<h2><SPAN name="page9"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>HELEN OF TROY</h2>
<h3>ON THE ISLE OF CRANAE</h3>
<p class="poetry">The world an abject vassal to her charms,<br/>
And kings competing for a single smile,<br/>
Yet love she knew not, till upon this isle<br/>
She gave surrender to abducting arms.<br/>
Not Theseus, who plucked her lips’ first kiss,<br/>
Not Menelaus, lawful mate and spouse,<br/>
Such answering passion in her heart could rouse,<br/>
Or wake such tumult in her soul as this.<br/>
Let come what will, let Greece and Asia meet,<br/>
Let heroes die and kingdoms run with gore;<br/>
Let devastation spread from shore to shore—<br/>
Resplendent Helen finds her bondage sweet.<br/>
The whole world fights her battles, while she lies<br/>
Sunned in the fervour of young Paris’ eyes.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="page10"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>ON THE ISLE OF RHODES</h3>
<p class="poetry">The battles ended, ardent Paris dead,<br/>
Of faithful Menelaus long bereft,<br/>
Time is the only suitor who is left:<br/>
Helen survives, with youth and beauty fled.<br/>
By hate remembered, but by love forgot,<br/>
Dethroned and driven from her high estate,<br/>
Unhappy Helen feels the lash of Fate<br/>
And knows at last an unloved woman’s lot.<br/>
The Grecian marvel, and the Trojan joy,<br/>
The world’s fair wonder, from her palace
flies<br/>
The furies follow, and great Helen dies,<br/>
A death of horror, for the pride of Troy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * *</p>
<p class="poetry">Yet Time, like Menelaus, all forgives.<br/>
Helen, immortal in her beauty, lives.</p>
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