Stasimon 1
[Episode]
struggle which I expect awaits me; and if we should be able somehow to steal this woman away from the land, tell them to keep good watch so that we may share the luck and escape, if we can, from the barbarians.
740
Messenger
It shall be done, lord. Now indeed I see how worthless
the seers’ doings are, and how full of falsehood; there was no health in the blaze of sacrifice after all, or in the cry of winged birds; even to think that birds can help mankind is certainly foolish. For Calchas gave no word or sign to the army,
745
when he saw his friends dying on behalf of a cloud, nor did Helenos; but the city was taken by storm in vain. You might say: because the god did not want them to? Then why do we consult prophets? We ought to sacrifice to the gods and ask a blessing, but leave divination alone;
750
for this was invented otherwise, as a bait for a livelihood, and no man grows rich by sacrifices if he is idle. But sound judgment and discernment are the best of seers. Exit Messenger.
755
Chorus Leader
My views about seers coincide exactly with this old man’s; whoever has the gods as friends
would have the best prophecy at home.
760
Helen
All right; so far all is well. But how you were saved, my poor husband, from Troy, there is no gain in knowing, yet friends have a desire to learn what their friends have suffered.
Menelaos
Truly you have asked a great deal all at once. Why should I tell you about our losses in the Aegean, and Nauplios’ beacons on Euboia, and my visits to Crete and the cities of Libya, and the mountain-peaks of Perseus? For I would not satisfy you with the tale,
765
and by telling you these evils I would suffer still, as I did when I experienced them; and so my grief would be doubled.
770
Helen
Your answer is better than my question. Leave out the rest, and tell me only this: how long were you a weary wanderer over the surface of the sea?
Menelaos
Besides those ten years in Troy, I went through seven cycles of years on board ship.
775
Helen
Alas, poor man, you have spoken of a long time; and, saved from there, you have come here to the slaughter.
Menelaos
What do you mean? What will you say? Ah, my wife, you have ruined me.
Helen
Escape from this land and flee as quickly as possible. The man who lives in this house will kill you.
780
Menelaos
What have I done to deserve such a fate?
Helen
You have come unexpectedly to hinder my marriage.
Menelaos
What! Does someone plan to marry my wife?
Helen
And to act in violence against me, which I have endured.
785
Menelaos
Does he have private power, or is he the ruler of the country?
