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Theoklymenos
Caught by a woman's tricks, unhappy that I am! My bride has escaped me. If the ship could have been pursued and overtaken, I would have made an effort to catch the strangers at once; but now I will avenge myself upon my treacherous sister, [1625] for she saw Menelaos in my house and did not tell me. Therefore she will never deceive another man by her oracles.
A servant comes out of the palace.
Servant
You, there! Where are you rushing off to, my lord? to what bloody deed? Theoklymenos
Where justice calls me. Get out of my way! Servant
I will not let go of your robe, for you are striving after great wickedness. Theoklymenos
[1630] Will you rule over your master, although you are a slave? Servant
Yes, for I am in my right mind. Theoklymenos
Not in my opinion, if you will not let me— Servant
No, I will not let you! Theoklymenos
Let me kill my most wicked sister— Servant
No, she is most pious. Theoklymenos
Who betrayed me— Servant
It was a noble betrayal, correctly done. Theoklymenos
When she gave my bride to another. Servant
To the one who had a better right. Theoklymenos
[1635] Who has rights over my property? Servant
The one who received her from her father. Theoklymenos
But fortune gave her to me. Servant
And necessity took her away. Theoklymenos
It is not for you to judge my affairs. Servant
Yes, if my counsel is better. Theoklymenos
So I am your subject, not your ruler. Servant
Subject to do right, not wrong. Theoklymenos
It seems you desire to be killed. Servant
Kill me; [1640] you will not kill your sister with my consent, but me instead; to die for their masters is the most glorious act for noble slaves.
Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama, edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 2. Helen, translated by E. P. Coleridge. New York. Random House. 1938.
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