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."

(ll. 100-105) 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."

(ll. 106-110) 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."

(ll. 111-128) 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:

(ll. 129-144) "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
dark blue spiral overlays them all. But if thou shouldst cast it with
thy hands, lo, like a star, it sends a flaming track through the sky.
This I will give thee; and do