Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 14 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is a page of running prose (page 2) from a work titled *The Taking of Helen*. The text narrates the classical myth: Paris, a wanderer who befriended Prince Nireus, arrives at King Menelaus's court and falls in love with Queen Helen, who reciprocates his affection. The passage describes Paris courting Helen with youth, grace, and Trojan gifts, while also introducing Prince Nireus, who arrives at court, falls hopelessly in love with Helen upon witnessing her devotion to Paris, and wanders sorrowfully near the palace. A painter named Euphorion is mentioned as having created wax heads of Paris and Helen.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2 THE TAKING OF HELEN death. He grew up to be a fine young man but a wan- derer. He came to Symé in his wanderings and there became the friend of Nireus, so that the proverb began : ‘“Nireus and Paris, the Eyes of Youth.”’ This was said because they were lovely and alike and together. Paris was swifter of foot and a better archer than Nireus, but Nireus could run longer. Old men have said that together they were handsomer than two young stal- lions coming out of the forest in the morning. After he had stayed with Nireus, Paris came to the Court of King Menelaus, as all men did then, either to learn arms or to see Helen. It was deep peace in the world then, and had been for the seventy years of the life of Menelaus. Now being in the Court of King Menelaus, Paris loved @ueen Helen and she him, as the wise gods had fore- seen. He courted her with his youth and grace, and also with gifts from Troy, of gold and scarlet. Helen loved him also, for, as they say in the islands, the rose turns toward the rose, not to the onion. There were many young men at the Court at that time. Euphorion the painter was among them. He made the heads of Paris and Helen in coloured wax. And at this time Prince Nireus came to the Court of Sparta. He, too, fell in love with Helen, but hope- lessly, because Paris was there. He saw how Paris wooed her and how she loved him in return; his heart was sorrowful. He used to wander near the palace COnnNIE DOO KS (EO)