THEOC. Hast thou sufficient reason then to weep
For this calamity?
HEL. Could you bear lightly
Your sister’s death?
THEOC. No surely. But what means
Thy still residing at this marble tomb?
HEL. Why do you harass me with taunting words,
And why disturb the dead?
THEOC. Because, still constant
To thy first husband, from my love thou fliest.
HEL. But I will fly no longer: haste, begin
The nuptial rite.
THEOC. ’Twas long ere thou didst come
To this: but I such conduct must applaud.
HEL. Know you then how to act? let us forget
All that has passed.
THEOC. Upon what terms? with kindness
Should kindness be repaid.
HEL. Let us conclude
The peace, and O be reconciled.
THEOC. All strife
With thee I to the winds of heaven consign.
HEL. Now, since you are my friend, I by those knees
Conjure you.
THEOC. With what object in thy view,
To me an earnest suppliant dost thou bend?
HEL. I my departed husband would inter.
THEOC. What tomb can be bestowed upon the absent
Wouldst thou inter his shade?
HEL. There is a custom
Among the Greeks established, that the man
Who in the ocean perishes——
THEOC. What is it?
For in such matters Pelops’ race are wise.
HEL. To bury in their stead an empty vest.
THEOC. Perform funereal rites, and heap the tomb
On any ground thou wilt.
HEL. We in this fashion
Bury not the drowned mariner.
THEOC. How then?
I am a stranger to the Grecian customs.
HEL. Each pious gift due to our breathless friends
We cast into the sea.
THEOC. On the deceased
What presents for thy sake can I bestow?
HEL. I know not: for in offices like these
Am I unpractised, having erst been happy.
THEOC. An acceptable message have you brought,
O stranger.
MEN. Most ungrateful to myself
And the deceased.
THEOC. What funereal rites on those
Ocean hath swallowed up, do ye bestow?
MEN. Such honours as each individual’s wealth
Enables us to pay him.
THEOC. Name the cost,
And for her sake receive whate’er you will.
MEN. Blood is our first libation to the dead.
THEOC. What blood? inform me, for with your instructions
I will comply.
MEN. Determine that thyself,
For whatsoe’er thou giv’st will be sufficient.
THEOC. The customary victims ’mong barbarians
Are either horse or bull.
MEN. Whate’er thou giv’st,
Let it be somewhat princely.
THEOC. My rich herds
With these are amply furnished.
MEN. And the bier
Without the corse is borne in solemn state.
THEOC. It shall: but what is there beside which custom
Requires to grace the funeral.
MEN. Brazen arms:
For war was what he loved.
THEOC. We will bestow
Such presents as are worthy of the race
Of mighty Pelops.
MEN. And those budding flowers
Th’ exuberant soil produces.
THEOC. But say, how
And in what manner ye these offerings plunge
Into the ocean.
MEN. We must have a bark
And mariners to ply the oars.
THEOC. How far
Will they launch forth the vessel from the strand?
MEN. So far as from the shore thou scarce wilt see
The keel divide the waves.
THEOC. But why doth Greece
Observe this usage?
MEN. ’Lest the rising billows
Cast back to land th’ ablutions.
THEOC. Ye shall have
A swift Phœnician vessel.
MEN. This were kind,
And no small favour shown to Menelaus.
THEOC. Without her presence, cannot you perform
These rites alone?
MEN. Such task or to a mother,
Or wife, or child, belongs.
THEOC. ’Tis then her duty,
You say, to bury her departed lord?
MEN. Sure, piety instructs us not to rob
The dead of their accustomed dues.
THEOC. Enough:
On me it is incumbent to promote
Such virtue in my consort. I will enter
The palace, and from thence for the deceased
Bring forth rich ornaments; with empty hands
You from this region will not I send forth,
That you may execute what she desires.
But having brought me acceptable tidings,
Instead of these vile weeds shall you receive
A decent garb and food, that to your country
You may return: for clearly I perceive
That you are wretched now. But torture not
Thy bosom with unprofitable cares,
O hapless woman, for thy Menelaus
Is now no more, nor can the dead revive.
MEN. Thee it behoves, O blooming dame, to love
Thy present husband, and to lay aside
The fond remembrance of thy breathless lord;
For such behaviour suits thy fortunes best.
But if to Greece with safety I return,
That infamy which erst pursued thy name
I’ll cause to cease, if thou acquit thyself
Of these great duties like a virtuous consort.
HEL. I will; nor shall my husband e’er have cause
To blame me: you too, who are here, shall witness
The truth of my assertions. But within
Go lave your wearied limbs, O wretched man,
And change your habit; for without delay
To you will I become a benefactress.
Hence too with greater zeal will you perform
The rites my dearest Menelaus claims,
If all due honours you from me receive.
[_Exeunt_ THEOCLYMENUS, HELEN, _and_ MENELAUS.