Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 81 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 81: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 69 from "The Taking of Helen" This page contains running prose—dialogue between two characters, Nireus and Paris. Nireus warns Paris that his pursuit of Helen will bring war to Troy and calamity to them both, urging him to stay away. Paris dismisses these warnings, declaring himself happy as "youth and beauty against the world." The text appears to reference the classical legend of the Trojan War, though presented here in what seems a Victorian narrative adaptation rather than classical source material.
📄 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 69 to Symé and we were companions, it was the world to me, for I was an islander, as you say. I used to lie awake, thinking that no one ever had so wonderful a friend; nor had anyone. When I look at you now, it comes back; nothing can spoil that. But when I saw Helen, that went into its place; and presently I hated you. I may die to-night, in trying to help you, and I shall deserve it, for I know very well, Paris, that evil will come of this. If I die, try to remember it, and love her as she deserves, if you can.” “I do not like you as a preacher, Nireus,’”’ Paris said. “Do you know how I feel to-night? Like a runner coming up the straight, with his last man beaten and all the thousands roaring for him. We are youth and beauty against the world, and the world goes down before us. O God, I am happy, Nireus!”’ “You have reason to be,” Nireus answered. “I ask, will she be happy, presently? This is to bring war to Troy, so much is planned. That will not make for happiness. The war will spread and spread, and who can see the end of a war? Keep out of Troy, Paris.”’ ‘A likely thing for the King’s son to keep out of Troy, with Troy at war!” “You will be the cause of the war. You will be her husband, answerable for her happiness. Yet you will bring her into the midst of the calamity you will cause ?”’ “You croak like a raven,” Paris said. “You have lived for too long upon your island. In Troy, these COnnicaooKS (FO)