hence； for somewhat hath chanced within； whereat the whole palace is
in an uproar。 Thou comest most unseasonably； and if my master catch
thee； death will be thy stranger's gift。 This say I； because to Hellas
I am well disposed； albeit I gave thee harsh answers for fear of my
master。
（The PORTRESS goes back into the palace。）
MENELAUS
What can I think or say？ For after my previous troubles； this is a
fresh piece of ill…luck I hear； if； indeed； after recovering my wife
from Troy and bringing her hither； and putting her for safety in the
cave； I am then to find another woman living here with the same name
as my wife。 She called her the begotten child of Zeus。 Can there be
a man that hath the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile？ The Zeus of
heaven is only one； at any rate。 Where is there a Sparta in the
world save where Eurotas glides between his reedy banks？ The name of
Tyndareus is the name of one alone。 Is there any land of the same name
as Lacedaemon or Troy？ I know not what to say； for naturally there are
many in the wide world that have the same names； cities and women too；
there is nothing； then； to marvel at。 Nor yet again will I fly from
the alarm a servant raises； for there is none so cruel of heart as
to refuse me food when once he hears my name。 All ha