THEOC. Go forth, in such procession as the stranger
Directs you, O my servants, and convey
These gifts funereal to the briny deep.
But if thou disapprove not what I say,
Do thou, O Helen, yield to my persuasions,
And here remain. For whether thou attend,
Or art not present at the obsequies
Of thy departed husband, thou to him
Wilt show an equal reverence. Much I dread
Lest hurried on by wild desire thou plunge
Into the foaming billows, for the sake
Of him on whom thou doat’st, thy former lord,
Since thou his doom immoderately bewail’st
Though he be lost, and never can return.
HEL. O my illustrious husband, I am bound
To pay due honours to the man whom first
I wedded, of our ancient nuptial joys
A memory still retaining, for so well
I loved my lord that I could even die
With him. But what advantage would result
To the deceased, should I lay down my life?
Yet let me go myself, and to his shade
Perform each solemn rite. But may the gods,
On you, and on the stranger who assists me
In this my pious task, with liberal hand
Confer the gifts I wish. But you in me
Shall such a consort to your palace bear
As you deserve, to recompense your kindness
To me and Menelaus. Such events
In some degree are measured by the will
Of Fortune: but give orders for a ship
To be prepared, these trappings to convey,
So shall your purposed bounty be complete.
THEOC. [_to one of his Attendants._]
Go thou, and furnish them a Tyrian bark
Of fifty oars, with skilful sailors manned.
HEL. But may not he who decorates the tomb
Govern the ship?
THEOC. My sailors must to him
Yield an implicit deference.
HEL. This injunction
Repeat, that they may clearly understand it.
THEOC. A second time, will I, and yet a third,
Issue this self-same mandate, if to thee
This can give pleasure.
HEL. May the gods confer
Blessings on you, and prosper my designs!
THEO. Waste not thy bloom with unavailing tears.
HEL. To you this day my gratitude will prove.
THEOC. All these attentions to the dead are nought
But unavailing toil.
HEL. My pious care
Not to those only whom the silent grave
Contains, but to the living too extends.
THEOC. In me thou mayst expect to find a husband
Who yields not to the Spartan Menelaus.
HEL. I censure not your conduct, but bewail
My own harsh destiny.
THEOC. Bestow thy love
On me, and prosperous fortunes shall return.
HEL. It is a lesson I have practised long,
To love my friends.
THEOC. Shall I my navy launch,
To join in these funereal rites?
HEL. Dread lord,
Pay not unseemly homage to your vassals.
THEOC. Well! I each sacred usage will allow
Practised by Pelops’ race, for my abodes
Are undefiled with blood: thy Menelaus
In Ægypt died not. But let some one haste
And bid the nobles bear into my house
The bridal gifts: for the whole earth is bound
To celebrate in one consenting hymn
My blest espousals with the lovely Helen.
But go, embark upon the briny main,
O stranger, and as soon as ye have paid
All decent homage to her former lord
Bring back my consort hither: that with me
When you have feasted at our nuptial rite
You to your native mansion may return,
Or here continue in a happy state.
[_Exit_ THEOCLYMENUS.
MEN. O Jove, thou mighty father, who art called
A god supreme in wisdom, from thy heaven
Look down, and save us from our woes: delay not
To aid us: for we drag the galling yoke
Of sorrow and mischance: if with thy finger
Thou do but touch us, we shall soon attain
The fortune which we wish for, since the toils
We have endured already are sufficient.
Ye gods, I now invoke you, from my mouth
So shall ye hear full many joyful accents
Mixed with these bitter plaints: for I deserve not
To be for ever wretched; but to tread
At length secure. O grant me this one favour,
And make my future life completely blest.
[_Exeunt_ MENELAUS _and_ HELEN.