The Story of Troy | Page 9

until he was about to die of a wound received
from one of the Greeks in the Trojan War. Å’none knew what was to
happen, for Apollo had conferred upon her the gift of prophecy, and
she warned Paris that if he should go away from her he would bring
ruin on himself and his country, telling him also that he would seek for
her help when it would be too late to save him. These predictions, as
we shall see, were fulfilled. Å’none's grief and despair in her loneliness
after the departure of Paris are touchingly described in Tennyson's
poem:

"O happy Heaven, how canst thou see my face? O happy earth, how
canst thou bear my weight? O death, death, death, thou ever-floating
cloud, There are enough unhappy on this earth, Pass by the happy souls,
that love to live: I pray thee, pass before my light of life, And shadow
all my soul, that I may die. Thou weighest heavy on the heart within,
Weigh heavy on my eyelids: let me die."
At the athletic games in Troy everybody admired the noble appearance
of Paris, but nobody knew who he was. In the competitions he won all
the first prizes, for Venus had given him godlike strength and swiftness.
He defeated even Hector, who was the greatest athlete of Troy. Hector,
angry at finding himself and all the highborn young men of the city
beaten by an unknown stranger, resolved to put him to death, and Paris
would probably have been killed, had he not fled for safety into the
temple of Jupiter. Cassandra, who happened to be in the temple at the
time, noticed Paris closely, and observing that he bore a strong
resemblance to her brothers, she asked him about his birth and age.
From his answers she was satisfied that he was her brother, and she at
once introduced him to the king. Further inquiries were then made. The
old shepherd, Archelaus, to whom Paris had been delivered in his
infancy to be exposed on Mount Ida, was still living, and he came and
told his story. Then King Priam and Queen Hecuba joyfully embraced
and welcomed their son, never thinking of the terrible dream or of the
prophecy of Æsacus. Hector, no longer angry or jealous, was glad to
see his brother, and proud of his victories in the games. Everybody
rejoiced except Cassandra. She knew the evil which was to come to
Troy through Paris, but nobody would give credit to what the "mad
prophetess" said.
Thus restored to his high position as a prince of the royal house of Troy,
Paris now resided in his father's palace, apparently contented and happy.
But the promise made to him on Mount Ida, which he carefully
concealed from his family, was always in his mind. His thoughts were
ever turned toward Greece, where dwelt the fairest woman of those
times. This was Helen, wife of Men-e-laʹus, king of Sparʹta,
celebrated throughout the ancient world for her matchless beauty. Paris
had been promised the fairest woman for his wife, and he felt sure that

it could be no other than the far-famed Helen. To Greece therefore he
resolved to go, as soon as there should be an excuse for undertaking
what was then a long and dangerous voyage of many weeks, though in
our day it is no more than a few hours' sail.
The occasion was found when King Priam resolved to send
ambassadors to the island of Salamis to demand the restoration of his
sister Hesione, whom Hercules had carried off many years before. Her
husband, Telamon, was now dead, but his son Aʹjax still held her as a
prisoner at his court. Priam had never forgotten his sister's love for
himself, for she it was, as will be remembered, who redeemed him from
slavery and placed him on his father's throne. He now determined that
she should be brought back to her native country, and Paris earnestly
begged permission to take charge of the expedition which was to be
sent to Salamis for that purpose. Priam consented, and a fleet worthy to
convey the son of the king of Troy and his retinue to Greece was built
by Pherʹe-clus, a skillful Trojan craftsman, whom the goddess
Minerva (Pallas) had instructed in all kinds of workmanship.
For loved by Pallas, Pallas did impart To him the shipwright's and the
builder's art. Beneath his hand the fleet of Paris rose, The fatal cause of
all his country's woes.
POPE, Iliad, Book V.
Before the departure of the fleet, Cassandra raised her voice of warning,
but as usual her words were not heeded, and so Paris set sail. He
reached the shores of Greece in safety; but instead of proceeding to
Salamis to demand Hesione from King