It was not; I was tricked by the gods into taking to my arms a misty phantom-form, to my sorrow.
MESSENGER
How so? was it then for this we vainly toiled?
MENELAUS
'Twas Hera's handiwork, and the jealousy of three goddesses.
MESSENGER
Is this real woman, then, thy wife?
MENELAUS
This is she; trust my word for that.
MESSENGER
Daughter, how changeful and inscrutable is the nature of God! With some good end doth he vary men's fortune-now up, now down; one suffers; another who ne'er knew suffering, is in his turn to awful ruin brought, having no assurance in his lot from day to day. Thou and thy husband have had your share of trouble-thou in what the world has said, he in battle's heat. For all the striving that he strove, he got him naught; while now, without an effort made, every blessing fortune boasts is his. And thou, in spite of all, hast brought no shame upon thy aged sire, or those twin sons of Zeus, nor art thou guilty of those rumoured crimes. Now again do I recall thy wedding rites, remembering the blazing torch I bore beside thee in a four-horsed chariot at full gallop; while thou with this thy lord, a new-made bride, wert driving forth from thy happy home. A sorry servant he, whoso regardeth not his master's interest, sympathizing with his sorrows and his joys. Slave though I was born, yet may I be numbered amongst honest servants; for in heart, though not in name, I am free. For this is better far than in my single person to suffer these two evils, to feel my heart corrupt, and as the slave of others to be at my neighbour's beck and call.
MENELAUS
Come, old friend, oft hast thou stood side by side with me and taken thy full share of toil; so now be partner in my happiness. Go, tell my comrades, whom I left behind, the state of matters here, as thou hast found them, and the issue of my fortunes; and bid them wait upon the beach and abide the result of the struggle, which I trow awaits me; and if mayhap we find a way to take this lady from the land by stealth, tell them to keep good watch that we may share the luck and escape, if possible, from the barbarian's clutch.
MESSENGER
It shall be done, O king. Now I see how worthless are the seers'
tricks, how full of falsehood; nor is there after all aught trustworthy in the blaze of sacrifice or in the cry of feathered fowls; 'tis folly, the very notion that birds can help mankind.
Calchas never by word or sign showed the host the truth, when he saw his friends dying on behalf of a phantom, nor yet did Helenus; but the city was stormed in vain. Perhaps thou wilt say, 'twas not heaven's will that they should do so. Then why do we employ these prophets?
Better were it to sacrifice to the gods, and crave a blessing, leaving prophecy alone; for this was but devised as a bait to catch livelihood, and no man grows rich by divination if he is idle. No!
sound judgment and discernment are the best of seers.
(The MESSENGER departs.)
LEADER
My views about seers agree exactly with this old man's: whoso hath the gods upon his side will have the best seer in his house.
HELEN
Good! so far all is well. But how camest thou, poor husband, safe from Troy? though 'tis no gain to know, yet friends feel a longing to learn all that their friends have suffered.
MENELAUS
That one short sentence of thine contains a host of questions. Why should I tell thee of our losses in the Aegean, or of the beacon Nauplius lighted on Euboea? or of my visits to Crete and the cities of Libya, or of the peaks of Perseus? For I should never satisfy thee with the tale, and by telling thee should add to my own pain, though Isuffered enough at the time; and so would my grief be doubled.
HELEN
Thy answer shows more wisdom than my question. Omit the rest, and tell me only this; how long wert thou a weary wanderer o'er the wide sea's face?
MENELAUS
Seven long years did I see come and go, besides those ten in Troy.
HELEN
Alas, poor sufferer! 'twas a weary while. And thou hast thence escaped only to bleed here.
MENELAUS
How so? what wilt thou tell? Ah wife, thou hast ruined me.
HELEN
Escape and fly with all thy speed from this land. Thou wilt be slain by him whose house this is.
MENELAUS
What have I done to merit such a fate?
HELEN
Thou hast arrived unexpectedly to thwart my marriage.
MENELAUS
What! is some man bent on wedding my wife?
HELEN
Aye, and on heaping those insults on me, which I have hitherto endured.
MENELAUS
Is he some private prince, or a ruler of this land?
HELEN
The son of Proteus, king of the country.
MENELAUS
This was that dark saying I heard the servant tell.
HELEN
At which of the barbarian's gates wert thou standing?
MENELAUS
Here, whence like a beggar I was like to be driven.
HELEN
Surely thou wert not begging food? Ah, woe is me!
MENELAUS
That was what I was doing, though I had not the name of beggar.
HELEN
Of course thou knowest, then, all about my marriage.
MENELAUS
I do. But whether thou hast escaped thy lover, I know not.
HELEN
Be well assured I have kept my body chaste.
MENELAUS
How wilt thou convince me of this? If true, thy words are sweet.
HELEN
Dost see the wretched station I have kept at this tomb?
MENELAUS
I see, alas! a bed of straw; but what hast thou to do with it?
HELEN
There I crave escape from this marriage as a suppliant.
MENELAUS
For want of an altar, or because it is the barbarians' way?
HELEN
This was as good a protection to me as the gods' temples.
MENELAUS
May I not then even bear thee homeward on my ship?
HELEN
The sword far sooner than thy wife's embrace is waiting thee.
MENELAUS
So should I be of all men the most miserable.
HELEN
Put shame aside, and fly from this land.
MENELAUS
Leaving thee behind? 'twas for thy sake I sacked Troy.
HELEN
Better so, than that our union should cause thy death.
MENELAUS
Oh! these are coward words, unworthy of those days at Troy!
HELEN
Thou canst not slay the prince, thy possible intent.
MENELAUS
Hath he, then, a body which steel cannot wound?
HELEN
Thou shalt hear. But to attempt impossibilities is no mark of wisdom.
MENELAUS
Am I to let them bind my hands, and say nothing?
HELEN
Thou art in a dilemma; some scheme must be devised.
MENELAUS
