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and escape； if possible； from the barbarian's clutch。
MESSENGER
It shall be done； O king。 Now I see how worthless are the seers'
tricks； how full of falsehood； nor is there after all aught
trustworthy in the blaze of sacrifice or in the cry of feathered
fowls； 'tis folly； the very notion that birds can help mankind。
Calchas never by word or sign showed the host the truth； when he saw
his friends dying on behalf of a phantom； nor yet did Helenus； but the
city was stormed in vain。 Perhaps thou wilt say； 'twas not heaven's
will that they should do so。 Then why do we employ these prophets？
Better were it to sacrifice to the gods； and crave a blessing； leaving
prophecy alone； for this was but devised as a bait to catch
livelihood； and no man grows rich by divination if he is idle。 No！
sound judgment and discernment are the best of seers。
（The MESSENGER departs。）
LEADER
My views about seers agree exactly with this old man's： whoso hath
the gods upon his side will have the best seer in his house。
HELEN
Good！ so far all is well。 But how camest thou； poor husband；
safe from Troy？ though 'tis no gain to know； yet friends feel a
longing to learn all that their friends have suffered。
MENELAUS
That one short sentence of thine contains a host of questions。 Why
should I tell thee of our losses in the Aegean； or of the beacon
Nauplius lighted on Euboea？ or of my visits to Crete and the cities of
Libya； or of the peaks of Perseus？ For I should never satisfy thee
with the tale； and by telling thee should add to my own pain； though I
suffered enough at the time； and so would my grief be doubled。
HELEN
Thy answer shows more wisdom than my question。 Omit the rest；
and tell me only this； how long wert thou a weary wanderer o'er the
wide sea's face？
MENELAUS
Seven long years did I see come and go； besides those ten in Troy。
HELEN
Alas； poor sufferer！ 'twas a weary while。 And thou hast thence
escaped only to bleed here。
MENELAUS
How so？ what wilt thou tell？ Ah wife； thou hast ruined me。
HELEN
Escape and fly with all thy speed from this land。 Thou wilt be
slain by him whose house this is。
MENELAUS
What have I done to merit such a fate？
HELEN
Thou hast arrived unexpectedly to thwart my marriage。
MENELAUS
What！ is some man bent on wedding my wife？
HELEN
Aye； and on heaping those insults on me； which I have hitherto
endured。
MENELAUS
Is he some private prince； or a ruler of this land？
HELEN
The son of Proteus； king of the country。
MENELAUS
This was that dark saying I heard the servant tell。
HELEN
At which of the barbarian's gates wert thou standing？
MENELAUS
Here； whence like a beggar I was like to be driven。
HELEN
Surely thou wert not begging food？ Ah； woe is me！
MENELAUS
That was what I was doing； though I had not the name of beggar。
HELEN
Of course thou knowest； then； all about my marriage。
MENELAUS
I do。 But whether thou hast escaped thy lover； I know not。
HELEN
Be well assured I have kept my body chaste。
MENELAUS
How wilt thou convince me of this？ If true； thy words are sweet。
HELEN
Dost see the wretched station I have kept at this tomb？
MENELAUS
I see； alas！ a bed of straw； but what hast thou to do with it？
HELEN
There I crave escape from this marriage as a suppliant。
MENELAUS
For want of an altar； or because it is the barbarians' way？
HELEN
This was as good a protection to me as the gods' temples。
MENELAUS
May I not then even bear thee homeward on my ship？
HELEN
The sword far sooner than thy wife's embrace is waiting thee。
MENELAUS
So should I be of all men the most miserable。
HELEN
Put shame aside； and fly from this land。
MENELAUS
Leaving thee behind？ 'twas for thy sake I sacked Troy。
HELEN
Better so； than that our union should cause thy death。
MENELAUS
Oh！ these are coward words； unworthy of those days at Troy！
HELEN
Thou canst not slay the prince； thy possible intent。
MENELAUS
Hath he； then； a body which steel cannot wound？
HELEN
Thou shalt hear。 But to attempt impossibilities is no mark of
wisdom。
MENELAUS
Am I to let them bind my hands； and say nothing？
HELEN
Thou art in a dilemma； some scheme must be devised。
MENELAUS
I had liefer die in action than sitting still。
HELEN
There is one hope； and only one； of our safety。
MENELAUS
Will gold； or daring deeds； or winning words procure it？
HELEN
We are safe if the prince learn not of thy coming。
MENELAUS
ary one tell him it is I？ He certainly will not know who I am。
HELEN
He hath within his palace an ally equal to the gods。
MENELAUS
Some voice divine within the secret chambers of his house？
HELEN
No； his sister； Theonoe men call her。
MENELAUS
Her name hath a prophetic sound； tell me what she doth。
HELEN
She knoweth everything； and she will tell her brother thou art
come。
MENELAUS
Then must we die； for I cannot escape her ken。
HELEN
Perchance we might by suppliant prayers win her over。
MENELAUS
To what end？ To what vain hope art thou leading me？
HELEN
That she should not tell her brother thou art here。
MENELAUS
Suppose we persuade her； can we get away？
HELEN
Easily； if she connive thereat； without her knowledge； no；
MENELAUS
Be that thy task； women deal best with women。
HELEN
I will not fail； be sure； to clasp her knees。
MENELAUS
Come； then； only； suppose she reject our proposals？
HELEN
Thou wilt be slain； and I； alas！ wedded by force。
MENELAUS
Thou wilt betray me； that 〃force〃 of thine is but an excuse。
HELEN
Nay； by thy life I swear a sacred oath。
MENELAUS
What meanest thou？ dost swear to die and never to another
husband yield？
HELEN
Yes； by the self…same sword； I will fall by thy side。
MENELAUS
On these conditions touch my right hand。
HELEN
I do so； swearing I will quit the light of day if thou art slain。
MENELAUS
I； too； will end my life if I lose thee。
HELEN
How shall we die so as to gain fame？
MENELAUS
I will slay thee and then myself upon the summit of the tomb。
But first will I in doughty fight contest another's claim to thee； and
let who will draw nigh！ for I will not sully the lustre of my Trojan
fame； nor will I； on my return to Hellas； incur a storm of taunts；
as one who robbed Thetis of Achilles； saw Ajax； son of Telamon； fall a
weltering corpse； and the sort of Neleus of his child bereft； shall
I then flinch myself from death for my own wife？ No； no！ For if the
gods are wise； o'er a brave man by his foes laid low they