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                                     410 BC

                                     HELEN

                                  by Euripides

                         translated by E。 P。 Coleridge




    CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

  HELEN; wife Of MENELAUS

  TEUCER; a Greek warrior; who fought at Troy

  CHORUS OF CAPTIVE GREEK WOMEN; attending HELEN

  MENELAUS; King of Sparta

  PORTRESS of THEOCLYMENUS

  FIRST MESSENGER

  SECOND MESSENGER

  THEONOE; sister of THEOCLYMENUS

  THEOCLYMENUS; King of Egypt

  SERVANT of THEOCLYMENUS

  THE DIOSCURI

  Guards; attendants; etc。





HELEN

  HELEN

  (SCENE:…Before the palace of THEOCLYMENUS in Egypt。 It is near the

  mouth of the Nile。 The tomb of Proteus; the father of THEOCLYMENUS

  is visible。 HELEN is discovered alone before the tomb。)



  HELEN

    Lo! These are the fair virgin streams of Nile; the river that

waters Egypt's tilth; fed by pure melting snow instead of rain from

heaven。 Proteus during his life…time was king of this land; dwelling

in the isle of Pharos; and ruling o'er Egypt; and he took to wife

one of the daughters of the sea; Psamathe; after she left the embraces

of Aeacus。 Two children she bare in this his palace; a son

Theoclymenus; who hath passed his life in duteous service to the gods;

and likewise a noble daughter; her mother's pride; called Eido in

her infancy; but when she reached her youthful prime; the age for

wedded joys; renamed Theonoe; for well she knew whate'er the gods

design; both present and to come; for she had won this guerdon from

her grandsire Nereus。 Nor is my fatherland unknown to fame; e'en

Sparta; or my sire Tyndareus; for a legend tells how Zeus winged his

way to my mother Leda's breast; in the semblance of a bird; even a

swan; and thus as he fled from an eagle's pursuit; achieved by guile

his amorous purpose; if this tale be true。 My name is Helen; and I

will now recount the sorrows I have suffered。 To a hollow vale on

Ida came three goddesses to Paris; for beauty's prize contending; Hera

and Cypris; and the virgin child of Zeus; eager to secure his

verdict on their loveliness。 Now Cypris held out my beauty;…if aught

so wretched deserves that name;…as a bride before the eyes of Paris;

saying he should marry me; and so she won the day; wherefore the

shepherd of Ida left his steading; and came to Sparta; thinking to win

me for his bride。 But Hera; indignant at not defeating the

goddesses; brought to naught my marriage with Paris; and gave to

Priam's princely son not Helen; but a phantom endowed with life;

that she made in my image out of the breath of heaven; and Paris

thought that I was his; although I never was;…an idle fancy! Moreover;

the counsels of Zeus added further troubles unto these; for upon the

land of Hellas and the hapless Phrygians he brought a war; that he

might lighten mother…earth of her myriad hosts of men; and to the

bravest of the sons of Hellas bring renown。 So I was set up as a prize

for all the chivalry of Hellas; to test the might of Phrygia; yet

not I; but my name alone; for Hermes caught me up in the embracing

air; and veiled me in a cloud; for Zeus was not unmindful of me; and

he set me down here in the house of Proteus; judging him to be the

most virtuous of all mankind; that so I might preserve my marriage

with Menelaus free from taint。 Here then I abide; while my hapless

lord has gathered an army; and is setting out for the towers of

Ilium to track and recover me。 And there by Scamander's streams hath

many a life breathed out its last; and all for me; and I; that have

endured all this; am accursed; and seem to have embroiled all Hellas

in a mighty war by proving a traitress to my husband。 Why; then; do

I prolong my life? Because I heard Hermes declare; that I should yet

again make my home on Sparta's glorious soil; with my lord;…for Hermes

knew I never went to Ilium;…that so I might never submit to any

other's wooing。 Now as long as Proteus gazed upon yon glorious sun;

I was safe from marriage; but when o'er him the dark grave closed; the

dead man's son was eager for my hand。 But I; from regard to my

former husband; am throwing myself down in suppliant wise before

this tomb of Proteus; praying him to guard my husband's honour;

that; though through Hellas I bear a name dishonoured; at least my

body here may not incur disgrace。

                                                     (TEUCER enters。)

  TEUCER

    Who is lord and master of this fenced palace? The house is one I

may compare to the halls of Plutus; with its royal bulwarks and

towering buildings。 Ha! great gods! what sight is here? I see the

counterfeit of that fell murderous dame; who ruined me and all the

Achaeans。 May Heaven show its loathing for thee; so much dost thou

resemble Helen! Were I not standing on a foreign soil; with this

well…aimed shaft had worked thy death; thy reward for resembling the

daughter of Zeus。

  HELEN

    Oh! why; poor man; whoe'er thou art; dost thou turn from me;

loathing me for those troubles Helen caused?

  TEUCER

    I was wrong; I yielded to my anger more than I ought; my reason

was; the hate all Hellas bears to that daughter of Zeus。 Pardon me;

lady; for the words I uttered。

  HELEN

    Who art thou? whence comest thou to visit this land?

  TEUCER

    One of those hapless Achaeans am I; lady。

  HELEN

    No wonder then that thou dost bate Helen。 But say; who art thou?

Whence comest? By what name am I to call thee?

  TEUCER

    My name is Teucer; my sire was Telamon; and Salamis is the land

that

    nurtured me。

  HELEN

    Then why art thou visiting these meadows by the Nile?

  TEUCER

    A wanderer I; an exile from my native land。

  HELEN

    Thine must be a piteous lot; who from thy country drives thee out?

  TEUCER

    My father Telamon。 Couldst find a nearer and a dearer?

  HELEN

    But why? This case is surely fraught with woe。

  TEUCER

    The death of Ajax my brother at Troy was my ruin。

  HELEN

    How so? surely 'twas not thy sword that stole his life away?

  TEUCER

    He threw himself on his own blade and died。

  HELEN

    Was he mad? for who with sense endowed would bring himself to

this?

  TEUCER

    Dost thou know aught of Achilles。 son of Peleus?

  HELEN

    He came; so I have heard; to woo Helen once。

  TEUCER

    When he died; he left his arms for his comrades to contest。

  HELEN

    Well; if he did; what harm herein to Ajax?

  TEUCER

    When another won these arms; to himself he put an end。

  HELEN

    Art thou then a sufferer by woes that he inflicted?

  TEUCER

    Yes; because I did not join him in his death。

  HELEN

    So thou camest; sir stranger; to Ilium's famous town?

  TEUCER

    Aye; and; after helping to sack it; myself did learn what ruin

meant。

  HELEN

    Is Troy already fired and utterly by flames consumed?

  TEUCER

    Yea; so that not so much as one vestige of her walls is now to

be seen。

  HELEN

    Woe is thee; poor Helen! thou art the cause of Phrygia's ruin。

  TEUCER

    And of Achaea's too。 Ah! 'tis a tale of grievous misery!

  HELEN

    How long is it since the city was sacked?

  TEUCER

    Nigh seven fruitful seasons have come and gone。

  HELEN

    And how much longer did ye abide in Troy?

  TEUCER

    Many a weary month; till through ten full years the moon had

held her course。

  HELEN

    And did ye capture that Spartan dame?

  TEUCER

    Menelaus caught her by the hair; and was for dragging her away。

  HELEN

    Didst thou thyself behold that unhappy one? or art thou speaking

from hearsay?

  TEUCER

    As plain as I now see thee; I then saw her。

  HELEN

    Consider whether ye were but indulging an idle fancy sent by

heaven。

  TEUCER

    Bethink thee of some other topic; no more of her!

  HELEN

    Are you so sure this fancy was reliable?

  TEUCER

    With these eyes I saw her face to face; if so be I see thee now。

  HELEN

    Hath Menelaus reached his home by this time with his wife?

  TEUCER

    No; he is neither in Argos; nor yet by the streams of Eurotas。

  HELEN

    Ah me! here is evil news for those to whom thou art telling it。

  TEUCER

    'Tis said he disappeared with his wife。

  HELEN

    Did not all the Argives make the passage together?

  TEUCER

    Yes: but a tempest scattered them in every direction。

  HELEN

    In what quarter of the broad ocean?

  TEUCER

    They were crossing the Aegean in mid channel。

  HELEN

    And after that; doth no man know of Menelaus' arrival?

  TEUCER

    No; none; but through Hellas is he reported to be dead。

  HELEN

    Then am I lost。 Is the daughter of Thestius alive?

  TEUCER

    Dost speak of Leda? She is dead; aye; dead and gone。

  HELEN

    Was it Helen's shame that caused her death?

  TEUCER

    Aye; 'tis said she tied the noose abo

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