helen-第3章
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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 shalt thou die；
for thou art a Hellene born。 and with them have we no dealings。
MENELAUS
Mother； herein sayest thou rightly on all points。 'Tis well； I
will obey； but moderate thy words。
PORTRESS
Away！ stranger； my orders are to admit no Hellene to this palace。
MENELAUS
Ha！ do not seek to push me hence； or thrust me away by violence。
PORTRESS
Thou dost not heed my words； and therefore hast thyself to blame。
MENELAUS
Carry my message to thy master in the palace。
PORTRESS
Some one would rue it； methinks； were I to take thy message。
MENELAUS
I come as a shipwrecked man and a stranger； whom heaven protects。
PORTRESS
Well； get thee to some other house than this。
MENELAUS
Nay； but I will pass into the house； so listen to me。
PORTRESS
Let me tell thee thou art unwelcome； and soon wilt be forcibly
ejected。
MENELAUS
Ah me！ where are now those famous troops of mine？
PORTRESS
Elsewhere maybe thou wert a mighty man； thou art not here。
MENELAUS
O fortune！ I have not deserved such insult。
PORTRESS
Why are thy eyes with tear…drops wet？ Why so sad？
MENELAUS
'Tis the contrast with my fortunes erst so blest。
PORTRESS
Hence！ then； and give thy friends those tears。
MENELAUS
What land is this？ whose is the palace？
PORTRESS
Proteus lives here。 It is the land of Egypt。
MENELAUS
Egypt？ Woe is me！ to think that hither I have sailed！
PORTRESS
Pray； what fault hast thou to find with the race of Nile？
MENELAUS
'Twas no fault I found； my own disasters I lament。
PORTRESS
There be plenty in evil case； thou art not the only one。
MENELAUS
Is the king； of whom thou speakest； here within？
PORTRESS
There is his tomb； his son rules in his stead。
MENELAUS
And where may he be？ abroad； or in the house？
PORTRESS
He is not within。 To Hellas is he a bitter foe。
MENELAUS
His reason； pray； for this enmity？ the results whereof I have
experienced。
PORTRESS
Beneath this roof dwells the daughter of Zeus； Helen。
MENELAUS
What mean'st thou？ what is it thou hast said？ Repeat； I pray； thy
words。
PORTRESS
The daughter of Tyndareus is here； who erst in Sparta dwelt。
MENELAUS
Whence came she？ What means this business？
PORTRESS
She came from Lacedaemon hither。
MENELAUS
When？ Surely I have never been robbed of my wife from the cave！
PORTRESS
Before the Achaeans went to Troy； sir stranger。 But get thee
hence； for somewhat hath chanced within； whereat the whole palace is
in an uproar。 Thou comest most unseasonably； and if my master catch
thee； death will be thy stranger's gift。 This say I； because to Hellas
I am well disposed； albeit I gave thee harsh answers for fear of my
master。
（The PORTRESS goes back into the palace。）
MENELAUS
What can I think or say？ For after my previous troubles； this is a
fresh piece of ill…luck I hear； if； indeed； after recovering my wife
from Troy and bringing her hither； and putting her for safety in the
cave； I am then to find another woman living here with the same name
as my wife。 She called her the begotten child of Zeus。 Can there be
a man that hath the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile？ The Zeus of
heaven is only one； at any rate。 Where is there a Sparta in the
world save where Eurotas glides between his reedy banks？ The name of
Tyndareus is the name of one alone。 Is there any land of the same name
as Lacedaemon or Troy？ I know not what to say； for naturally there are
many in the wide world that have the same names； cities and women too；
there is nothing； then； to marvel at。 Nor yet again will I fly from
the alarm a servant raises； for there is none so cruel of heart as
to refuse me food when once he hears my name。 All have heard of
Ilium's burning； and I； that set it ablaze； am famous now throughout
the world； I； Menelaus。 I therefore wait the master of this house。
There are two issues I must watch； if he prove somewhat stern of
heart； I will to my wreck and there conceal myself； but if he show any
sign of pity； I will ask for help in this my present strait。 This is
the crowning woe in all my misery； to beg the means of life from other
princes； prince though I be myself； still needs must I。 Yea； this is
no saying of mine； but a word of wisdom； 〃Naught in might exceedeth
dread necessity。〃
（HELEN and the CHORUS enter from the palace。 They do not notice
MENELAUS。）
CHORUS （singing）
I have heard the voice of the maiden inspired。 Clear is the answer
she hath vouchsafed within yon palace； declaring that Menelaus is
not yet dead and buried； passed to the land of shades； where
darkness takes the place of light； but on the stormy main is wearing
out his life； nor yet hath reached the haven of his country； a
wanderer dragging out a piteous existence； reft of every friend；
setting foot in every corner of the world； as he voyageth home from
Troy。
HELEN
Lo！ once again I seek the shelter of this tomb； with Theonoe's
sweet tidings in my ears； she that knoweth all things of a truth；
for she saith my lord is yet alive and in the light of day； albeit
he is roaming to and fro after many a weary voyage； and hither shall
he come whenso he reach the limit of his toils； no novice in the
wanderer's life。 But one thing did she leave unsaid。 Is he to escape
when he hath come？ And I refrained from asking that question
clearly； so glad was I when she told me he was safe。 For she said that
he was somewhere nigh this shore； cast up by shipwreck with a
handful of friends。 Ah！ when shall I see thee come？ How welcome will
thy advent be！ （She catches sight of MENELAUS。） Ha！ who is this？ Am
I being snared by some trick of Proteus' impious son？ Oh！ let me； like
a courser at its speed； or a votary of Bacchus； approach the tomb！ for
there is something wild about this fellow's looks； who is eager to
o'ertake me。
MENELAUS
Ho there！ thou that with fearful effort seekest to reach the
basement of the tomb and the pillars of burnt sacrifice； stay thee。
Wherefore art flying？ Ah！ with what speechless amaze the sight of thee
affects me！
HELEN
O friends！ I am being ill…treated。 This man is keeping me from the
tomb； and is eager to take and give me to his master； whose wooing I
was seeking to avoid。
MENELAUS
No robber I； or minister of evil。
HELEN
At any rate the garb wherein thou art clad is unseemly。
MENELAUS
Stay thy hasty flight； put fear aside。
HELEN
I do so； now that I have reached this spot。
MENELAUS
Who art thou？ whom do I behold in thee； lady？
HELEN
Nay； who art thou？ The self…same reason prompts us both。
MENELAUS
never saw a closer resemblance。
HELEN
Great God！ Yea； for to recognize our friends is of God。
MENELAUS
Art thou from Hellas； or a native of this land？
HELEN
From Hellas； but I would learn thy story too。
MENELAUS
Lady； in thee I see a wondrous likeness to Helen。
HELEN
And I in thee to Menelaus； I know not what to say。
MENELAUS
Well； thou hast recognized aright a man of many sorrows。
HELEN
Hail！ to thy wife's arms restored at last！
MENELAUS
Wife indeed！ Lay not a finger on my robe。
HELEN
The wife that Tyndareus； my father； gave thee。
MENELAUS
O Hecate； giver of light； send thy visions favourably！
HELEN
In me thou beholdest no spectre of the night； attendant on the
queen of phantoms。
MENELAUS
Nor yet am I in my single person the husband of two wives。
HELEN
What other woman calls thee lord？
MENELAUS
The inmate of yonder cave； whom I from Troy convey。
HELEN
Thou hast none other wife but me。
MENELAUS
Can it be my mind is wandering； my sight failing？
HELEN
Dost not believe thou seest in me thy wife？
MENELAUS
Thy form resembles her； but the real truth robs me of this belief。
HELEN
Observe me well； what need hast thou of clearer proof？
MENELAUS
Thou art like her； that will I never deny。
HELEN
Who then shall teach thee； unless it be thine own eyes？
MENELAUS
Herein is my dilemma； I have another wife。
HELEN
To Troy I never went； that was a phantom。
MENELAUS
Pray； who fashions living bodies？
HELEN
The air； whence thou hast a wife of heaven's workmanship。
MENELAUS
What god's handiwork？ Strange is the tale thou tellest。
HELEN
Hera made it as a substitute； to keep me from Paris。
MENELAUS
How then couldst thou have been here； and in Troy； at the same
time？
HELEN
The name ma
