Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 13 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is the opening page of a prose story titled "The Taking of Helen." The text presents a mythological narrative introducing three male characters—Nireus, Paris, and Helen—and their divine gifts. It explains that Nireus lacks luck in love, Helen possesses beauty that makes all men love her (except her husband Menelaus, an indifferent elderly king), and Paris receives the gift of being loved by all beautiful women. The page establishes a romantic conflict rooted in supernatural destiny, typical of penny dreadful sensational fiction adapted from classical mythology.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TAKING OF HELEN NIREvs was the son of the King of Symé Island. At his birth the gods brought gifts to him, each one thing ; one wisdom, another courage, another skill. They gave him all good gifts except the gift of luck in love. That they forgot, or thought it wise to leave, Since men grow proud when nothing makes them grieve. Nireus grew up to be a young man of every beauty and every grace. Helen was born on the mainland. At her birth the goddesses brought gifts to her, of loveliness and sweet- ness. They gave her all good gifts, and this gift, too, that all men who saw her should love her, except her husband. She grew up to be the most beautiful woman who has ever lived. Menelaus, the King of Sparta, married her, and took her to live in his palace. He was an elderly man who cared not for her, but for drinking by the fire with the old Kings his friends. Paris was the son of the King of Troy. At his birth the gods brought gifts to him of grace and courage and skill; and this gift, too, they gave him, that all beauti- ful women should love him, even if it led to tears and 1 CONNICLOOC) KS (C(O)