Stasimon 1
[Episode]
The daughter of Tyndareus, who once lived in Sparta.
Menelaos
Where did she come from? What is the meaning of this?
Old woman
She came here from the land of Lakedaimon.
Menelaos
When? Surely I have not been robbed of my wife from the cave?
475
Old woman
Before the Achaeans went to Troy, stranger. But get away from the house; for something is happening within, by which the palace is thrown into confusion. You have not come at the right time; and if my master
catches you, death will be your guest-gift. For I am well-disposed to Hellenes, for all that I spoke harshly to you in fear of my master.
480
Menelaos
What can I say? For after my former troubles, this present event that I hear of is an unhappy one,
if I have come here, bringing my wife who was taken from Troy, and she is kept safe in the cave, but some other woman who has the same name as my wife lives in this house. She said the woman was born the child of Zeus.
485
Can there be a man with the name of Zeus by the banks of Nile? For there is only one in heaven. Where in the world is there a Sparta, except by the streams of Eurotas, with its lovely reeds? The name of Tyndareus is the name of one alone.
490
Is there any land of the same name as Lakedaimon or Troy? I do not know what to say; for there are probably many things in the wide world that have the same names, both cities and women; there is nothing, then, to marvel at.
495
Besides, I will not run away from a servant’s fears; for no man is so barbaric at heart as to refuse me food when he has heard my name. The fire of Troy is famous, and I, Menelaos, who lighted it, am well known in every land.
500
I will wait for the master of the house; he gives me two things to look out for: if he is a cruel sort of person, I will keep myself hidden and go back to the shipwreck; but if he shows any softening, I will ask for help in my present state.
505
This is the worst evil for me in my misery, to beg the means of life from other kings, when I am myself a king; but it is necessary. The saying is not mine, but it is a wise word: nothing is stronger than dreadful necessity.
510
Chorus
I have heard the prophetic maiden, who gave a clear answer within the palace: Menelaos is not yet dead and buried, gone to the land of shadows where darkness takes the place of light;
515
but he is still wearing out his life on the ocean swell and has not yet reached the haven of his country, wretched in his wandering life,
520
bereft of every friend, approaching every land in his sea-going ship from the land of Troy.
525
Helen
Here I am, once again coming back to the sanctuary of this tomb, after learning the welcome words of Theonoe,
who knows all things truly; she says my husband is alive and sees the light of day; he is roaming here and there on countless voyages, not without practice in wandering, and he shall come here when he finds an end to his suffering.
530
But she left one thing unsaid: if he will escape when he has come? And I refrained from asking that question clearly; I was so glad when she told me he was safe. She said that he was near this land somewhere, cast up, shipwrecked, with a few friends.
535
Oh, when will you come? How much I long for your arrival!
540
Ah! Who is this? I am not being ambushed by the plots of Proteus’ impious son, am I? Shall I not, like a young racehorse or a worshipper of Bacchus, reach the tomb? There is something wild
about the looks of this man who is hunting me down.
545
Menelaos
You there! the one trying with fearful effort to reach the base of the tomb and the pillars of burnt sacrifice, stay where you are. Why do you flee? I am amazed and speechless at the sight of your body.
Helen
Women, I am being ill-treated. This man is keeping me from the tomb, and he wants to take me and give me to the king, whose wooing I was seeking to avoid.
550
Menelaos
I am no thief, nor a servant of evil men.
Helen
And yet the clothes you are wearing are unsightly enough.
Menelaos
Put fear aside and stop your rapid flight.
555
Helen
I do so, now that I have reached this spot.
Menelaos
Who are you? Whom do I see in you, lady?
Helen
But who are you? The same reason prompts us both.
