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usury？ He； who may have made a deal of this nature with her； so far
from paying her interest； should not even repay the capital； saying；
〃What； pay you interest？ after you have given us this delightful son？〃
MNESILOCHUS
I have contracted quite a squint by looking round for him； and yet
Euripides does not come。 Who is keeping him？ No doubt he is ashamed of
his cold Palamedes。 What will attract him？ Let us see！ By which of his
pieces does he set most store？ Ah！ I'll imitate his Helen； his
last…born。 I just happen to have a complete woman's outfit。
SECOND WOMAN
What are you ruminating about now？ Why are you rolling up your
eyes？ You'll have no reason to be proud of your Helen； if you don't
keep quiet until one of the Magistrates arrives。
MNESILOCHUS （as Helen）
〃These shores are those of the Nile with the beautiful nymphs；
these waters take the place of heaven's rain and fertilize the white
earth； that produces the black syrmea。〃
SECOND WOMAN
By bright Hecate； you're a cunning varlet。
MNESILOCHUS
〃Glorious Sparta is my country and Tyndareus is my father。〃
SECOND WOMAN
He your father； you rascal！ Why； it's Phrynondas。
MNESILOCHUS
〃I was given the name of Helen。〃
SECOND WOMAN
What！ you are again becoming a woman； before we have punished
you for having pretended it the first time？
MNESILOCHUS
〃A thousand warriors have died on my account on the banks of the
Scamander。〃
SECOND WOMAN
Would that you had done the same！
MNESILOCHUS
〃And here I am upon these shores； Menelaus； my unhappy husband；
does not yet come。 Ah！ Why do I still live？〃
SECOND WOMAN
Because of the criminal negligence of the crows！
MNESILOCHUS
〃But what sweet hope is this that sets my heart a…throb？ Oh； Zeus！
grant it may not prove a lying one！〃
（EURIPIDES enters。）
EURIPIDES （as Menelaus）
〃To what master does this splendid palace belong？ Will he
welcome strangers who have been tried on the billows of the sea by
storm and shipwreck？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃This is the palace of Proteus。〃
SECOND WOMAN
Of what Proteus？ you thrice cursed rascal！ how he lies！ By the
goddesses； it's ten years since Proteas died。
EURIPIDES
〃What is this shore whither the wind has driven our boat？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃'Tis Egypt。〃
EURIPIDES
〃Alas！ how far we are from own country！
SECOND WOMAN
Don't believe that cursed fool。 This is Demeter's Temple。
EURIPIDES
〃Is Proteus in these parts？〃
SECOND WOMAN
Ah； now； stranger； it must be sea…sickness that makes you so
distraught！ You have been told that Proteas is dead； and yet you ask
if he is in these parts。
EURIPIDES
〃He is no more！ Oh！ woe！ where lie his ashes？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃'Tis on his tomb you see me sitting。〃
SECOND WOMAN
You call an altar a tomb！ Beware of the rope！
EURIPIDES
〃And why remain sitting on this tomb； wrapped in this long veil；
oh； stranger lady？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃They want to force me to marry a son of Proteus。〃
SECOND WOMAN
Ah！ wretch； why tell such shameful lies？ Stranger； this is a
rascal who has slipped in amongst us women to rob us of our trinkets。
MNESILOCHUS （to SECOND WOMAN）
〃Shout！ load me with your insults； for little care I。〃
EURIPIDES
〃Who is the old woman who reviles you； stranger lady？
MNESILOCHUS
〃'Tis Theonoe； the daughter of Proteus。〃
SECOND WOMAN
I！ Why； my name's Critylle； the daughter of Antitheus； of the deme
of Gargettus； as for you； you are a rogue。
MNESILOCHUS
〃Your entreaties are vain。 Never shall I wed your brother； never
shall I betray the faith I owe my husband； Menelaus； who is fighting
before Troy。〃
EURIPIDES
〃What are you saying？ Turn your face towards me。〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃I dare not； my cheeks show the marks of the insults I have been
forced to suffer。〃
EURIPIDES
〃Oh！ great gods！ I cannot speak； for very emotion。。。。 Ah！ what
do I see？ Who are you？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃And you； what is your name？ for my surprise is as great as
yours。〃
EURIPIDES
〃Are you Grecian or born in this country？〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃I am Grecian。 But now your name； what is it？〃
EURIPIDES
〃Oh how you resemble Helen！
MNESILOCHUS
〃And you Menelaus； if I can judge by these pot…herbs。〃
EURIPIDES
〃You are not mistaken； 'tis none other than that unfortunate
mortal who stands before you。〃
MNESILOCHUS
〃Ah！ how you have delayed coming to your wife's arms！ Press me
to your heart； throw your arms about me； for I wish to cover you
with kisses。 Carry me away； carry me away； quick； quick； far； very far
from here。〃
SECOND WOMAN
By the goddesses； woe to him who would carry you away！ I should
thrash him with my torch。
EURIPIDES
〃Do you propose to prevent me from taking my wife； the daughter of
Tyndareus； to Sparta？〃
SECOND WOMAN
You seem to me to be a cunning rascal too； you are in collusion
with this man； and it wasn't for nothing that you kept babbling
about Egypt。 But the hour for punishment has come； here is the
Magistrate with his Scythian。
EURIPIDES
This is getting awkward。 Let me hide myself。
MNESILOCHUS
And what is to become of me； poor unfortunate man that I am？
EURIPIDES
Don't worry。 I shall never abandon you； as long as I draw breath
and one of my numberless artifices remains untried。
MNESILOCHUS
The fish has not bitten this time。
（A MAGISTRATE enters； accompanied by a Scythian policeman。）
MAGISTRATE
Is this the rascal Clisthenes told us about？ Why are you trying to
make yourself so small？ Officer； arrest him； fasten him to the post；
then take up your position there and keep guard over him。 Let none
approach him。 A sound lash with your whip for him who attempts to
break the order。
SECOND WOMAN
Excellent； for just now a rogue almost took him from me。
MNESILOCHUS
Magistrate； in the name of that hand which you know so well how to
bend when money is placed in it； grant me a slight favour before I
die。
MAGISTRATE
What favour？
MNESILOCHUS
Order the archer to strip me before lashing me to the post； the
crows； when they make their meal on the poor old man； would laugh
too much at this robe and head…dress；
MAGISTRATE
It is in that gear that you must be exposed by order of the
Senate； so that your crime may be patent to the passers…by。
（He departs。）
MNESILOCHUS （as the SCYTHIAN seizes him）
Oh！ cursed robe； the cause of all my misfortune！ My last hope is
thus destroyed！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Let us now devote ourselves to the sports which the women are
accustomed to celebrate here； when time has again brought round the
mighty Mysteries o