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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