Cum dii de Tellure matre, quae se nimia mortalium multitudine periclitari querebatur, levanda consultarent, visum est ipsis tandem duas potissimas orbis partes Asiam et Europam exitiali bello committere, ut mutuis cladibus extinctis hominibus pondus ipsius minueretur. Helena vero inter eius aevi feminas toto orbe pulcherrima erat: quare Paris Troianus consilio Iovis in eam exarsit Venerisque ductu in Graeciam navigavit ac inde violato hospitii iure non ipsam quidem Helenam, ut putabat, sed praestigiosum quoddam eius simulacrum in Asiam secum abduxit. Nam vera Helena iussu Iovis a Mercurio in Aegyptum Proteo viro sanctissimo custodienda tradita erat. Menelaus autem existimans se indigne spoliatum uxore a Paride omnibus Graeciae principibus ad commune bellum excitis validissimo cum exercitu in Asiam proficiscitur. Ac ibi decennali obsidione principem urbium Troiam gravissime vexatam tandem post infinitas hominum clades funditus evertit. Devicta igitur Asia, cum Graeci quos tantae strages reliquos fecerant domum redire festinarent, alius alio variis afflicti malis abripiuntur. Menelaus autem usque ad extremam Libyam, Aethiopiam, tandem etiam ad Pharium litus defertur una cum paucis sociis et suae uxoris aerio simulachro. ubi loci supplex ab incolis commeatum petiturus, utpote iam diutina fame et omnium rerum penuria confectus, fracta quoque nave, incidit in anum quandam ad fores regiae Theoclymeni excubantem: mox in ipsam Helenam, quae se Protei sepulchri religione adversus vim Theoclymeni tuebatur, a qua dum agnoscitur Menelaus discitque ex ea quomodo dii Paridi inani praestigio illuserint, accurrit quidam ex sociis, quibus donec rediret Helenae idolum in antro servandum reliquerat, nuntiatque mulierem illam facticiam subito ex oculis in auras evanuisse. quare iam non amplius dubitante Menelao in commune de effugio et reditu in patriam post mutuos complexus deliberant: stipulatique a Theonoe silentium Theoclymenum avidissime Helenes connubio inhiantem ob eamque rem Graecos, quicumque tempestatum vi ad Aegyptium litus delati essent, occidentem, dolo aggrediuntur. ac sub praetextu solvendorum iustorum Menelao, quem extinctum in mari simulabant, omnia necessaria ad navigandum impetrant. frustratoque Theoclymeno et occisis barbaris nautis secundo vento Graeciam versus ovantes navigant. Ipsum vero tyrannum se deceptum indigne ferentem ac ferrum in sororem, cuius perfidia id accidisse putabat, iam stringentem, Dioscuri placant et omne periculum discutiunt.

When the gods were deliberating about relieving Mother Earth, who was lamenting that she was at risk because of the excessive number of mortals, it seemed good to them in the end to engage the two most powerful parts of the world, Asia and Europe, in a deadly war, so that the weight of the world would be lessened after men were killed in mutual slaughter. Helen, moreover, was the most beautiful among the women of her lifetime in the whole world: therefore, by the plan of Jove, Trojan Paris caught fire with desire for her and set sail for Greece under the guidance of Venus, and from there, after violating the law of hospitality, he abducted not Helen herself, to be sure, as he thought, but a certain deceitful image of her, taking her to Asia with himself. For the true Helen, by the order of Jove, was taken to Egypt by Mercury to be guarded by Proteus, a very moral man. Menelaus, however, thinking himself unworthily deprived of his wife by Paris, after calling out all the leaders of Greece to a joint war, set out for Asia with a very powerful army. And there, after harassing Troy, chief among cities, with a ten-year siege. he at last after an endless slaughter of men utterly overthrew it.. With Asia thus conquered, when those Greeks whom such devastation had left alive hastened to return home, they were carried away in different directions, afflicted with various misfortunes. Menelaus, however, was borne all the way to far-off Libya, Ethiopia, and finally even to the shore of Pharos, together with a few companions and an ethereal likeness of his wife. In which place, intending as a suppliant to seek passage from the inhabitants, as now he had been weakened by long hunger and lack of everything, his ship also have been broken, he comes upon a certain old woman guarding the doors of the palace of Theoclymenus: soon he meets Helen herself, who was defending herself against the violence of Theoclymenus with the sanctity of the tomb of Proteus. And while Menelaus is being recognized by her, and learning from her how the gods mocked Paris with an empty illusion, a certain man hastens from his crew, with whom Menelaus had left the apparition of Helen in the cave to be guarded until his return, and he announces that that pretend woman had suddenly vanished from their sight into the sky. With Menelaus therefore hesitating no longer, after mutual embraces they now jointly discuss their escape and their return to their homeland: and having obtained an agreement of silence from Theonoe, they attack with a deception Theoclymenus, who is very eagerly longing for marriage with Helen and because of that fact is killing whatever Greeks were brought to the Egyptian shore by the violence of storm-winds. And under the pretext of performing funeral rites for Menelaus, who they were pretending was killed at sea, they procure everything necessary for sailing away. And, with Theoclymenus deceived and the barbarian sailors killed, they happily sail for Greece with a favorable wind. The tyrant himself, however, who is indignant that he has been deceived and who is already drawing his sword against his sister, through whose treachery he thinks this affair happened, is pacified by the Dioscuri, and they disperse every danger.

Porro haec fabula subfigurare mihi videtur perpetuam illam humanarum calamitatum seriem et lubricas vices fortunae cuius intuitu eorum elati spiritus frangi deberent, qui ingentia bella excitant magnasque res moliuntur et suis ausis caelum territant, obliti fragilitatis et iam prope imminentium malorum. Quid enim aliud Teucer ἄπολις, ἀνέστιος, ἄπατρις, ἄφιλος barbarico appulsus litori, qui pridem apud Troiam florebat, monet nos quam non esse fidendum rebus humanis sed animum muniendum et roborandum adversus infidae fortunae procellas? Quid calamitosius Helena, quae barbari tyranni vim miserrime singulis momentis metuebat desiderioque perpetuo coniugis, liberorum, patriae se macerabat? Menelaus vero, an non liquide suo exemple docet, ipse supplex, naufragus, omnium rerum egens, nudus, quali fortuna ludo inter mortales delectetur? Ceterum quia sui similis fortuna numquam est, sed tantum constans (ut Naso inquit*) in levitate sua; ideo desperatis rebus, periclitante de vita Menelao, plorante Helena, metuente et condolente Choro, subito quod prius ne sperare quidem ausi fuerant, spes salutis affulget: potitur Helena suo marito desiderato, Menelaus desiderata uxore: et vicibus versis laeti ad patriam navigant, dolente contra paulo ante superbo barbaro. Praeterea involucro praestigiosi simulacri, propter quod duae potentissimae gentes decennium crudelissime bellum gesserunt, notat saepe fieri apud stultos ac caecos mortales ut propter umbram tantum ingentes motus non sine publicis cladibus exoriantur. Eo nos caecitas illa innata a veritate (quam Democritus† ideo in altissimo puteo demersam dixit) longissime aberrans, inanibus rerum simulacris ac plane Helenae idolis delusos perducit. Mirum ingenium Helenae in decipiendo barbaro et pietas in eripiendo morti viro. Theonoe pia ac prudens rerumque futurarum praescia. Theoclymenus impius in patrem defunctum violentus vecors barbaricoque fastu tumidus. Chorus ex Graecis captivis mulieribus, pius, sollicitus, et Menelai ac Helenae calamitatibus condolens et fidus inducitur. Actio autem huius Fabulae constituitur in Pharo insula, ubi quondam reges Aegypti habitasse dicuntur.

*[Ovid, Tristia 5.8.15: et tantum constans in levitate sua est.]

†[Democritus, as quoted in Diogenes Laertius 9.72 ἐτεῆι δὲ οὐδὲν ἴδμεν· ἐν βυθῶι γὰρ ἡ ἀλήθεια ("In reality we know nothing, for truth is in a deep pit"); compare Cicero, Academica priora II 10, 32, naturam accusa, quae in profundo veritatem, ut ait Democritus, penitus abstruserit.]

This story, then, seems to me to represent that eternal succession of human disasters and slippery changes of fortune by consideration of which ought to be subdued the haughty spirits of those men who incite huge wars and set in motion great events and terrify heaven with their daring attempts, forgetting their fragility and the evils that already loom close. For what else does Teucer , without city, without hearth, without homeland, without friend, driven to a foreign shore, who previously flourished at Troy, warn us of except that we must not trust in human affairs but must fortify and strengthen the spirit against the tempests of treacherous fortune? What could be more a disastrous situation than that of Helen, who was most wretchedly fearing with each moment the violence of a barbarous tyrant and was tormenting herself with constant longing for her spouse, her children, and her country? Moreover, does Menelaus not show us clearly with his own example, being himself a supplicant, shipwrecked, lacking everything, naked, in what kind of game fortune takes delight among mortals? Yet because fortune is never similar to itself, but is only consistent (as Ovid says) in its own inconstancy, therefore, when they despair of the situation, with Menelaus risking his life, Helen wailing, and the Chorus fearing and sharing in the sorrow, suddenly, something which before they had not even dared to hope for, the hope of deliverance shines bright: Helen obtains her longed-for husband, Menelaus his longed-for wife, and with their fortune changed, they sail happily to their native land, with the barbarian who was arrogant a little earlier now instead suffering. Besides this, the play by means of the veiled symbol of the deceitful image, on account of which the two most powerful nations carried on most savagely a ten-year war, signifies that often among stupid and blind mortals it comes about that merely because of a shadow huge disturbances arise, resulting in general slaughter. To such an extent does that inborn blindness, wandering very far from the truth (which Democritus therefore said is plunged in the deepest pit), leads us on, deceived by the empty images of things and simply by apparitions of Helen. We can observe the wonderful talent of Helen in deceiving the barbarian and her piety in snatching her husband away from death. Theonoe is pious and wise and knows future events beforehand. Theoclymenus is impious against his deceased father, violent, senseless and swollen with barbarous pride. The Chorus of captive Greek women is presented as pious, anxious, sharing in sorrow at the misfortunes of Menelaus and Helen, and loyal. The action of this story, moreover, takes places on the island of Pharos, where once the kings of Egypt are said to have lived.

[556] Argumentum Actus primi.

In prologo Helena genus casus et praesentem suam fortunam exponit adiuncta querela super calamitosis Graecis et Troianis quos dii inani simulacro ludificantes tam funesto bello commiserint. 2. Teucer expulsus patria Salamine ad litus Pharium applicat ac Helenae sciscitanti de patriae rebus Graecorum et Menelai totiusque domus Spartiados fortunam explicat. Deinde suae navigationis causas aperit. cui mox suadet Helena ut fugam capessat si salvus esse velit. 3. Planctus et querela Helenae super calamitatibus suis et suorum: cui accedit Chori consolatio et commiseratio. Repetit autem primas causas tantorum malorum: Venerem nimirum, per quam intelligimus libidinem luxuriam omnesque reliquas immoderatas cupiditates quae magnarum cladium hominibus causae existunt. 4. Pergit exaggerare dolorem suum Helena ac iam de morte sibi consciscenda cogitat. consolatur Chorus et ut adeat Theonoen eiusque vaticinio certius de omnibus rebus cognoscat consulit.

Argument of the First Act

In the prologue, Helen explains the nature of her misfortune and her present state with an added complaint about the disaster-plagued Greeks and Trojans, whom the gods, deceiving with an empty likeness, threw together into such a destructive war. 2. Teucer, driven from his homeland of Salamis, lands on the shore of Pharos, and when Helen inquires about the affairs of her homeland, he explains to her the fortune of the Greeks and Menelaus and of her whole Spartan household. Then he reveals the causes of his own sailing. And Helen immediately urges him to take to flight if he wishes to be safe. 3. Helen’s lament and complaint on her own misfortunes and those of her family, to which is added the consolation and commiseration of the Chorus. It repeats, moreover, the first causes of such great evils: Venus, no doubt, by which name we understand lust and extravagance and all the other immoderate desires which arise as causes of great destruction for men. 4. Helen continues to magnify her own grief and now thinks about suicide. The Chorus comforts her and advises that she approach Theonoe and , through her prophecy, learn about everything with more certainty.

[557] Argumentum Actus secundi.

Menelaus nudus et naufragus relictis in specu quodam litoris Pharii sociis ad Theoclymeni regiam contendit ut necessaria omnium rerum egentibus peteret, recensens interdum secum fortunam suam calamitosam ac diutinos errores. 2. Anus quaedam saevis dictis pulsantem fores Menalaum, cuius miseriis etiam hostes illacrimasse poterant, arcet, cum ille nihilo secius genubus illius advolutus supinis manibus humilime supplicat ut sui misereretur. Qua rerum sub oculos subiectione videre est fortunae lusum qualis sit. Menelaus enim pridem rex potentissimus, validissimo formidabilis exercitu, eversor regni Asiae, nunc naufragus supplex egenus nudus ad vetulae genua precabundus accidit. Discit autem ex ea nomen et gentem regionis ignotae periculique admonetur quod a tyranno impendeat nisi mature fugiat. Praeterea dum causam quaerit odii adversus Graecos Helenam ibidem adservari resciscit. Quod qui fieri possit miratur secumque ipse disceptat Menelaus, cum suam Helenam in antro apud socios manere putaret. Denique capit consilium appellandi regem de commeatu suis suppeditando. 3. Interea Helena, dum responsa Theonoes de salvo marito refert, compellatur a Menelao vixque exoratur ut paululum consisteret (nam ea exterrita habitu miserabili et squalore naufragi fugiebat, nimirum Theoclymeni insidiarum causa). hunc igitur ut agnoscit Helena, illico in complexus viri ruit, aversante tamen Menelao donec planius disceret simulacrum tantum aerium et praestigias Deorum esse eam Helenam quam a Troia adduxisset. quam rem nuntius confirmans refert Helenam istam ex oculis sociorum sublatam in aetherem evanuisse. Hinc oscula complexus et lacrimae, quibus miscentur sermones de utriusque casibus et fato, item de statu domus Spartanae. 4. Helena ostendit periculum quod metuendum a tyranno, simulque suadet uti maritus fugiat. quod cum Menelaus recusaret facere, in commune decernunt aut fortiter, si res sic ferat, mori aut simul, si aliquis Deus faveat, effugere incolumes.

Argument of the Second Act

Menelaus, naked and shipwrecked, having left his companions behind in a certain cave on the Egyptian shore, makes his way to the palace of Theoclymenus to seek the things necessary for those lacking everything, meanwhile reviewing to himself his own disastrous fortune and long wanderings. 2. When he knocks at the doors, a certain old woman turns Menelaus away with savage words, although even his enemies could have wept at his wretchedness, while he nonetheless, having fallen at her knees , very humbly beseeches her with upturned hands to have pity on him. By which representation of affairs before our eyes we might see what kind of game fortune plays. For Menelaus, formerly a very powerful king, formidable because of his very strong army, the destroyer of the kingdom of Asia, now a shipwrecked suppliant, destitute and naked, falls down entreating at the knees of a little old woman. However, he learns from her the name and people of the unknown region and is warned of the danger that threatens him from the king unless he flees quickly. Besides that, while he is asking the cause of this hatred against the Greeks, he finds out that Helen is detained in that very place. In amazement Menelaus debates with himself how this can be so , because he thinks that his Helen remains in the cave among his companions. Finally he makes the determination to appeal to the king about supplying the means for passage for his crew. 3. Meanwhile Helen, while she is reporting the answers of Theonoe that told that her husband is still safe, is accosted by Menelaus and is persuaded with difficulty to stand still for a moment (for she was fleeing, frightening by the wretched appearance and dirtiness of the shipwrecked man, doubtless because of Theoclymenus’ plot to seize her). Therefore, as soon as Helen recognizes him, she rushes on the spot to embrace her husband, although Menelaus nevertheless turns away until he learns more clearly that the Helen whom he had brought from Troy was only an image made of air and a deception of the Gods. Which fact a messenger confirms, announcing that that other Helen vanished from the sight of Menelaus' companions, rising up into the sky. Hence there are kisses, hugs, and tears, with which are mixed speeches about the misfortunes and fate of each, and also about the condition of the Spartan household. 4. Helen discloses the danger that must be feared from the tyrant, and at the same time urges her husband to flee. And when Menelaus refuses to do this, they mutually decide either to die bravely, if the situation should lead that way, or, if some God should favor them, to escape safely together.

[558] Argumentum Actus Tertii

Progrediens foras Theonoe, lustrata prius de more Aegyptiorum vatum, Helenam alloquitur deosque iam concilium vocasse de salute viri significat. 2. Helenae et Menelai orationes supplices, quibus miro artificio persuadent Theonoae ne fratri Menelaum prodat, sed fugam ipsorum potius adiuvet, idque pio defuncti patris exemplo, eripiatque crudelibus tyranni minis. Quorum precibus facile Theonoe vincitur, ut quae alioqui virgo esset pietati deditissima. 3. Deliberant Menelaus et Helena qua via tuto fuga arripi et falli tyrannus possit. 4. Chorus in summo periculi videns Menelaum cum sua Helena versari commemorationem orditur funerum et malorum quae dederit bellum Troianum, cuius origo Paridis illa in Graeciam navigatio et Helenae raptus extiterit.

Argument of the Third Act

Theonoe, coming outdoors, having first performed a purification according to the custom of Egyptian seers, addresses Helen and makes known that the gods have now called a meeting about the survival of Menelaus. 2. The entreating speeches of Helen and Menelaus, in which with wondrous ingenuity they persuade Theonoe not to betray Menelaus to her brother, but rather to aid their flight (and that by following the pious example of her dead father), and to snatch them from the cruel threats of the tyrant. By whose prayers Theonoe is easily won over, since she was is already in other respects a virgin wholly devoted to piety. 3. Menelaus and Helen consider in what way flight can safely be snatched and the tyrant deceived . 4. The Chorus, seeing Menelaus along with his own Helen in the greatest danger, begins to dwell on the remembrance of the deaths and evils which the Trojan War had caused, whose origin arose from that sailing of Paris to Greece and the abduction of Helen.

Argumentum Actus quarti.

Actus quartus totus est praestructio quaedam et parasceue doli quem Menelaus et Helena moliebantur, cuius eventus in sequenti actu cernitur. Nam Theoclymenus, audito quod advena e Graecia adesset, illico adproperat ut pro more suo comprehensum tru[559]cidaret; cui Helena squalida, rasa, pulloque vestitu amicta persuadet mortem Menelai, quae una Theoclymenum securum reddere poterat, eamque causam esse dicit lugubris habitus. ac simul cum Menelao, qui sub persona eiecticii socii imponebat tyranno, simulato pietatis officio, rogat ut liceret parentare manibus viri, et quia id dolo subserviebat ritum Graeciae peragendorum iustorum extinctis in mari docet. Theoclymenus se omnia permissurum ex voluntate Helenae ac suppeditaturum quae ad eam rem pertinerent promittit. 2. Chorus extra argumenti rationem raptum Proserpinae, quem lamentabiliter tulerit Ceres et ob id irata fuerit hominum generi, celebrat.

Argument of the Fourth Act

The whole fourth act is a kind of foundation and preparation for the deception which Menelaus and Helen were setting in motion, whose consequence is seen in the following act. For Theoclymenus, having heard that a foreigner had come from Greece, hurried to that very spot in order that he, in his usual manner, might seize the man and [559] slaughter him; but Helen, squalid, with shaved head, and clothed in a dark garment, persuades him of the death of Menelaus, which alone was able to make Theoclymenus feel unconcerned, and she tells him that this is the reason for her dressing for mourning. And together with Menelaus, who was deceiving the king in the guise of a companion who had been washed ashore, she imitates the duty of piety and asks that she be allowed to hold a memorial service in honor of the Manes of her dead husband, and, because this suited the trick, she explains to him the custom of Greece of performing funeral rites for those killed at sea. Theoclymenus promises that he will willingly grant everything to Helen and will supply whatever is suitable for this purpose. 2. The Chorus, outside the subject of the plot, sings of the rape of Proserpina, which Ceres sorrowfully endured and was on that account angry at the race of men.

Argumentum Actus quinti.

Helena iam spe praecipiens victoriam et liberationem spectatoribus dolum aperit gratulabunda. Theoclymenus autem ministros mittens qui ad navem ferant quibus opus erat ad persolvendum iusta conatur apud se retinere Helenam, ne ad mare pergeret, sed aliis potius eam curam committeret. At illa negat id fieri posse, imo adversari religioni qua sacrosanctam habeat memoriam prioris viri. Quare eam tandem dimittit cum viro naufrago, cui magnifica se daturum promittit si peractis exequiis cum Helena redierit. Menelaus, id quod in omni negotio primum est, divini numinis opem implorat. Barbarus vero iam gestit aviditate non dubiarum (ut putabat) Helenae nuptiarum, quarum apparatum indicit suis principibus. 2. Chorus faustis ominationibus prosequitur navigaturum Menelaum cum sua Helena, Deos eis propitios precando. 3. Nuntius longa narratione et pulchra hypotyposi fugam et dolum Menelai ac Helenae Theoclymeno exponit. qui id existimans perfidia sororis factum illico ad eam interficiendam properat, cum subito Dioscuri adsunt et a taetro facinore iam ira inflammatum tyrannum prohibent. Sicque placidum finem res turbulentissimae ac magna pericula sortiuntur.

Argument of the Fifth Act

Helen, now anticipating hopefully victory and liberation, reveals the trick to the spectators, rejoicing. Theoclymenus, however, sending servants to carry to the ship the things necessary to performing the funeral rites, tries to keep Helen with himself, so that she not go to the sea, but instead entrust that care to others. But she says that cannot be done, and on the contrary it offends the religious scruple that causes her to consider the memory of her previous husband sacred. Whereby he finally lets her go with the shipwrecked man, to whom he promises that he will give splendid things if he should return with Helen once the funeral service has been completed. Menelaus does that which is of first importance in every situation and invokes the help of divine power. But the barbarian is now truly joyful with eagerness for his certain (as he thought) marriage to Helen, preparation for which he assigns to his chief men. 2. The Chorus bestows auspicious predictions upon Menelaus, as he is about to sail with his Helen, by praying for the Gods to be gracious to them. 3. A messenger explains to Theoclymenus with a long narrative and beautiful vivid outline the flight and trick of Menelaus and Helen. And he, thinking this was done through the treachery of his sister, on the spot hastens to go kill her, when suddenly the Dioscuri appear and restrain the king, now inflamed with anger, from the horrible crime. And thus most troublesome affairs and great dangers receive a peaceful ending.

Translation by Meghan Bowers