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HELEN
Myself I cannot say； I had no such experience in my previous happy
life。
THEOCLYMENUS
Stranger； thou art the bearer of tidings I welcome。
MENELAUS
Well； I do not； nor yet doth the dead man。
THEOCLYMENUS
How do ye bury those who have been drowned at sea？
MENELAUS
Each according to his means。
THEOCLYMENUS
As far as wealth goes； name thy wishes for this lady's sake。
MENELAUS
There must be a blood…offering first to the dead。
THEOCLYMENUS
Blood of what？ Do thou show me and I will comply。
MENELAUS
Decide that thyself； whate'er thou givest will suffice。
THEOCLYMENUS
Amongst barbarians 'tis customary to sacrifice a horse or bull；
MENELAUS
If thou givest at all； let there be nothing mean in thy gift。
THEOCLYMENUS
I have no lack of such in my rich herds
MENELAUS
Next an empty bier is decked and carried in procession。
THEOCLYMENUS
It shall be so； what else is it customary to add？
MENELAUS
Bronze arms； for war was his delight。
THEOCLYMENUS
These will be worthy of the race of Pelops； and these will we
give。
MENELAUS
And with them all the fair increase of productive earth。
THEOCLYMENUS
And next； how do ye pour these offerings into the billows？
MENELAUS
There must be a ship ready and rowers。
THEOCLYMENUS
How far from the shore does the ship put out？
MENELAUS
So far that the foam in her wake can scarce be seen from the
strand。
THEOCLYMENUS
Why so？ wherefore doth Hellas observe this custom？
MENELAUS
That the billow may not cast up again our expiatory offerings。
THEOCLYMENUS
Phoenician rowers will soon cover the distance。
MENELAUS
'Twill be well done； and gratifying to Menelaus； too。
THEOCLYMENUS
Canst thou not perform these rites well enough without Helen？
MENELAUS
This task belongs to mother； wife； or children。
THEOCLYMENUS
'Tis her task then； according to thee； to bury her husband。
MENELAUS
To be sure； piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their
due。
THEOCLYMENUS
Well； let her go； 'tis my interest to foster piety in a wife。
And thou； enter the house and choose adornment for the dead。
Thyself； too； will not send empty…handed away； since thou hast done
her a service。 And for the good news thou hast brought me； thou
shalt receive raiment instead of going bare； and food； too； that
thou mayst reach thy country； for as it is； I see thou art in sorry
plight。 As for thee； poor lady； waste not thyself in a hopeless
case； Menelaus has met his doom； and thy dead husband cannot come to
life。
MENELAUS
This then is thy duty； fair young wife； be content with thy
present husband； and forget him who has no existence； for this is
thy best course in face of what is happening。 And if ever I come to
Hellas and secure my safety； I will clear thee of thy former
ill…repute； if thou prove a dutiful wife to thy true husband。
HELEN
I will； never shall my husband have cause to blame me； thou
shalt thyself attend us and be witness thereto。 Now go within； poor
wanderer； and seek the bath； and change thy raiment。 I will show my
kindness to thee； and that without delay。 For thou wilt perform all
service due with kindlier feeling for my dear lord Menelaus； if at
my hands thou meet with thy deserts。
（THEOCLYMENUS； HELEN； MENELAUS enter the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Through wooded glen； o'er torrent's flood； and ocean's booming
waves rushed the mountain…goddess； mother of the gods； in frantic
haste； once long ago； yearning for her daughter lost； whose name men
dare not utter； loudly rattled the Bacchic castanets in shrill accord；
what time those maidens； swift as whirlwinds； sped forth with the
goddess on her chariot yoked to wild creatures； in quest of her that
was ravished from the circling choir of virgins； here was Artemis with
her bow； and there the grim…eyed goddess； sheathed in mail； and
spear in hand。 But Zeus looked down from his throne in heaven； and
turned the issue otherwhither。
antistrophe 1
Soon as the mother ceased from her wild wandering toil； in seeking
her daughter stolen so subtly as to baffle all pursuit； she crossed
the snow…capped heights of Ida's nymphs； and in anguish cast her
down amongst the rocks and brushwood deep in snow； and； denying to man
all increase to his tillage from those barren fields； she wasted the
human race； nor would she let the leafy tendrils yield luxuriant
fodder for the cattle； wherefore many a beast lay dying； no
sacrifice was offered to the gods； and on the altars were no cakes
to burn； yea； and she made the dew…fed founts of crystal water to
cease their flow； in her insatiate sorrow for her child。
strophe 2
But when for gods and tribes of men alike she made an end to
festal cheer； Zeus spoke out； seeking to soothe the mother's moody
soul； 〃Ye stately Graces； go banish from Demeter's angry heart the
grief her wanderings bring upon her for her child； and go； ye Muses
too； with tuneful choir。〃 Thereon did Cypris； fairest of the blessed
gods； first catch up the crashing cymbals； native to that land； and
the drum with tight…stretched skin； and then Demeter smiled； and in
her hand。 did take the deep…toned flute； well pleased with its loud
note。
antistrophe 2
Thou hast wedded as thou never shouldst have done in defiance of
all right； and thou hast incurred； my daughter； the wrath of the great
mother by disregarding her sacrifices。 Oh！ mighty is the virtue in
dress of dappled fawn…skin； in ivy green that twineth round a sacred
thyrsus； in whirling tambourines struck as they revolve in air in
tresses wildly streaming for the revelry of Bromius； and likewise in
the sleepless vigils of the goddess； when the moon looks down and
sheds her radiance o'er the scene。 Thou wert confident in thy charms
alone。
（HELEN comes out of the palace alone。）
HELEN
My friends； within the palace all goes well for us； for the
daughter of Proteus； who is privy to our stealthy scheme； told her
brother nothing when questioned as to my husband's coming； but for
my sake declared him dead and buried。 Most fortunate it is my lord
hath had the luck to get these weapons； for he is now himself clad
in the harness he was to plunge into the sea； his stalwart arm
thrust through the buckler's strap； and in his right hand a spear；
on pretence of joining in homage to the dead。 He hath girded himself
most serviceably for the fray； as if to triumph o'er a host of
barbarian foes when once we are aboard yon oared ship； instead of
his rags from the wreck hath he donned the robes I gave for his
attire； and I have bathed his limbs in water from the stream； a bath
he long hath wanted。 But I must be silent； for from the house comes
forth the man who thinks he has me in his power； prepared to be his
bride； and thy goodwill I also claim and thy strict silence； if haply；
when we save ourselves； we may save thee too some day。
（THEOCLYMENUS and MENELAUS enter； with a train of attendants
bearing the offerings for the funeral rites。）
THEOCLYMENUS
Advance in order； servants； as the stranger hath directed； bearing
the funeral gifts the sea demands。 But thou； Helen； if thou wilt not
misconstrue my words； be persuaded and here abide； for thou wilt do
thy husband equal service whether thou art present or not。 For I am
afraid that some sudden shock of fond regret may prompt thee to plunge
into the swollen tide； in an ecstasy of gratitude toward thy former
husband； for thy grief for him； though he is lost； is running to
excess。
HELEN
O my new lord； needs must I honour him with whom I first shared
married joys； for I could even die with my husband； so well I loved
him； yet how could he thank me； were I to share death's doom with him？
Still； let me go and pay his funeral rites unto the dead in person。
The gods grant thee the boon I wish and this stranger too； for the
assistance he is lending here！ And thou shalt find in me a wife fit to
share thy house； since thou art rendering kindness to Menelaus and
to me； for surely these events are to some good fortune tending。 But
now appoint someone to give us a ship wherein to convey these gifts；
that I may find thy kindness made complete。
THEOCLYMENUS （to an attendant）
Go thou； and furnish them with a Sidonian galley of fifty oars and
rowers also。
HELEN
Shall not he command the ship who is ordering the funeral？
THEOCLYMENUS
Most certainly； my sailors are to obey