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[889-909] The Trojan Women
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 pass 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
O hear her! She must never die unheard,
King Menelaus! And give me the word
To speak in answer! All the wrong she wrought
Away from thee, in Troy, thou knowest not.