d that
about her shone a gleaming girdle, and in the girdle gems which sparkled
like the eyes of a snake. Tall was the shape and lovely as a statue of
Aphrodite; but who or what it was he might not tell, for the head was
bent and the face hidden.

Awhile the shape stood thus, and as it stood, the Wanderer passed
towards it, marvelling much, till he also stood in the pool of moonlight
that shimmered on his golden mail. Then suddenly the shape lifted its
face so that the light fell full on it, and stretched out its arms
towards him, and lo! the face was the face of the Argive Helen--of her
whom he went forth to seek. He looked upon its beauty, he looked upon
the eyes of blue, upon the golden hair, upon the shining arms; then
slowly, very slowly, and in silence--for he could find no words--the
Wanderer drew near.

She did not move nor speak. So still she stood that scarce she seemed to
breathe. Only the shining eyes of her snake-girdle glittered like living
things. Again he stopped fearfully, for he held that this was surely a
mocking ghost which stood before him, but still she neither moved nor
spoke.

Then at length he found his tongue and spoke:

"Lady," he whispered, "is it indeed thou, is it Argive Helen whom I look
upon, or is it, perchance, a ghost sent by Queen Persephone from the
House of Hades to make a mock of me?"

Now the voice of Helen answered him in sweet tones and low:

"Did I not tell thee, Odysseus of Ithaca, did I not tell thee, yesterday
in the halls of Hathor, after thou hadst overcome the ghosts, that
to-night we should be wed? Wherefore, then, dost thou deem me of the
number of the bodiless?"

The Wanderer hearkened. The voice was the voice of Helen, the eyes were
the eyes of Helen, and yet his heart feared guile.

"So did Argive Helen tell me of a truth, Lady, but this she said, that I
should find her by the pylon of the temple, and lead her thence to be
my bride. Thither I go but now to seek her. But if thou art Helen, how
comest thou to these Palace halls? And where, Lady, is that Red Star
which should gleam upon thy breast, that Star which weeps out the blood
of men?"

"No more doth the red dew fall from the Star that was set upon my
breast, Odysseus, for now that thou hast won me men die no more for my
beauty's sake. Gone is the Star of War; and see, Wisdom rings me round,
the symbol of the Deathless Snake that signifies love eternal. Thou dost
ask how I came hither, I, who am immor