Euripides Helen 1165

Theoklymenos

Greetings, tomb of my father! For I buried you, Proteus, in the passageway so that I could address you; and always as I leave and enter the house, I, your son Theoklymenos, call on you, father. You servants, take the hounds and hunting nets

1165

into the palace. I have rebuked myself many times; for do we not punish evil men with death? And now I have heard that some Hellene has come openly to the land, without the guards’ notice,

1170

either as a spy or thievishly hunting after Helen; he will die if only I can catch him. Ah! But it seems I have found everything in ruins; for the daughter of Tyndareus has deserted her seat at the tomb and has been carried away from the land.

1175

Ho there! undo the bars; loose the horses from their stalls, servants, and bring out my chariot, so that the wife whom I long for may not be carried away from this land without my notice, for want of effort.

1180

Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing

is still in the house, and has not fled.

1185

You there, why have you put black robes instead of white on your body, and cut the hair from your noble head with a sword, and why do you drench your cheeks with pale tears,

lamenting? Do you mourn, persuaded by dreams in the night, or have you broken your heart with grief because you heard some voice within?

1190

Helen

My lord—for now I give you that name—I am destroyed; everything of mine is gone and I am nothing.

Theokylmenos

In what misfortune are you plunged? What has happened?

1195

Helen

Menelaos—alas, how shall I say it?—is dead, my husband.

Theoklymenos

I do not rejoice at your words, but it is good fortune for me. How do you know? Did Theonoe tell you this?

Helen

Both she, and one who was there when he perished.

Theoklymenos

Someone has come who announces this for certain?

1200

Helen

Someone has come; and may he go where I want him to go!

Theoklymenos

Who is it? Where is he? so that I may learn this more clearly.

Helen

That one, who is sitting crouched at this tomb.

Theoklymenos

Apollo! He certainly has unattractive clothing.

Helen

Alas! I think my husband is in the same situation also.

1205

Theoklymenos

What is this man’s country, and where did he come from, to land here?

Helen

He is a Hellene, one of the Achaeans who saiIed with my husband.

Theoklymenos

What kind of death does he say Menelaos died?

Helen

The most piteous, in the watery waves at sea.

Theoklymenos

On what part of the barbarous ocean was he sailing?

1210

Helen

He was cast up on the harborless rocks of Libya .

Theoklymenos

How did this man not perish if he was sailing with him?

Helen

There are times when common men have more luck than their betters.

Theoklymenos

Where did he leave the wreckage of his ship before coming here?

Helen

Where ruin may come upon it— but not on Menelaos!

1215

Theoklymenos

He is already ruined. In what ship did this man come?

Helen

Sailors happened to meet him and took him up, as he says.

Theoklymenos

Where then is that mischievous creature that was sent to Troy in your place?

Helen

You mean the cloud image? It has gone into the air.

Theoklymenos

O Priam, and Trojan lands, how you have perished in vain!

1220

Helen

I too have shared misfortunes with Priam’s race.

Theoklymenos

Did he leave your husband unburied, or did he hide him in the earth?

Helen

He is unburied; I am so unhappy in my troubles!

Theoklymenos

It is for this that you have cut your locks of golden hair?

Helen

Yes, for he is dear to me, whoever he is, being here.

1225

Theoklymenos

She rightly weeps for this misfortune. . .

Helen

It is certainly easy to escape your sister’s notice!

Theoklymenos

No, indeed. Well, what now? Will you continue to live at this tomb?

Helen

Why do you jeer at me? Won’t you let the dead man be?

Theoklymenos

No, for you are loyal to your husband and avoid me.

1230

Helen

No longer; begin my wedding now.

Theoklymenos

It has come after a long time, but still I commend you for it.

Helen

Do you know what you should do? Let us forget what is past.

Theoklymenos

On what terms? One good turn deserves another.

Helen

Let us make a truce; be reconciled to me.

1235

Theoklymenos

I relinquish my quarrel with you; may it go away on wings.

Helen

Now by your knees, since you are indeed a friend—

Theoklymenos

What thing do you hunt after, that you stretch out a suppliant hand to me?

Helen

I wish to bury my dead husband.

Theoklymenos

What? Is there a tomb for the absent? Or will you bury a shadow?

1240

Helen

It is customary among the Hellenes, whenever someone dies at sea—

Theoklymenos

To do what? The race of Pelops is certainly clever in such matters.

Helen

To carry out the funeral rites in empty woven robes.

Theoklymenos

Hold the funeral; set up the tomb wherever you wish.

Helen

We do not give burial like this to sailors who have perished.

1245

Theoklymenos

How then? I know nothing of the customs in Hellas .

Helen

We take out of harbor to the sea all that is the dead man’s due.

Theoklymenos

Then what am I to give you for the dead man?

Helen

This man knows, but I have no experience, as I was fortunate before.

Theoklymenos

Stranger, you have brought welcome news.

1250

Menelaos

Not for me, certainly, nor for the dead man.

Theoklymenos

How do you bury those who have died at sea?

Menelaos

Each according to his means.

Theoklymenos

As far as wealth goes, say what you want, for her sake.

Menelaos

There must be a blood-offering first to the dead.

1255

Theoklymenos

Blood of what? Explain it to me, and I will obey.

Menelaos

You decide that yourself; whatever you give will suffice.

Theoklymenos

Among barbarians it is customary to sacrifice a horse or a bull.

Menelaos

If you make a gift, take care to give nothing mean.

Theokylemnos

I have no lack of such in my rich herds.

1260

Menelaos

Next, a couch empty of the body is decked and carried in procession.

Theoklymenos

It wall be done; what else is it customary to add?

Menelaos

Bronze arms; for war was his delight.

Theoklymenos

These will be worthy of the race of Pelops, and these we will give.

Menelaos

And for the rest, all the lovely offspring that the earth bears.

1265

Theoklymenos

How then? In what way do you let them fall into the waves?

Menelaos

A ship must be ready, and rowers.

Theoklymenos

How far from the shore does the ship put out?

Menelaos

So far that the foam in her wake can scarcely be seen from the land.

Theoklymenos

But why? Why does Hellas observe this custom.

1270

Menelaos

So that the waves may not wash pollution back ashore.

Theoklymenos

A swift Phoenician ship will be there.

Menelaos

That would be well done, and pleasing to Menelaos, too.

Theoklymenos

Can you not perform these rites well enough without Helen?

Menelaos

This task belongs to mother, or wife, or children.

1275

Theoklymenos

According to you, the work of burying her husband belongs to her.

Menelaos

Yes indeed; piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their due.

Theoklymenos

Let her go; it is in my interest to foster piety in a wife. Go inside and choose adornment for the dead;

I will not send you away from the land empty-handed either, since you have done her a favor. As you have brought me good news, you will receive clothing instead of going in rags, and food, so that you may reach your country, since now I see you doing very badly indeed.

1280

As for you, poor lady, do not wear yourself out in a hopeless case; Menelaos has met his doom, and your dead husband could not return to life.

1285

Menelaos

This is your duty, young woman; you must be content with the husband at your side, and let go the one that no longer exists;

for this is best for you, according to what has happened. And if I come to Hellas and find safety, I will put to an end your former bad reputation, if you are such a wife as you ought to be to your husband.

1290

Helen

I will; my husband will never find fault with me;

you yourself will be at hand to know it. Now go inside, unhappy man, and find the bath, and change your clothes. I will show my kindness to you without delay. For you will perform the due services with more kindly feeling for my dearest Menelaos,

1295

if you get from me what you ought to have. Exeunt Theoklymenos, Helen, Menelaos.

1300