helen-第10节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
HELEN
Shall not he command the ship who is ordering the funeral？
THEOCLYMENUS
Most certainly； my sailors are to obey him。
HELEN
Repeat the order； that they may clearly understand thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
I repeat it； and will do so yet again if that is thy pleasure。
HELEN
Good luck to thee and to me in my designs！
THEOCLYMENUS
Oh！ waste not thy fair complexion with excessive weeping。
HELEN
This day shall show my gratitude to thee。
THEOCLYMENUS
The state of the dead is nothingness； to toil for them is vain。
HELEN
In what I say； this world； as well as that； hath share。
THEOCLYMENUS
Thou shalt not find in me a husband at all inferior to Menelaus。
HELEN
With thee have I no fault to find； good luck is all I need。
THEOCLYMENUS
That rests with thyself； if thou show thyself a loving wife to me。
HELEN
This is not a lesson I shall have to learn now； to love my
friends。
THEOCLYMENUS
Is it thy wish that I should escort thee in person with active
aid？
HELEN
God forbid！ become not thy servant's servant； O king！
THEOCLYMENUS
Up and away！ I am not concerned with customs which the race of
Pelops holds。 My house is pure； for Menelaus did not die here； go some
one now and bid my vassal chiefs bring marriage…offerings to my
palace； for the whole earth must re…echo in glad accord the hymn of my
wedding with Helen； to make men envious。 Go； stranger； and pour into
the sea's embrace these offerings to Helen's former lord； and then
speed back again with my bride； that after sharing with me her
marriage…feast thou mayst set out for home； or here abide in
happiness。
（THEOCLYMENUS and his retinue enter the palace。）
MENELAUS
O Zeus； who art called the father of all and god of wisdom； look
down on us and change our woe to joy！ Lend us thy ready help； as we
seek to drag our fortunes up the rugged hill； if with but thy
finger…tip thou touch us； we shall reach our longed…for goal。
Sufficient are the troubles we ere this have undergone。 Full oft
have I invoked you gods to near my joys and sorrows； I do not
deserve to be for ever unhappy； but to advance and prosper。 Grant me
but this one boon； and so will ye crown my future with blessing。
（MENELAUS； HELEN and their train of attendants depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Hail！ thou swift Phoenician ship of Sidon！ dear to the rowers；
mother to the foam； leader of fair dolphins' gambols； what time the
deep is hushed and still； and Ocean's azure child； the queen of
calm； takes up her parable and says： 〃Away！ and spread your canvas
to the ocean…breeze。 Ho！ sailors； ho！ come grip your oars of pine；
speeding Helen on her way to the sheltered beach where Perseus dwelt
of yore。〃
antistrophe 1
It may be thou wilt find the daughters of Leucippus beside the
brimming river or before the temple of Pallas； when at last with dance
and revelry thou joinest in the merry midnight festival of Hyacinthus；
him whom Phoebus slew in the lists by a quoit hurled o'er the mark；
wherefore did the son of Zeus ordain that Laconia's land should set
apart that day for sacrifice； there too shalt thou find the tender
maid； whom ye left in your house； for as yet no nuptial torch has shed
its light for her。
strophe 2
Oh！ for wings to cleave the air in the track of Libyan cranes；
whose serried ranks leave far behind the wintry storm at the shrill
summons of some veteran leader； who raises his exultant cry as he
wings his way o'er plains that know no rain and yet bear fruitful
increase。 Ye feathered birds with necks outstretched； comrades of
the racing clouds； on on！ till ye reach the Pleiads in their central
station and Orion； lord of the night； and as ye settle on Eurotas'
banks proclaim the glad tidings that Menelaus hath sacked the city
of Dardanus； and will soon be home。
antistrophe 2
Ye sons of Tyndareus at length appear； speeding in your chariot
through the sky； denizens of heaven's courts beneath the radiant
whirling stars； guide this lady Helen safely o'er the azure main；
across the foam…flecked billows of the deep…blue sea； sending the
mariners a favouring gale from Zeus； and from your sister snatch the
ill…repute of wedding with a barbarian； even the punishment bequeathed
to her from that strife on Ida's mount； albeit she never went to the
land of Ilium； to the battlements of Phoebus。
（The SECOND MESSENGER enters in haste； as THEOCLYMENUS comes out
of the palace。）
SECOND MESSENGER
O king； at last have I found thee in the palace； for new tidings
of woe art thou soon to hear from me。
THEOCLYMENUS
How now？
MESSENGER
Make haste to woo a new wife； for Helen hath escaped。
THEOCLYMENUS
Borne aloft on soaring wings； or treading still the earth？
MESSENGER
Menelaus has succeeded in bearing her hence； 'twas he that brought
the news of his own death。
THEOCLYMENUS
O monstrous story！ what ship conveyed her from these shores？ Thy
tale is past belief。
MESSENGER
The very ship thou didst thyself give the stranger； and that
thou mayest briefly know all； he is gone； taking thy sailors with him。
THEOCLYMENUS
How was it？ I long to know； for I never thought that a single
arm could master all those sailors with whom thou wert despatched。
MESSENGER
Soon as the daughter of Zeus had left this royal mansion and
come unto the sea； daintily picking her way； most craftily she set
to mourn her husband； though he was not dead but at her side。 Now when
we reached thy docks well walled； we began to launch the fastest of
Sidonian ships； with her full complement of fifty rowers； and each
task in due succession followed； some set up the mast； others ranged
the oars with their blades ready； and stored the white sails within
the hold； and the rudder was let down astern and fastened securely。
While we were thus employed； those Hellenes； who had been
fellow…voyagers with Menelaus； were watching us； it seems； and they
drew nigh the beach； clad in the rags of shipwrecked men；…well built
enough； but squalid to look upon。 And the son of Atreus； directly he
saw them approach； bespoke them； craftily introducing the reason for
his mourning： 〃Ye hapless mariners； how have ye come hither？ your
Achaean ship where wrecked？ Are ye here to help bury dead Atreus' son；
whose missing body this lady； daughter of Tyndareas； is honouring with
a cenotaph？〃 Then they with feigned tears proceeded to the ship；
bearing aboard the offerings to be thrown into the deep for
Menelaus。 Thereat were we suspicious； and communed amongst ourselves
regarding the number of extra voyagers； but still we kept silence
out of respect for thy orders； for by intrusting the command of the
vessel to the stranger thou didst thus spoil all。 Now the other
victims gave no trouble； and we easily put them aboard； only the
bull refused to go forward along the gangway； but rolled his eyes
around and kept bellowing； and； arching his back and glaring askance
towards his horns； he would not let us touch him。 But Helen's lord
cried out： 〃O！ ye who laid waste the town of Ilium； come pick up yon
bull； the dead man's offering； on your stout shoulders； as is the
way in Hellas； and cast him into the hold；〃 and as he spoke he drew
his sword in readiness。 Then they at his command came and caught up
the bull and carried him bodily on to the deck。 And Menelaus stroked
the horse on neck and brow； coaxing it to go aboard。 At length； when
the ship was fully freighted； Helen climbed the ladder with graceful
step and took her seat midway betwixt the rowers' benches； and he
sat by her side； even Menelaus who was called dead； and the rest；
equally divided on the right and left side of the ship； sat them down；
each beside his man； with swords concealed beneath their cloaks； and
the billows soon were echoing to the rowers' song； as we heard the
boatswain's note。 Now when we were put out a space； not very far nor
very near； the helmsman asked； 〃Shall we； sir stranger； sail yet
further on our course； or will this serve？ For thine it is to
command the ship。〃 And he answered： 〃'Tis far enough for me；〃 while in
his right hand he gripped his sword and stepped on to the prow； then
standing o'er the bull to slay it； never a word said he of any dead
man； but cut its throat and thus made prayer： 〃Poseidon； lord of the
sea； whose home is in the deep； and ye holy daughters of Nereus； bring
me and my wife safe and sound to Nauplia's strand from hence！ Anon a
gush of blood； fair omen for the stranger； spouted into the tide。
