Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 97 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 97: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is page 85 of running prose from "The Taking of Helen," a Victorian penny dreadful. The text depicts a domestic scene where Helen, a princess, and companions attempt to persuade a blind poet (called "The Sightless") to join them for a meal with an old woman. The blind man initially refuses, claiming bitterness taints all things except his thoughts, but the characters—identified as a princess and two princes—appeal to him to reconsider, fearing his isolation might endanger their secret presence. The passage ends mid-dialogue as the blind man begins to speak.
📄 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 85 “T sometimes think that it is all sorrow,” she said, and began to cry with the silly sad tears of old age. “Ah, madam,” Helen said, going to her and stroking her hand. “It cannot be all sorrow, for he is a great poet and you have helped him, as you have helped us.”’ ‘“A dear,’ the old woman said, “I was forgetting the broth.” Myrtle came in at that instant. “I have the broth,” she said, “and I have grapes and bread and an honey- comb.” “May we all eat together?”’ Helen asked. ‘“T have not eaten with princesses these many years,’ the old lady said. | “Tt is time the princesses had better luck,’’ Nireus said. Myrtle ran to the kitchen to fetch The Sightless, who was swallowing his soup by the fire there. “Get you out of it,” he said. “Tl eat with none but my thoughts, for there is bitterness in all things to me, save in them.” Paris had followed Myrtle to the kitchen from the fear lest the old man should wander out and tell men that there were strangers there. “Sir,” he said, “‘it is because of that that we would have you with us. Let us have your thoughts, lest our meal be a bitterness; a princess and two princes beg you.” “Young man,” the blind man said, “‘once, when I COnNIELOOo! <S co