Euripides The Trojan Women 860-1059

Menelaus

Hail! you radiant flare of the sun, by whose fair light I now shall capture her that was my wife, Helen; for I am that Menelaus, who has toiled so hard, I and Achaea ’s army. I came to Troy , not so much as men suppose

860

for, the sake of a woman, but to punish the man who from my house stole my wife, traitor to my hospitality. But he, by the gods’ will, has paid the penalty, ruined, and his country too, by the spear of Hellas . And I have come to bear that wretched woman away—wife I have no mind

865

to call her, though she once was mine—for now she is one among the other Trojan women who share these tents as captives. For they, the very men who who toiled to take her with the spear, have granted to me to slay her,

870

or, if I will, to spare and carry back with me to Argos . Now my purpose is not to put her to death in Troy , but to carry her to Hellas in my sea-borne ship, and then surrender her to death, a recompense to all whose friends were slain in Ilium .

875

Ho! my servants, enter the tent, and drag her out to me by her hair foul with murder; and when a favoring breeze shall blow, to Hellas will we convey her.

880

Hecuba

O you that do support the earth and rest thereupon,

whoever you are, a riddle past our knowledge! Zeus, owhether you are natural necessity, or man’s intellect, to you I pray; for, though you tread over a noiseless path, all your dealings with mankind are guided by justice.

885

Menelaus

What is this? Strange the prayer you offer to the gods!

Hecuba

I thank you, Menelaus, if you will slay that wife of yours. Yet shun the sight of her, lest she strike you with longing. For she ensnares the eyes of men, overthrows their towns, and burns their houses, so potent are her witcheries! Well I know her; so do you and those her victims too.

890

Helen

Menelaus! this prelude well may fill me with alarm; for I am taken with violence by your servants’ hands and brought before these tents. Still, though I am sure you hate me, yet I want to inquire

895

what you and Hellas have decided about my life.

900

Menelaus

To judge your case required no great exactness; the army with one consent, that army whom you wronged, handed you over to me to die.

Helen

May I answer this decision, proving that my death, if I am to die, will be unjust?

Menelaus

I came not to argue, but to slay you.

905

Hecuba

Hear her, Menelaus; let her not die for want of that, and let me answer her again, for you know nothing of her villainies in Troy ; and the whole case, if summed up,

will insure her death against all chance of an escape.

910

Menelaus

This gift needs leisure; still, if she wishes to speak, she may. Yet I will grant her this because of your words, that she may hear them, and not for her own sake.

Helen

Perhaps you will not answer me, from counting me a foe,

whether my words seem good or ill. Yet I will put my charges and yours over against each other, and then reply to the accusations I suppose you will advance against me. First, then, that woman was the author of these troubles

915

by giving birth to Paris ; next, old Priam ruined Troy and me, because he did not slay his child Alexander, baleful semblance of a fire-brand, ¹ long ago. Hear what followed. This man was to judge the claims of three rival goddesses;

920

so Pallas offered him command of all the Phrygians, and the destruction of Hellas ; Hera promised he should spread his dominion over Asia , and the utmost bounds of Europe , if he would decide for her; but Cypris spoke in rapture of my loveliness,

925

and promised him this gift, if she should have the preference over those two for beauty. Now mark the inference I deduce from this; Cypris won the day over the goddesses, and thus far has my marriage proved of benefit to Hellas , that you are not subject to barbarian rule, neither vanquished in the strife, nor yet by tyrants crushed.

930

What Hellas gained, was ruin to me, sold for my beauty, and now I am reproached for that which should have set a crown upon my head. But you will say I am silent on the real matter at hand, how it was I started forth and left your house by stealth.

935

With no small goddess at his side he came, my evil genius, call him Alexander or Paris , as you will; and you, villain, left him behind in your house, and sailed away from Sparta to the land of Crete .

940

945

Enough of this! For all that followed I must question myself, not you; what thought led me to follow the stranger from your house, traitress to my country and my home? Punish the goddess, show yourself more mighty even than Zeus, who, though he lords it over the other gods,

945

is her slave; therefore I may well be pardoned. Still, from this you might draw a specious argument against me; when Paris died, and earth concealed his corpse, I should have left his house and sought the Argive fleet, since my marriage was no longer in the hands of gods.

950

That was what I was eager to do; and the warders on the towers and watchmen on the walls can bear me witness, for often they found me seeking to let myself down stealthily by cords from the battlements but there was that new husband, Deiphobus, that carried me off

955

by force to be his wife against the will of Troy . How then, my lord, could I be justly put to death . . . by you, with any show of right, seeing that he wedded me against my will, and those my other natural gifts have served a bitter slavery, instead of leading on to triumph? If it is your will indeed

960

to master gods, that very wish displays your folly.

965

Chorus Leader

O my royal mistress, defend your children’s and your country’s cause, bringing to nothing her persuasive arguments, for she pleads well in spite of all her villainy; this is monstrous!

Hecuba

First I will take up the cause of those goddesses,

and prove how she perverts the truth. For I can never believe that Hera or the maiden Pallas would have been guilty of such folly, the one to sell her Argos to barbarians, or that Pallas ever would make her Athens subject to the Phrygians,

970

coming as they did in mere wanton sport to Ida to contest the palm of beauty. For why should goddess Hera set her heart so much on such a prize? Was it to win a nobler lord than Zeus? or was Athena hunting down among the gods a husband,

975

she who in her dislike of marriage won from her father the gift of remaining unwed? Do not seek to impute folly to the goddesses, in the attempt to adorn your own sin; never will you persuade the wise. Next you have said—what well may make men jeer—that Cypris came with my son to the house of Menelaus.

980

Could she not have stayed quietly in heaven and brought you and Amyclae as well to Ilium ?

985

987

No! my son was exceedingly handsome, and when you saw him your mind straight became your Aphrodite; for every folly that men commit, they lay upon this goddess,

and rightly does her name ² begin the word for senselessness; so when you caught sight of him in gorgeous foreign clothes, ablaze with gold, your senses utterly forsook you. Yes, for in Argos you had moved in simple state, but, once free of Sparta ,

990

it was your hope to deluge by your lavish outlay Phrygia ’s town, that flowed with gold; nor was the palace of Menelaus rich enough for your luxury to riot in.

995

Enough of this! My son carried you off by force, so you say; what Spartan saw this? what cry for help

did you ever raise, though Castor was still alive, a vigorous youth, and his brother also, not yet among the stars? Then when you had come to Troy , and the Argives were on your track, and the mortal combat had begun, whenever tidings came to you of

1000

Menelaus’ prowess, you would praise him, to grieve my son, because he had so powerful a rival in his love; but if the Trojans prospered, Menelaus was nothing to you. Your eye was fixed on Fortune, and by such practice you were careful to follow in her steps, careless of virtue’s cause.

1005

And then you assert that you tried to let yourself down from the towers by stealth with twisted cords, as if unwilling to stay? Where were you ever found fastening the noose about your neck, or whetting the knife, as a noble wife would have done in regret for her former husband?

1010

And yet often I advised you saying, Get away, daughter; my sons will take other brides, and I will belp you to steal away, and convey you to the Achaean fleet; oh, end the strife between us and Hellas ! But this was bitter to you.

1015

For you were wantoning in Alexander’s house, wishing to have obeisance done you by barbarians. Yes, it was a proud time for you; and now after all this you have adorned yourself, and come forth and have dared to appear under the same sky as your husband, revolting wretch!

1020

Better if you had come in tattered raiment, cowering humbly in terror, with hair cut short, and if your feeling for your past sins were one of shame rather than effrontery. Menelaus, hear the conclusion of my argument;

1025

crown Hellas by slaying her as she deserves, and establish this law for all other women: death to every one who betrays her husband.

1030

Chorus Leader

Avenge yourself, Menelaus, on your wife, as is worthy of your home and ancestors,

clear yourself from the reproach of effeminacy at the lips of Hellas , and let your foes see your spirit.

1035

Menelaus

Your thoughts coincide with mine, that she, without constraint, left my palace, and sought a stranger’s bed, and now Cypris is introduced for mere bluster. Away to those who shall stone you,

and by your speedy death requite the weary toils of the Achaeans, so that you may learn not to bring shame on me!

1040

Helen

Oh, by your knees, I implore you, do not impute that heaven-sent affliction to me, or slay me; forgive me!

Hecuba

Do not betray your allies, whose death this woman caused;

on their behalf, and for my children’s sake, I entreat you.

1045

Menelaus

Peace, revered lady; to her I pay no heed. I bid my servants take her away, aboard the ship, in which she is to sail.

Hecuba

Oh never let her set foot within the same ship as you.

Menelaus

Why is that? is she heavier than before?

1050

Hecuba

The one who loves once, must love always.

Menelaus

Why, that depends how those we love are minded. But your wish shall be granted; she shall not set foot upon the same ship with me; for your advice is surely sound;

and when she comes to Argos she shall die a shameful death as is her due, and impress the need of chastity on all women. No easy task; yet shall her fate strike their foolish hearts with terror, even though they are more lost to shame than she. Exit Menelaus, dragging Helen with him.

1055

Hekabe.

O du, der Erden Stuze, der auf Erden thront,

Zeus, wer du seist auch, Hoher, Unerforschlicher,

875

Ob Geist des Menschen, ob Naturnothwendigkeit,

Ich flehe dich an: denn du lenkst, auf stiller Bahn

Hinwandelnd, alles Menschenloos zum rechten Ziel.

Menelaos.

Was gibt es, daß du wiederum die Götter rufst?

Hekabe.

Ich lob' es, König, gibst du deinem Weib den Tod,

880

Doch, siehst du sie, so fliehe; Sehnen faßte dich.

Sie fesselt Månneraugen, stürzt die Stadt' in Staub,

Entflammt die Häuser: solcher Zauber wohnt in ihr.

Ich, du und Jeder kennt ihn, der's mit uns erfuhr.

Helena wird von den Dienern herbeigeführt. Die Vorigen,

Helena.

Menelaos.

Nicht ängstlich ward berathen; mir, an welchem du

Gefrevelt, gab dich alles Volk zum Tode hin.

Helena.

Mir ist ein Wort doch wider solchen Spruch erlaubt?

Ich sterbe, wenn ich sterbe, nicht gerechten Tod.

Menelaos.

Nicht um zu streiten, dich zu tödten bin ich hier.

895

Hekabe.

Vernimm sie, daß sie solcher Gunst im Tode nicht

Entbehre, König, und die Gegenrede laß

Mich ihr erwiedern.

Was sie that im Troërland,

Das weißt du nicht.

Doch meiner Worte voll Gewicht,

Es trifft sie todtend,

900

daß sie nimmermehr entrinnt.

Menelaos.

Ich mag die Frist ihr schenken. Wenn sie reden will,

Ist ihr's vergönnt. Doch wegen deiner Worte nur

Gewähr' ich dieses, wiſſe ſie's, nicht ihr zulieb.

Helena.

Wohl wirst du, dünkt dir unser Wort gut oder schlecht,

Mir nicht erwiedern, weil du mich für feindlich håltst.

905

Doch will ich Allem, was du mir im Geist vielleicht ¹

Vorrückst, sofort entgegnen, daß die Klagen sich,

Die meinen und die deinen, gegenüberstehn. ²

Zuerst gebar uns Hekabe der Uebel Quell,

Gebar den Paris; dann vernichtet' Ilion

910

Und mich der Alte, daß er Alexandros nicht, ³

Der Fackel unheilvolles Bild, als Kind erschlug. ⁴

Nun höre weiter, wie das Andre sich verhält.

Er sollte Richter zwischen drei Göttinnen sein.

Und ihm gelobt Athene, daß er Argos' Land

915

Als Phrygerfeldherr seinem Volk erobern soll;

Europa's Marken, Asia's Herrschaft verhieß

Des Zeus Gemahlin, gebe Paris ihr den Preis;

Doch Kypris, hoch von meinem Reiz entzückt, versprach

Mich ihm zu geben, wichen ihr die Göttinnen

920

An Schönheit. Nun erwäge, was hiernachst geschah.

Kythere siegt, und (also frommte Hellas' Volk

Mein neuer Ehbund!) ihr erlagt den Phrygern nicht,

Besiegt im Lanzenkampfe, tragt kein fremdes Joch.

Was aber euch Heil brachte, war mein Fluch: ich ward

925

Verkauft der Schönheit wegen und erdulde Schmach,

Wo meinem Haupte billig wohl ein Kranz gebührt.

Noch nicht berührt' ich, sagst du wohl, das Nähere,

Warum ich heimlich deinem Haus entflohen bin.

Es kam (mit ihm kam eine Göttin, groß an Macht)

930

Mein böser Damon, ob ihr Alexandros ihn

Mit Namen, oder Paris auch ihn nennen wollt:

Und den, o Schnider, ließest du in deinem Haus,

Und zogst im Schiff aus Sparta fern' in's Kreterland!

Wohlan!

Der Chor.

Hilf deinen Kindern, Fürstin, hilf dem Vaterland,

Ihr glattes Wort vernichte! Denn wohl redet sie

Geschickt und ist voll Tucke; das ist wahrlich schlimm.

Hekabe.

Zuerst den Götterfrauen bin ich Helferin,

Und will erweisen, daß sie nicht geziemend sprach.

960

Ich glaube nicht, daß Here, daß Zeus' göttliche

Jungfrau zu Thorheit also sich entwürdigten,

Daß Here Argos, Pallas ihr Athen verkauft,

Um Phrygern, um Barbaren unterthan zu sein.

Scherz war es, daß sie, kämpfend um der Schöne Preis,

965

Zum Ida gingen! Denn warum erfüllte wohl

Solch eitles Sehnen, schon zu sein, der Here Brust?

Daß ihr ein beſſrer Gatte wurd' als Kronos' Sohn?

Auch suchte Pallas einen Gott zum Manne wohl,

Sie, die von ihrem Vater Zeus Jungfraulichkeit

970

Erbat und Hymens Freuden flieht? O mache doch

Die Götter nicht zu Thoren, und beschönige

Nicht dein Verbrechen: du beligst die Weisen nicht! ⁵

Du sagtest weiter, Kypris sei (wie lächerlich!)

Mit einem Sohn gekommen in Menelaos' Haus.

975

Sie konnte, wenn sie ruhig im Olympos blieb,

Dich samt Amyklå führen nach der Troërstadt! ⁶

Der Chor.

Menelaos.

Wie's meine Meinung immer war, so sagst auch du,

1025

Daß diese hier freiwillig meinem Haus entfloh

Zu fremder Buhlschaft: Kypris ward zum Scheine nur

Hereingezogen. Büße denn durch Steinigung,

Vergilt Achaa's lange Muh'n durch kurzen Tod,

Damit du wissest, daß man uns nicht so beschimpft!

1030

Helena.

Bei deinen Knieen, - rechne mir der Götter Schuld

Nicht an und laß mich leben, ja, verzeihe mir!

Hekabe.

Verrathe nicht die Kriegsgenossen, die sie dir

Erschlug: für sie, für ihre Kinder fleh' ich, Herr.

Menelaos.

Laß ab, o Greisin: mich bekummert diese nicht!

1035

Euch, Diener, sag' ich, schaffet sie zum Steuer fort

Des Schiffes, das sie tragen soll in Argos' Land!

Hekabe.

Sie gehe nicht an Eines Schiffes Bord mit dir!

Menelaos.

Wie so? Du meinst, sie ware schwerer als zuvor?

Hekabe.

Wahrhaft ja liebt nicht, wessen Herz nicht immer liebt.

1040

Menelaos.

Damit mein Sinn vergesse, was er einst geliebt,

Geschehe, was du wunschest: nicht dasselbe Schiff ⁷

Soll sie mit uns besteigen; wohl ermahnst du mich.

Nach Argos kommend, wird die Schlimme schlimmen Tod

Erleiden, wie sie's wurdig ist, und alle Fraun

1045

Bescheidne Sitte lehren: leicht ist dieses nicht;

Doch wird das Ende dieser Frau den Thorensinn

Der andern schrecken, wåren sie auch schlimmer noch!

(geht ab mit Helena und dem Gefolge.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.