Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 65 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 65: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a page of running prose (page 53) from the penny dreadful *The Taking of Helen*. The scene depicts a conversation between a character named Myrtle and a young man named Nireus, who reveals himself to be Prince of Symé harboring the Queen and Prince Paris of Troy. Myrtle, apparently a servant or household member, dismisses concerns about danger and advises Nireus to sleep, while maintaining a practical, somewhat sardonic tone. The text contains dialogue establishing that these fugitives are hiding at a location where Myrtle works, and that their presence poses potential risk to her.
📄 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 53 “Well, we must be going back to our work. Won't you come with us, Myrtle?’’ “No, I’ve got too much to do, and then the old lady might wake.” ‘““Aren’t you afraid, being all alone here? Suppose the murderers were to come and murder you?”’ “Not likely,” Myrtle said. “If they come mur- dering me, they’ll be shot in a soft place with a dry - mop.” For a long time after the girls had gone, Nireus kept very stillin his gully, since women notice everything, particularly strange young men. Myrtle came out to him presently with some butter- milk. “Your friends aren’t murderers,’ she said. “No,” he answered. ‘‘My friends are the Queen and Prince Paris of Troy, and they are running away because they love each other. I am Nireus, Prince of Symé. 1) “Their friend ?”’ “You may call it that. My girl, Myrtle,” he said, “LPve put you into danger by bringing them here. When I came here I knew nothing of any punishment proclaimed.” “You know nothing of anything,” she said. ‘And never will, but it is not knowing that gets things done. Wait till they’re caught before you talk of danger. You would do well to sleep, prince; everybody sleeps COnnicoaooKS (C(O)