that he should marry the
most beautiful woman in the world.

Talking thus day after day, the handsome young Paris finally persuaded
Helen to leave her husband and home. She got on board of his vessel, and
went with him to Troy as his wife. Of course, this wrongdoing could not
bring happiness; and not only were they duly punished, but, as you will
soon see, the crime of Paris brought suffering and death to his friends
as well.

[Illustration: Menelaus.]

When Menelaus came home and found that his guest had run away with his
wife, he was very angry, and vowed that he would not rest until he had
punished Paris and won back the beautiful Helen.

He therefore made ready for war, and sent word to his friends and
relatives to come and help him, telling them to meet him at Au'lis, a
seaport, where they would find swift-sailing vessels to carry them
across the sea to Troy.

XIV. THE MUSTER OF THE TROOPS.

When the neighboring kings and chiefs received Menelaus' message, they
were delighted; for fighting was their only occupation, and they enjoyed
the din of battle more than anything else. They began to collect their
soldiers, polish their arms, and man their vessels. Then, inviting all
who wished to join them, they started out for Aulis, where they formed a
huge army.

Each of the parties was led by its own king or chief. Some of these
chiefs were very brave, and their names are still well known. The
leading ones among them were Nes'tor, the wisest man of his day, to whom
every one came for good advice; and U-lys'ses, the crafty or sly king,
who was so clever that he could easily outwit all men.

There were also A'jax, the strongest man of his time; Thersander, the
new king of Thebes, who came with the Epigoni; and Ag-a-mem'non, King of
Mycenae, Menelaus' brother, who was chosen chief of the whole army.

The Greeks never began any undertaking without consulting the oracles to
find out how it would end. Agamemnon, therefore, consulted one of these
soothsayers, who said that Troy would never be taken unless A-chil'les
fought with the Greeks.

When they heard this answer, the chiefs immediately asked who Achilles
was, and they soon learned all about him. He was a young prince of whom
it had been foretold at the time of his birth that he would be the
greatest warrior of his age, and that he would die young. His mother,
who loved him dearly, shed many tears when she heard these words, and
made up her mind to do