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tied round her baby's neck when he was taken away from her soon after
his birth。 Then Hecuba； beholding him so beautiful； and knowing him to
be her son； wept for joy； and they all forgot the prophecy that he would be
a burning torch of fire； and Priam gave him a house like those of his
brothers； the Trojan princes。
The fame of beautiful Helen reached Troy； and Paris quite forgot
unhappy OEnone； and must needs go to see Helen for himself。 Perhaps he
meant to try to win her for his wife； before her marriage。 But sailing was
little understood in these times； and the water was wide； and men were
often driven for years out of their course； to Egypt； and Africa； and far
away into the unknown seas； where fairies lived in enchanted islands； and
cannibals dwelt in caves of the hills。
Paris came much too late to have a chance of marrying Helen；
however； he was determined to see her； and he made his way to her palace
beneath the mountain Taygetus； beside the clear swift river Eurotas。 The
servants came out of the hall when they heard the sound of wheels and
horses' feet； and some of them took the horses to the stables； and tilted the
chariots against the gateway； while others led Paris into the hall； which
shone like the sun with gold and silver。 Then Paris and his companions
were led to the baths； where they were bathed； and clad in new clothes；
mantles of white； and robes of purple； and next they were brought before
King Menelaus； and he welcomed them kindly； and meat was set before
them； and wine in cups of gold。 While they were talking； Helen came
forth from her fragrant chamber； like a Goddess； her maidens following
her； and carrying for her an ivory distaff with violet… coloured wool； which
she span as she sat； and heard Paris tell how far he had travelled to see her
who was so famous for her beauty even in countries far away。
Then Paris knew that he had never seen； and never could see； a lady so
lovely and gracious as Helen as she sat and span； while the red drops fell
and vanished from the ruby called the Star； and Helen knew that among all
the princes in the world there was none so beautiful as Paris。 Now some
say that Paris； by art magic； put on the appearance of Menelaus； and asked
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Helen to come sailing with him； and that she； thinking he was her husband；
followed him； and he carried her across the wide waters of Troy； away
from her lord and her one beautiful little daughter； the child Hermione。
And others say that the Gods carried Helen herself off to Egypt； and that
they made in her likeness a beautiful ghost； out of flowers and sunset
clouds； whom Paris bore to Troy； and this they did to cause war between
Greeks and Trojans。 Another story is that Helen and her bower maiden
and her jewels were seized by force； when Menelaus was out hunting。 It
is only certain that Paris and Helen did cross the seas together； and that
Menelaus and little Hermione were left alone in the melancholy palace
beside the Eurotas。 Penelope； we know for certain； made no excuses for
her beautiful cousin； but hated her as the cause of her own sorrows and of
the deaths of thousands of men in war； for all the Greek princes were
bound by their oath to fight for Menelaus against any one who injured him
and stole his wife away。 But Helen was very unhappy in Troy； and
blamed herself as bitterly as all the other women blamed her； and most of
all OEnone； who had been the love of Paris。 The men were much more
kind to Helen； and were determined to fight to the death rather than lose
the sight of her beauty among them。
The news of the dishonour done to Menelaus and to all the princes of
Greece ran through the country like fire through a forest。 East and west
and south and north went the news： to kings in their castles on the hills；
and beside the rivers and on cliffs above the sea。 The cry came to ancient
Nestor of the white beard at Pylos； Nestor who had reigned over two
generations of men； who had fought against the wild folk of the hills； and
remembered the strong Heracles； and Eurytus of the black bow that sang
before the day of battle。
The cry came to black…bearded Agamemnon； in his strong town called
〃golden Mycenae；〃 because it was so rich； it came to the people in Thisbe；
where the wild doves haunt； and it came to rocky Pytho； where is the
sacred temple of Apollo and the maid who prophesies。 It came to Aias； the
tallest and strongest of men； in his little isle of Salamis； and to Diomede of
the loud war…cry； the bravest of warriors； who held Argos and Tiryns of the
black walls of huge； stones； that are still standing。 The summons came to
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the western islands and to Ulysses in Ithaca； and even far south to the
great island of Crete of the hundred cities； where Idomeneus ruled in
Cnossos； Idomeneus； whose ruined palace may still be seen with the
throne of the king； and pictures painted on the walls； and the King's own
draught…board of gold and silver； and hundreds of tablets of clay； on which
are written the lists of royal treasures。 Far north went the news to
Pelasgian Argos； and Hellas； where the people of Peleus dwelt； the
Myrmidons； but Peleus was too old to fight； and his boy； Achilles； dwelt
far away； in the island of Scyros； dressed as a girl； among the daughters of
King Lycomedes。 To many another town and to a hundred islands went the
bitter news of approaching war； for all princes knew that their honour and
their oaths compelled them to gather their spearmen； and bowmen； and
slingers from the fields and the fishing； and to make ready their ships； and
meet King Agamemnon in the harbour of Aulis； and cross the wide sea to
besiege Troy town。
Now the story is told that Ulysses was very unwilling to leave his
island and his wife Penelope； and little Telemachus； while Penelope had
no wish that he should pass into danger； and into the sight of Helen of the
fair hands。 So it is said that when two of the princes came to summon
Ulysses； he pretended to be mad； and went ploughing the sea sand with
oxen； and sowing the sand with salt。 Then the prince Palamedes took the
baby Telemachus from the arms of his nurse； Eurycleia； and laid him in
the line of the furrow； where the ploughshare would strike him and kill
him。 But Ulysses turned the plough aside； and they cried that he was not
mad； but sane； and he must keep his oath； and join the fleet at Aulis； a long
voyage for him to sail； round the stormy southern Cape of Maleia。
Whether this tale be true or not； Ulysses did go； leading twelve black
ships； with high beaks painted red at prow and stern。 The ships had oars；
and the warriors manned the oars； to row when there was no wind。 There
was a small raised deck at each end of the ships； on these decks men stood
to fight with sword and spear when there was a battle at sea。 Each ship
had but one mast； with a broad lugger sail； and for anchors they had only
heavy stones attached to cables。 They generally landed at night； and
slept on the shore of one of the many islands； when they could； for they
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greatly feared to sail out of sight of land。
The fleet consisted of more than a thousand ships； each with fifty
warriors； so the army was of more than fifty thousand men。 Agamemnon
had a hundred ships； Diomede had eighty； Nestor had ninety； the Cretans
with Idomeneus； had eighty； Menelaus had sixty； but Aias and Ulysses；
who lived in small islands； had only twelve ships apiece。 Yet Aias was so
brave and strong； and Ulysses so brave and wise； that they were ranked
among the greatest chiefs and advi