Parerga/The Elopement of Helen
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THE ELOPEMENT OF HELEN.
FROM THE AGAMEMNON. (402-421.)
Λιποῦσα δ᾽ ἀστοῖσιν ἀσπίστοραςΚλόνους λογχίμους τε καὶ ναυβάτας ὁπλισμοὺς,Ἄγουσά τ᾿ ἀντίφερνον Ἰλίῳ φθορὰν,Βέβακε ῥίμφα διὰ πυλᾶν,Ἄτλητα τλᾶσα· κ.τ.λ.
Daring a deed that none should dare,O'er the threshold of her homeLightly stept the lady fair—She is o'er the ocean-foam,Fleeing from the Spartan strand,Bequeathing to her native landMusterings, throngings to the bay,The clanging of the spear and shield,The vengeful galley's swift array,The rush to many a bloody field.And with her to the Trojan shoreDestruction she for dowry bore. O'er her flight her nation's seerWailed in strains of woe and fear.Woe to the house!—yea, double woeOn those who were its heads is poured!Woe for the dishonour'd bed!Woe for the track of her who fled,But once had loved her lord!
[1]Lo! he is here, silent and still;He knows the tale of shame and ill;But no curse or raging wordFrom his pallid lips is heard.All his bosom-hopes have died;—Never may he see againHer, the fair but faithless bride.His heart is with her o'er the main;And in unreposing griefHe wanders round his desolate halls,Looking like a phantom-chiefRuling in the royal walls. In vain before the husband's eyesThe Lost-one's lovely statues rise:That imaged form may ill supplyThe longing soul's vacuity;The pictured charm is dim.It still is fair to gaze upon,But all the grace of Love is gone,And hateful 'tis to him.
- ↑ The following reading has been adopted:Πάρεστι σῖγ', ἄτιμος,Ἀλοίδορος,Ἄπιστος ἀφεμέναν ἰδεῖν. κ.τ.λ.