The Story of Troy: Part Two

The following day, his mind whirling with thoughts of Helen, Paris rode off towards Troy. An athletic competition was to be held there that afternoon. His foster father tried to dissuade him but ended up walking with him to the city. It was the first time Paris had set foot in Troy.

He began the competition by entering the boxing contest, and to the surprise of all, defeated Priam’s sons. The proud-hearted princes were unaccustomed to losing, yet Paris flew past them in a footrace as well. At once they demanded a second race to be run. Paris left them behind again. Infuriated, they decided to kill him and drew their swords. Paris dashed for his life. His foster father threw himself before Priam. “Stop them, your Majesty!” he cried. “That youth is your own lost son!”

Priam recognized the old man, halted his sons, and rushed up to Paris. He stared into his face. Hecuba followed. The herdsman produced the silver rattle he had found in the infant’s hand years before. The king and queen knew it at once. Both burst out weeping, while clutching onto Paris.

The old herdsman had feared he’d be punished, but that night Priam invited him to a magnificent banquet to mark his son’s return. When the seer Calchas heard the news, he and Apollo’s other priests again warned the king to put Paris to death.

“Never!” replied Priam. “Better that Troy should burn than that my precious son should die!”

Paris exchanged his dirt-floored hut for a room of polished stone in the palace. Soon afterward, Menelaus, king of Sparta chanced a visit to Troy. Knowing that he was Helen’s husband, Paris prodded him, heart pounding, to describe his bewitching wife. He so shrewdly cultivated the king’s friendship that Menelaus invited the prince to accompany him home and be his guest in turn. Feverish with joy, Paris accepted.

Aphrodite sent their ship towards the fair winds. They reached Sparta and marched up towards the palace. A woman stood in wait. Paris approached, then halted in awe. Flesh bested fancy. She had the grace of a deer and a dewdrop’s radiance. He feared that such an earthly wonder would take no notice of a cowherd-prince. Had Aphrodite cast her promised spell? He watched as the queen embrace her husband. The goddess, however, had been true to her word. Helen set her yes upon Paris and fell instantly and irresistibly in love.