Complete Works of Euripides

by Euripides

  PYL. We will bolt them out, scattered in different parts of the house.

  ORES. And him that is not silent we must kill.

  PYL. Then the circumstances of the moment will point out what steps to take.

  ORES. To kill Helen, I understand the sign.

  PYL. Thou seest: but hear on what honorable principles I meditate it. For, if we draw our sword on a more modest woman, the murder will blot our names with infamy. But in the present instance, she shall suffer vengeance for the whole of Greece, whose fathers she slew, and made the brides bereaved of their spouses; there shall be a shout, and they will kindle up fire to the Gods, praying for many blessings to fall to thee and me, inasmuch as we shed the blood of a wicked woman. But thou shalt not be called the matricide, when thou hast slain her, but dropping this name thou shalt arrive at better things, being styled the slayer of the havoc-dealing Helen. It never, never were right that Menelaus should be prosperous, and that thy father, and thou, and thy sister should die, and thy mother; (this I forbear, for it is not decorous to mention;) and that he should seize thy house, having recovered his bride by the means of Agamemnon’s valor. For may I live no longer, if I draw not my black sword upon her. But if then we do not compass the murder of Helen, having fired the palace we will die, for we shall have glory, succeeding in one of these two things, nobly dying, or nobly rescued.

  CHOR. The daughter of Tyndarus is an object of detestation to all women, being one that has given rise to scandal against the sex.

  ORES. Alas! There is no better thing than a real friend, not riches, not kingdoms; but the popular applause becomes a thing of no account to receive in exchange for a generous friend. For thou contrivedst the destruction that befell Ægisthus, and wast close to me in my dangers. But now again thou givest me to revenge me on mine enemies, and art not out of the way — but I will leave off praising thee, since there is some burden even in this “to be praised to excess.” But I altogether in a state of death, wish to do something to my foes and die, that I may in turn destroy those who betrayed me, and those may groan who also made me unhappy. I am the son of Agamemnon, who ruled over Greece by general consent; no tyrant, but yet he had the power as it were of a God, whom I will not disgrace, suffering a slavish death, but breathe out my soul in freedom, but on Menelaus will I revenge me. For if we could gain this one thing, we should be prosperous, if from any chance safety should come unhoped for on the slayers then, not the slain: this I pray for. For what I wish is sweet to delight the mind without fear of cost, though with but fleeting words uttered through the mouth.

  ELEC. I, O brother, think that this very thing brings safety to thee, and thy friend, and in the third place to me.

  ORES. Thou meanest the providence of the Gods: but where is this? for I know that there is understanding in thy mind.

  ELEC. Hear me then, and thou too give thy attention.

  ORES. Speak, since the existing prospect of good affords some pleasure.

  ELEC. Art thou acquainted with the daughter of Helen? Thou knowest her of whom I ask.

  ORES. I know her, Hermione, whom my mother brought up.

  ELEC. She is gone to Clytæmnestra’s tomb.

  ORES. For what purpose? what hope dost thou suggest?

  ELEC. To pour libations on the tomb in behalf of her mother.

  ORES. And what is this, thou hast told me of, that regards our safety?

  ELEC. Seize her as a pledge as she is coming back.

  ORES. What remedy for the three friends is this thou sayest?

  ELEC. When Helen is dead, if Menelaus does any harm to thee or Pylades, or me (for this firm of friendship is all one), say that thou wilt kill Hermione; but thou oughtest to draw thy sword, and hold it to the neck of the virgin. And if indeed Menelaus save thee, anxious that the virgin may not die; when he sees Helen’s corse weltering in blood, give back the virgin for her father to enjoy; but should he, not governing his angry temper, slay thee, do thou also plunge the sword into the virgin’s neck, and I think that he, though at first he come to us very big, will after a season soften his heart; for neither is he brave nor valiant: this is the fortress of our safety that I have; my arguments on the subject have been spoken.

  ORES. O thou that hast indeed the mind of a man, but a form among women beautiful, to what a degree art thou more worthy of life than death! Pylades, wilt thou miserably be disappointed of such a woman, or dwelling with her obtain this happy marriage?

  PYL. For would it could be so! and she could come to the city of the Phocians meeting with her deserts in splendid nuptials!

  ORES. But when will Hermione come to the house? Since for the rest thou saidst most admirably, if we could succeed in taking the whelp of the impious father.

  ELEC. Even now I guess that she must be near the house, for with this supposition the space itself of the time coincides.

  ORES. It is well; do thou therefore, my sister Electra, waiting before the house, meet the arrival of the virgin. And watch, lest any one, either some ally, or the brother of my father, should be beforehand with us coming to the palace: and make some noise toward the house, either knocking at the doors, or sending thy voice within. But let us, O Pylades (for thou undertakest this labor with me), entering in, arm our hands with the sword to one last attempt. O my father, that inhabitest the realms of gloomy night, Orestes thy son invokes thee to come a succor to thy suppliants; for on thy account I wretched suffer unjustly, and am betrayed by thy brother, myself having acted justly: whose wife I wish to take and destroy; but be thou our accomplice in this affair.

  ELEC. O father, come then, if beneath the earth thou hearest thy children calling, who die for thee.

  PYL. O thou relation of my father, give ear, O Agamemnon, to my prayers also, preserve thy children.

  ORES. I slew my mother.

  PYL. But I directed the sword.

  ELEC. But I at least incited you, and freed you from delay.

  ORES. Succoring thee, my father.

  ELEC. Neither did I forsake thee.

  PYL. Wilt thou not therefore, hearing these things that are brought against thee, defend thy children?

  ORES. I pour libations on thee with my tears.

  ELEC. And I with lamentations.

  PYL. Cease, and let us haste forth to the work, for if prayers penetrate under the earth, he hears; but, O Jove our ancestor, and thou revered deity of justice, grant us to succeed, him, and myself, and this virgin, for over us three friends one hazard, one cause impends, either for all to live, or all to die!

  ELECTRA, CHORUS.

  ELEC. O dear Mycenian virgins, who have the first place at the Pelasgian seat of the Argives; —

  CHOR. What voice art thou uttering, my respected mistress? for this appellation awaits thee in the city of the Danaids.

  ELEC. Arrange yourselves, some of you in this beaten way, and some there, in that other path, to guard the house.

  CHOR. But on what account dost thou command this, tell me, my friend.

  ELEC. Fear possesses me, lest any one being in the palace, on account of this murderous deed, should contrive evils on evils.

  SEMICHOR. Go, let us hasten, I indeed will guard this path, that tends toward where the sun flings his first rays.

  SEMICHOR. And I indeed this, which leads toward the west.

  ELEC. Now turn the glances of your eyes around in every position, now here, now there, then take some other view.

  CHOR. We are, as thou commandest.

  ELEC. Now roll your eyelids over your pupils, glance them every way through your ringlets.

  SEMICHOR. Is this any one here appearing in the path? — Who is this rustic that is standing about thy palace?

  ELEC. We are undone then, my friends; he will immediately show to the enemy the lurking beasts of prey armed with their swords.

  SEMICHOR. Be not afraid, the path is clear, which thou thinkest not.

  ELEC. But what? — does all with you remain secure? Give me some good report, whether the space before the hall
be empty?

  SEMICHOR. All here at least is well, but look to thy province, for no one of the Danaids is approaching toward us.

  SEMICHOR. Thy report agrees with mine, for neither is there a disturbance here.

  ELEC. Come now, — I will listen at the door: why do ye delay, ye that are within, to sacrifice the victim, now that ye are in quiet? — They hear not: Alas me! wretched in misery! Are the swords then struck dumb at her beauty? Perhaps some Argive in arms rushing in with the foot of succor will approach the palace. — Now watch more carefully; it is no contest that admits delay; but turn your eyes some this way, and some that.

  CHOR. I turn each different way, looking about on all sides.

  HELEN. (within) Oh! Pelasgian Argos! I am miserably slain!

  ELEC. Heard ye? The men are employing their head in the murder. — It is the shriek of Helen, as I may conjecture.

  SEMICHOR. O eternal might of Jove, come to assist my friends in every way.

  HEL. Menelaus, I die! But thou art at hand, and dost not help me!

  ELEC. Kill, strike, slay, plunging with your hands the two double-edged swords into the deserter of her father, the deserter of her husband, who destroyed numbers of the Grecians perishing by the spear at the river, whence tears fell into conjunction with tears, fell on account of the iron weapons around the whirlpools of Scamander.

  CHOR. Be still, be still: I heard the sound of some one coming along the path around the palace.

  ELEC. O most dear women, in the midst of the slaughter behold Hermione is present; let us cease from our clamor, for she comes about to fall into the meshes of our toils. A goodly prey will she be, if she be taken. Again to your stations with a calm countenance, and with a color that shall not give evidence of what has been done. I too will preserve a pensive cast of countenance, as though perfectly unacquainted with what has happened.

  HERMIONE, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

  ELEC. O virgin, art thou come from crowning Clytæmnestra’s tomb, and pouring libations to her manes?

  HERM. I am come, having obtained her good services; but some terror has come upon me, on account of the noise in the palace, which I hear being a far distance off the house.

  ELEC. But why? There have happened to us things worthy of groans.

  HERM. Speak good words; but what news dost thou tell me?

  ELEC. It has been decreed by this land, that Orestes and I die.

  HERM. No, I hope not so; you, who are my relations.

  ELEC. It is fixed; but we stand under the yoke of necessity.

  HERM. Was the noise then in the house on this account?

  ELEC. For falling down a suppliant at the knees of Helen, he cries out —

  HERM. Who? for I know no more, except thou tellest me.

  ELEC. The wretched Orestes, that he may not die, and in behalf of me.

  HERM. For a just reason then the house lamented.

  ELEC. For on what other account should one rather cry out? But come, and join in supplication with thy friends, falling down before thy mother, the supremely blest, that Menelaus will not see us perish. But, O thou, that receivedst thy education at the hands of my mother, pity us, and alleviate our sufferings. Come hither to the trial; but I will lead the way, for thou alone hast the ends of our preservation.

  HERM. Behold I direct my footstep toward the house. Be preserved, as far as lies in me.

  ELEC. O ye in the house, my dear warriors, will ye not take your prey?

  HERM. Alas me! who are these I see?

  ORES. (advancing) Thou must be silent; for thou art come to preserve us, not thyself.

  ELEC. Hold her, hold her; and pointing a sword to her neck be silent, that Menelaus may know, that having found men, not Phrygian cowards, he has treated them in a manner he should treat cowards. What ho! what ho! my friends, make a noise, a noise, and shout before the palace, that the murder that is perpetrated spread not a dread alarm among the Argives, so that they run to assist to the king’s palace, before I plainly see the slaughtered Helen lying weltering in her blood within the house, or else we hear the report from some of her attendants. For part of the havoc I know, and part not accurately.

  CHOR. With justice came the vengeance of the Gods on Helen. For she filled the whole of Greece with tears on account of the ruthless, ruthless Idean Paris, who brought the Grecian state to Ilium. But be silent, for the bolts of the royal mansion resound, for some one of the Phrygians comes forth, from whom we shall hear of the affairs within the house, in what state they are.

  PHRYGIAN, CHORUS.

  PHRY. I have escaped from death by the Argive sword in these barbaric slippers, climbing over the cedar beams of the bed and the Doric triglyphs, by the flight of a barbarian. Thou art gone, thou art gone, O my country, my country! Alas me! whither can I escape, O strangers, flying through the hoary air, or the sea, which the Ocean, with head in shape like a bull’s, rolling with his arms encircles the earth?

  CHOR. But what is the matter, O attendant of Helen, thou man of Ida?

  PHRY. O Ilion, Ilion! alas me! O thou fertile Phrygian city, thou sacred mount of Ida, how do I lament for thee destroyed, a sad, sad strain for my barbaric voice, on account of that form of the hapless, hapless Helen, born from a bird, the offspring of the beauteous Leda in shape of a swan, the fiend of the splendid Apollonian Pergamus! Alas! Oh! lamentations! lamentations! O wretched Dardania, warlike school of Ganymede, the companion of Jove!

  CHOR. Relate to us clearly each circumstance that happened in the house, for I do not understand your former account, but merely conjecture.

  PHRY. Αιλινον, αιλινον, the Barbarians begin the song of death in the language of Asia, Alas! alas! when the blood of kings has been poured on the earth by the ruthless swords of death. There came to the palace (that I may relate each circumstance) two Grecians, lions, of the one the leader of the Grecian host was said to be the father, the other the son of Strophius, a man of dark design; such was Ulysses, secretly treacherous, but faithful to his friends, bold in battle, skilled in war, cruel as the dragon. May he perish for his deep concealed design, the worker of evil! But they having advanced within her chamber, whom the archer Paris had as his wife, their eyes bathed with tears, they sat down in humble mien, one on each side of her, on the right and on the left, armed with swords. And around her knees did they both fling their suppliant hands, around the knees of Helen did they fling them. But the Phrygian attendants sprung up, and fled in amazement: and one called out to another in terror, See, lest there be treachery. To some indeed there appeared no danger; but to others the dragon stained with his mother’s blood appeared bent to infold in his closest toils the daughter of Tyndarus.

  CHOR. But where wert thou then, or hadst thou long before fled through fear?

  PHRY. After the Phrygian fashion I chanced with the close circle of feathers to be fanning the gale, that sported in the ringlets of Helen, before her cheek, after the barbaric fashion. But she was winding with her fingers the flax round the distaff, but what she had spun she let fall on the ground, desirous of making from the Phrygian spoils a robe of purple as an ornament for the tomb, a gift to Clytæmnestra. But Orestes entreated the Spartan girl; “O daughter of Jove, here, place thy footstep on the ground, rising from thy seat, come to the place of our ancestor Pelops, the ancient altar, that thou mayest hear my words.” And he leads her, but she followed, not dreaming of what was about to happen. But his accomplice, the wicked Phocian, attended to other points. “Will ye not depart from out of the way, but are the Phrygians always vile?” and he bolted us out scattered in different parts of the house, some in the stables of the horses, and some in the outhouses, and some here and there, dispersing them some one way, some another, afar from their mistress.

  CHOR. What calamity took place after this?

  PHRY. O powerful, powerful Idean mother, alas! alas! the murderous sufferings, and the lawless evils, which I saw, I saw in the royal palace! From beneath their purple robes concealed having their drawn swords in their
hands, they turned each his eye on either side, lest any one might chance to be present. But like mountain boars standing over against the lady, they say, “Thou shalt die, thou shalt die! thy vile husband kills thee, having given up the offspring of his brother to die at Argos.” But she shrieked out, Ah me! ah me! and throwing her white arm on her breast inflicted on her head miserable blows, and, her feet turned to flight, she stepped, she stepped with her golden sandals; but Orestes thrusting his fingers into her hair, outstripping her flight, bending back her neck over his left shoulder, was about to plunge the black sword into her throat.

  CHOR. Where then were the Phrygians, who dwell under the same roof, to assist her?

  PHRY. With a clamor having burst by means of bars the doors and cells where we were waiting, we run to her assistance, each to different parts of the house, one bringing stones, another spears, another having a long-handled sword in his hand. But Pylades came against us, impetuous, like as the Phrygian Hector or Ajax in his triple-crested helmet, whom I saw, I saw at the gates of Priam: but we clashed together the points of our swords: then indeed, then did the Phrygians give clear proof how inferior we were in the force of Mars to the spear of Greece. One indeed turning away, a fugitive, but another wounded, and another deprecating the death that threatened him: but under favor of the darkness we fled: and the corses fell, but some staggered, and some lay prostrate. But the wretched Hermione came to the house at the time when her murdered mother fell to the ground, that unhappy woman that gave her birth. And running upon her as Bacchanals without their thyrsus, as a heifer in the mountains they bore her away in their hands, and again eagerly rushed upon the daughter of Jove to slay her. But she vanished altogether from the chamber through the palace. O Jupiter and O earth, and light, and darkness! or by her enchantments, or by the art of magic, or by the stealth of the Gods. But of what followed I know no farther, for I sped in stealth my foot from the palace. But Menelaus having endured many, many severe toils, has received back from Troy the violated rites of Helen to no purpose.

  CHOR. And see something strange succeeds to these strange things, for I see Orestes with his sword drawn walking before the palace with agitated step,