THE TWENTY-SIXTH PAPYRUS

But King Zeys Pampator sat up, and said: “What, O divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces, think ye now of this Odysseys?”

And they answered: “He is a hero.”

But boldly-steadfast Herakles rose from his throne, saying, in a voice even louder than Stentor’s: “He is worthy of a chair in our college of immortals.”

And the gods and goddesses sang together, making the Sign, “So mote it be.”

But the Lord of the Lightning and the Dark Cloud spoke again, saying: “What, O divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces, think ye now of Golden Helen?”

And they answered: “She is a spoil well-won.”

But chaste Artemis, beautiful queen of arrows, rose from her throne, saying: “Let the hero wear his spoil.”

And the gods and goddesses sang again together, making the Sign, “So mote it be.”

But I saw that there were some who did not join in the voting; and one of those was Queen Hera of the white arms, the most righteous of goddesses; and another was blameless Queen Aphrodite of the violet crown: the first, because it is bitter for a woman to be supplanted in her husband: the second, because of jealousy on account of Queen Helen’s transcendent beauty.

But the Father and King of gods and men said: “It pleaseth us; and so, we, of our own free will, command that it shall be.”

And, saying this, he nodded with his immortal head, so that I might be encouraged. For the nod of Zeys is the greatest pledge among the immortals: for his pledge, even whatsoever he shall sanction with his nod, is irrevocable, not false, nor unfulfilled. And, in the sight of all, he drew me from Golden Helen’s side, out of my silver chariot, where we had been standing together during a day and a night enraptured with the singing of Hermes. And he breathed upon me, so that my mortal nature was blown away from me: but I bathed in the breath of the god, being soaked in the source of the fire of eternal youth, the prime and flower of strength; and such red blood as was in my veins was sublimed, giving place to crystalline ichor, very pure and limpid, such, to wit, as flows in the veins of the blessed gods: for we eat no bread, nor drink gleaming wine, wherefore we are bloodless and are named immortals.

And, while I was yet encompassed with the thick clouds of the god, beautiful dark Sleep was permitted to light upon my eyelids; and I slept, as a sweet boy sleeps, dreamlessly.

But, when, at length, I awakened, I was in another place. And Phoibos Apollon, lord of the silver bow, and strenuous Herakles whom not Hera but Eros could conquer, were come to conduct me to the marriage-feast. And they spoke of many things: saying that the immortals were rejoicing in the happiness of so wily a warrior and so fair a maid, save only the lord Hermes who (after his long singing during a day and a night) was curing a relaxed larynx, and also shady King Hades who was raging horribly on account of painful perforations, and swearing that neither I nor Golden Helen need ever think to expect hospitality from him again. So, with mirthful minds and smiling lips, we set out all light-heartedly.

The divine one of goddesses was brought by her Great Twin Brothers, star-crowned Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist. But, before she came to stand with me at the throne of King Zeys, then, indeed, divine Memory illumined my noble mind, shewing me a remembrance of a most graceful Spell. And, instantly, I stooped to the limpid river which flows through the clear blue ætherial realm, taking a handful of crystal water, a sacred lavation, wherewith to sprinkle the maid whose hair was like a web of woven sunbeams, saying the Spell of The Three Who are One. And all the immortals bowed their radiant heads, greatly admiring the magic.

But, after the nuptials, we feasted, eating purple ambrosial jellies, dainties, such as Zeys-nourished kings eat, with savours of unblemished hecatombs, and quaffing foaming flagons of nectar distilled from the apples of heaven and flavoured with roses and rosemary: till, at last, rustic Pan threw nuts on the floor, for Love and Desire and Sleep and Death and Hyakinthos and the cupbearers and other children to scramble for. But, when we had drunk a last cup to Hermes the Luck-bringer, I led Queen Helen to the palace which mighty Herakles had lent to us. For that hero was shewing himself very friend-like to me, on account of my wily deeds and my long endurance of evils, since he also had done deeds and suffered intolerable evils in his turn. Moreover, the said hero was very well-mannered and able to rule himself, wherein he differed from many of the immortals. And, beside all these things, he was the most married man on the peak of Olympos: for which cause, no doubt, he was excited about my welfare.

In this manner was the Crown of All Wisdom confirmed to me, when, having been chaired in the college of immortals, I led Queen Helen, the Treasure of Hades, into sacred matrimony, in the presence of the gods of Olympos.