herodotus

was voyaging; and he both recounted to him his descent and told himthe name of his native land, and moreover related of his voyage, fromwhence he was sailing. After this Proteus asked him whence he hadtaken Helen; and when Alexander went astray in his account and did notspeak the truth, those who had become suppliants convicted him offalsehood, relating in full the whole tale of the wrong done. Atlength Proteus declared to them this sentence, saying, "Were it notthat I count it a matter of great moment not to slay any of thosestrangers who being driven from their course by winds have come to myland hitherto, I should have taken vengeance on thee on behalf of theman of Hellas, seeing that thou, most base of men, having receivedfrom him hospitality, didst work against him a most impious deed. Forthou didst go in to the wife of thine own host; and even this was notenough for thee, but thou didst stir her up with desire and hast goneaway with her like a thief. Moreover not even this by itself wasenough for thee, but thou art come hither with plunder taken from thehouse of thy host. Now therefore depart, seeing that I have counted itof great moment not to be a slayer of strangers. This woman indeed andthe wealth which thou hast I will not allow thee to carry away, but Ishall keep them safe for the Hellene who was thy host, until he comehimself and desire to carry them off to his home; to thyself howeverand thy fellow-voyagers I proclaim that ye depart from your anchoringwithin three days and go from my land to some other; and if not, thatye will be dealt with as enemies."116. This the priests said was the manner of Helen's coming toProteus; and I suppose that Homer also had heard this story, but sinceit was not so suitable to the composition of his poem as the otherwhich he followed, he dismissed it finally,[96] making it clear at thesame time that he was acquainted with that story also: and accordingto the manner in which he described[97] the wanderings of Alexander inthe Iliad (nor did he elsewhere retract that which he had said) it isclear that when he brought Helen he was carried out of his course,wandering to various lands, and that he came among other places toSidon in Phenicia. Of this the poet has made mention in the "prowessof Diomede," and the verses run this:[98]"There she had robes many-coloured, the works of women of Sidon,Those whom her son himself the god-like of form AlexanderCarried from Sidon, what time the broad sea-path he sailed overBringing back Helene home, of a noble father begotten."And in the Odyssey also he has made mention of it in these verses:[99]"Such had the daughter of Zeus, such drugs of exquisite cunning,Good, which to her the wife of Thon, Polydamna, had given,