Dramatis Personae

Helen

Teucer

Chorus

Menelaos

Old woman (Portress)

Messenger

Theonoe

Theoklymenos

Servant

Dioskouroi

Scene.— Tomb of Proteus in the island of Pharos.HelenThese are the lovely pure streams of the Nile, which waters the plain and lands of Egypt, fed by white melting snow instead of rain from heaven. Proteus was king of this land when he was alive,living on the island of Pharos and lord of Egypt; and he married one of the daughters of the sea, Psamathe, after she left Aiakos’ bed. She bore two children in his palace here: a son Theoklymenos, ~~because he spent his life in reverence of the gods,~~and a noble daughter, her mother’s pride, called Eido in her infancy. But when she came to youth, the season of marriage, she was called Theonoe; for she knew whatever the gods design, both present and to come,having received this honor from her grandfather Nereus.