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MENELAUS
That was what I was doing； though I had not the name of beggar。
HELEN
Of course thou knowest； then； all about my marriage。
MENELAUS
I do。 But whether thou hast escaped thy lover； I know not。
HELEN
Be well assured I have kept my body chaste。
MENELAUS
How wilt thou convince me of this？ If true； thy words are sweet。
HELEN
Dost see the wretched station I have kept at this tomb？
MENELAUS
I see； alas！ a bed of straw； but what hast thou to do with it？
HELEN
There I crave escape from this marriage as a suppliant。
MENELAUS
For want of an altar； or because it is the barbarians' way？
HELEN
This was as good a protection to me as the gods' temples。
MENELAUS
May I not then even bear thee homeward on my ship？
HELEN
The sword far sooner than thy wife's embrace is waiting thee。
MENELAUS
So should I be of all men the most miserable。
HELEN
Put shame aside； and fly from this land。
MENELAUS
Leaving thee behind？ 'twas for thy sake I sacked Troy。
HELEN
Better so； than that our union should cause thy death。
MENELAUS
Oh！ these are coward words； unworthy of those days at Troy！
HELEN
Thou canst not slay the prince； thy possible intent。
MENELAUS
Hath he； then； a body which steel cannot wound？
HELEN
Thou shalt hear。 But to attempt impossibilities is no mark of
wisdom。
MENELAUS
Am I to let them bind my hands； and say nothing？
HELEN
Thou art in a dilemma； some scheme must be devised。
MENELAUS
I had liefer die in action than sitting still。
HELEN
There is one hope； and only one； of our safety。
MENELAUS
Will gold； or daring deeds； or winning words procure it？
HELEN
We are safe if the prince learn not of thy coming。
MENELAUS
ary one tell him it is I？ He certainly will not know who I am。
HELEN
He hath within his palace an ally equal to the gods。
MENELAUS
Some voice divine within the secret chambers of his house？
HELEN
No； his sister； Theonoe men call her。
MENELAUS
Her name hath a prophetic sound； tell me what she doth。
HELEN
She knoweth everything； and she will tell her brother thou art
come。
MENELAUS
Then must we die； for I cannot escape her ken。
HELEN
Perchance we might by suppliant prayers win her over。
MENELAUS
To what end？ To what vain hope art thou leading me？
HELEN
That she should not tell her brother thou art here。
MENELAUS
Suppose we persuade her； can we get away？
HELEN
Easily； if she connive thereat； without her knowledge； no；
MENELAUS
Be that thy task； women deal best with women。
HELEN
I will not fail； be sure； to clasp her knees。
MENELAUS
Come； then； only； suppose she reject our proposals？
HELEN
Thou wilt be slain； and I； alas！ wedded by force。
MENELAUS
Thou wilt betray me； that 〃force〃 of thine is but an excuse。
HELEN
Nay； by thy life I swear a sacred oath。
MENELAUS
What meanest thou？ dost swear to die and never to another
husband yield？
HELEN
Yes； by the self…same sword； I will fall by thy side。
MENELAUS
On these conditions touch my right hand。
HELEN
I do so； swearing I will quit the light of day if thou art slain。
MENELAUS
I； too； will end my life if I lose thee。
HELEN
How shall we die so as to gain fame？
MENELAUS
I will slay thee and then myself upon the summit of the tomb。
But first will I in doughty fight contest another's claim to thee； and
let who will draw nigh！ for I will not sully the lustre of my Trojan
fame； nor will I； on my return to Hellas； incur a storm of taunts；
as one who robbed Thetis of Achilles； saw Ajax； son of Telamon； fall a
weltering corpse； and the sort of Neleus of his child bereft； shall
I then flinch myself from death for my own wife？ No； no！ For if the
gods are wise； o'er a brave man by his foes laid low they lightly
sprinkle the earth that is his tomb； while cowards 'they cast forth on
barren rocky soil。
LEADER
Grant； heaven； that the race of Tantalus may at last be blest； and
pass from sorrow unto joy！
HELEN
Ah； woe is me！ Yea； all my lot is woe； O Menelaus； we are
utterly undone！ Behold！ from forth the house comes Theonoe； the
prophetess； The palace echoes as the bolts are unfastened； fly！ yet
what use to fly？ For whether absent or present she knows of thy
arrival here。 Ah me！ how lost am I！ Saved from Troy and from a
barbarian land； thou hast come only to fall a prey to barbarian
swords。
（THEONOE enters； attended by hand…maidens carrying torches。）
THEONOE
Lead on； bearing before me blazing brands； and； as sacred rites
ordain； purge with incense every cranny of the air； that I may breathe
heaven's breath free from taint； meanwhile do thou； in case the
tread of unclean feet have soiled the path； wave the cleansing flame
above it； and brandish the torch in front； that I may pass upon my
way。 And when to heaven ye have paid the customs I exact； bear back
into the house the brand from off the hearth。 What of my prophecy；
Helen？ how stands it now？ Thou hast seen thy husband Menelaus arrive
without disguise； reft of his ships； and of thy counterfeit。 Ah；
hapless man！ what troubles hast thou escaped； and art come hither； and
yet knowest not whether thou art to return or to abide here； for there
is strife in heaven； and Zeus this very day will sit in solemn
conclave on thee。 Hera； who erst was thy bitter foe； is now grown
kind； and is willing to bring thee and thy wife safe home； that Hellas
may learn that the marriage of Paris was all a sham； assigned to him
by Cypris； but Cypris fain would mar thy homeward course； that she may
not be convicted； or proved to have bought the palm of beauty at the
price of Helen in a futile marriage。 Now the decision rests with me；
whether to ruin thee； as Cypris wishes； by telling my brother of thy
presence bere； or to save thy life by taking Hera's side； concealing
thy coming from my brother； for his orders are that I should tell him；
whensoe'er thou shouldst reach these shores。 Ho！ one of you； go show
my brother this man is here； that I may secure my safety。
HELEN
Maiden； at thy knees I fall a suppliant； and seat myself in this
sad posture on behalf of myself and him； whom I am in danger of seeing
slain； after I have so hardly found him。 Oh！ tell not thy brother that
my husband is returned to these loving arms； save us； I beseech
thee； never for thy brother's sake sacrifice thy character for
uprightness； by evil and unjust means bidding for his favour。 For
the deity hates violence； and biddeth all men get lawful gains without
plundering others。 Wealth unjustly gotten； though it bring some power；
is to be eschewed。 The breath of heaven and the earth are man's common
heritage； wherein to store his home； without taking the goods of
others； or wresting them away by force。 Me did Hermes at a critical
time； to my sorrow； intrust to thy father's safe keeping for this my
lord； who now is here and wishes to reclaim me。 But how can he recover
me if he be slain？ How could thy sire restore the living to the
dead？ Oh！ consider ere that the will of heaven and thy father's too；
would the deity or would thy dead sire restore their neighbour's
goods； or would they forbear？ restore them； I feel sure。 It is not；
therefore； right that thou shouldst more esteem thy wanton brother
than thy righteous father。 Yet if thou； prophetess as thou art and
believer in divine providence； shalt pervert the just intention of thy
father and gratify thy unrighteous brother； 'tis shameful thou
shouldst have full knowledge of the heavenly will； both what is and
what is not； and yet be ignorant of justice。 Oh！ save my wretched life
from the troubles which beset it； granting this as an accession to our
good fortune； for every living soul loathes Helen； seeing that there
is gone a rumour throughout Hellas that I was false unto my lord；
and took up my abode in Phrygia's sumptuous halls。 Now； if I come to
Hellas； and set foot once more in Sparta； they will hear and see how
they were ruined by the wiles of goddesses； while was no traitress
to my friends after all； and so will they restore to me my virtuous
name again； and I shall give my daughter in marriage； whom no man
now will wed； and； leaving this vagrant life in Egypt； shall enjoy the
treasures in my home。 Had Menelaus met his doom at some funeral
pyre； with tears should I be cherishing his memory in a far…off
land； but must lose him now when he is alive and safe？ Ah！ maiden； I
beseech thee； say not so； grant me this boon； I pray； and reflect
thy father's justice； for this is the fairest ornament of children；
when the child of a virtuous sire resembles its parents in character。
L