hed as a
wife, sharer of a man's hearth, partaker of his counsels, comforter in
his troubles, and mother of his sons. But it came to pass that the only
joy of her life was in the seeing King Menelaus in the morning, and in
the reading in his gaze the assurance of that peace which she longed
for. And, again, her pride lay in fitting herself for it when it should
come. Now, therefore, she forsook the religion of Aphrodite, to whom all
her duty had been before, and in a grove of olive-trees in the garden of
the house had built an altar to Artemis Aristoboule. There offered she
incense daily, and paid tribute of wheaten cakes kneaded with honey, and
little figures of bears such as virgins offer to the Pure in Heart in
Athens. And she would have whipped herself as they do in Sparta had she
not feared discovery by him who still had her. So every day after
speech with Menelaus the King about companionship and the sanctities of
the wedded hearth, she prayed to the Goddess, saying, "O Chaste and
Fair, by that pure face of thine and by thy untouched zone; by thy proud
eyes and curving lip, and thy bow and scornful bitter arrows, aid thou
me unhappy. Lo, now, Maid and Huntress, I make a vow. I will lay up in
thy temple a fair wreath of box-leaves made of beaten gold on that day
when my lord brings me home to my hearth and child, to be his friend and
faithful companion, sharer of his joys and sorrows, and when he loves my
proved and constant mind better than the bounty of my body. Hear me and
fail me not, Lady of Grace." So prayed Helen, and then went back to the
house, and suffered her lot, and cherished in her heart her high hope.

* * * * *

When all was in order in the plans of the Achaeans, King Menelaus told
everything to Helen his wife; and how Odysseus was to come disguised
into the city and seek speech with her. To the which she listened,
marking every word; and bowed her head in sign of agreement; and at the
end was silent, looking down at her lap and deeply blushing. And at last
she lifted her eyes and showed them to the King, her husband, who marked
them and her burning color, and knew that she had given him her heart
again. So he returned that day to his quarters, glorifying and praising
God. Immediately he went over to the tents of Odysseus, and sought out
the prince, and said, "Go in, thou, this night, and the gray-eyed
Goddess, the Maiden, befriend thee! This I know, Helen my wife shal