Had strangled him;) but that, in time, the Cyprian seed of Jove Did brake the string, with which was lin’d that which the needle wove, And was the tough thong of a steer; and so the victor’s palm Was, for so full a man-at-arms, only an empty helm. That then he swung about his head, and cast among his friends, Who scrambled, and took ’t up with shouts. Again then he intends To force the life-blood of his foe, and ran on him amain, With shaken jav’lin; when the Queen, that lovers loves, again[1] Attended, and now ravish’d him from that encounter quite, With ease, and wondrous suddenly; for she, a Goddess, might. She hid him in a cloud of gold, and never made him known, Till in his chamber, fresh and sweet, she gently set him down, And went for Helen; whom she found in Scæa’s utmost height, To which whole swarms of city dames had climb’d to see the sight. To give her errand good success, she took on her the shape Of beldame Græa, who was brought by Helen, in her rape, From Lacedæmon, and had trust in all her secrets still, Being old, and had (of all her maids) the main bent of her will, And spun for her her finest wool. Like her, Love’s Empress came, Pull’d Helen by the heav’nly veil, and softly said: “Madame, My lord calls for you, you must needs make all your kind haste home; He’s in your chamber, stays, and longs; sits by your bed; pray come, ’Tis richly made, and sweet; but he more sweet, and looks so clear, So fresh, and movingly attir’d, that, seeing, you would swear He came not from the dusky fight, but from a courtly dance, Or would to dancing.” This she made a charm for dalliance; Whose virtue Helen felt, and knew, by her so radiant eyes, White neck, and most enticing breasts, the deified disguise. At which amaz’d, she answer’d her: “Unhappy Deity! Why lov’st thou still in these deceits to wrap my phantasy? Or whither yet, of all the towns giv’n to their lust beside, In Phrygia, or Mæonia, com’st thou to be my guide, If there (of divers-languag’d men thou hast, as here in Troy, Some other friend to be my shame; since here thy latest joy By Menelaus now subdu’d, by him shall I be borne Home to his court, and end my life in triumphs of his scorn? And, to this end, would thy deceits my wanton life allure? Hence, go thyself to Priam’s son and all the ways abjure Of Gods, or godlike-minded dames, nor ever turn again Thy earth-affecting feet to heav’n but for his sake sustain Toils here; guard, grace him endlessly, till he requite thy grace By giving thee my place with him; or take his servant’s place, If, all dishonourable ways, your favours seek to serve His never-pleas’d incontinence; I better will deserve, Than serve his dotage now. What shame were it for me to feed This lust in him; all honour’d dames would hate me for the deed! He leaves a woman’s love so sham’d, and shows so base a mind, To feel nor my shame nor his own; griefs of a greater kind Wound me than such as can admit such kind delights so soon.”