Whilst Paris was still a guest
at the court of the king of Sparta, the latter received an invitation from his
friend Idomeneus, king of Crete, to join him in a hunting expedition; and
Menelaus, being of an unsuspicious and easy temperament, accepted the
invitation, leaving to Helen the duty of entertaining the distinguished
stranger. Captivated by her surpassing loveliness, the Trojan prince forgot
every sense of honour and duty, and resolved to rob his absent host of his
beautiful wife. He accordingly collected his followers, and with their
assistance stormed the royal castle, possessed himself of the rich treasures
which it contained, and succeeded in carrying off its beautiful, and not
altogether unwilling mistress.
They at once set sail, but were
driven by stress of weather to the island of Crania, where they cast anchor;
and it was not until some years had elapsed, during which time home and country
were forgotten, that Paris and Helen proceeded to Troy.