“Listen, my Far-aiming archer,” said Hermes.  “I will be frank with you, which occurs with me very seldom.  Once, being sent on an errand by Zeus—­I don’t remember what errand—­I was playing just over your Trinachija, and I perceived Lampecja, who, together with Featusa, watches your herds there.  Since that time I have no peace.  The thought about her is never absent from my mind.  I love her and I sigh for her day and night.  If I win, if in Athens there can be found a virtuous woman, strong enough to resist you, you shall give me Lampecja—­I wish for nothing more.”

The Silver-arrowed god began to shake his head.

“It’s astonishing that love can nestle in the heart of a merchants-patron.  I am willing to give you Lampecja—­the more so because she is now quarrelling with Featusa.  Speaking intra parentheses, both are in love with me—­that is why they are quarrelling.”

Great joy lighted up the Argo-robber’s eyes.

“Then we lay the bet,” said he.  “One thing more, I shall choose the woman for you on whom you are to try your godly strength.”

“Provided she is beautiful.”

“She will be worthy of you.”

“I am sure you know some one already.”

“Yes, I do.”

“A young girl, married, widow, or divorced?”

“Married, of course.  Girl, widow, or divorcee, you could capture by promise of marriage.”

“What is her name?”

“Eryfile.  She is a baker’s wife.”

“A baker’s wife!” answered the Radiant, making a grimace, “I don’t like that.”

“I can’t help it.  It’s the kind of people I know best.  Eryfile’s husband is not at home at present; he went to Megara.  His wife is the prettiest woman who ever walked on Mother-Earth.”

“I am very anxious to see her.”

“One condition more, my Silver-arrowed, you must promise that you will use only means worthy of you, and that you will not act as would act such a ruffian as Ares, for instance, or even, speaking between ourselves, as acts our common father, the Cloud-gathering Zeus.”

“For whom do you take me?” asked Apollo.

“Then all conditions are understood, and I can show you Eryfile.”

Both gods were immediately carried through the air from Pnyx, and in a few moments they were over a house situated not far from Stoa.  The Argo-robber raised the whole roof with his powerful hand as easily as a woman cooking a dinner raises a cover from a saucepan, and pointing to a woman sitting in a store, closed from the street by a copper gate, said: 

“Look!”

Apollo looked and was astonished.