helen-第2节
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TEUCER
Aye； 'tis said she tied the noose about her noble neck。
HELEN
Are the sons of Tyndareus still alive or not？
TEUCER
Dead； and yet alive： 'tis a double story。
HELEN
Which is the more credible report？ Woe is me for my sorrows！
TEUCER
Men say that they are gods in the likeness of stars。
HELEN
That is happy news； but what is the other rumour？
TEUCER
That they by self…inflicted wounds gave up the ghost because of
their sister's shame。 But enough of such talk！ I have no wish to
multiply my griefs。 The reason of my coming to this royal palace was a
wish to see that famous prophetess Theonoe。 Do thou the means
afford； that I from her may obtain an oracle how I shall steer a
favourable course to the sea…girt shores of Cyprus； for there Apollo
hath declared my home shall be； giving to it the name of Salamis； my
island home； in honour of that fatherland across the main。
HELEN
That shall the voyage itself explain； sir stranger； but do thou
leave these shores and fly； ere the son of Proteus； the ruler of
this land； catch sight of thee。 Now is he away with his trusty
hounds tracking his savage quarry to the death； for every stranger
that he catcheth from the land of Hellas doth he slay。 His reason
never ask to know； my lips are sealed； for what could word of mine
avail thee？
TEUCER
Lady； thy words are fair。 Heaven grant thee a fair requital for
this kindness！ For though in form thou dost resemble Helen； thy soul
is not like hers； nay； very different。 Perdition seize her！ May she
never reach the streams of Eurotas！ But thine be joy for evermore；
lady！
（TEUCER departs。 The CHORUS OF CAPTIVE GREEK WOMEN enter。 They
sing responsively with HELEN。）
HELEN
Ah me！ what piteous dirge shall I strive to utter； now that I am
beginning my strain of bitter lamentation？ What Muse shall I
approach with tears or songs of death or woe？ Ah me！ ye Sirens；
Earth's virgin daughters； winged maids； come； oh！ come to aid my
mourning； bringing with you the Libyan flute or pipe； to waft to
Persephone's ear a tearful plaint； the echo of my sorrow； with grief
for grief； and mournful chant for chant； with songs of death and
doom to match my lamentation； that in return she may receive from
me； besides my tears； dirges for the departed dead beneath her
gloomy roof！
CHORUS
Beside the deep…blue water I chanced to be hanging purple robes
along the tendrils green and on the sprouting reeds； to dry them in
the sun…god's golden blaze； when lo！ I heard a sound of woe； a
mournful wail； the voice of one crying aloud in her anguish； yea； such
a cry of woe as Naiad nymph might send ringing o'er the hills； while
to her cry the depths of rocky grots re…echo her screams at the
violence of Pan。
HELEN
Woe！ woe！ ye maids of Hellas； booty of barbarian sailors！ one hath
come； an Achaean mariner； bringing fresh tears to me； the news of
Ilium's overthrow； how that it is left to the mercy of the foeman's
flame； and all for me the murderess； or for my name with sorrow
fraught。 While for anguish at my deed of shame； hath Leda sought her
death by hanging； and on the deep； to weary wandering doomed my lord
hath met his end； and Castor and his brother； twin glory of their
native land； are vanished from men's sight； leaving the plains that
shook to their galloping steeds； and the course beside reed…fringed
Eurotas； where those youthful athletes strove。
CHORUS
Ah； misery！ Alas！ for thy grievous destiny！ Woe for thy sad lot；
lady！ Ah！ 'twas a day of sorrow meted out for thee when Zeus came
glancing through the sky on snowy pinions like a swan and won thy
mother's heart。 What evil is not thine？ Is there a grief in life
that thou hast not endured？ Thy mother is dead； the two dear sons of
Zeus have perished miserably； and thou art severed from thy
country's sight； while through the towns of men a rumour runs；
consigning thee； my honoured mistress； to a barbarian's bed； and
'mid the ocean waves thy lord hath lost his life； and never； never
more shalt thou fill with joy thy father's halls or Athena's temple of
the 〃Brazen House。〃
HELEN
Ah！ who was that Phrygian； who was he； that felled that pine
with sorrow fraught for Ilium； and for those that came from Hellas？
Hence it was that Priam's son his cursed barque did build； and sped by
barbarian oars sailed unto my home； in quest of beauty； woman's curse；
to win me for his bride； and with him sailed the treacherous queen
of Love； on slaughter bent； with death alike for Priam's sons； and
Danai too。 Ah me！ for my hard lot！ Next； Hera； stately bride of
Zeus； seated on her golden throne； sent the son of Maia； swift of
foot； who caught me up as I was gathering fresh rose…buds in the folds
of my robe； that I might go to the 〃Brazen House；〃 and bore me through
the air to this loveless land； making me an object of unhappy strife
'twixt Hellas and the race of Priam。 And my name is but a sound
without reality beside the streams of Simois。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Well I know thou hast a bitter lot to bear； still 'tis best to
bear as lightly as we may the ills that life is heir to。
HELEN
Good friends； to what a fate am I united？ Did not my mother bear
me to be a monster to the world？ For no woman； Hellene or barbarian；
gives birth to babes in eggs inclosed； as they say Leda bare me to
Zeus。 My life and all I do is one miracle； partly owing to Hera； and
partly is my beauty to blame。 Would God I could rub my beauty out like
a picture； and assume hereafter in its stead a form less comely； and
oh！ that Hellas had forgotten the evil fate that now I bear； and
were now remembering my career of honour as surely as they do my deeds
of shame。 Now； if a man doth turn his eyes to a single phase of
fortune； and meets ill…usage at heaven's hands； 'tis hard no doubt；
but still it can be borne； but I in countless troubles am involved。
First； although I never sinned； my good name is gone。 And this is a
grief beyond the reality； if a man incurs blame for sins that are
not his。 Next； have the gods removed me from my native land； to
dwell with men of barbarous ways； and reft of every friend； I arn
become a slave though free by birth； for amongst barbarians all are
slaves but one。 And the last anchor that held my fortunes； the hope
that my husband would return one day； and rid me of my woes； is now no
more； lost since the day he died。 My mother too is dead； and I am
called her murderess； unjustly it is true； but still that injustice is
mine to bear； and she that was the glory of my house； my darling
child； is growing old and grey； unwedded still； and those twin
brethren； called the sons of Zeus； are now no more。 But 'tis
fortune； not my own doing； that hath crushed me with sorrow and
slain me。 And this is the last evil of all； if ever I come to my
native land。 they will shut me up in prison； thinking me that Helen of
Ilium； in quest of whom Menelaus came thither。 Were my husband still
alive； we might have recognized each other； by having recourse to
tokens which ourselves alone would know。 But now this may not be；
nor is there any chance of his escape。 Why then do I prolong my
life？ What fortune have I still in store？ Shall I choose marriage as
an alternative of evils； and dwell with a barbarian lord； seated at
his sumptuous board？ No！ when a husband she loathes is mated with a
woman； even life is loathly to her。 Best for her to die； but how shall
I die a noble death？ The dangling noose is an uncomely end； even
slaves consider it disgrace； to stab oneself hath something fair
and。 noble in it； 'tis a small thing that moment of ridding the
flesh of life。 Yes； it must be； I am plunged so deep in misery； for
that beauty； which to other women is a boon； to me hath been a very
bane。
LEADER
Helen； never believe that the stranger； whoe'er he was that
came； has spoken naught but truth。
HELEN
Yet he said so clearly that my lord was dead。
LEADER
There is much that falsehood seems to make quite clear。
HELEN
The word of truth hath a very different sound to falsehood。
LEADER
Thou art inclined to misfortune； rather than to luck。
HELEN
Fear girds me with terrors as with a garment； and takes me in
her train。
LEADER
What friends hast thou within the palace？
HELEN
All are my friends here save him who seeks to wed…me。
LEADER
Thy action then is clear； leave thy seat at the tomb。
HELEN
To what words or advice art thou leading up？
LEADER
Go in and question the daughter of the ocean Nereid； who knoweth
all things； even Theonoe； whether thy husband is still alive； or
whether he hath left the light of day； and when thou knowest for
certain； be glad or sorrowful； as fits thy fortune。 But before thou
hast right knowledge； what shall sorrow avail thee？ Nay； hearken to
me； le
