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I am well disposed； albeit I gave thee harsh answers for fear of my
master。
（The PORTRESS goes back into the palace。）
MENELAUS
What can I think or say？ For after my previous troubles； this is a
fresh piece of ill…luck I hear； if； indeed； after recovering my wife
from Troy and bringing her hither； and putting her for safety in the
cave； I am then to find another woman living here with the same name
as my wife。 She called her the begotten child of Zeus。 Can there be
a man that hath the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile？ The Zeus of
heaven is only one； at any rate。 Where is there a Sparta in the
world save where Eurotas glides between his reedy banks？ The name of
Tyndareus is the name of one alone。 Is there any land of the same name
as Lacedaemon or Troy？ I know not what to say； for naturally there are
many in the wide world that have the same names； cities and women too；
there is nothing； then； to marvel at。 Nor yet again will I fly from
the alarm a servant raises； for there is none so cruel of heart as
to refuse me food when once he hears my name。 All have heard of
Ilium's burning； and I； that set it ablaze； am famous now throughout
the world； I； Menelaus。 I therefore wait the master of this house。
There are two issues I must watch； if he prove somewhat stern of
heart； I will to my wreck and there conceal myself； but if he show any
sign of pity； I will ask for help in this my present strait。 This is
the crowning woe in all my misery； to beg the means of life from other
princes； prince though I be myself； still needs must I。 Yea； this is
no saying of mine； but a word of wisdom； 〃Naught in might exceedeth
dread necessity。〃
（HELEN and the CHORUS enter from the palace。 They do not notice
MENELAUS。）
CHORUS （singing）
I have heard the voice of the maiden inspired。 Clear is the answer
she hath vouchsafed within yon palace； declaring that Menelaus is
not yet dead and buried； passed to the land of shades； where
darkness takes the place of light； but on the stormy main is wearing
out his life； nor yet hath reached the haven of his country； a
wanderer dragging out a piteous existence； reft of every friend；
setting foot in every corner of the world； as he voyageth home from
Troy。
HELEN
Lo！ once again I seek the shelter of this tomb； with Theonoe's
sweet tidings in my ears； she that knoweth all things of a truth；
for she saith my lord is yet alive and in the light of day； albeit
he is roaming to and fro after many a weary voyage； and hither shall
he come whenso he reach the limit of his toils； no novice in the
wanderer's life。 But one thing did she leave unsaid。 Is he to escape
when he hath come？ And I refrained from asking that question
clearly； so glad was I when she told me he was safe。 For she said that
he was somewhere nigh this shore； cast up by shipwreck with a
handful of friends。 Ah！ when shall I see thee come？ How welcome will
thy advent be！ （She catches sight of MENELAUS。） Ha！ who is this？ Am
I being snared by some trick of Proteus' impious son？ Oh！ let me； like
a courser at its speed； or a votary of Bacchus； approach the tomb！ for
there is something wild about this fellow's looks； who is eager to
o'ertake me。
MENELAUS
Ho there！ thou that with fearful effort seekest to reach the
basement of the tomb and the pillars of burnt sacrifice； stay thee。
Wherefore art flying？ Ah！ with what speechless amaze the sight of thee
affects me！
HELEN
O friends！ I am being ill…treated。 This man is keeping me from the
tomb； and is eager to take and give me to his master； whose wooing I
was seeking to avoid。
MENELAUS
No robber I； or minister of evil。
HELEN
At any rate the garb wherein thou art clad is unseemly。
MENELAUS
Stay thy hasty flight； put fear aside。
HELEN
I do so； now that I have reached this spot。
MENELAUS
Who art thou？ whom do I behold in thee； lady？
HELEN
Nay； who art thou？ The self…same reason prompts us both。
MENELAUS
never saw a closer resemblance。
HELEN
Great God！ Yea； for to recognize our friends is of God。
MENELAUS
Art thou from Hellas； or a native of this land？
HELEN
From Hellas； but I would learn thy story too。
MENELAUS
Lady； in thee I see a wondrous likeness to Helen。
HELEN
And I in thee to Menelaus； I know not what to say。
MENELAUS
Well； thou hast recognized aright a man of many sorrows。
HELEN
Hail！ to thy wife's arms restored at last！
MENELAUS
Wife indeed！ Lay not a finger on my robe。
HELEN
The wife that Tyndareus； my father； gave thee。
MENELAUS
O Hecate； giver of light； send thy visions favourably！
HELEN
In me thou beholdest no spectre of the night； attendant on the
queen of phantoms。
MENELAUS
Nor yet am I in my single person the husband of two wives。
HELEN
What other woman calls thee lord？
MENELAUS
The inmate of yonder cave； whom I from Troy convey。
HELEN
Thou hast none other wife but me。
MENELAUS
Can it be my mind is wandering； my sight failing？
HELEN
Dost not believe thou seest in me thy wife？
MENELAUS
Thy form resembles her； but the real truth robs me of this belief。
HELEN
Observe me well； what need hast thou of clearer proof？
MENELAUS
Thou art like her； that will I never deny。
HELEN
Who then shall teach thee； unless it be thine own eyes？
MENELAUS
Herein is my dilemma； I have another wife。
HELEN
To Troy I never went； that was a phantom。
MENELAUS
Pray； who fashions living bodies？
HELEN
The air； whence thou hast a wife of heaven's workmanship。
MENELAUS
What god's handiwork？ Strange is the tale thou tellest。
HELEN
Hera made it as a substitute； to keep me from Paris。
MENELAUS
How then couldst thou have been here； and in Troy； at the same
time？
HELEN
The name may be in many a place at once； though not the body。
MENELAUS
Unhand me！ the sorrows I brought with me suffice。
HELEN
What！ wilt leave me； and take that phantom bride away？
MENELAUS
For thy likeness unto Helen； fare thee well。
HELEN
Ruined！ in thee I found my lord only to lose thee。
MENELAUS
The greatness of my troubles at Troy convinces me； thou dost not。
HELEN
Ah； woe is me！ who was ever more unfortunate than I？ Those whom
I love best are leaving me； nor shall I ever reach Hellas； my own dear
native land。
（The FIRST MESSENGER enters in haste。）
MESSENGER
At last I find thee； Menelaus； after an anxious search； not till I
have evandered through the length and breadth of this foreign
strand； I am sent by thy comrades； whom thou didst leave behind。
MENELAUS
What news？ surely you are not being spoiled by the barbarians？
MESSENGER
A miracle hath happened； my words are too weak for the reality。
MENELAUS
Speak； for judging by this haste； thou hast stirring news。
MESSENGER
My message is： thy countless toils have all been toiled in vain。
MENELAUS
That is an old tale of woe to mourn！ come； thy news？
MESSENGER
Thy wife hath disappeared； soaring away into the embracing air； in
heaven she now is hidden； and as she left the hollowed cave where we
were guarding her； she hailed us thus； 〃Ye hapless Phrygians； and
all Achaea's race！ for me upon Scamander's strand by Hera's arts ye
died from day to day； in the false belief that Helen was in the
hands of Paris。 But I； since I have stayed my appointed time； and kept
the laws of fate； will now depart unto the sky that gave me birth； but
the unhappy daughter of Tyndareus； through no fault of hers； hath
borne an evil name without reason。〃 （Catching Sight of HELEN） Daughter
of Leda； hail to thee； so thou art here after all！ I was just
announcing thy departure to the hidden starry realms； little knowing
that thou couldst fly at will。 I will not a second time let thee flout
us thus； for thou didst cause tiki lord and his comrades trouble all
for naught in Ilium。
MENELAUS
This is even what she said； her words are proved true； O
longed…for day； how hath it restored thee to my arms！
HELEN
O Menelaus； dearest husband； the time of sorrow has been long； but
joy is now ours at last。 Ah； friends； what joy for me to hold my
husband in a fond embrace after many a weary cycle of yon blazing lamp
of day！
MENELAUS
What joy for me to hold my wife！ but with all that I would ask
about these years； I now know not where I may first begin。
HELEN
O rapture！ the very hair upon my head starts up for joy！ my
tears run down！ Around thy neck I fling my arms； dear husband； to
hug my joy to me。
MENELAUS
O happy； happy sight！ I have no fault to find； my wife； he
daughter of Zeus and Leda；