[_Positions, etc., as before._]
_Strophe I: to the Right._
Who could foresee so well and give her the name _Helen_--a _Hell_[3] to
men and ships and towers? She came out of bowers of gorgeous curtains,
she sailed with breezes soft as Zephyrs yet strong as Titans, and unseen
reached the leafy banks of the Simois; but bloodshed was in her train,
and on her track followed hosts of hunters that carried shields. {680}
_Antistrophe I: back to Altar._
So there is a wrath that works vengeance after long waiting: to the
_Ilion_ that received her she was a dear bride: then there was a shout of
'Paris, Paris,' in the Bridal Song: now his city has celebrated a Wedding
of Death, and called on Paris' name in other tones. {695}
_Strophe II: Altar to Left._
So once a lion's cub,
A mischief in his house,
As foster child one reared,
While still it loved the teats;
In life's preluding dawn
Tame, by the children loved,
And fondled by the old,
Oft in his arms 'twas held,
Like infant newly born,
With eyes that brightened to the hand that stroked,
And fawning at the hest of hunger keen. {704}
_Antistrophe II: back to Altar._
But when full-grown, it showed
The nature of its sires;
For it unbidden made
A feast in recompense
Of all their fostering care,
By banquet of slain sheep;
With blood the house was stained,
A curse no slaves could check,
Great mischief murderous:
By God's decree a priest of Ate thus
Was reared, and grew within the man's own house. {715}
_Strophe III: Altar to Right._
So I would tell that thus to Ilion came
Mood as of calm when all the air is still,
The gentle pride and joy of kingly state,
A tender glance of eye,
The full-blown blossom of a passionate love,
Thrilling the very soul;
And yet she turned aside,
And wrought a bitter end of marriage feast,
Coming to Priam's race,
Ill sojourner, ill friend,
Sent by great Zeus, the God of host and guest--
Erinnys, for whom wives weep many tears. {726}
_Antistrophe III: back to Altar._
The time-honored saying is that Prosperity grown big will not die
childless, its offspring will be a Woe insatiable. I say no, it is not
the Prosperity, it is an Impious deed that breeds Impious deeds like the
parent stock. {737}
_Strophe IV: from Altar to Left._
Recklessness begets Recklessness, this begets full-flushed Lust and
Godforgetting Daring, two black curses to a household. {746}
_Antistrophe IV: back to Altar._
Justice will dwell in houses blackened with smoke where life is ruled by
law, but averts her eyes from gold-decked mansions conjoined with hands
denied: and it is this Justice that is directing the course of things to
its appointed goal. {755}
_At this point, a grand Procession of the returning Warriors from Troy
enters Stage and Orchestra by the Left Side-Door (signifying distance):
Agamemnon in his chariot, followed in another chariot by Cassandra as
captive, but still in the garb of prophetess: then a train of Soldiers
laden with trophies and leading a train of Troïan captive women. The
Chorus fall into their Episode position to receive them._