Helen
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- fall, some stood upright, you would have seen others lying dead. But Menelaos, in full armor, wherever he spied that his comrades were suffering, would go there, sword in hand; and so we dived
- from the ship, and he cleared the benches of your rowers. Then going to the helmsman he told him to sail a straight course to Hellas. So they set up the mast, and favoring breezes blew.
- They are gone from here. But I escaped death and let myself down by the anchor into the sea;
- and just as I was worn out, some fisherman took me up, and put me out on land, to bring you this report. Nothing is more useful to mankind than a prudent distrust.
- I never would have believed that Menelaos could have eluded both us
- and you, O king, the way he did on his arrival.
- Caught by a woman’s tricks, unhappy that I am! My bride has escaped me. If the ship could have been pursued and overtaken, I would have made an effort to catch the strangers at once; but now I will avenge myself upon my treacherous sister,
- for she saw Menelaos in my house and did not tell me. Therefore she will never deceive another man by her oracles.
- You, there! Where are you rushing off to, my lord? to what bloody deed?
- Where justice calls me. Get out of my way!
- I will not let go of your robe, for you are striving after great wickedness.
- Will you rule over your master, although you are a slave?
- Yes, for I am in my right mind.
- Not in my opinion, if you will not let me—
- No, I will not let you!