helen-第3章
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native land。 they will shut me up in prison; thinking me that Helen of
Ilium; in quest of whom Menelaus came thither。 Were my husband still
alive; we might have recognized each other; by having recourse to
tokens which ourselves alone would know。 But now this may not be;
nor is there any chance of his escape。 Why then do I prolong my
life? What fortune have I still in store? Shall I choose marriage as
an alternative of evils; and dwell with a barbarian lord; seated at
his sumptuous board? No! when a husband she loathes is mated with a
woman; even life is loathly to her。 Best for her to die; but how shall
I die a noble death? The dangling noose is an uncomely end; even
slaves consider it disgrace; to stab oneself hath something fair
and。 noble in it; 'tis a small thing that moment of ridding the
flesh of life。 Yes; it must be; I am plunged so deep in misery; for
that beauty; which to other women is a boon; to me hath been a very
bane。
LEADER
Helen; never believe that the stranger; whoe'er he was that
came; has spoken naught but truth。
HELEN
Yet he said so clearly that my lord was dead。
LEADER
There is much that falsehood seems to make quite clear。
HELEN
The word of truth hath a very different sound to falsehood。
LEADER
Thou art inclined to misfortune; rather than to luck。
HELEN
Fear girds me with terrors as with a garment; and takes me in
her train。
LEADER
What friends hast thou within the palace?
HELEN
All are my friends here save him who seeks to wed…me。
LEADER
Thy action then is clear; leave thy seat at the tomb。
HELEN
To what words or advice art thou leading up?
LEADER
Go in and question the daughter of the ocean Nereid; who knoweth
all things; even Theonoe; whether thy husband is still alive; or
whether he hath left the light of day; and when thou knowest for
certain; be glad or sorrowful; as fits thy fortune。 But before thou
hast right knowledge; what shall sorrow avail thee? Nay; hearken to
me; leave this tomb and seek the maiden's company; that she may tell
thee the truth; for from her shalt thou learn all。 If thou abide
here in this seat; what prospect hast thou? And I will myself go in
with thee; and with thee inquire of the maiden's oracles; for 'tis a
woman's bounden duty to share a sister's trouble。
(The following lines are chanted responsively by HELEN and the
CHORUS。)
HELEN
Kind friends; I welcome your advice。 Come in; come in; that ye may
learn the result of my struggle within the palace。
CHORUS
Thy invitation comes to very willing ears。
HELEN
Woe for this heavy day! Ah me! what mournful tidings shall hear?
CHORUS
Dear mistress mine; be not a prophetess of sorrow; forestalling
lamentation。
HELEN
What is the fate of my poor husband? Doth he still behold the
light turning towards the sun…god's chariot and the stars in their
courses? Or among the dead; beneath the earth; is he to death
consigned?
CHORUS
Of the future take a brighter view; whatever shall betide。
HELEN
On thee I call; and thee adjure; Eurotas green with river…reeds;
to tell me if this rumour of my husband's death be true。
CHORUS
What boots this meaningless appeal?
HELEN
About my neck will I fasten the deadly noose from above; or
drive the murderous knife with self…aimed thrust deep into my throat
to sever it; striving to cut my flesh; a sacrifice to those
goddesses three and to that son of Priam; who in days gone by would
wake the music of his pipe around his steading。
CHORUS
Oh may sorrow be averted otherwhither; and thou be blest!
HELEN
Woe is thee; unhappy Troy! Thou through deeds not done by the
art ruined; and hast suffered direst woe; for the gift that Cypris
gave to me; hath caused a sea of blood to flow; and many an eye to
weep; with grief on grief and tear on tear。 All this hath Ilium
suffered and mothers have lost their children; and virgin sisters of
the slain have cut off their tresses by the swollen tide of Phrygian
Scamander。 And the land of Hellas hath lifted her voice of woe and
broken forth in wailing; smiting on her head; and making tender cheeks
to stream with gore beneath the rending nail。 Ah blest maid
Callisto; who long ago in Arcady didst find favour with Zeus; in the
semblance of beast four…footed; how much happier was thy lot than my
mother's; for thou hast changed the burden of thy grief and now with
savage eye art weeping o'er thy shaggy monster…shape; aye; and hers
was a happier lot; whom on a day Artemis drove from her choir; changed
to a hind with horns of gold; the fair Titanian maid; daughter of
Merops; because of her beauty; but my fair form hath proved the
curse of Dardan Troy and doomed Achaea's sons。
(HELEN and the CHORUS go into the palace。 After the doors have
closed upon them; MENELAUS enters。 He is alone and clad in rags。)
MENELAUS
Ah! Pelops; easy victor long ago o'er thy rival Oenomaus in the
chariot…race on Pisa's plain; would thou hadst ended thy career
amongst the gods that day thou wert beguiled into making a banquet for
them; or ever thou hadst begotten my father Atreus; to whom were
born by Aerope his wife; Agamemnon and myself Menelaus; an illustrious
pair; and herein I make no idle boast; for 'twas a mighty host; I
trow; that I their leader carried o'er the sea to Troy; using no
violence to make them follow me; but leading all the chivalry of
Hellas by voluntary consent。 And some of these must we number 'mid the
slain; and some to their joy have 'scaped the sea; bearing to their
homes again names long reckoned dead。 But I; poor wretch; go wandering
o'er grey Ocean's swell a weary space; long as that which saw me
sick the towers of Ilium; and for all my longing to reach my country I
am not counted worthy of this boon by heaven; but to Libya's desert
cheerless roadsteads have I sailed; to each and all of them; and
whensoe'er I draw me near my native land; the storm…wind drives me
back again; and never yet have favouring breezes filled my sails; to
let me reach my fatherland。 And now a wretched; shipwrecked mariner;
my friends all lost; am I cast up upon this shore; and my ship is
shattered in a thousand pieces against the rocks; and its keel was
wrested from its cunning fastenings; thereon did I with difficulty
escape; most unexpectedly; and Helen also; for her had I rescued
from Troy and had with me。 But the name of this country and its people
I know not; for I blushed to mingle with the crowd to question them;
anxious for very shame to hide my misfortunes which reduce me to these
sorry rags。 For when a man of high degree meets with adversity; he
feels the strangeness of his fallen state more keenly than a
sufferer of long standing。 Dire want is wasting me; for I have neither
food; nor raiment to gird myself withal; behold the facts before you
to judge from…I am clad in tatters cast up from the ship; while all
the robes I once did wear; glorious attire and ornaments; bath the sea
swallowed; and in a cavern's deep recesses have I hidden my wife;
the cause of all my trouble; and have come hither; after straitly
charging the survivors of my friends to watch her。 Alone am I come;
seeking for those there left some help; if haply I may find it after
careful search。 So when I saw this palace girt with towering walls and
stately gates of some prosperous lord; I drew nigh; for I have hope to
obtain somewhat for my sailors from this wealthy house; whereas from
houses which have no store; the inmates for all their goodwill could
furnish naught。 Ho! there; who keeps the gate and will come forth to
bear my tale of woe into the house?
(A PORTRESS comes out of the palace in answer to his call。)
PORTRESS
Who stands before the door? Begone from the housel stand not at
the court…yard gate; annoying my masters! otherwise