I。
ThegreyDawn’sdaughter，rosyMornawokeInoldTithonus’arms，andsuddenlyLetharnessherswiftsteedsbeneaththeyoke，Anddravehershiningchariotthroughthesky。
ThenmenmightseetheflocksofThunderfly，Allgoldandrose，theazurepasturesthrough，WhattimethelarkwascarollingonhighAbovethegardensdrench’dwithrainydew。
II。
ButAphroditesentaslumberdeepOnallintheKing’spalace，youngandold，Andonebyonethewomenfellasleep，—
Theirlamentabletaleslefthalfuntold，—
Beforethedawn，whenfolkwaxweakandcold，ButHelenwaken’dwiththeshiningmorn，Forgettingquitehersorrowsmanifold，Andlightofheartaswasthedaynew—born。
III。
Shehadnomemoryofunhappythings，Sheknewnotoftheevildaystocome，Forgottenwereherancientwanderings，AndasLethaeanwaterswhollynumbThesenseofspiritsinElysium，Thatnoremembrancemaytheirblissalloy，Evensotherumourofherdayswasdumb，Andallherheartwasreadyfornewjoy。
IV。
Theyoungdayknowsnotofanelderdawn，Joysofoldnoons，oldsorrowsofthenight，AndsofromHelenwasthepastwithdrawn，Herlord，herchild，herhomeforgottenquite，Lostinthemarvelofanewdelight:
Shewasasonewhoknowsheshallnotdie，WhenearthlycoloursmeltintothebrightPuresplendourofhisimmortality。
V。
ThenHelenrose，andallherbodyfairShebath’dinthespringwater，pureandcold，AndwithherhandbounduphershininghairAndclothedherintheraimentthatofoldAthenewroughtwithmarvelsmanifold，Abridalgiftfromanimmortalhand，Andallthefrontwasclasp’dwithclaspsofgold，Andforthegirdlewasagoldenband。
VI。
NextfromherupperchambersilentlyWentHelen，movinglikeamorningdream。
Shedidnotknowthegoldenroof，thehighWalls，andtheshieldsthatonthepillarsgleam，OnlysheheardthemurmurofthestreamThatwatersallthegarden’swideexpanse，Thissong，andcryofsingingbirds，didseemToguideherfeetasmusicguidesthedance。
VII。
ThemusicdrewherontothegladairFromforththechamberofenchanteddeath，Andlo！theworldwaswakingeverywhere;
Thewindwentby，acooldeliciousbreath，Likethatwhichinthegardenswandereth，ThegoldengardensoftheHesperides，Andinitssongunheardofthingsitsaith，Themyriadmarvelsofthefairyseas。
VIII。
SothroughthecourtyardtothegardencloseWentHelen，wheresheheardthemurmuringOfwater’twixtthelilyandtherose;
Fortherebydothadoublefountainspring。
ToonestreamdothewomenpitchersbringByMenelaus’gates，atcloseofday;
Theotherthroughtheclosedothshineandsing，ThentotheswiftEurotasfleetsaway。
IX。
AndHelensatherdownuponthegrass，Andpluck’dthelittledaisieswhiteandred，Andtoss’dthemwheretherunningwaterspass，Towatchthemracingfromthefountain—head，Andwhirl’daboutwherelittlestreamsdispread;
Andstillwithmerrybirdsthegardenrang，And，MARRY，MARRY，intheirsongtheysaid，Orsodomaidsinterpretthattheysang。
X。
Thenstoop’dshedown，andwatch’dthecrystalstream，Andfishespoisingwherethewatersran，Andlo！upontheglassagoldengleam，AndpurpleasofrobesSidonian，Then，suddenturning，shebeheldaman，Thatkneltbesideher;asherownfacefairWashis，ando’erhisshouldersforaspanFellthebrighttressesofhisyellowhair。
XI。
Theneitherlook’donotherwithamazeAseachhadseenaGod;fornolongwhileTheymarvell’d，butasinthefirstofdays，Thefirstofmenandmaidsdidmeetandsmile，AndAphroditedidtheirheartsbeguile，Sohandsmethands，lipslips，withnowordsaidWeretheyenchanted’neaththatleafyaisle，Andsilentlywerewoo’d，betroth’d，andwed。
XII。
Ah，slowlydidtheirsilencewaketowordsThatscarcehadmoreofmeaningthanthesongPour’dforthoftheinnumerablebirdsThatfillthepalacegardensalldaylong;
Soinnocent，soignorantofwrong，Wasshe，sohappyeachinother’seyes，ThuswroughtthemightyGoddessthatisstrong，Eventomakenaughtthewisdomofthewise。
XIII。
NowinthemidstofthatenchantedplaceRightgladlyhadtheylinger’dalldaythrough，Andfedtheirloveuponeachother’sface，ButAphroditehadacounselnew，AndsilentlytoParis’sideshedrew，InguiseofAethra，whisperingthatthedayPass’don，whilehisshipwaited，andhiscrewImpatient，inthenarrowGythianbay。
XIV。
Forthitherhadshebroughtthembyherskill;
ButHelensawhernot，——nay，whocanseeAGoddesscomeorgoagainstherwill？
ThenPariswhisper’d，\"Come，ah，Love，withme！
Cometoashorebeyondthebarrensea;
Theredoththebridalcrownawaitthyhead，Andthereshallallthelandbegladofthee！\"
Then，likeachild，shefollow’dwhereheled。
XV。
For，likeachild’shergentleheartwasglad。
Sothroughthecourtyardpass’dtheytothegate;
Andeventhere，asAphroditebade，ThesteedsofParisandthechariotswait;
Thentothewell—wroughtcarheledherstraight，Andgraspedtheshiningwhipandgoldenrein，AndswifttheydraveuntilthedaywaslateByclearEurotasthroughthefruitfulplain。
XVI。
ButnowwithinthehallsthemagicsleepWasbroken，andmensoughtthemeverywhere;
YetAphroditecastacloudsodeepAbouttheirchariotnonemightseethemthere。
Andstrangelydidtheyhearthetrumpetsblare，Andnoiseofracingwheels;yetsawtheynought:
Thendiedthesoundsuponthedistantair，Andsafetheywonthehaventhattheysought。
XVII。
Beneathagrassycliff，beneaththedown，WhereswiftEurotasmingleswiththesea，Thereclimb’dthegreywallsofalittletown，Thesleepywaterswash’ditlanguidly，Fortempestsinthathavenmightnotbe。
Theisleacrosstheinletguardedall，AndtheshrillwindsthatroamtheoceanfreeBrokeandwerebrokenontherockywall。
XVIII。
ThenParisdidapointofhuntingblow，NoryetthesoundhaddieduponthehillWhenroundtheisletheyspiedascarletprow，Andoarsthatflash’dintothathavenstill，Theoarsmenbendingforwardwithawill，Andswifttheirblackshiptothehaven—sideTheybrought，andsteer’dherinwithgoodlyskill，AndbareonboardthestrangeAchaeanbride。
XIX。
Nowwhiletheswiftshipthroughthewatersclave，Allhappythingsthatinthewatersdwell，Aroseandgamboll’dontheglassywave，AndNereusledthemwithhissoundingshell:
Yea，thesea—nymphs，theirdancesweavingwell，Inthegreenwatergavethemgreetingfree。
Ah，longlightlinger’d，latethedarknessfell，Thatnight，upontheisleofCranae！
XX。
AndHymenshookhisfragranttorchonhigh，Tillallitswavesofsmokeandtonguesofflame，Likecloudsofrosygoldfulfill’dthesky;
AndalltheNereidsfromthewaterscame，Eachmaidenwithamusicalsweetname;
Doris，andDoto，andAmphithoe;
AndtheirshrillbridalsongofloveandshameMademusicinthesilenceofthesea。
XXI。
Forthiswaslikethatnightofsummerweather，Whenmortalmenandmaidenswithoutfear，Andforest—nymphs，andforest—godstogether，DoworshipPaninthelongtwilightclear。
AndArtemisthisonenightsparesthedeer，Andeverycaveanddell，andeverygroveIsgladwithsingingsoftandhappycheer，Withlaughter，andwithdalliance，andwithlove。
*
XXII。
Nowwhenthegolden—thronedDawnaroseTowakengodsandmortalsoutofsleep，QueenAphroditesentthewindthatblowsFromfairygardensoftheWesterndeep。
Thesailsarespread，theoarsofParisleapPastmanyaheadland，manyahauntedfane:
And，merrilyallfromisletoisletheysweepO’erthewetwaysacrossthebarrenplain。
XXIII。
Bymanyanislandfort，andmanyahavenTheysped，andmanyacrowdedarsenal:
TheysawthelovesofGodsandmenengravenOnfriezesofAstarte’stemplewall。
TheyheardthatancientshepherdProteuscallHisflockfromforththegreenandtumblinglea，AndsawwhiteThetiswithhermaidensallSweepuptohighOlympusfromthesea。
XXIV。
Theysawthevainandwearytoilofmen，Theshipsthatwintherichmanallhecraves;
Theypass’dthered—prow’dbarksEgyptian，AndheardafarthemoaningoftheslavesPentinthedarkhotholdbeneaththewaves;
AndscathelesstheSardanianfleetsamongTheysail’d;bymenthatsowtheseawithgraves，Bearingblackfatetofolkofalientongue。
XXV。
ThenalldaylongarollingcloudofsmokeWouldhangonthesea—limits，faintandfar，Butthroughthenightthebeacon—flameupbrokeFromsomerichisland—townbegirtwithwar;
AndallthesethingscouldneithermakenormarThejoyofloverswandering，buttheySpedhappily，andheedlessofthestarThathungo’ertheirgladhaven，faraway。
XXVI。
Thefisher—sentinelupontheheightWatch’dthemwithvacanteyes，andlittleknewTheyborethefateofTroy;tohimthebrightPlashedwaters，withthesilvershiningthroughWhentunnyshoalscamecruisingintheblue，WasmorethanLovethatdoththeworldunmake;
AndlistlessgazedheasthegullsthatflewAndshriek’dandchatter’dinthevessel’swake。
XXVII。
Sothewinddravethem，andthewatersbareAcrossthegreatgreenplainunharvested，Tillthroughanafter—glowtheyknewthefairFaintroseofsnowondistantIda’shead。
Andswifterthenthejoyousoarsmensped;
Butnightwasended，andthewaveswerefireBeneaththefleetfeetofadawningredOreretheywonthelandoftheirdesire。
XXVIII。
NowwhenthefolkaboutthehavenknewThescarletprowofParis，swifttheyranAndthegoodshipwithinthehavendrew，Andmerrilytheirwelcomingbegan。
ButnonethefaceofHelendaredtoscan;
Theirboldeyesfellbeforetheyhadtheirfill，Forallmendeem’dherthatIdalianWholovedAnchisesonthelonelyhill。
XXIX。
ButwhenhersweetsmileandhergentlenessAndherkindspeechhadwonthemfromdismay，Theychangedtheirminds，and’gantheGodstoblessWhobroughttoIliosthathappyday。
AndallthefolkfairHelenmustconvey，Crown’dlikeabride，andcladwithflame—huedpall，Throughtherichplain，alongthewater—wayRighttothegreatgatesoftheIlianwall。
XXX。
Andthroughthevinestheypass’d，whereoldandyoungHadnomoreheedofthegladvintaging，Butallunpluck’dthepurpleclustershung，NormoreofLinusdidtheminstrelsing，Forheandallthefolkwerefollowing，Wine—stain’dandgarlanded，inmerrybands，LikemenwhenDionysuscameasking，Andledhisrevelfromthesun—burntlands，XXXI。
SofromafarthemusicandtheshoutRoll’duptoIliosandtheScaeangate，AndatthesoundthecityfolkcameoutAndboresweetHelen——suchafairyweightAsnonemightdeemtheburdenofTroy’sfate—
Acrossthethresholdofthetown，andallFlock’dwithher，whereKingPriamsatinstate，Girtbyhiselders，ontheIlianwall。
XXXII。
Nomanbutknewhimbyhiscrownofgold，Andgolden—studdedsceptre，andhisthrone;
Ay，strongheseem’dasthosegreatkingsofold，WhoseimageiseternalonthestoneWonfromthedustthatoncewasBabylon;
Butkindofmoodwashewithal，andmild，AndwhenhiseyesonArgiveHelenshone，Helovedherasafatherdothachild。
XXXIII。
Roundhimweresethispeers，asPanthous，Antenor，andAgenor，hardlygrey，Scarcetouch’dasyetwithage，norgarrulousAsarecicalasonasunnyday:
Suchmighttheybewhenyearshadslipp’daway，Andmadethemover—weakforwarorjoy，ContenttowatchtheLeaguerasitlayBesidetheships，beneaththewallsofTroy。
XXXIV。
ThenParishadaneasytaletotell，Whichthenmightwinuponmen’swond’ringears，Whodeem’dthatGodswithmortalsdeigntodwell，AndthatthewateroftheWestenspheresThehappyIslesthatknownotDeathnortears;
Yea，andthoughmonstersdotheseislandsguard，YetmenwithintheircoastshaddweltforyearsUncounted，withastrangeloveforreward。
XXXV。
AndtherehadParisventured:sosaidhe，—
HadknowntheSirens’song，andCirce’swile;
AndinacoveofthatHesperianseaHadfoundamaidenonalonelyisle;
Asacrifice，ifsomenmightbeguileThewrathofsomebeast—godtheyworshipp’dthere，ButParis，’twixttheseaandstraitdefile，Hadslainthebeast，andwonthewomanfair。
XXXVI。
Thenwhilethehappypeoplecried\"Welldone，\"
AndPriam’sheartwasmeltedbythetale—
ForPariswashisbest—belovedson—
Cameawildwoman，withweteyes，andpaleSadface，menlook’donwhenshecastherveil，Notgladly;andnonemark’dthethingshesaid，YetmusttheyhearherlongandbodingwailThatfollow’dstill，howeverfleettheyfled。
XXXVII。
ShewasthepriestessofApollo’sfane，Cassandra，andtheGodofprophecySpurr’dhertospeakandrenther！butinvainShetoss’dherwastedarmsagainstthesky，Andbrakehergoldencircletangrily，Andshriek’dthattheyhadbroughtwithinthegateHelen，aserpentattheirheartstolie！
Helen，ahellofpeople，king，andstate！
XXXVIII。
ButeretheGodhadlefther;ereshefellAndfoam’damonghermaidensontheground，TheairwasringingwithamerryswellOfflute，andpipe，andeverysweetestsound，InAphrodite’sfane，andallaroundWererosestoss’dbeneaththeglimmeringgreenOfthathighroof，andHelentherewascrown’dTheGoddessoftheTrojans，andtheirQueen。
BOOKIV——THEDEATHOFCORYTHUS
HowHelenwasmadeanoutcastbytheTrojanwomen，andhowOEnone，theoldloveofParis，senthersonCorythustohimashermessenger，andhowParisslewhimunwittingly;andofthecursesofOEnone，andthecomingoftheArgivehostagainstTroy。
I。
ForlonginTroiawastherepeaceandmirth，Thepleasanthoursstillpassingonebyone;
AndHelenjoy’dateachfreshmorning’sbirth，Andalmostweptatsettingofthesun，Forsorrowthatthehappydaywasdone;
Nordream’dofyearswhensheshouldhatethelight，Andmournafreshforeverydaybegun，Norfareabroadsaveshamefullybynight。
II。
AndPariswasnotonetobackwardcastAfearfulglance;norplucksourfruitsofsin，Halfripe;butseizedallpleasureswhiletheylast，Norbodedevilereilldaysbegin。
Nay，norlamentedmuchwhencaughttherein，Ineachadventurealwaysfindingjoy，AndhopefulstillthroughwavesofwartowinBystrengthofHector，andthestarofTroy。
III。
Nowasthestormsdrivewhitesea—birdsafarWithingreenuplandglenstoseekforrest，SorumourspaleofanapproachingwarWereblownacrosstheislandsfromthewest:
ForAgamemnonsummon’dallthebestFromtownsandtribesheruled，andgavecommandThatfreemenallshouldgatherathishestThroughcoastsandisletsoftheArgiveland。
IV。
Sidonianmerchant—menhadseenthefleetBlackwar—galleysthatspedfromtowntotown;
Hadheardthehammersofthebronze—smithsbeatThelongdaythrough，andwhenthesunwentdown;
Andthin，saidthey，wouldshowtheleafycrownOnmanyasacredmountain—peakinspring，Formenhadfell’dthepine—treestallandbrownTofashionthemcurvedshipsforseafaring。
V。
Andstilltherumourgrew;forheraldscame，OldmenfromArgos，bearingholyboughs，DemandinggreatatonementfortheshameAndsoredespitedoneMenelaus’house;
Buthomewardsoontheyturn’dtheirscarletprows，Andalltheirwearyvoyagingwasvain;
ForTroyhadboundherselfwithawfulvowsTocleavetoHelentillthewallswereta’en。
VI。
Andnow，likeswallowserethewinterweather，Thewomeninshrillgroupsweregathering，Witheagertonguesstillcommuningtogether，AndmanyatauntatHelenwouldtheyfling，Ay，throughherinnocenceshefeltthesting，Andshamedwasnowhergentlefaceandsweet，Fore’enthechildrenevilsongswouldsingTomockherasshehasteddownthestreet。
VII。
Alsothemenwhoworshipp’dherofoldAsshehadbeenagoddessfromabove，Gazedathernowwithlustfuleyesandbold，AsshewerenaughtbutParis’light—o’—love;
Andthoughintruththeystillwereproudenough，Ofthatfairgemintheiroldcityset，YetwellsheknewthatwantonwordandscoffWentroundthecamp—firewhenthewarriorsmet。
VIII。
TherecameacertainholidaywhenTroyWaswonttosendhernoblematronsall，Youngwivesandold，withclamourandwithjoy，ToclotheAtheneinhertemplehall，Androbeherinastatelybroider’dpall。
ButnowtheydrovefairHelenfromtheirtrain，\"Better，\"theyscream’d，\"tocastherfromthewall，ThanmocktheGodswithofferingsinvain。\"
IX。
Onejoyshehad，thatParisyetwastrue，Ay，fickleParis，trueuntotheend;
AndinthecourtofIliosweretwoKindhearts，stilleagerHelentodefend，Andhelpandcomfortinallneedtolend:—
ThegentleHectorwithsoftspeechandmild，Andtheoldkingthateverwasherfriend，Andlovedherasafatherdothhischild。
X。
These，thoughtheyknewnotall，theseblamedhernot，ButcasttheheavyburdenontheGod，Whosewrath，theydeem’d，hadverilywaxedhotAgainstthepainfulraceonearththattrod，AndinGod’shandwasHelenbuttherodToscourgeapeoplethat，inunknownwise，Hadvex’dthefarOlympianabodeWithsecretsinorstintedsacrifice。