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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
the beginning down to my own time。 Accordingly the attendants of
Alexander； having heard of the custom which existed about the temple； ran
away from him； and sitting down as suppliants of the god； accused
Alexander； because they desired to do him hurt； telling the whole tale how
things were about Helen and about the wrong done to Menalaos； and this
accusation they made not only to the priests but also to the warden of this
river…mouth； whose name was Thonis。 Thonis then having heard their tale
sent forthwith a message to Proteus at Memphis； which said as follows：
〃There hath come a stranger； a Teucrian by race； who hath done in Hellas
an unholy deed； for he hath deceived the wife of his own host； and is come
hither bringing with him this woman herself and very much wealth； having
been carried out of his way by winds to thy land。 Shall we then allow him
to sail out unharmed； or shall we first take away from him that which he
brought with him？〃 In reply to this Proteus sent back a messenger who
said thus： 〃Seize this man； whosoever he may be； who has done impiety to
his own host； and bring him away into my presence that I may know what
he will find to say。〃 Hearing this； Thonis seized Alexander and detained
his ships； and after that he brought the man himself up to Memphis and
with him Helen and the wealth he had； and also in addition to them the
suppliants。 So when all had been conveyed up thither； Proteus began to
ask Alexander who he was and from whence he was voyaging； and he
both recounted to him his descent and told him the name of his native land；
and moreover related of his voyage； from whence he was sailing。 After
this Proteus asked him whence he had taken Helen； and when Alexander
went astray n his account and did not speak the truth； those who had
become suppliants convicted him of falsehood； relating in full the whole
tale of the wrong done。 At length Proteus declared to them this sentence；
saying； 〃Were it not that I count it a matter of great moment not to slay
any of those strangers who being driven from their course by winds have
come to my land hitherto； I should have taken vengeance on thee on behalf
of the man of Hellas； seeing that thou； most base of men； having received
from him hospitality； didst work against him a most impious deed。 For
thou didst go in to the wife of thine own host； and even this was not
enough for thee； but thou didst stir her up with desire and hast gone away
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with her like a thief。 Moreover not even this by itself was enough for thee；
but thou art come hither with plunder taken from the house of thy host。
Now therefore depart； seeing that I have counted it of great moment not to
be a slayer of strangers。 This woman indeed and the wealth which thou
hast I will not allow thee to carry away； but I shall keep them safe for the
Hellene who was thy host； until he come himself and desire to carry them
off to his home； to thyself however and thy fellow…voyagers I proclaim
that ye depart from your anchoring within three days and go from my land
to some other； and if not； that ye will be dealt with as enemies。〃
This the priests said was the manner of Helen's coming to Proteus； and
I suppose that Homer also had heard this story； but since it was not so
suitable to the composition of his poem as the other which he followed； he
dismissed it finally； making it clear at the same time that he was
acquainted with that story also： and according to the manner in which he
described the wanderings of Alexander in the Iliad （nor did he elsewhere
retract that which he had said） of his course； wandering to various lands；
and that he came among other places to Sidon in Phenicia。 Of this the poet
has made mention in the 〃prowess of Diomede；〃 and the verses run thus：
〃There she had robes many…coloured； the works of women of Sidon；
Those whom her son himself the god…like of form Alexander Carried
from Sidon； what time the broad sea…path he sailed over Bringing back
Helene home； of a noble father begotten。〃
And in the Odyssey also he has made mention of it in these verses：
〃Such had the daughter of Zeus； such drugs of exquisite cunning；
Good； which to her the wife of Thon； Polydamna； had given； Dwelling
in Egypt； the land where the bountiful meadow produces Drugs more
than all lands else； many good being mixed； many evil。〃
And thus too Menelaos says to Telemachos：
〃Still the gods stayed me in Egypt； to come back hither desiring；
Stayed me from voyaging home； since sacrifice due I performed not。〃
In these lines he makes it clear that he knew of the wanderings of
Alexander to Egypt； for Syria borders upon Egypt and the Phenicians； of
whom is Sidon； dwell in Syria。 By these lines and by this passage it is also
most clearly shown that the 〃Cyprian Epic〃 was not written by Homer but
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
by some other man： for in this it is said that on the third day after leaving
Sparta Alexander came to Ilion bringing with him Helen； having had a
〃gently…blowing wind and a smooth sea；〃 whereas in the Iliad it says that
he wandered from his course when he brought her。
Let us now leave Homer and the 〃Cyprian Epic〃； but this I will say；
namely that I asked the priests whether it is but an idle tale which the
Hellenes tell of that which they say happened about Ilion； and they
answered me thus； saying that they had their knowledge by inquiries from
Menelaos himself。 After the rape of Helen there came indeed； they said； to
the Teucrian land a large army of Hellenes to help Menelaos； and when the
army had come out of the ships to land and had pitched its camp there；
they sent messengers to Ilion； with whom went also Menelaos himself；
and when these entered within the wall they demanded back Helen and the
wealth which Alexander had stolen from Menelaos and had taken away；
and moreover they demanded satisfaction for the wrongs done： and the
Teucrians told the same tale then and afterwards； both with oath and