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 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, 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. 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. Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing is still in the house, and has not fled. 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?
Helen My lord—for now I give you that name—I am destroyed; everything of mine is gone and I am nothing.
Theoklymenos In what misfortune are you plunged? What has happened?
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?
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.
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 sailed 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?
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!
Theoklymenos He is already ruined. In what ship did this man come?
Helen Sailors happened to meet him and took him up, as he says.
Theoklymenos Where then is that mischievous creature that was sent to Troy in your place?
Helen You mean the cloud image? It has gone into the air.
Theoklymenos O Priam, and Trojan lands, how you have perished in vain!
Helen I too have shared misfortunes with Priam’s race.
Theoklymenos Did he leave your husband unburied, or did he hide him in the earth?
Helen He is unburied; I am so unhappy in my troubles!
Theoklymenos It is for this that you have cut your locks of golden hair?
Helen Yes, for he is dear to me, whoever he is, being here.
Theoklymenos She rightly weeps for this misfortune. . .
Helen It is certainly easy to escape your sister’s notice!
Theoklymenos No, indeed. Well, what now? Will you continue to live at this tomb?
Helen Why do you jeer at me? Won’t you let the dead man be?
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