Epeisodion 2
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?
