Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 17 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "The Taking of Helen" (page 5). The text depicts a dramatic scene in which a character named Nireus conceals Helen with his cloak when guards approach, then later observes the suspicious behavior of Menelaus at a feast. Menelaus, described as elderly and cunning, approaches someone called "cousin Paris" with knowing remarks about "what lovely lady is the lucky one," suggesting he has discovered or suspects an illicit romance. The narrative also mentions Nireus preparing a second ship for escape.
📄 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 5 He said, ‘“ Lady, I would that I could say something or do something to turn your heart from what you plan, for that might serve you; but since | cannot, I will do this; even to the death. I am a coin for you; spend me as you will.” Just at that moment there came the noise of men in armour; it was the guard going round with lanterns. By the light of the lanterns Nireus could see Mene- laus coming from the feast with the captain of the guard. He put his cloak about Helen and drew her back among the flowers so that she might not be recognized. That was the only time that he held her in all the time of his loving. Five miles north along the coast from Green Havens is a brook’s mouth in a bay sheltered from the north and east by rocks. Nireus had a second ship in this bay, loading timber. [Early the next morning Nireus sent orders to the captain of this ship also to be ready to sail. At the feast in the Court that night it seemed to Nireus that Menelaus was smiling. Menelaus was a little, elderly, precise man with a cunning face and grey beard. Nireus saw him at the feast licking his lips over a secret. “Come, cousin Paris,’’ Menelaus said, ‘come, sit by me and drink to our friendship. And what lovely lady is the lucky one, cousin Paris?”’ Connicoooks (C(O)