Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 29 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: "The Taking of Helen," Page 17 This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a Victorian penny dreadful retelling of classical mythology. King Menelaus arranges a footrace between Nireus and a character called Brighteyes, but Nireus's real interest is learning news of Helen. Brighteyes reports that the Queen (Helen) has departed the palace with the royal party to stay at Lord Halys' estate in the hills for at least two nights, and that Prince Paris is also there—"constant as a wasp to the peach." The dialogue suggests an ominous situation developing around Helen's absence from court.
📄 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 17 As the boat set sail King Menelaus came down the beach to speak to Nireus. ‘“Nireus,” he said, “you may be weary from run- ning, but you are young. I have betted that you will run once more, a race of a mile, with our friend Bright- eyes, who has just arrived from our Court. There he is. Take him aside and arrange conditions with him.” Nireus was glad to see Brighteyes, because he might have news of Helen. “What news at Court, Brighteyes?” he asked. “T have not been at Court since morning,’ Bright- eyes said. ‘The Queen and all of us went over this morning to the Curlews, old Lord Halys’ place, in the hills there, about eight miles from here. They will feast and sleep there.”’ ‘And not be at the palace to-night ?”’ | ‘No, nor to-morrow night. Lord Halys sent over to fetch them. You are looking very white; do you think you ought to be running ?”’ ‘Yes, indeed. Is there a road to Lord Halys’?’’ “Yes, a good straight track of turf leading over the hill there, past those beeches.’’ ‘Is Prince Paris also at Lord Halys’ ?”’ ‘Constant as a wasp to the peach, or as a moth to the lantern.” ‘What made Lord Halys send for them? Is he a friend of theirs ?”’ ‘He is a friend of the King.” CORNICLOOC) “SS (C(O)