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choosing Ulysses for her husband out of so many tall； handsome young
princes； glittering with gold ornaments。 Still； Helen was very kind to
Ulysses； and there was great friendship between them； which was
fortunate for her in the end。
Tyndarus first made all the princes take an oath that they would stand
by the prince whom he chose； and would fight for him in all his quarrels。
Then he named for her husband Menelaus； King of Lacedaemon。 He was
a very brave man； but not one of the strongest； he was not such a fighter as
the gigantic Aias； the tallest and strongest of men； or as Diomede； the
friend of Ulysses； or as his own brother； Agamemnon； the King of the rich
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city of Mycenae； who was chief over all other princes； and general of the
whole army in war。 The great lions carved in stone that seemed to guard
his city are still standing above the gate through which Agamemnon used
to drive his chariot。
The man who proved to be the best fighter of all； Achilles； was not
among the lovers of Helen； for he was still a boy； and his mother； Thetis of
the silver feet； a goddess of the sea； had sent him to be brought up as a girl；
among the daughters of Lycomedes of Scyros； in an island far away。
Thetis did this because Achilles was her only child； and there was a
prophecy that； if he went to the wars； he would win the greatest glory； but
die very young； and never see his mother again。 She thought that if war
broke out he would not be found hiding in girl's dress； among girls； far
away。
So at last； after thinking over the matter for long； Tyndarus gave fair
Helen to Menelaus； the rich King of Lacedaemon； and her twin sister
Clytaemnestra； who was also very beautiful； was given to King
Agamemnon； the chief over all the princes。 They all lived very happily
together at first； but not for long。
In the meantime King Tyndarus spoke to his brother Icarius； who had a
daughter named Penelope。 She also was very pretty； but not nearly so
beautiful as her cousin； fair Helen； and we know that Penelope was not
very fond of her cousin。 Icarius； admiring the strength and wisdom of
Ulysses； gave him his daughter Penelope to be his wife； and Ulysses loved
her very dearly； no man and wife were ever dearer to each other。 They
went away together to rocky Ithaca； and perhaps Penelope was not sorry
that a wide sea lay between her home and that of Helen； for Helen was not
only the fairest woman that ever lived in the world； but she was so kind
and gracious and charming that no man could see her without loving her。
When she was only a child； the famous prince Theseus； who was famous
in Greek Story； carried her away to his own city of Athens； meaning to
marry her when she grew up； and even at that time； there was a war for her
sake； for her brothers followed Theseus with an army； and fought him； and
brought her home。
She had fairy gifts； for instance； she had a great red jewel； called 〃the
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Star；〃 and when she wore it red drops seemed to fall from it and vanished
before they touched and stained her white breastso white that people
called her 〃the Daughter of the Swan。〃 She could speak in the very voice
of any man or woman； so folk also named her Echo； and it was believed
that she could neither grow old nor die； but would at last pass away to the
Elysian plain and the world's end； where life is easiest for men。 No snow
comes thither； nor great storm； nor any rain； but always the river of Ocean
that rings round the whole earth sends forth the west wind to blow cool on
the people of King Rhadamanthus of the fair hair。 These were some of
the stories that men told of fair Helen； but Ulysses was never sorry that he
had not the fortune to marry her； so fond he was of her cousin； his wife；
Penelope； who was very wise and good。
When Ulysses brought his wife home they lived； as the custom was； in
the palace of his father； King Laertes； but Ulysses； with his own hands；
built a chamber for Penelope and himself。 There grew a great olive tree
in the inner court of the palace； and its stem was as large as one of the tall
carved pillars of the hall。 Round about this tree Ulysses built the
chamber； and finished it with close…set stones； and roofed it over； and
made close…fastening doors。 Then he cut off all the branches of the olive
tree； and smoothed the trunk； and shaped it into the bed…post； and made the
bedstead beautiful with inlaid work of gold and silver and ivory。 There
was no such bed in Greece； and no man could move it from its place； and
this bed comes again into the story； at the very end。
Now time went by； and Ulysses and Penelope had one son called
Telemachus； and Eurycleia； who had been his father's nurse； took care of
him。 They were all very happy； and lived in peace in rocky Ithaca； and
Ulysses looked after his lands； and flocks； and herds； and went hunting
with his dog Argos； the swiftest of hounds。
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THE STEALING OF HELEN
This happy time did not last long； and Telemachus was still a baby；
when war arose； so great and mighty and marvellous as had never been
known in the world。 Far across the sea that lies on the east of Greece；
there dwelt the rich King Priam。 His town was called Troy； or Ilios； and
it stood on a hill near the seashore； where are the straits of Hellespont；
between Europe and Asia； it was a great city surrounded by strong walls；
and its ruins are still standing。 The kings could make merchants who
passed through the straits pay toll to them； and they had allies in Thrace； a
part of Europe opposite Troy； and Priam was chief of all princes on his
side of the sea； as Agamemnon was chief king in Greece。 Priam had
many beautiful things； he had a vine made of gold； with golden leaves and
clusters； and he had the swiftest horses； and many strong and brave sons；
the strongest and bravest was named Hector； and the youngest and most
beautiful was named Paris。
There was a prophecy that Priam's wife would give birth to a burning
torch； so； when Paris was born； Priam sent a servant to carry the baby into
a wild wood on Mount Ida； and leave him to die or be eaten by wolves and
wild cats。 The servant left the child； but a shepherd found him； and
brought him up as his own son。 The boy became as beautiful； for a boy；
as Helen was for a girl； and was the best runner； and hunter； and archer
among the country people。 He was loved by the beautiful OEnone； a
nymphthat is； a kind of fairywho dwelt in a cave among the woods of
Ida。 The Greeks and Trojans believed in these days that such fair
nymphs haunted all beautiful woodland places； and the mountains； and
wells； and had crystal palaces； like mermaids； beneath the waves of the sea。
These fairies were not mischievous； but gentle and kind。 Sometimes they
married mortal men； and OEnone was the bride of Paris； and hoped to
keep him for her own all the days of his life。
It was believed that she had the magical power of healing wounded
men； however sorely they were hurt。 Paris and OEnone lived most
happily together in the forest； but one day； when the servants of Priam had
driven off a beautiful bull that was in the herd of Paris； he left the hills to
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seek it； and came into the town of Troy。 His mother； Hecuba； saw him；
and looking at him closely； perceived that he wore a ring which she had
tied round her baby's neck when he was taken away from