Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
Her lips suck forth my soul: see, where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee,
Instead of Troy, shall Wertenberg be sacked;
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
And wear thy colors on my plumed crest;
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
When he appeared to hapless Semele;
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa’s azured arms;
And none but thou shalt be my paramour!
—Christopher Marlowe
Doctor Faustus




I’ve always wanted to open a chain of multi-story strip clubs called “Ilium”… but I’m worried about getting fire insurance.
Just sayin’.
Actually, I’m curious about that. It seems to me that the archaeology of the site, as well as other historical documents, now confirm that Troy really was sacked and burned. So yeah: I wouldn’t insure you!
I was just making a “Topless Towers!” joke, actually…
Seriously?! I don’t see you real popular down at the pub. But I would definitely buy you a drink for that!