Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/212

Helen,—for I am he that travailed sore,
I Menelaus, and the Achaian host.
Nor so much came I, as men deem, to Troy
For her, but to avenge me on the man 865
Who from mine halls stole—traitor guest!—my wife.
He by heaven's help hath paid the penalty,
He and his land, by Hellene spear laid low.
I come to hale the Spartan,—loth am I
To name her wife, who in days past was mine;— 870
For in these mansions of captivity
Numbered she is with others, Trojan dames.
For they, by travail of the spear who won,
Gave her to me, to slay, or, an I would,
To slay not, but to take to Argos back. 875
And I was minded to reprieve from doom
Helen in Troy, but with keel-speeding oar
To bear to Greece, to yield her there to death,
Avenging all my friends in Ilium slain.
On, march to the pavilions, henchmen mine; 880
Bring her, and by her murder-reeking hair
Hale forth to me: then, soon as favouring winds
Shall blow, to Hellas will we speed her on.

O Earth's Upbearer, thou whose throne is Earth,
Whoe'er thou be, O past our finding out, 885
Zeus, be thou Nature's Law, or mind of man,
To thee I pray; for, treading soundless paths,
In justice dost thou guide all mortal things!

How now?—what strange prayer this unto the Gods?