THE THIRTY-SECOND PAPYRUS

But King Zeys lavished rich rewards, dividing the Roman territories among gods and heroes, giving temples to some and altars to others, to say nothing of blank walls eligible for immortal effigies. But, because I was by no means anxious to have assigned to me the worship of mortal men (for, having been myself a man more than once, I know something about the value of men’s worship; and I care as little for suitors who adulate as for enemies who feel bound to propitiate), then, the Father and King of gods and men deigned to give me a wish, confirming the same with his nod, which is the surest pledge among the immortals. And I said that I would treasure this wish in my heart, so that I might use it on occasion: for I desired, at that moment, nothing more than to live in peace and love with Golden Helen. And that, I did.

Living in peace and love, thus, we entertained ourselves with hunting bears, dragons, and urchins,⁠[65] on the long slopes of lofty Olympos, or with delicate banquets in the halls of various gods. I, also, went frequently to and fro among mortal men, generally invisibly, amusing myself with their affairs. Also, I was wont to disport myself in my well-benched galley, a wonder to be seen, being drawn by Love over the grey-green sea at my will. For Hermes my grandsire, and bravely-steadfast Herakles, and my own cousin Perseys of the sea (the most renowned of heroes), used to accompany me in my jaunts; and, when these immortals saw my faithful slaves Neandros and Thalos, being cognizant of their fidelity and their fearlessness, and, also, having observed the ingenious mind and the stalwart form of Neandros and the luminous innocence of Thalos, then, indeed, they shewed them signal favours, putting into their minds a knowledge of many secrets which the gods and heroes find useful at times. Nor were the slaves afraid to have to do with these divine ones, having already braved the terrors of the netherworld with me, than which there is nothing more terrible, excepting a really horrid woman. But, because I (by magic art) had bound their lives to mine, and, because Great Zeys, in reward of my endurance and my wiles, had indued me with immortality, so Neandros and Thalos, being immortal as well (though they were neither gods nor heroes, but only the most comely and most faithful and most clever of slaves), became habituated to mingle themselves as conveniently with immortals as with mortals. Which is a wonderful and blessed thing.

But, after a few moons, when I from time to time returned to lofty Olympos, it seemed to me that Queen Helen was less cheerful than heretofore. And, when, one day, I found her sitting alone in her close chamber, weaving a white and silver shirt for me to wear at banquets, and the lids of her amber eyes were reddened as though with weeping, then, indeed, I required her to declare to her dear husband the cause of her grief. But she laid her head on my breast, letting fall a round tear: nor did she hide aught from me.

For, the long-smouldering jealousy of blameless Queen Aphrodite (the lady of the dog-star) had been breaking forth; and she was quite unable to remember good manners in the presence of Queen Helen. But it was plain to us all, that, as Queen Helen was far lovelier than she, Queen Aphrodite was no longer the goddess of beauty, though she still was the goddess of certain kinds of love. Yet, even on the last count, she complained, being shockingly jealous and upset. For she was aggrieved because ruddy young Love gave her little of his blooming company, having bound himself (with a silver chain) in service to me and to Queen Helen, flying here and there through air and shy for our exclusive diversion, neglecting her (his mamma) and other divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces. Which, indeed, was not altogether untrue: though hitherto we had not given the matter a thought.

Furthermore, white-armed Queen Hera (the most righteous of goddesses), had been speaking unpleasant words. For that prim matron, being jealous also, because King Zeys the Swan had procreated Golden Helen and her Great Twin Brothers out of matrimony, was wont to sneeze more or less covertly, giggling, flinging the names of victorious Theseys and sandy-haired impotent old Menelaos and woman-mad Paris at my stainless wife, designing to shame her and to deprive her mind of ease.

And all this was a very dreadful thing for a chaste and loving wife to bear. For, though bright-eyed Pallas Athene, and silvan Artemis (that wise athletic maiden), and fruitful Demeter and powerful Persephone (those noble matrons), and fair-ankled Hebe, and Iris of the rainbow, and all the other lady goddesses, being well-bred as well as well-born, behaved themselves to Queen Helen as to an equal, peerless in beauty and admirable for her faithful love, nevertheless, the unconcealed jealousy of the two flawed the fair apricock of her perfect joy. And, moreover, it must not be denied that the pique of Queen Aphrodite and the spleen of Queen Hera (both quite blameless) was, or would be, a cause of wrath, and secret stirring up of strife, and wordy bickering, and malice, and hinted lies, and curious reservations, and careful slightings, which would set all heaven by its blooming ears. And that is what no honest goddess can endure with a calm and holy mind.

Now, because of my unalloyed happiness, and because of my light-hearted absences, I had been ignorant of all these matters. But, when I understood them, having reproached myself sufficiently on account of my selfishness, then, indeed, divine Fury inflamed the mind in my noble breast with desire of bloody head-cuttings and eye-diggings and revenges and slaughters and maimings and stonings and spine-impalings. But, first, I consoled Queen Helen properly.

Then I began to bethink me of most shocking things, to wit, of certain cunning wiles whereby those two blameless goddesses might be made laughing-stocks, ridiculous among the divine ones who have never lost their faces. For I remembered that this would not be very difficult, for, once upon a time, Great Zeys himself had occasion to dangle white-armed Hera (the most righteous of goddesses) between heaven and earth for several months, having fastened anvils to her fat ankles, because she was excessively offensive. And even Hephaistos of the strong arm once caught blameless Aphrodite, his wife, diverting herself gaily with Ares; and he cast a magic web about them so that all the gods and goddesses might go and gibe at them at pleasure. And, indeed, it would not be difficult for anyone to make Queen Aphrodite look absurd: as most of the gods and heroes, and very many articulately-speaking men well know.

But Queen Helen was averse from all unkindness, and, as aforetime, when persecuted, she begged me to take her away from the netherworld, and from Khalkis, and likewise from Rome, so, now, indeed, she implored me to take her away from the height of Olympos, going (she said) peacefully, to seek some distant little kingdom on the wide-bosomed earth, where we (divine ones and immortal), having ourselves endured unmentioned and unthought-of pains, and possessing the secret wisdom of the gods, might live in peace and love with ourselves, doing good and kindly deeds among mortal men.

Now it happened, by chance, that (in my wanderings to and fro) I had never been altogether unmindful of the prediction of Belmarduk the god of Assyria, which he made to me when I dreamed in my barge in Egypt. And, once, when I was flying in my Love-drawn chariot, over the Aigaian Sea, and over Asia and Galatia and Kappadokia and Armenia, I espied the fair little realm of Moxoene, where mountains and pine and oak-forests were set round and about the salt Thospitian Sea; and the folk of the place were singularly comely, and intelligent and brave, having also ingenious and reverend minds: but they seemed to be as sheep without a shepherd.

Wherefore, I determined that the time had come for obeying the decrees of The Supreme, fulfilling the prediction of Belmarduk the god, and the sixth prediction which Thalos my innocent slave read in the palm-mirror. Moreover, I remembered the wish which Great Zeys had confirmed to me.

For which causes, then, I gave a great and splendid banquet to the immortals; and, when we had taken away the desire of eating and drinking (for I provided very exquisite odours of unmentioned and unthought-of fragrance), then, I stood up on my throne before them all; and my lordly spirit thus addressed Great Zeys, saying: “O Father and King of gods and men, let it not be imputed to me for an evil word when I ask that the drink-offering may be poured, and that I may go upon my way. For I am a little tired. For it seems that there is jealousy among the immortal goddesses because of the superior beauty of Golden Helen, to whom white-armed Hera and Aphrodite (lady of the dog-star) have spoken unwinged words. And they also complain because tameless Eros, the oldest and youngest of all gods, hath willingly tamed himself so far and for this occasion only to go before me and before Queen Helen in the way. For which cause, then, this is my wish, which thou already hast confirmed to me by thine irrevocable nod. I wish to go away at once, and in peace, from this blooming peak of Olympos, with Queen Helen my unsullied wife, and with my gear, that we may live once more among earth-trampling men, among whom we shall not be the least, seeing that we are immortal and have the secret wisdom of the gods. And I have found the kingdom of Moxoene by the Thospitian Sea, where I wish to dwell. Now, then, send me on my way, giving me good fortune, that I may take my noble wife to the beautiful home which I shall make for her. But ye, blessed gods, be pleased to abide here, all of you, making glad your own blooming wives and children, and enjoying all sorts of delicious delights.”

Thus I spoke. And my heart and lordly mind were exultant in my breast. For immense confusion and hubbub arose among the immortal gods; and the two jealous queens (the most righteous of goddesses), thoroughly exasperated by the wily and audacious mildness of my contemptuous words, bridled and sniffed, tossing their heads and beating their fat knees, glancing this way and that, madly, and saying that so many rash things had never been said before for them to sit there and hear.

But wing-footed Hermes, my grandsire, said: “Let him go where he will, this much-enduring much-contriving Odysseys who is surely Peer of Zeys in counsel, and Queen Helen who is indubitably the loveliest of mortals or immortals: for my rede is that my child deserves to be satisfied. But I myself will never be very far away from him in Moxoene; and, when ye gods by chance shall want a messenger, take blooming Iris of the rainbow.”

But bravely-steadfast Herakles said: “Let him go where he will, this hero Odysseys, and Queen Helen the most faithful of wives: for they ought to have some happiness after so much ill. But I myself will be at their call, whenever they ask for a champion.”

But in like manner also spoke my own cousin Perseys of the sea, the most renowned of heroes. And all the important gods and goddesses signified approval in the customary manner.

But Eros leaped up, blindfolded, naked, like a young and ruddy flame; and he said: “Oh, let them go where they will. But thou, O Great Zeys, whom I not seldom have wounded, be ware that I will not desert such true lovers as these. And, if thou keepest me here, thou wilt keep no more of me than my body. But I will make me a nest in their hearts for ever and ever. For I know where I am a welcome guest, and where I am unwelcome, and where I am treated simply as a blooming pastime with childish play, and where with due worship and honour.”

Then, the Father and King of gods and men drew down his immortal eyebrows: for the matter was an extremely grave one; and he gave judgment, saying: “Let us by any means secure a quiet life. And, forasmuch as King Odysseys desireth to leave us peaceably, retiring to an earthly kingdom with his dear wife and his proper paraphernalia, let him go to Moxoene thus. And let them have all health and comfort in their going. It pleaseth us; and, so, of our own free will, we command that it shall be done.”

Therefore, when Morning donned her saffron robes, and ascended from bathing in the streams of ocean, to give light to immortals and mortals, then, all the divine ones (save the two blameless queens), having loaded my chariot with sweet gifts, came gateward to speed us on our way. But Aphrodite the lady of the dog-star (the most righteous of goddesses) pettishly called for her son, holding him between her knees for once, and caressing his ruddy young neck, with malicious intent to prevent him from going with us.

But then, indeed, a marvellous portent was manifested.

For my gigantic silver-shining chariot, inlaid with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, stood in the gateway of lofty Olympos loaded with my gear. And, poised on the front of its rail, was the silver image of Love, larger than life, blindfolded, naked, most alluringly proportioned, with his well-winged arms spread abroad in the very act of taking flight; and his reins were girded with the silver chain, of which the taslets dangled behind down to the rail of the chariot. But, when Queen Helen saw that invidious hag detaining our charioteer out of jealousy, then, she looked at me sadly, letting fall a round tear, not knowing how we should go. To whom I spoke unwinged words, saying very firmly: “Mount, my child, nor be affrighted with any amazement whatever: for dreadful among mortals and immortals is the wrath of a suppliant. And we, indeed, are the suppliants of Love.”

Thus I spoke: but we two mounted in turn; and Queen Helen pulled the chain, having confidence in the promise of the god. And, as she worked the magic inchantment, both our hearts glowed with undying fire. And we saw young and ruddy Eros, clasped between his wretched mother’s knees, become suddenly white and rigid: but he himself came; and the silver image of Love lived, and was Love, bursting into ardent life, and flying away with us, leaving no more than the wraith of Love with Aphrodite (most righteous of goddesses) howling on lofty Olympos.

Thus, then, I left the abodes of the immortals, coming to rule my kingdom of Moxoene on the grain-giving earth.

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