Helen - V:490

MENELAUS

What is this? Have there not been enough

troubles? Now on top of my old woes

I'm hearing of a brand new wretchedness.

I brought my wife here, taking her from Troy,

stowed her for safety in a cave nearby.

But there's another one, with the same name,

living in this house at the same time,

and Zeus' daughter was the porter's claim.

Can it be Zeus is a common name

in Egypt? No, there' one Zeus -- in the sky.

And where else in the world could Sparta be

except along Eurotas' reedy stream?

Could two men bear Tyndraeus' name?

Can any place exist synonymous

with Sparta or with Troy! I'm at a loss.

Yet is it so astounding, after all?

The world is big; therefore, identical

names for women, cities, men should be

common.