[lit-ideas] Helen
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Lit-Ideas" <Lit-Ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:02:48 -0800
Straus, op. cit., p 11:
"'And with that, let us meet our leading lady. She is a character who sums
up the spirit of her age, and new evidence increases the chances that she
really did exist. And that she ran away from home to go to the windy city,
blown by Boreas, and the fatal waterway by which it sat, where soldiers
stole cattle and hunted men."
p. 13:
"She is the spark that ignited the war. Helen is dressed in a flowing,
woolen gown, deftly woven by slave women, in black, taupe, and crimson
stripes, and soft and shimmering from the oil with which it has been
treated. The sleeves cover her upper arms but leave exposed the pearl skin
of her lower arms. The winding bands of a gold bracelet cover each of her
bare wrists. Two matching gold brooches hang from the garment's neckline.
A tight-fitting bodice and a gold belt emphasize her full breasts. Her face
is framed by her long hair, oiled to prevent dryness, and held in place by
an elaborate, jeweled headband. Her elegant coiffure consists of pin curls
and tendrils about her forehead, and long, glossy curls that fall below her
waist. Her maids arrange her tawny hair every morning and night with ivory
combs. Her cheeks are glowing with health and rouge, and her shining eyes
are lined with carefully applied kohl. She wears delicate perfume scented
with oil of iris and carnation. Love runs after her like puppies, to quote
a Hittite proverb."
Lawrence
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