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In the following scene, most of Menelaos' lines are spoken, most of Helen's are sung.
Helen
[625] O Menelaos, dearest of men, the time was long, but delight is just now ours. With joy I have found my husband, friends, I have embraced my dear one, after long days of blazing light. Menelaos
[630] And I have found you; but I have many questions about those years; now I do not know what to begin with first.
Helen
I am so happy, the hair rises on my head and my tears run down. I fling my arms around your neck, [635] dear husband, to have my delight. Menelaos
O dearest sight! I have no fault to find: I have my wife, the daughter of Zeus and Leda; your brothers on their snow-white steeds [640] blessed you, blessed you at an earlier time, while torches blazed, but the god who took you from my home is driving us on to another fortune, better than this. An evil that was good brought you together with me, your husband [645] after a long time, but may I still benefit by my good luck. Chorus
May you benefit indeed, and I join in the same prayer; for when there are two, it is not possible for one to be unhappy and the other not.
Helen
My dear friends, I no longer sigh or grieve over what is past. [650] I have my husband, for whom I have been waiting to come from Troy for many years. Menelaos
You have me, and I have you; although it was hard to live through so many days, I now understand the actions of the goddess. My joy is tearful; it has more [655] delight than sorrow. Helen
What can I say? What mortal could ever have hoped for this? I hold you to my heart, little as I ever thought to. Menelaos
And I hold you, whom we thought to have gone to Ida's city and the unhappy towers of Ilion. [660] By the gods, how were you taken from my home? Helen
Ah! ah! You are setting out on a bitter beginning. Ah! ah! You are asking about a bitter tale. Menelaos
Speak; all gifts from the gods should be heard. Helen
I detest the story I am now about to tell. Menelaos
[665] Tell it anyway. It is sweet to hear of troubles.
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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