Perseus · Tufts
All Greek and Roman Materials
Collections: Classics · Papyri · Renaissance · London · California · Upper Midwest · Chesapeake · Boyle · Tufts History
Configure display · Help · Tools · Copyright · FAQ · Publications · Collaborations · Support Perseus
Classics:
Classics collection contents
About the Classics collection
Greek Hist. Overview
Art & Arch. Catalogs

Other Tools & Lexica
Plot:
  • sites on this page
  • sites in this document
    Contents:
  • Episode 1
  • Choral 1
  • Episode 2
  • Choral 2
  • Episode 3
  • Choral 3
  • Episode 4
  • Choral 4
  • Episode 5
    		•

    Euripides, Helen (ed. E. P. Coleridge)

    Editions and translations: Greek (ed. Gilbert Murray) | English (ed. E. P. Coleridge)
    Your current position in the text is marked in red. Click anywhere on the line to jump to another position.
    line=30 line=68 line=80 line=90 line=95 line=100 line=105 line=115 line=120 line=125 line=130 line=135 line=150 line=167 line=211 line=245 line=275 line=305 line=310 line=330 line=345 line=361 line=390 line=437 line=445 line=450 line=455 line=460 line=470 line=476 line=515 line=540 line=555 line=560 line=566 line=570 line=575 line=580 line=585 line=597 line=600 line=625 line=645 line=660 line=666 line=675 line=680 line=685 line=698 line=705 line=734 line=758 line=775 line=780 line=785 line=793 line=800 line=805 line=810 line=815 line=820 line=825 line=832 line=840 line=894 line=944 line=975 line=1010 line=1035 line=1045 line=1055 line=1067 line=1075 line=1095 line=1122 line=1145 line=1165 line=1195 line=1200 line=1206 line=1210 line=1215 line=1220 line=1230 line=1235 line=1240 line=1245 line=1250 line=1255 line=1260 line=1270 line=1275 line=1300 line=1319 line=1350 line=1369 line=1410 line=1415 line=1420 line=1425 line=1451 line=1478 line=1495 line=1515 line=1525 line=1575 line=1620 line=1625 line=1630 line=1635 line=1635 line=1660

    Table of ContentsGo to Next

    Before the palace of Theoklymenos in Egypt. It is near the mouth of the Nile. The tomb of Proteus, the father of Theoklymenos, is visible. Helen is discovered alone before the tomb.
    Helen

    These are the lovely pure streams of the Nile, which waters the plain and lands of Egypt, fed by white melting snow instead of rain from heaven. Proteus was king of this land when he was alive, [5]  living on the island of Pharos and lord of Egypt; and he married one of the daughters of the sea, Psamathe, after she left Aiakos' bed. She bore two children in his palace here: a son Theoklymenos, [because he spent his life in reverence of the gods,] [10]  and a noble daughter, her mother's pride, called Eido in her infancy. But when she came to youth, the season of marriage, she was called Theonoe; for she knew whatever the gods design, both present and to come, [15]  having received this honor from her grandfather Nereus.

    My own fatherland, Sparta, is not without fame, and my father is Tyndareus; but there is indeed a story that Zeus flew to my mother Leda, taking the form of a bird, a swan, [20]  which accomplished the deceitful union, fleeing the pursuit of an eagle, if this story is true. My name is Helen; I will tell the evils I have suffered. For the sake of beauty, three goddesses came to a deep valley on Mount Ida, to Paris: [25]  Hera and Kypris, and the virgin daughter of Zeus, wishing to have the judgment of their loveliness decided. Kypris offered my beauty, if misfortune is beautiful, for Paris to marry, and so she won. Paris, the shepherd of Ida, left his ox-stalls [30]  and came to Sparta, to have me in marriage.


    There is one comment on or cross reference to this page.

    Cross references from Basil L. Gildersleeve, Pindar: The Olympian and Pythian Odes:
    * [Pythian Odes]

    Preferred URL for linking to this page: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Eur.+Hel.+1

    The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.

    This text is based on the following book(s):
    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.
    OCLC: 32280428


    Next