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I made inquiry of the priests whether the story which the Greeks tell
about Ilium is a fable, or no. In reply they related the following
particulars, of which they declared that Menelaus had himself informed
them. After the rape of Helen, a vast army of Greeks, wishing to
render help to Menelaus, set sail for the Teucrian territory; on
their arrival they disembarked, and formed their camp, after which
they sent ambassadors to Ilium, of whom Menelaus was one. The
embassy was received within the walls, and demanded the restoration of
Helen with the treasures which Alexander had carried off, and
likewise required satisfaction for the wrong done. The Teucrians gave
at once the answer in which they persisted ever afterwards, backing
their assertions sometimes even with oaths, to wit, that neither
Helen, nor the treasures claimed, were in their possession, - both
the one and the other had remained, they said, in Egypt; and it was
not just to come upon them for what Proteus, king of Egypt, was
detaining. The Greeks, imagining that the Teucrians were merely
laughing at them, laid siege to the town, and never rested until they
finally took it. As, however, no Helen was found, and they were
still told the same story, they at length believed in its truth, and
despatched Menelaus to the court of Proteus.
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