PARIS AND HELEN
MENELAUS CONTINUES HIS STORY
"I was glad when King Priam made this request," continued Menelaus,"for, in truth, I was loath to part with Paris; and I arranged at oncethat he should bear me company in my own ship while his vessel with itscrew followed not far behind.
"And so, being blessed with favoring winds, we made a quick voyage backto my own country. What followed is too sad for lengthy mention, andis in part already known to you. Need I tell you how I opened my hallsto Paris, and left no act of courtesy undone that I might make himhappy? Need I tell you how he was welcomed by fair Helen, and how thesummer days fled by on golden wings; and how in the delights ofLacedaemon he forgot his errand to Salamis, and cared only to remainwith me, my honored guest and trusted friend?
"One day a message came to me from my old friend Idomeneus. He hadplanned a hunt among the mountains and woods of Crete, and he invitedme to join him in the sport. I had not seen Idomeneus since the timethat we together, in friendly contention, sought the hand of Helen. Icould not do otherwise than accept his invitation, for he had sent hisown ship to carry me over to Crete.
"So I bade farewell to Helen, saying, 'Let not our noble guest lackentertainment while I am gone; and may the golden hours glide happilyuntil I come again.' And to Paris I said, 'Tarry another moon inLacedasmon; and when I return from Crete, I will go with you toSalamis, and aid you in your search for Hesione.'
"Then I went on board the waiting ship, and prospering breezes carriedus without delays to Crete.
"Idomeneus received me joyfully, and entertained me most royally in hispalace; and for nine days we feasted and made all things ready for thehunt. But, lo! on the evening of the last day, a vision came to me.Gold-winged Iris, the fleet-footed messenger of the gods, stood beforeme. 'Hasten back to Lacedaemon,' she cried, for thou art robbed of thydearest treasure!' And even while she spoke, one of my own ships, camesailing into the harbor, bringing trusted heralds whom the elders ofLacedaemon had sent to me.
"They told me the fatal news. 'No sooner were you well on your way,'they said, 'than Paris began to put his ship in readiness to depart.Helen prayed him to tarry until your return, but he would not hearken,"I will stay no longer," he said. "My seamen rest upon their oars; thesails of my ship are spread; the breeze will soon spring up that willcarry me across the sea. But you, beauteous Helen, shall go with me;for the deathless gods have spoken it. Aphrodite, long ago, promisedthat the most beautiful woman in the world should be my wife. And whois that most beautiful woman if it be not yourself? Come! fly over thesea, and be my queen. It is the will of the gods."'
"It was thus that the perfidious Trojan wrought the ruin of all thatwas dear to me.
"At first, Helen refused. But Paris is a handsome prince, and dayafter day he renewed his suit. Then on the sixth day she yielded. Inthe darkness of the night they went on board his waiting vessel,carrying with them the gold and jewels of my treasure house; and in themorning, when the sun arose on Lacedaemon, they were far out at sea.
"You know the rest: how in wrath and great sorrow I hurried home; how Ifirst counselled with my own elders, and then with my brotherAgamemnon. And now, O noble Nestor, we have come to Pylos, seeking thyadvice. On these two things my mind is set: Helen must be mine again,and Paris must suffer the punishment due to traitors."
When Menelaus had ended, sage Nestor answered with many words ofcounsel. "Keep the thought of vengeance ever before you," he said."Yet act not rashly. The power of Troy is very great; and, in case ofwar, all the tribes of Asia will make common cause with her. But aninsult to Lacedaemon is an insult to all Greece, and every loyal Greekwill hasten to avenge it. More than this, the chiefs of almost everystate have already sworn to aid you. We have but to call upon them,and remind them of their oaths, and the mightiest warriors of our landwill take up arms against the power of Troy."
Hero Tales Page 10
