Part 9 (2/2)

And, lo, in her bowers t.i.thonus, Our brother, yet sleeps as of old: O, she too hath loved us and known us, And the Steeds of her star, flas.h.i.+ng gold, Stooped hither and bore him above us; Then blessed we the G.o.ds in our joy.

But all that made them to love us Hath perished from Troy.

[_As the song ceases, the King_ MENELAUS _enters, richly armed and followed by a bodyguard of Soldiers. He is a prey to violent and conflicting emotions._

MENELAUS[36].

How bright the face of heaven, and how sweet The air this day, that layeth at my feet The woman that I.... Nay: 'twas not for her I came. 'Twas for the man, the cozener And thief, that ate with me and stole away My bride. But Paris lieth, this long day, By G.o.d's grace, under the horse-hoofs of the Greek, And round him all his land. And now I seek....

Curse her! I scarce can speak the name she bears, That was my wife. Here with the prisoners They keep her, in these huts, among the hordes Of numbered slaves.--The host whose labouring swords Won her, have given her up to me, to fill My pleasure; perchance kill her, or not kill, But lead her home.--Methinks I have foregone The slaying of Helen here in Ilion....

Over the long seas I will bear her back, And there, there, cast her out to whatso wrack Of angry death they may devise, who know Their dearest dead for her in Ilion.--Ho!

Ye soldiers! Up into the chambers where She croucheth! Grip the long blood-reeking hair, And drag her to mine eyes ... [_Controlling himself_.

And when there come Fair breezes, my long s.h.i.+ps shall bear her home.

[_The Soldiers go to force open the door of the second hut on the left_.

HECUBA.

Thou deep Base of the World[37], and thou high Throne Above the World, whoe'er thou art, unknown And hard of surmise, Chain of Things that be, Or Reason of our Reason; G.o.d, to thee I lift my praise, seeing the silent road That bringeth justice ere the end be trod To all that breathes and dies.

MENELAUS (_turning_).

Ha! who is there That prayeth heaven, and in so strange a prayer?

HECUBA.

I bless thee, Menelaus, I bless thee, If thou wilt slay her! Only fear to see Her visage, lest she snare thee and thou fall!

She snareth strong men's eyes; she snareth tall Cities; and fire from out her eateth up Houses. Such magic hath she, as a cup Of death!... Do I not know her? Yea, and thou, And these that lie around, do they not know?

[_The Soldiers return from the hut and stand aside to let_ HELEN _pa.s.s between them. She comes through them, gentle and unafraid; there is no disorder in her raiment_.

HELEN.

King Menelaus, thy first deed might make A woman fear. Into my chamber brake Thine armed men, and lead me wrathfully.

Methinks, almost, I know thou hatest me.

Yet I would ask thee, what decree is gone Forth for my life or death?

MENELAUS (_struggling with his emotion_).

There was not one That scrupled for thee. All, all with one will Gave thee to me, whom thou hast wronged, to kill!

HELEN.

And is it granted that I speak, or no, In answer to them ere I die, to show I die most wronged and innocent?

MENELAUS.

I seek To kill thee, woman; not to hear thee speak!

HECUBA.

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