THE RAPE OF HELEN 



and bid him judge the goddesses' meeting broAvs 

 and orbed eyes. And let her that is preferred have 

 the famous fruit to carry away as the prize of the 

 fairer and ornament of the Loves." 



So the father, the son of Cronus, commanded 

 Hermaon. And he hearkened to the bidding of his 

 father and led the goddesses upon the way and 

 failed not to heed. And every goddess sought to 

 make her beauty more desirable and fair. Cvpris 

 of crafty counsels unfolded her snood and undid the 

 fragrant clasp of her hair and MTeathed with gold 

 her locks, with gold her flowing tresses. And she 

 saw her children the Loves and called to them. 



" The contest is at hand, dear children ! embrace 

 your mother that nursed you. To-day it is beauty 

 of face that judges me. I fear to whom this herds- 

 man will award the apple. Hera they call the holy 

 nurse of the Graces, and they say that she wields 

 sovereignty aud holds the sceptre. And Athena 

 they ever call the queen of battles. I only, Cypris, 

 am an unwarlike goddess. I have no queenship of 

 the gods, wield no warlike spear, nor draw the bow. 

 But wherefore am I so sore afraid, when for spear 

 I have, as it were, a swift lance, the honeyed girdle 

 of the Loves ! I have my girdle, I ply my goad, 

 I raise my bow : even that girdle, whence women 

 catch the sting of my desire, and travail often-times, 

 but not unto death." 



So spake Cvpris of the rosy fingers and followed. 

 And the wandering Loves heard the dear bidding of 

 their mother and hasted after their nurse. 



Now they had just passed over the summit of the 

 hill of Ida, where under a rock-crowned cliflTs height 

 young Paris herded his father's flocks. On either 



549 



