bashed though he is, there will be
some slight shame in his eyes before you: but he has no respect for me,
but ever slights me in contentious mood. And, overborne by his
naughtiness, I purpose to break his ill-sounding arrows and his bow in
his very sight. For in his anger he has threatened that if I shall not
keep my hands off him while he still masters his temper, I shall have
cause to blame myself thereafter."

So she spake, and the goddesses smiled and looked at each other. But
Cypris again spoke, vexed at heart: "To others my sorrows are a jest;
nor ought I to tell them to all; I know them too well myself. But now,
since this pleases you both, I will make the attempt and coax him, and
he will not say me nay."

Thus she spake, and Hera took her slender hand and gently smiling,
replied: "Perform this task, Cytherea, straightway, as thou sayest; and
be not angry or contend with thy boy; he will cease hereafter to vex
thee."

She spake, and left her seat, and Athena accompanied her and they went
forth both hastening back. And Cypris went on her way through the glens
of Olympus to find her boy. And she found him apart, in the blooming
orchard of Zeus, not alone, but with him Ganymedes, whom once Zeus had
set to dwell among the immortal gods, being enamoured of his beauty. And
they were playing for golden dice, as boys in one house are wont to do.
And already greedy Eros was holding the palm of his left hand quite full
of them under his breast, standing upright; and on the bloom of his
cheeks a sweet blush was glowing. But the other sat crouching hard by,
silent and downcast, and he had two dice left which he threw one after
the other, and was angered by the loud laughter of Eros. And lo, losing
them straightway with the former, he went off empty-handed, helpless,
and noticed not the approach of Cypris. And she stood before her boy,
and laying her hand on his lips, addressed him:

"Why dost thou smile in triumph, unutterable rogue? Hast thou cheated
him thus, and unjustly overcome the innocent child? Come, be ready to
perform for me the task I will tell thee of, and I will give thee Zeus'
all-beauteous plaything--the one which his dear nurse Adrasteia made for
him, while he still lived a child, with childish ways, in the Idaean
cave--a well-rounded ball; no better toy wilt thou get from the hands of
Hephaestus. All of gold are its zones, and round each double seams run
in a circle; but the stitches are hidden, and a