Phemius.

1.

Follow my song that leads, Ye wooers all, and come To praise the flock, that feeds Upon the grassy meads Of fair Dulichium: Where Acheloüs laves with rippling sweet The low fields red with wheat.

2.

For thee, I praise, Amphinomus, thou prince, Shepherd of sunset pastures; and I tell Again what once befell Nisus, thy sire, long since: To fruitful Lacedæmon when he came, With lords that made resort From Calydon’s high court, And western isles, at call of Helen’s fame, Wooing the hand of Leda’s heavenly daughter: But soon such jealousy and deadly gall Inflamed the suitors all, That then and there the fated slaughter Of Danaans had begun, Had not grave Tyndareus, her mortal sire, To quench the kindling fire, Called on Laertes’ son.

3.

“Wisest of men, Ulysses, tell me true, If skill or grace to keep the peace may be Among the lawless princes, here that sue For Helen’s hand; if ever as of old My house from curse of bloodshed may go free, Do thou the rede unfold.” Straight answered him the wise Ulysses then, “O son of Thestius, ’tis in my mind, That thou these lawless men By firmest oath shouldst bind To honour him, and give him all their aid, Whose suit shall favour find, And honour from the maid;

1 a.

“Whoever it may be Who in fair Helen’s eye His favour first may see; And thus shall they agree.” Whereto did all comply; And gave to Tyndareus their banded troth, And singly took this oath:

1 b.

“To keep good peace we swear, And let that man go free, Who winneth Helen fair, And from all wrong whate’er Shield him, whoe’er he be. Good or ill fortune lieth in the lap Of Zeus, what haps let hap.”

2 a.

So goodly Menelaus, whom erelong Fair Helen chose of all the lords of Greece, His bride led home in peace; And no man did him wrong. Then Tyndareus to good Icarius spake, “Since now by one man’s wit Our house is saved, ’tis fit That thou this day be friendly for my sake, So at our hands he go not unrewarded: Give him thy daughter, fair Penelope, If so it pleaseth thee.” Who to this brother then the boon accorded: And thus the wooers’ strife Ulysses by good counsel quelled, and won Of Thestius’ other son, Penelope for wife.

3 a.

But when in time fair Helen’s virtue failed, He with the suitors bounden to befriend Wronged Menelaus, against Ilion sailed, And joined his arms, pledged by that oath with them; Till Priam’s broad-wayed city in the end Fell by his stratagem. But long being not returned, and passed for dead, There gathered suitors in his house to woo His fair wife in his stead; And strife among them grew. Nor is his arm more lacked to guard his walls, Than his good counsel true To keep peace in his halls.

1 c.

Which counsel I reclaim, Remembered for your use, Ye wooers, even the same Which saved from blood and shame The house of Tyndareus. So now unto my song your chorus bear, As Helen’s suitors sware.

Chor. 1 d.

To keep good peace we swear, And let that man go free, Nor do him hurt whate’er, Whoever wins the fair And wise Penelope. Good or ill fortune lieth in the lap Of Zeus; what haps let hap.

Amph. I thank thee for my father, Phemius.

Eur. Thy tale is twice a tale told at this time.

Ctes. I’ll hold it, that an oath sung out of tune Binds not the singer.

Enter Herald.