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On high waves
sails Paris' fleet
With the offshoots of deceit:
Ravished queen he has on
board,
And the treasures of her lord.
Gold he
obtained as trust he abused,
Her he shamelessly seduced,
And to
Troy his booty brings
While with joy he gladly sings:
"What a
marvel to be free!
See what wonder is the sea!
This
delightful undulation
Fills my heart with fascination!
Once I
tended flocks of sheep,
Now I sail, and riches reap!
I once
lived with wretched wife,
Now a queen adorns my life!
Nothing
else but to be bold,
Gives fame, women, power, gold!"
As he
sings that in false key,
More upset becomes the sea:
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Heavy
storm and piercing rain
Of his song seem to complain.
The
broad sea now makes each wave
Look as high as deep's death's
grave.
Then
prince Paris sees an isle
Where the sea meets with the Nile.
There
he steers his dark-prowed ship
Lest the tempest end his trip.
As his
troops camp on the coast,
Feeling safe, they start to boast:
"Once
high mounted on a wave,
Drowning dolphins I could save."
"I have
saved a stranded whale:
On its back I raised a sail!"
"Near
the coast I slew ten sharks:
Of their teeth, here see the
marks!"
Then
said Paris, "Let's meat roast;
My sweet queen looks like a ghost."
But
divine was Helen's smile
As she watched the immortal Nile.
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The next morning,
bright sunshine
Showed their camp was near a shrine
Where
two men with long white hair
Without cease at Paris stare.
"Go,
find out how come these two,"
Paris says, "their eyes here glue."
A young
man walks to the shrine,
As of peace his hand waves sign.
The
three men in conversation
Seem to exchange rich information
With
most friendly animation,
And quite trustful relaxation.
Of
Peace's temple and vocation,
They seem worthy decoration.
Yet the
soldier, coming back,
Says, "This shrine we should
attack:
Runaway
slaves get protection;
Of all evils, worst infection!"
Having
heard the soldier's words,
Boldly flew four slaves like birds
To the
shrine where the old men
Said to them, "Here's your new
den!"
"That
occurrence was insidious,
Paris says, "This place is hideous!
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A sound
law we'll teach these apes:
'A good slave never escapes!'"
Such a
law pleased his armed troop,
Which delivered a loud whoop,
Singing, "We shall have a
feast,
With boiled slave and roasted
priest!"
Then a
man with long white hair,
A long staff and more long glare,
From
the distance shouts, "Beware,
And address to Heaven prayer!
For
your prince is but a thief,
And his booty shall cause grief!
Shouts
back Paris, "What I own
Comes from Heaven--that's well
known!
It is
you who play the thief:
Slaves restore, or suffer grief!
Better
wisely you decide,
Or I'll burn you all inside!"
"Not
one slave is in the shrine,
But free men, by will divine.
You'll
have shortened your own time,
If you would add crime to crime.
Set
against the shrine your squad,
And you'll find you fight a god!"
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Such winged words
they intertwined,
As each other they maligned.
Neither
could his post resign,
Nor guess how they should combine.
Then a
local force appears,
Carrying swords and two-edged
spears.
Their
chief drives, with gestures bold,
A fine chariot of pure gold,
Drawn
by horses white like snow
Which long mane were made to grow.
Asks
the golden-mailed commander,
"Are you Paris-Alexander?"
Paris
says, "Yes, I am he;
Who you are, now you tell me."
"I
protect this sacred isle,
I am warden of the Nile.
Now
your arms put in our care,
Please, be clever, let's lives
spare!"
Paris
shouts, "Archers now shoot,
The Nile's warden, do salute!"
They
obey and arrows fly;
Confirms he, "That's my reply!
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Cut the
hawsers! Move the fleet!
While with arrows you them greet.
Better
flee than taste defeat,
Shoot at them as you retreat!"
Thus
with curses on their lips,
Paris' men came to the ships.
The
crew dashed in with the oars,
Giving up those hostile shores.
Then
again the prince feels free:
"What great wonder is the sea!
Look
how small the swordmen seem,
Distant kept by this bright stream!
Neither
spear, nor bow, nor sword
Can now harm who are on board.
Today's
truth is that skilled archers
May secure sudden departures!"
Then he
added, "Dreadful coast!
My sweet queen looks like a ghost."
But
divine was Helen's smile
As she watched the immortal Nile.
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