Monologue

Menelaus Monologue from The Trojan Women

From The Trojan Women by Euripides

male · anguished · 2:05 min

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How bright the face of heaven, and how sweet The air this day, that layeth at my feet The woman that I . . . Nay: 'twas not for her I came. 'Twas for the man, the cozener And thief, that ate with me and stole away My bride. But Paris lieth, this long day, By God's grace, under the horse-hoofs of the Greek, And round him all his land. And now I seek . . . Curse her! I scarce can speak the name she bears, That was my wife. Here with the prisoners They keep her, in these huts, among the hordes Of numbered slaves.--The host whose labouring swords Won her, have given her up to me, to fill My pleasure; perchance kill her, or not kill, But lead her home.--Methinks I have foregone The slaying of Helen here in Ilion . . . Over the long seas I will bear her back, And there, there, cast her out to whatso wrack Of angry death they may devise, who know Their dearest dead for her in Ilion.--Ho! Ye soldiers! Up into the chambers where She croucheth! Grip the long blood-reeking hair, And drag her to mine eyes . . . [Controlling himself. And when there come Fair breezes, my long ships shall bear her home. [The Soldiers go to force open the door of the second hut on the left.

About this piece

Menelaus grapples with his emotions as he confronts the reality of his wife's betrayal and contemplates her fate among the captives.

30s · anger · betrayal · revenge · power · love

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