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Helen
Oh, at last you have come to the arms of your wife!
Oh, at last you have come to the arms of your wife!
Menelaos
What do you mean by wife? Do not touch my robe.
What do you mean by wife? Do not touch my robe.
Helen
The one whom Tyndareus, my father, gave to you.
The one whom Tyndareus, my father, gave to you.
Menelaos
O torch-bearing Hekate, send visions that are favorable!
O torch-bearing Hekate, send visions that are favorable!
Helen
You see in me no specter of the night, attendant on the queen of phantoms.
570
You see in me no specter of the night, attendant on the queen of phantoms.
570
Menelaos
As one man, I am certainly not the husband of two women.
As one man, I am certainly not the husband of two women.
Helen
You are the master of what other wife?
You are the master of what other wife?
Menelaos
The one hidden in the cave, whom I am bringing from
Troy
.
The one hidden in the cave, whom I am bringing from
Troy
.
Helen
You have no other wife but me.
You have no other wife but me.
Menelaos
Can it be that I am in my right mind, but my sight is failing?
575
Can it be that I am in my right mind, but my sight is failing?
575
Helen
Don’t you think that when you look at me you see your wife?
Don’t you think that when you look at me you see your wife?
Menelaos
Your body resembles hers, but the real truth robs me of this belief.
Your body resembles hers, but the real truth robs me of this belief.
Helen
Look; what more do you need? Who knows better than you?
Look; what more do you need? Who knows better than you?
Menelaos
You are like her; I will not deny that at least.
You are like her; I will not deny that at least.
Helen
Who then shall teach you, if not your own eyes?
580
Who then shall teach you, if not your own eyes?
580
Menelaos
It is there that I am ailing, because I have another wife.
It is there that I am ailing, because I have another wife.
Helen
I did not go to
Troy
; that was a phantom.
I did not go to
Troy
; that was a phantom.
Menelaos
And who fashions living bodies?
And who fashions living bodies?
Helen
The air, out of which you have a wife that the gods labored over.
The air, out of which you have a wife that the gods labored over.
Menelaos
What god’s handiwork? You are saying things beyond hope.
585
What god’s handiwork? You are saying things beyond hope.
585
Helen
Hera’s, as a substitute, so that
Paris
would not have me.
Hera’s, as a substitute, so that
Paris
would not have me.
Menelaos
How then could you be here and in
Troy
at the same time?
How then could you be here and in
Troy
at the same time?
Helen
The name may be in many places, though not the body.
The name may be in many places, though not the body.
Menelaos
Let me go! I have come here with enough pain.
Let me go! I have come here with enough pain.
Helen
Will you leave me, and take that phantom bride away?
590
Will you leave me, and take that phantom bride away?
590
Menelaos
Yes, and fare well, for your likeness to Helen.
Yes, and fare well, for your likeness to Helen.
Helen
I am ruined! I found you, my husband, but I will not have you.
I am ruined! I found you, my husband, but I will not have you.
Menelaos
The greatness of my troubles over there convinces me; you do not.
The greatness of my troubles over there convinces me; you do not.
Helen
Ah me! Who was ever more miserable than I am?
Those whom I love best are leaving me, and I shall never reach the Hellenes or my own country.
595
Ah me! Who was ever more miserable than I am?
Those whom I love best are leaving me, and I shall never reach the Hellenes or my own country.
595
Helen. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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