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when the child of a virtuous sire resembles its parents in character。
LEADER
Piteous thy pleading； and a piteous object thou！ But I fain
would hear what Menelaus will say to save his life。
MENELAUS
I will not deign to throw myself at thy knees； or wet mine eyes
with tears； for were I to play the coward； I should most foully blur
my Trojan fame。 And yet men say it shows a noble soul to let the
tear…drop fall in misfortune。 But that will not be the honourable
course that I will choose in preference to bravery； if what I shall
say is honourable。 Art thou disposed to save a stranger seeking in
mere justice to regain his wife； why then restore her and save us
likewise； if not； this will not be the first by many a time that I
have suffered； though thou wilt get an evil name。 All that I deem
worthy of me and honest； all that will touch thy heart most nearly；
will I utter at the tomb of thy sire with regret for his loss。 Old
king beneath this tomb of stone reposing； pay back thy trust！ I ask of
thee my wife whom Zeus sent hither unto thee to keep for me。 I know
thou canst never restore her to me thyself； for thou art dead； but
this thy daughter will never allow her father once so glorious； whom I
invoke in his grave； to bear a tarnished name； for the decision
rests with her now。 Thee； too； great god of death； I call to my
assistance； who hast received full many a corpse； slain by me for
Helen； and art keeping thy wage； either restore those dead now to life
again； or compel the daughter to show herself a worthy equal of her
virtuous sire； and give me back my wife。 But if ye will rob me of her；
I will tell you that which she omitted in her speech。 Know then；
maiden； I by an oath am bound； first； to meet thy brother sword to
sword； when he or I must die…there is no alternative。 But if he refuse
to meet me fairly front to front； and seek by famine to chase away
us suppliants twain at this tomb； I am resolved to slay Helen； and
then to plunge this two…edged sword through my own heart； upon the top
of the sepulchre； that our streaming blood may trickle down the
tomb； and our two corpses will be lying side by side upon this
polished slab； a source of deathless grief to thee； and to thy sire
reproach。 Never shall thy brother wed Helen； nor shall any other； I
will bear her hence myself； if not to my house； at any rate to
death。 And why this stern resolve？ Were I to resort to women's ways
and weep； I should be a pitiful creature； not a man of action。 Slay
me； if it seems thee good； I will not die ingloriously； but better
yield to what I say； that thou mayst act with justice； and I regain my
wife。
LEADER
On thee； maiden； it rests to judge between these arguments。 Decide
in such a way as to please one and all。
THEONOE
My nature and my inclination lean towards piety； myself； too； I
respect； and I will never sully my father's fair name； or gratify my
brother at the cost of bringing myself into open dishonour。 For
justice hath her temple firmly founded in my nature； and since I
have this heritage from Nereus I will strive to save Menelaus；
wherefore； seeing it is Hera's will to stand thy friend； I will give
my vote with her。 May Cypris be favourable to me！ though in me she
hath no part； and I will try to remain a maid alway。 As for thy
reproaches against my father at this tomb； lo！ I have the same words
to utter； I should be wronging thee； did I not restore thy wife； for
my sire； were he living； would have given her back into thy keeping；
and thee to her。 Yea； for there is recompense for these things as well
amongst the dead as amongst all those who breathe the breath of
life。 The soul indeed of the dead lives no more； yet hath it a
consciousness that lasts for ever； eternal as the ether into which
it takes the final plunge。 Briefly then to end the matter； I will
observe strict silence on all that ye prayed I should； and never
with my counsel will I aid my brother's wanton will。 For I am doing
him good service； though he little thinks it； if turn him from his
godless life to holiness。 Wherefore devise yourselves some way of
escape； my lips are scaled； I will not cross your path。 First with the
goddesses begin； and of the one；…and that one Cypris；…Crave permission
to return unto thy country； and of Hera； that her goodwill may abide
in the same quarter； even her scheme to save thee and thy husband。 And
thou； my own dead sire； shalt never； in so far as rests with me；
lose thy holy name to rank with evil…doers。
（THEONOE and her attendants enter the palace。）
LEADER
No man ever prospered by unjust practices； but in a righteous
cause there is hope of safety。
HELEN
Menelaus； on the maiden's side are we quite safe。 Thou must from
that point start； and by contributing thy advice； devise with me a
scheme to save ourselves。
MENELAUS
Hearken then； thou hast been a long while in the palace； and art
intimate with the king's attendants。
HELEN
What dost thou mean thereby？ for thou art suggesting hopes； as
if resolved on some plan for our mutual help。
MENELAUS
Couldst thou persuade one of those who have charge of cars and
steeds to furnish us with a chariot？
HELEN
I might； but what escape is there for us who know nothing of the
country and the barbarian's kingdom？
MENELAUS
True； 'tis impossible。 Well； supposing I conceal myself in the
palace and slay the king with this two…edged sword？
HELEN
His sister would never refrain from telling her brother that
thou wert meditating his death。
MENELAUS
We have not so much as a ship to make our escape in； for the
sea。 hath swallowed the one we had。
HELEN
Hear me； if haply even a woriian can utter words of wisdom。 Dost
thou consent to be dead in word； though not really so？
MENELAUS
'Tis a bad omen； still； if by saying so I shall gain aught； I am
ready to be dead in word； though not in deed。
HELEN
I； too； will mourn thee with hair cut short and dirges； as is
women's way； before this impious wretch。
MENELAUS
What saving remedy doth this afford us twain？ There is deception
in thy scheme。
HELEN
I will beg the king of this country leave to bury thee in a
cenotaph； as if thou hadst really died at sea。
MENELAUS
Suppose he grant it； how； e'en then； are we to escape without a
ship； after having committed me to my empty tomb？
HELEN
I will bid him give me a vessel； from which to let drop into the
sea's embrace thy funeral offerings。
MENELAUS
A clever plan in truth； save in one particular； suppose he bid
thee rear the tomb upon the strand； thy pretext comes to naught。
HELEN
But I shall say it is not the custom in Hellas to bury those who
die at sea upon the shore。
MENELAUS
Thou removest this obstacle too； I then will sail with thee and
help stow the funeral garniture in the same ship。
HELEN
Above all； it is necessary that thou and all thy sailors who
escaped from the wreck should be at hand。
MENELAUS
Be sure if once I find a ship at her moorings； they shall be there
man for man； each with his sword。
HELEN
Thou must direct everything； only let there be winds to waft our
rails and a good ship to speed before them！
MENELAUS
So shall it be； for the deities will cause my troubles to cease。
But from whom wilt thou say thou hadst tidings of my death？
HELEN
From thee； declare thyself the one and only survivor； telling
how thou wert sailing with the son of Atreus； and didst see him
perish。
MENELAUS
Of a truth the garments I have thrown about me； will bear out my
tale that they were rags collected from the wreckage。
HELEN
They come in most opportunely； but they were near being lost
just at the wrong time。 Maybe that misfortune will turn to fortune。
MENELAUS
Am I to enter the palace with thee； or are we to sit here at the
tomb quietly？
HELEN
Abide here； for if the king attempts to do thee any mischief； this
tomb and thy good sword will protect thee。 But I will go within and
cut off my hair； and exchange my white robe for sable weeds； and
rend my cheek with this hand's blood…thirsty nail。 For 'tis a mighty
struggle； and I see two possible issues； either I must die if detected
in my plot； or else to my country shall I come and save thy soul
alive。 O Hera！ awful queen； who sharest the couch of Zeus； grant
some respite from their toil to two unhappy wretches； to thee I
pray； tossing my arms upward to heaven； where thou hast thy home in
the star…spangled firmament。 Thou； too； that didst win the prize of
beauty at the price of my marriage； O Cypris！ daughter of Dione；
destroy me not utterly。 Thou hast injured me enough aforetime；
delivering up my name； though not my person； to live amongst
barbarians。 Oh！ suffer me to die； if death is thy desire； in my nativ