Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 19 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: "The Taking of Helen" This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a Victorian penny dreadful retelling of classical mythology. The text describes Prince Nireus visiting the guard quarters, where a soldier sings a satirical song about Trojan princes and kings. A courtier named Brighteyes then summons Nireus to meet King Menelaus in the secret "Rooms of Report"—a three-chambered space where the King conducts spy activities. The passage emphasizes intrigue and mystery as Nireus proceeds toward an audience with the monarch.
📄 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 a ‘Take my advice and use my shields, And you’ll be spared on battlefields.”’ Nireus went to the court of the guard to watch the setting of the guard. In the guard-room a soldier was singing as he scoured his greaves: ‘Who would not be a prince from Troy, The only joy of lovely queens? And who would mind gloves left behind, Since Kings are things, Since Kings are things With no suspicion what it means?”’ Other soldiers laughed at this. At this moment one of the courtiers, whom they called Brighteyes, came to Nireus with a message. “Prince Nireus, His Majesty the King would be glad to have a word with you in the Rooms of Report.” “Do you know what he wants, Brighteyes?”’ “He is giving out the pinks for courtesy and the stars for nobleness.”’ “No, but what does he want ?” OV ou’? Nireus went to the Rooms of Report. They were in a secret part of the castle where Menelaus saw his spies. ‘There were three rooms; in the outer one, a guard or officer, in the middle one, nobody, and in the inner room, the King. When Nireus went up there CoOnnicaooKs (E(0)