第7章

XLIX。

ToCyprusandPhoeniciawanderingTheycame，andmanyaship，andmanyamanTheylost，andperish’dmanyapreciousthingWhilebarebeforethestormyNorththeyran，AndfurtherfarthanwhentheirquestbeganFromArgosdidtheyseem，——awearywhile，—

Becalm’dinsultryseasEgyptian，Alongday’svoyagefromthemouthsofNile。

L。

ButtheretheGodshadpityonthem，andthereTheancientProteustaughtthemhowtofleeFromthatsodistantdeep，——thefowlsofairScarceinoneyearcanmeasureoutthatsea;

YetfirstwithinAegyptusmusttheybe，Andhecatombsmustoffer，——quicklythenTheGodsabatedoftheirjealousy，Wherewiththeyscourgethenegligenceofmen。

LI。

Andstrongandfairthesouthwindblew，andfleetTheirvoyaging，somerrilytheyfledTowinthathavenwherethewaterssweetOfclearEurotaswiththebrinearewed，AndswifttheirchariotsandtheirhorsesspedTopleasantLacedaemon，lyinglowGreyintheshadeofsunset，buttheheadOftallTaygetuslikefiredidglow。

LII。

Andwhatbutthisissweet:atlasttowinThefieldsofhome，thatchangenotwhilewechange;

Tohearthebirdstheirancientsongbegin;

Towanderbythewell—lovedstreamsthatrangeWherenotonepool，onemoss—cladstoneisstrange，Norseemweolderthanlongyearsago，ThoughnowbeneaththegreyroofofthegrangeThechildrendwellofthemweusedtoknow？

LIII。

CametherenotroubleinthelaterdaysTomarthelifeofHelen，whentheoldCrownsanddominionsperish’d，andtheblazeLitbyreturningHeraclidaeroll’dThrougheveryvaleandeveryhappyfoldOfalltheArgiveland？Nay，peacefullyDidMenelausandtheQueenbeholdThecountedyearsofmortallifegoby。

LIV。

"Deathendsalltales，"butthisheendethnot;

TheygrewnotgreywithinthevalleyfairOfhollowLacedaemon，butwerebroughtToRhadamanthusofthegoldenhair，Beyondthewideworld’send;ahneverthereComesstormnorsnow;allgriefisleftbehind，Andmenimmortal，inenchantedair，BreathethecoolcurrentoftheWesternwind。

LV。

ButHelenwasaSaintinHeathendom，AkinderAphrodite;withoutfearMaidensandloverstohershrinewouldcomeInfairTherapnae，bythewatersclearOfswiftEurotas;gentlydidshehearAllprayersoflove，andnotunheededcameThebrokensupplication，andthetearOfmanormaidenoverweigh’dwithshame。

O’erHelen’sshrinethegrassisgrowinggreen，IndesolateTherapnae;nonethelessHersweetfacenowunworshipp’dandunseenAbidesthesymbolofallloveliness，OfBeautyeverstainlessinthestressOfwarringlustsandfears;——andstilldivine，StillreadywithimmortalpeacetoblessThemthatwithpureheartsworshipathershrine。

NOTE

[InthisstoryinrhymeofthefortunesofHelen，thetheorythatshewasanunwillingvictimoftheGodshasbeenpreferred。ManyofthedescriptionsofmannersareversifiedfromtheIliadandtheOdyssey。

ThedescriptionoftheeventsafterthedeathofHector，andtheaccountofthesackofTroy，ischieflyborrowedfromQuintusSmyrnaeus。]

ThecharacterandhistoryofHelenofTroyhavebeenconceivedofinverydifferentwaysbypoetsandmythologists。InattemptingtotracethechiefcurrentofancienttraditionsaboutHelen，wecannotreallygetfurtherbackthantheHomericpoems，theIliadandOdyssey。PhilologicalconjecturemayassureusthatHelen，likemostofthecharactersofoldromance，is"merelytheDawn，"orLight，orsomeotherbrightbeingcarriedawaybyParis，whorepresentsNight，orWinter，ortheCloud，orsomeotherpowerofdarkness。Withoutdiscussingtheseideas，itmaybesaidthattheGreekpoets（atalleventsbeforeallegoricalexplanationsofmythologycamein，aboutfivehundredyearsbeforeChrist）regardedHelensimplyasawomanofwonderfulbeauty。HomerwasnotthinkingoftheDawn，ortheCloudwhenhedescribedHelenamongtheEldersontheIlianwalls，orrepeatedherlamentoverthedeadbodyofHector。TheHomericpoemsareouroldestliterarydocumentsaboutHelen，butitisprobableenoughthatthepoethasmodifiedandpurifiedmoreancienttraditionswhichstillsurviveinvariousfragmentsofGreeklegend。

InHomerHelenisalwaysthedaughterofZeus。Isocratestellsus（"Helena，"211b）that"whilemanyofthedemigodswerechildrenofZeus，hethoughtthepaternityofnoneofhisdaughtersworthclaiming，savethatofHelenonly。"InHomer，then，HelenisthedaughterofZeus，butHomersaysnothingofthefamouslegendwhichmakesZeusassumetheformofaswantowoothemotherofHelen。

Unhomericasthismythis，wemayregarditasextremelyancient。

Verysimilartalesofpursuitandmetamorphosis，foramatoryorotherpurposes，amongtheoldlegendsofWales，andinthe"ArabianNights，"aswellasinthemythsofAustraliansandRedIndians。

Again，thebeliefthatdifferentfamiliesofmankinddescendfromanimals，asfromtheSwan，orfromgodsintheshapeofanimals，isfoundineveryquarteroftheworld，andamongtherudestraces。

ManyAustraliannativesofto—dayclaimdescent，liketheroyalhouseofSparta，fromtheSwan。TheGreekmythshesitatedastowhetherNemesisorLedawasthebrideoftheSwan。HomeronlymentionsLedaamong"thewivesanddaughtersofmightymen，"whoseghostsOdysseusbeheldinHades:"AndIsawLeda，thefamousbedfellowofTyndareus，whobaretoTyndareustwosons，hardyofheart，Castor，tamerofsteeds，andtheboxerPolydeuces。"TheseheroesHelen，intheIliad（iii。238），describesashermother’ssons。Thus，ifHomerhasanydistinctviewonthesubject，heholdsthatLedaisthemotherofHelenbyZeus，oftheDioscuribyTyndareus。

GreekideasastothecharacterofHelenvariedwiththevariousmoodsofGreekliterature。Homer’sownideasabouthisheroineareprobablybestexpressedinthewordswithwhichPriamgreetsherassheappearsamongtheassembledelders，whoarewatchingtheArgiveheroesfromthewallofTroy:——"Innowise，dearchild，doIblamethee;nay，theGodsaretoblame，whohaverousedagainstmethewofulwaroftheAchaeans。"Homer，likePriam，throwstheguiltofHelenontheGods，butitisnotveryeasytounderstandexactlywhathemeansbysaying"theGodsaretoblame。"Inthefirstplace，Homeravoidsthepsychologicalproblemsinwhichmodernpoetryrevels，byattributingalmostallchangesofthemoodsofmentodivineinspiration。ThuswhenAchilles，inafamouspassageofthefirstbookoftheIliad，putsuphishalf—drawnswordinthesheath，anddoesnotslayAgamemnon，HomerassignshisrepentancetothedirectinfluenceofAthene。Again，hesaysintheOdyssey，aboutClytemnestra，that"shewouldnoneofthefouldeed;"thatisoftheloveofAegisthus，till"thedoomoftheGodsboundhertoherruin。"

SofarthesameexcuseismadeforthemurderousClytemnestraasfortheamiableHelen。Again，Homeris，inthestrictestsense，andinstrongcontrasttotheGreektragediansandtoVirgil，achivalrouspoet。Itwouldprobablybeimpossibletofindapassageinwhichhespeaksharshlyorcensoriouslyoftheconductofanyfairandnoblelady。ThesordidtreacheryofEriphyle，whosoldherlordforgold，winsforhertheepithet"hateful;"andAchilles，inamomentofstronggrief，appliesatermofabhorrencetoHelen。ButHomeristoochivalroustojudgethelifeofanylady，andonlyshowstheothersideofthechivalrouscharacter——itscrueltytopersonsnotofnoblebirth——indescribingthe"fouldeath"ofthewaitingwomenofPenelope。"GodforbidthatIshouldtakethesewomen’slivesbyacleandeath，"saysTelemachus（Odyssey，xxii。462）。So"aboutalltheirnecksnooseswerecastthattheymightdiebythedeathmostpitiful。Andtheywrithedwiththeirfeetforalittlespace，butfornolongwhile。"IntryingtounderstandHomer’sestimateofHelen，therefore，wemustmakeallowanceforhistheoryofdivineintervention，andforhischivalrousjudgmentofladies。ButtherearetwopassagesintheIliadwhichmaybetakenasindicatingHomer’sopinionthatHelenwasliterallyavictim，anunwillingvictim，ofAphrodite，andthatshewascarriedawaybyforceacaptivefromLacedaemon。ThesepassagesareintheIliad，ii。356，590。IntheformertextNestorsays，"letnonebeeagertoreturnhomeerehehascouchedwithaTrojan’swife，andAVENGEDTHE

LONGINGSANDSORROWSOFHELEN"——[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced。]ItisthusthatMr。Gladstone，anotablechampionofHelen’s，wouldrenderthispassage，andthesameinterpretationwasfavouredbytheancient"Separatists"（Chorizontes），whowishedtoprovethattheIliadandOdysseywerebydifferentauthors;butmanyauthoritiesprefertotranslate"toavengeourlaboursandsorrowsforHelen’ssake"——"toavengeallthatwehaveenduredintheattempttowinbackHelen。"Thustheevidenceofthispassageisambiguous。

ThefairerwaytoseekforHomer’srealviewofHelenistoexamineallthepassagesinwhichsheoccurs。Theresultwillbesomethinglikethis:—HomerseesinHelenabeingoftherarestpersonalcharmandgraceofcharacter;awomanwhoimputestoherselfguiltmuchgreaterthantherealmeasureofheroffence。SheisevergentleexceptwiththeGoddesswhobetrayedher，andtheunworthyloverwhoselotsheiscompelledtoshare。Againstthemherhelplessangerbreaksoutinflashesofeloquentscorn。HomerwasapparentlyacquaintedwiththemythofHelen’scapturebyTheseus，amythillustratedinthedecorationsofthecofferofCypselus。ButwefirstseeHelen，thecauseofthewar，whenMenelausandParisareabouttofighttheirduelforhersake，inthetenthyearoftheLeaguer（Iliad，iii。121）。IrisissenttosummonHelentothewalls。ShefindsHeleninherchamber，weavingatamightyloom，andembroideringontapestrytheadventuresofthesiege——thebattlesofhorse—tamingTrojansandbronze—cladAchaeans。ThemessageofIrisrenewsinHelen’sheart"asweetdesireforherlordandherowncity，andthemthatbegather;"so，drapedinsilverywhite，Helengoeswithherthreemaidenstothewalls。There，abovethegate，likesomekingintheOldTestament，Parissitsamonghiscounsellors，andtheyareallamazedatHelen’sbeauty;"nomarvelisitthatTrojansandAchaeanssufferlongandwearytoilsforsuchawoman，sowondrousliketotheimmortalgoddesses。"ThenPriam，assuringHelenthatheholdsherblameless，bidshernametohimherkinsfolkandtheotherAchaeanwarriors。Inherreply，Helendisplaysthatgraceofpenitencewhichiscertainlynotoftenfoundinancientliterature:—"Wouldthatevildeathhadbeenmychoice，whenIfollowedthyson，andleftmybridalbowerandmykin，andmydaughterdear，andthemaidensoflikeagewithme。"Agamemnonshecalls，"thehusband’sbrotherofmeshameless;alas，thatsuchanoneshouldbe。"Shenamesmanyofthewarriors，butmissesherbrothersCastorandPolydeuces，"ownbrothersofmine，onemotherbareus。

EithertheyfollowednotfrompleasantLacedaemon，orhithertheyfollowedinswiftships，butnowtheyhavenohearttogodownintothebattlefordreadoftheshameandmanyreproachesthataremine。"

"Sospakeshe，butalreadythelife—givingearthdidcoverthem，thereinLacedaemon，intheirowndearcountry。"

MenelausandParisfoughtouttheirduel，theTrojanwasdiscomfited，butwasrescuedfromdeathandcarriedtoHelen’sbowerbyAphrodite。

ThentheGoddesscameindisguisetoseekHelenonthewall，andforceherbackintothearmsofherdefeatedlover。HelenturnedontheGoddesswithanabruptnessandaforceofsarcasmandinvectivewhichseemquiteforeigntohergentlenature。"WiltthoutakemefurtheryettosomecityofPhrygiaorpleasantMaeonia，ifthereanymanisdeartothee……Nay，gothyselfandsitdownbyParis，andforswearthepathsoftheGods，buteverlamentforhimandcherishhim，tillhemaketheehiswife，yea，orperchancehisslave，buttohimwillInevergo。"ButthisangerofHelenissoonovercomebyfear，whentheGoddess，inturn，waxeswrathful，andHelenisliterallydrivenbythreats——"forthedaughterofZeuswasafraid，"——

intothearmsofParis。Yetevensoshetauntsherloverwithhiscowardice，acowardicewhichsheneverreallycondones。InthesixthbookoftheIliadshehasbeenurginghimtoreturntothewar。ShethenexpressesherpenitencetoHector，"wouldthatthefuryofthewindhadbornemeafartothemountains，orthewaveoftheroaringsea——ereevertheseilldeedsweredone！"Inthispassagetoo，sheprophesiesthatherfortuneswillbe[Greektext]famousinthesongs，goodorevil，ofmenunborn。InthelastbookoftheIliadwemeetHelenoncemore，asshelamentsoverthedeadbodyofHector。

"’Never，inallthetwentyyearssinceIcamehither，haveIheardfromtheeonetauntoroneevilword:nay，butifanyotherrebukedmeinthehalls，anyoneofmyhusband’sbrothers，oroftheirsisters，ortheirwives，orthemotherofmyhusband（butthekingwasevergentletomeasafather），thenwouldstthourestrainthemwiththylovingkindnessandthygentlespeech。’Sospakeshe;

weeping。"

IntheOdyssey，HelenisoncemoreinLacedaemon，thehonouredbutstillpenitentwifeofMenelaus。Howtheybecamereconciled（anextremelydifficultpointinthestory），thereisnothinginHomertotellus。

SirJohnLubbockhasconjecturedthatinthemoralsoftheheroicageHelenwasnotreallyregardedasguilty。Shewaslawfullymarried，by"capture，"toParis。Unfortunatelyforthistheorythereisabundantproofthat，intheheroicage，wiveswerenominallyBOUGHT

forsomanycattle，orgivenasarewardforgreatservices。Thereisnosignofmarriagebycapture，and，again，marriagebycaptureisasavageinstitutionwhichappliestounmarriedwomen，nottowomenalreadywedded，asHelenwastoMenelaus。PerhapstheoldestevidencewehaveforopinionaboutthelaterrelationsofHelenandMenelaus，isderivedfromPausanias’s（174。AD。）descriptionoftheChestofCypselus。Thisancientcoffer，aworkoftheseventhcentury，B。C，wasstillpreservedatOlympia，inthetimeofPausanias。Ononeofthebandsofcedarorofivory，wasrepresented（Pausanias，v。18），"Menelauswithaswordinhishand，rushingontokillHelen——clearlyatthesackingofIlios。"HowMenelauspassedfromadesiretokillHelentohisabsolutecomplacencyintheOdyssey，Homerdoesnottellus。AccordingtoastatementattributedtoStesichorus（635，554，B。C。？），thearmyoftheAchaeanspurposedtostoneHelen，butwasoverawedandcompelledtorelentbyherextraordinarybeauty:"whentheybeheldher，theycastdowntheirstonesontheground。"ItmaybeconjecturedthatthereconciliationfollowedthisfutileattemptatpunishingadaughterofZeus。Homer，then，leavesuswithoutinformationabouttheadventuresofHelen，betweenthesackofTinyandthereconciliationwithMenelaus。HehintsthatshewasmarriedtoDeiphobus，afterthedeathofParis，andalludestothetraditionthatshemimickedthevoicesofthewivesoftheheroes，andsonearlytemptedthemtoleavetheirambushinthewoodenhorse。ButinthefourthbookoftheOdyssey，whenTelemachusvisitsLacedaemon，hefindsHelenthehonouredwifeofMenelaus，richinthemarvellousgiftsbestowedonher，inherwanderingsfromTroy，bytheprincesofEgypt。

"Whileyetheponderedthesethingsinhismindandinhisheart，Helencameforthfromherfragrantvaultedchamber，likeArtemisofthegoldenarrows;andwithhercameAdrasteandsetforherthewell—wroughtchair，andAlcippebarearugofsoftwool，andPhylobareasilverbasketwhichAlcandregaveher，thewifeofPolybus，whodweltinThebesofEgypt，whereisthechiefeststoreofwealthinthehouses。HegavetwosilverbathstoMenelaus，andtripodstwain，andtentalentsofgold。Andbesidesallthis，hiswifebestowedonHelenlovelygifts;agoldendistaffdidshegive，andasilverbasketwithwheelsbeneath，andtherimsthereofwerefinishedwithgold。ThisitwasthatthehandmaidPhylobareandsetbesideher，filledwithdressedyarn，andacrossitwaslaidadistaffchargedwithwoolofvioletblue。SoHelensatherdowninthechair，andbeneathwasafootstoolforthefeet。"

Whenthehostandguestsbegintoweepthereadytearsoftheheroicageoverthesorrowsofthepast，anddreadofthedimfuture，Helencomfortsthemwithamagicalpotion。

"ThenHelen，daughterofZeus，turnedtonewthoughts。Presentlyshecastadrugintothewinewhereoftheydrank，adrugtolullallpainandanger，andbringforgetfulnessofeverysorrow。Whososhoulddrinkadraughtthereof，whenitismingledinthebowl，onthatdayhewouldletnotearfalldownhischeeks，notthoughhismotherandhisfatherdied，notthoughmenslewhisbrotherordearsonwiththeswordbeforehisface，andhisowneyesbeheldit。MedicinesofsuchvirtueandsohelpfulhadthedaughterofZeus，whichPolydamna，thewifeofThon，hadgivenher，awomanofEgypt，whereEarththegrain—

giveryieldsherbsingreatestplenty，manythatarehealinginthecup，andmanybaneful。"

SoTelemachuswaskindlyentertainedbyHelenandMenelaus，andwhenheleftthemitwasnotwithoutagift。

"AndHelenstoodbythecofferswhereinwereherrobesofcuriousneedleworkwhichsheherselfhadwrought。ThenHelen，thefairlady，liftedoneandbroughtitout，thewidestandmostbeautifullyembroideredofall，anditshonelikeastar，andlayfarbeneaththerest。"

Presently，weread，"Helenofthefairfacecameupwiththerobeinherhands，andspake:’Lo！Itoogivetheethisgift，dearchild，amemorialofthehandsofHelen，forthybridetowearuponthedayofthydesire，evenofthymarriage。Butmeanwhileletitliewiththymotherinherchamber。Andmayjoygowiththeetothywell—buildedhouse，andthineowncountry。’"

Helen’slastwords，inHomer，arewordsofgoodomen，herprophecytoTelemachusthatOdysseusshallreturnhomeafterlongwanderings，andtakevengeanceontherovers。WeseeHelennomore，butHomerdoesnotleaveusindoubtastoherlaterfortunes。HequotestheprophecywhichProteus，theancientoneofthesea，deliveredtoMenelaus:—

"Butthou，Menelaus，sonofZeus，artnotordainedtodieandmeetthyfateinArgos，thepasture—landofhorses，butthedeathlessgodswillconveytheetotheElysianplainandtheworld’send，whereisRhadamanthusofthefairhair，wherelifeiseasiestformen。Nosnowisthere，noryetgreatstorm，noranyrain;butalwayoceansendethforththebreezeoftheshrillWesttoblowcoolonmen:

yea，forthouhastHelentowife，andtherebytheydeemtheetobesonofZeus。"

Wemustbelieve，withIsocrates，thatHelenwastranslated，withherlord，tothatfieldofElysium，"wherefallsnothail，orrain，oranysnow。"ThisversionoftheendofHelen’shistorywehaveadopted，butmanyotherlegendswereknowninGreece。Pausaniastellsusthat，inabattlebetweentheCrotoniatsandtheLocrians，oneLeonymuschargedtheemptyspaceintheLocrianline，whichwasentrustedtothecareoftheghostofAias。Leonymuswaswoundedbytheinvisiblespearofthehero，andcouldnotbehealedofthehurt。

TheDelphianoraclebadehimseektheIsleofLeukeintheEuxineSea，whereAiaswouldappeartohim，andhealhim。WhenLeonymusreturnedfromLeukehetoldhowAchillesdwelttherewithhisancientcomrades，andhowhewasnowweddedtoHelenofTroy。YetthelocaltraditionofLacedaemonshowedthesepulchreofHeleninTherapnae。

AccordingtoaRhodianlegend（adoptedbytheauthorofthe"EpicofHades"），HelenwasbanishedfromSpartabythesonsofMenelaus，camewanderingtoRhodes，andwastherestrangledbytheservantsofthequeenPolyxo，whothusavengedthedeathofherhusbandatTroy。Itiscertain，aswelearnbothfromHerodotus（vi。61）andfromIsocrates，thatHelenwasworshippedinTherapnae。InthedaysofAristontheking，adeformedchildwasdailybroughtbyhernursetotheshrineofHelen。Anditissaidthat，asthenursewasleavingtheshrine，awomanappeareduntoher，andaskedwhatsheboreinherarms，whosaid，"sheboreachild。"Thenthewomansaid，"showittome，"whichthenurserefused，fortheparentsofthechildhadforbiddenthatsheshouldbeseenofany。Butthewomanstraitlycommandingthatthechildshouldbeshown，andtheotherbeholdinghereagerness，atlengththenurseshowedthechild，andthewomancaresseditsfaceandsaid，"sheshallbethefairestwomaninSparta。"Andfromthatdaythefashionofitscountenancewaschanged，"andthechildbecamethefairestofalltheSpartanwomen。"

ItisacharacteristicofGreekliteraturethat，withtheriseofdemocracy，theoldepicconceptionoftheancientheroesaltered。WecanscarcelyrecognizetheOdysseusofHomerintheOdysseusofSophocles。ThekingsareregardedbythetragedianswithsomeofthedistrustandhatredwhichtheunconstitutionaltyrantsofAthenshadaroused。JustasthelaterchansonsdegesteofFrance，thepoemswritteninanageoffeudaloppositiontocentralauthority，degradedheroeslikeCharles，sorhetorical，republican，andsophisticalGreeceputitsquibblesintothelipsofAgamemnonandHelen，andslanderedthestainlessandfearlessPatroclusandAchilles。

TheHelenofEuripides，inthe"Troades，"isapettifoggingsophist，whopleadshercausetoMenelauswithrhetoricalartifice。Inthe"Helena，"again，EuripidesquitedesertstheHomerictraditions，andadoptsthelatemythswhichdeniedthatHeleneverwenttoTroy。SheremainedinEgypt，andAchaeansandTrojansfoughtforamereshadow，formedbytheGodsoutofcloudsandwind。Inthe"Cyclops"ofEuripides，asatiricaldrama，thecynicalgiantisallowedtospeakofHeleninastrainofcoarsebanter。PerhapstheessayofIsocratesonHelenmayberegardedasakindofanswertotheattacksofseveralspeakersintheworksofthetragedians。IsocratesdefendsHelensimplyonthepleaofherbeauty:"ToHeraclesZeusgavestrength，toHelenbeauty，whichnaturallyrulesoverevenstrengthitself。"Beauty，hedeclares，theGodsthemselvesconsiderthenoblestthingintheworld，astheGoddessesshowedwhentheycontendedfortheprizeofloveliness。Andsomarvellous，saysIsocrates，wasthebeautyofHelen，thatforhergloryZeusdidnotsparehisbelovedson，Sarpedon;andThetissawAchillesdie，andtheDawnbewailedherMemnon。"Beautyhasraisedmoremortalstoimmortalitythanalltheothervirtuestogether。"AndthatHelenisnowaGoddess，IsocratesprovesbythefactthatthesacrificesofferedtoherinTherapnae，aresuchasaregiven，nottoheroes，buttoimmortalGods。

WhenRometookupthelegendsofGreece，shedidsoinnochivalrousspirit。FewpoetsarelesschivalrousthanVirgil;noherohaslessofchivalrythanhispiousandtearfulAeneas。InthesecondbookoftheAeneid，thepiousonefindsHelenhidingintheshrineofVesta，anddeterminestoslay"thecommoncurseofTroyandofherowncountry。"Thereisnoglory，headmits，inmurderingawoman:—

ExtinxissenefastamenetsumpsissemerentisLaudaborpoenas，animumqneexplessejuvabitUltricisflammae，etcineressatiassemeorum。

ButVenusappearsandrescuestheunworthyloverofDidofromthecrowninginfamywhichhecontemplates。Hundredsofyearslater，HelenfoundaworthierpoetinQuintusSmyrnaeus，whoinalateagesangtheswan—songofGreekepicminstrelsy。Itisthusthat（inthefourthcenturyA。D。）QuintusdescribesHelen，assheisledwiththecaptivewomenofIlios，totheshipsoftheAchaeans:—"NowHelenlamentednot，butshamedweltinherdarkeyes，andreddenedherlovelycheeks，……whilearoundherthepeoplemarvelledastheybeheldtheflawlessgraceandwinsomebeautyofthewoman，andnonedaredupbraidherwithsecrettauntoropenrebuke。Nay，asshehadbeenaGoddesstheybeheldhergladly，fordearanddesiredwassheintheirsight。Andaswhentheirowncountryappearethtomenlongwanderingonthesea，andthey，beingescapedfromdeathandthedeep，gladlyputforththeirhandstogreettheirownnativeplace;

evensoalltheDanaansweregladatthesightofher，andhadnomorememoryofalltheirwofultoil，andthedinofwar:suchaspiritdidCythereaputintotheirhearts，outoffavourtofairHelenandfatherZeus。"ThusQuintusmakesamendsforthetrivialversesinwhichColuthusdescribestheflightofafrivolousHelenwithaneffeminateParis。

TofollowthefortunesofHelenthroughthemiddleageswoulddemandmuchspaceandconsiderableresearch。ThepoetswhoreadDaresPhrygiusbelieved，withthescholarofDr。Faustus，that"HelenofGreecewastheadmirablestladythateverlived。"WhenEnglishpoetryfirstfoundthesecretofperfectmusic，hersweetestnumberswereofferedbyMarloweattheshrineofHelen。ThespeechofFaustusisalmosttoohackneyedtobequoted，andaltogethertoobeautifultobeomitted:—

Wasthisthefacethatlaunchedathousandships，AndburntthetoplesstowersofIlium！

SweetHelen，makemeimmortalwithakiss。

Herlipssuckforthmysoul！seewhereitflies;

Come，Helen，come，givememysoulagain;

HerewillIdwell，forheavenisinthoselips，AndallisdrossthatisnotHelena。

OhthouartfairerthantheeveningairCladinthebeautyofathousandstars。

ThelovesofFaustusandHelenarereadilyallegorizedintothepassionoftheRenaissanceforclassicalbeauty，thepassiontowhichallthatisnotbeautyseemedverydross。Thisistheideaofthesecondpartof"Faust，"inwhichHelenoncemorebecame，assheprophesiedintheIliad，asonginthemouthsoflatermen。AlmostherlatestapparitioninEnglishpoetry，isinthe"Hellenics"ofLandor。ThesweetnessofthecharacterofHelen;thetragedyofthedeathofCorythusbythehandofhisfatherParis;andtheomnipotenceofbeautyandcharmwhichtriumphoverthewrathofMenelaus，arethesubjectsofLandor’sverse。ButHelen，asawoman，hashardlyfoundanoblerpraise，inthreethousandyears，thanHelen，asachild，hasreceivedfromMr。Swinburnein"AtalantainCalydon。"Meleageristhespeaker:—

Evensuch（forsailinghitherIsawfarhence，AndwhereEurotashollowshismoistrockNighSparta，withastrenuous—heartedstream）

EvensuchIsawtheirsisters;oneswan—white，ThelittleHelen，andlessfairthansheFairClytemnestra，graveaspasturingfawnsWhofeedandfearsomearrow;butatwhiles，Asonesmittenwithloveorwrungwithjoy，Shelaughsandlightenswithhereyes，andthenWeeps;whereatHelen，havinglaughed，weepstoo，Andtheotherchidesher，andshebeingchidspeaksnaught，ButcheeksandlipsandeyelidskissesherLaughing，sofarethey，asintheirbloomlessbudAndfullofunblownlife，thebloodofgods。

ThereisalltheironyofFateinAlthaeas’replySweetdaysbefallthemandgoodlovesandlords，Tenderandtemperatehonoursofthehearths，Peace，andaperfectlifeandblamelessbed。