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cups； and these are wonderfully life…like。 The vases and pots of
earthenware were painted in charming patterns： in short； it was a
splendid world to live in。
The people believed in many Gods； male and female； under the chief
God； Zeus。 The Gods were thought to be taller than men； and immortal；
and to live in much the same way as men did； eating； drinking； and
sleeping in glorious palaces。 Though they were supposed to reward good
men； and to punish people who broke their oaths and were unkind to
strangers； there were many stories told in which the Gods were fickle；
cruel； selfish； and set very bad examples to men。 How far these stories
were believed is not sure； it is certain that 〃all men felt a need of the
Gods；〃 and thought that they were pleased by good actions and displeased
by evil。 Yet； when a man felt that his behaviour had been bad； he often
threw the blame on the Gods； and said that they had misled him； which
really meant no more than that 〃he could not help it。〃
There was a curious custom by which the princes bought wives from
the fathers of the princesses； giving cattle and gold； and bronze and iron；
but sometimes a prince got a wife as the reward for some very brave
action。 A man would not give his daughter to a wooer whom she did not
love； even if he offered the highest price； at least this must have been the
general rule； for husbands and wives were very fond of each other； and of
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Tales of Troy
their children； and husbands always allowed their wives to rule the house；
and give their advice on everything。 It was thought a very wicked thing
for a woman to like another man better than her husband； and there were
few such wives； but among them was the most beautiful woman who ever
lived。
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Tales of Troy
THE WOOING OF HELEN OF
THE FAIR HANDS
This was the way in which people lived when Ulysses was young； and
wished to be married。 The worst thing in the way of life was that the
greatest and most beautiful princesses might be taken prisoners； and
carried off as slaves to the towns of the men who had killed their fathers
and husbands。 Now at that time one lady was far the fairest in the world：
namely； Helen； daughter of King Tyndarus。 Every young prince heard of
her and desired to marry her； so her father invited them all to his palace；
and entertained them； and found out what they would give。 Among the
rest Ulysses went； but his father had a little kingdom； a rough island； with
others near it； and Ulysses had not a good chance。 He was not tall；
though very strong and active； he was a short man with broad shoulders；
but his face was handsome； and； like all the princes； he wore long yellow
hair； clustering like a hyacinth flower。 His manner was rather hesitating；
and he seemed to speak very slowly at first； though afterwards his words
came freely。 He was good at everything a man can do； he could plough；
and build houses； and make ships； and he was the best archer in Greece；
except one； and could bend the great bow of a dead king； Eurytus； which
no other man could string。 But he had no horses； and had no great train
of followers； and； in short； neither Helen nor her father thought of
choosing Ulysses for her husband out of so many tall； handsome young
princes； glittering with gold ornaments。 Still； Helen was very kind to
Ulysses； and there was great friendship between them； which was
fortunate for her in the end。
Tyndarus first made all the princes take an oath that they would stand
by the prince whom he chose； and would fight for him in all his quarrels。
Then he named for her husband Menelaus； King of Lacedaemon。 He was
a very brave man； but not one of the strongest； he was not such a fighter as
the gigantic Aias； the tallest and strongest of men； or as Diomede； the
friend of Ulysses； or as his own brother； Agamemnon； the King of the rich
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Tales of Troy
city of Mycenae； who was chief over all other princes； and general of the
whole army in war。 The great lions carved in stone that seemed to guard
his city are still standing above the gate through which Agamemnon used
to drive his chariot。
The man who proved to be the best fighter of all； Achilles； was not
among the lovers of Helen； for he was still a boy； and his mother； Thetis of
the silver feet； a goddess of the sea； had sent him to be brought up as a girl；
among the daughters of Lycomedes of Scyros； in an island far away。
Thetis did this because Achilles was her only child； and there was a
prophecy that； if he went to the wars； he would win the greatest glory； but
die very young； and never see his mother again。 She thought that if war
broke out he would not be found hiding in girl's dress； among girls； far
away。
So at last； after thinking over the matter for long； Tyndarus gave fair
Helen to Menelaus； the rich King of Lacedaemon； and her twin sister
Clytaemnestra； who was also very beautiful； was given to King
Agamemnon； the chief over all the princes。 They all lived very happily
together at first； but not for long。
In the meantime King Tyndarus spoke to his brother Icarius； who had a
daughter named Penelope。 She also was very pretty； but not nearly so
beautiful as her cousin； fair Helen； and we know that Penelope was not
very fond of her cousin。 Icarius； admiring the strength and wisdom of
Ulysses； gave him his daughter Penelope to be his wife； and Ulysses loved
her very dearly； no man and wife were ever dearer to each other。 They
went away together to rocky Ithaca； and perhaps Penelope was not sorry
that a wide sea lay between her home and that of Helen； for Helen was not
only the fairest woman that ever lived in the world； but she was so kind
and gracious and charming that no man could see her without loving her。
When she was