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Menelaos
Well, then, what if she rejects our proposals?
Well, then, what if she rejects our proposals?
Helen
You will die. And I, the unhappy one, will be married by force.
You will die. And I, the unhappy one, will be married by force.
Menelaos
You would be a traitor; that force of yours is all an excuse.
You would be a traitor; that force of yours is all an excuse.
Helen
But I have sworn a sacred oath by your life—
835
But I have sworn a sacred oath by your life—
835
Menelaos
What do you mean? To die? And never to take his bed in exchange for mine?
What do you mean? To die? And never to take his bed in exchange for mine?
Helen
Yes, by the same sword; I will lie at your side.
Yes, by the same sword; I will lie at your side.
Menelaos
Then on these conditions touch my right hand.
Then on these conditions touch my right hand.
Helen
I touch it, swearing that I will leave the light of day if you die.
I touch it, swearing that I will leave the light of day if you die.
Menelaos
And I will end my life if I lose you.
840
And I will end my life if I lose you.
840
Helen
How then shall we die so as to insure our reputation for this?
How then shall we die so as to insure our reputation for this?
Menelaos
I will kill you on the tomb’s surface, and then kill myself. But first I will fight a great contest for your bed. Let anyone who wishes come near!
For I will not disgrace my Trojan fame, nor, on my return to
Hellas
, will I receive great blame—I who robbed Thetis of Achilleus, and saw the slaughter of Aias, son of Telamon, and the son of Neleus made childless;
845
shall I not resolve to die for my wife? Most certainly; for if the gods are wise, they lightly bury in the earth a brave man who has been killed by his enemies, while cowards they cast up out of the earth onto a harsh rock.
850
I will kill you on the tomb’s surface, and then kill myself. But first I will fight a great contest for your bed. Let anyone who wishes come near!
For I will not disgrace my Trojan fame, nor, on my return to
Hellas
, will I receive great blame—I who robbed Thetis of Achilleus, and saw the slaughter of Aias, son of Telamon, and the son of Neleus made childless;
845
shall I not resolve to die for my wife? Most certainly; for if the gods are wise, they lightly bury in the earth a brave man who has been killed by his enemies, while cowards they cast up out of the earth onto a harsh rock.
850
Chorus Leader
O gods, may the race of Tantalos be fortunate at last, and may it be set free from evils!
855
O gods, may the race of Tantalos be fortunate at last, and may it be set free from evils!
855
Helen
Ah, I am unhappy, for so is my fate! Menelaos, we are destroyed. The prophetess Theonoe is coming out of the house; it resounds as the
bolts are unfastened. Try to escape! But what is the use of trying? For whether she is absent or present she knows of your arrival here. Oh, I am lost, unfortunate! Saved from
Troy
and from a barbarian land, you have come only to fall upon barbarian swords.
860
Ah, I am unhappy, for so is my fate! Menelaos, we are destroyed. The prophetess Theonoe is coming out of the house; it resounds as the
bolts are unfastened. Try to escape! But what is the use of trying? For whether she is absent or present she knows of your arrival here. Oh, I am lost, unfortunate! Saved from
Troy
and from a barbarian land, you have come only to fall upon barbarian swords.
860
Helen. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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