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
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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,
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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.
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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.
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Wait! for I see that the one I am pursuing
is still in the house, and has not fled.
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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?
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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?
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!
1220
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.
1225
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?
Theoklymenos
No, for you are loyal to your husband and avoid me.
1230
Helen
No longer; begin my wedding now.
Theoklymenos
It has come after a long time, but still I commend you for it.
Helen
Do you know what you should do? Let us forget what is past.
Theoklymenos
On what terms? One good turn deserves another.
Helen
Let us make a truce; be reconciled to me.
1235
Theoklymenos
I relinquish my quarrel with you; may it go away on wings.
Helen
Now by your knees, since you are indeed a friend—
Theoklymenos
What thing do you hunt after, that you stretch out a suppliant hand to me?
Helen
I wish to bury my dead husband.
Theoklymenos
What? Is there a tomb for the absent? Or will you bury a shadow?
1240
Helen
It is customary among the Hellenes, whenever someone dies at sea—
Theoklymenos
To do what? The race of Pelops is certainly clever in such matters.
Helen
To carry out the funeral rites in empty woven robes.
Theoklymenos
Hold the funeral; set up the tomb wherever you wish.
Helen
We do not give burial like this to sailors who have perished.
1245
Theoklymenos
How then? I know nothing of the customs in Hellas.
Helen
We take out of harbor to the sea all that is the dead man’s due.
Theoklymenos
Then what am I to give you for the dead man?
Helen
This man knows, but I have no experience, as I was fortunate before.
Theoklymenos
Stranger, you have brought welcome news.
1250
Menelaos
Not for me, certainly, nor for the dead man.
Theoklymenos
How do you bury those who have died at sea?
Menelaos
Each according to his means.
Theoklymenos
As far as wealth goes, say what you want, for her sake.
Menelaos
There must be a blood-offering first to the dead.
1255
Theoklymenos
Blood of what? Explain it to me, and I will obey.
Menelaos
You decide that yourself; whatever you give will suffice.
Theoklymenos
Among barbarians it is customary to sacrifice a horse or a bull.
Menelaos
If you make a gift, take care to give nothing mean.
Theokylemnos
I have no lack of such in my rich herds.
1260
Menelaos
Next, a couch empty of the body is decked and carried in procession.
Theoklymenos
It wall be done; what else is it customary to add?
Menelaos
Bronze arms; for war was his delight.
Theoklymenos
These will be worthy of the race of Pelops, and these we will give.
Menelaos
And for the rest, all the lovely offspring that the earth bears.
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Theoklymenos
How then? In what way do you let them fall into the waves?
Menelaos
A ship must be ready, and rowers.
Theoklymenos
How far from the shore does the ship put out?
Menelaos
So far that the foam in her wake can scarcely be seen from the land.
Theoklymenos
But why? Why does Hellas observe this custom.
1270
Menelaos
So that the waves may not wash pollution back ashore.
Theoklymenos
A swift Phoenician ship will be there.
Menelaos
That would be well done, and pleasing to Menelaos, too.
Theoklymenos
Can you not perform these rites well enough without Helen?
Menelaos
This task belongs to mother, or wife, or children.
1275
Theoklymenos
According to you, the work of burying her husband belongs to her.
Menelaos
Yes indeed; piety demands that the dead be not robbed of their due.
Theoklymenos
Let her go; it is in my interest to foster piety in a wife. Go inside and choose adornment for the dead;
I will not send you away from the land empty-handed either, since you have done her a favor. As you have brought me good news, you will receive clothing instead of going in rags, and food, so that you may reach your country, since now I see you doing very badly indeed.
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As for you, poor lady, do not wear yourself out in a hopeless case; Menelaos has met his doom, and your dead husband could not return to life.
1285
Menelaos
This is your duty, young woman; you must be content with the husband at your side, and let go the one that no longer exists;
for this is best for you, according to what has happened. And if I come to Hellas and find safety, I will put to an end your former bad reputation, if you are such a wife as you ought to be to your husband.
1290
Helen
I will; my husband will never find fault with me;
you yourself will be at hand to know it. Now go inside, unhappy man, and find the bath, and change your clothes. I will show my kindness to you without delay. For you will perform the due services with more kindly feeling for my dearest Menelaos,
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if you get from me what you ought to have. Exeunt Theoklymenos, Helen, Menelaos.
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