Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/311

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HELEN.

Helen discovered bowed in prayer at the tomb of Proteus. She rises and advances to the front of the stage.


Helen.

These be the Nile's fair-flowing virgin-streams,
Who, fed with white snow melting, not with rain
From heaven, waters Egypt's lowland fields.
Lord of this land was Proteus, while he lived,
Dweller in Pharos' isle, and Egypt's king, 5
Who of the Maids sea-haunting wedded one,
Psamathê, widowed wife of Aiakus:
And to this house she brought forth children twain,
A son, Theoklymenus,[1]—for that honouring
The Gods he hath passed through life,—a noble daughter, 10
Named Eido, "mother's pride," while yet a babe;
But, since she grew to bloom of spousal-tide,

  1. ↑ The Greek name should denote "honoured by God"; but the writer of this clause (which most critics consider interpolated) evidently intended it to mean "honouring God," which, besides the absurdity of representing a boy as named from a trait developed in after-life, is inconsistent with his character. See l. 542 and ll. 917—921. "For that honouring The Gods, her lord had lived," would be a reading more in accord with the facts.
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