Page 27 - GALIET ABSENCE AND Presence's Loom: Helen and Penelope IV

Aletheia’s ecstatic presence: truth. As “true and straight” as the olive-tree chamber post, and as true and upright as stalwart Penelope, eulogized as a “righteousness lord/who governs mighty men...bent on justice,”39 pillar of a noble household, stout and vigorous, centre of the connubial hearth, so unlike Helen’s connubial rift with Menelaus and Paris,40 for “around that trunk,” Odysseus says, he caringly “built their (our) bridal room.”41 O lovingly carved tree of life, into nuptial bedpost made, from noble olive-tree inwrought with ivory and gold, by Odysseus’ caring hands, as if he were Milton’s enamoured Adam making Eve’s blissful laurel-and-myrtle bower, before Satan’s sinister hour.42 Equidistant, motionless, and everlasting, sustaining bastion (indeed, often, flawless Penelope is seen standing by a pillar)43 never to be moved, unless axed, to preserve the glory of their steadfast love: bed pillar that ascends towards heaven, just as Penelope’s fame, too,
“ascends to heaven’s heights, as does the name of a righteous king...(whose) land’s black soil is rich with wheat and barley; all the trees
39 “us two,” might refer to either Helen and Paris, or to Helen and Hector. Ody., 19.88-116. 382. 40 Indeed, Odysseus is present in her heart. Penelope always eulogizes his lion-hearted, just, equanimous, most hospitable Odysseus “whose cordial welcomes and farewells/as surely as he lived, graced honored guests.” Ody., 19. 294-324. By contrast, Paris seems absent from Helen’s heart: not only does she belittle Paris for lacking modesty and a sense of shame, but also laments her choice: she wishes she had been the wife of a better man. Il., 6. 344-358.
41 Ody., 23.179-207.
42 Milton. Paradise Lost. IV. 700-760. Milton. Complete Poems and Major Prose. Paradise Lost. Ed. By Merritt Y. Hughes. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1957.
43 For Penelope is seen veiled and standing by a pillar. Ody., 15.418-443.
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