"Oh, she is very clever! Who could choose better?" answered Hermes. "Then Zeus has a fancy for her. If she wishes for anything she has only to caress his beard and immediately he calls her Tritogenia, dear daughter; he promises her everything and permits everything." "Tritogenia bores me sometimes," grumbled Latona's son. "Yes, I have noticed that she becomes very tedious," answered Hermes. "Like an old peripatetic; and then she is virtuous to the ridiculous, like my sister Artemis." "Or as her servants, the Athenian women." The Radiant turned to the Argo-robber Mercury: "It is the second time you mention, as though purposely, the virtue of the Athenian women. Are they really so virtuous?" "Fabulously so, O son of Latona!" "Is it possible!" said Apollo. "Do you think that there is in town one woman who could resist me?" "I do think so." "Me, Apollo?" "You, my Radiant." "I, who should bewitch her with poetry and charm her with song and music!" "You, my Radiant." "If you were an honest god I would be willing to make a wager with you. But you, Argo-robber, if you should lose, you would disappear immediately with your sandals and caduceus." "No, I will put one hand on the earth and another on the sea and swear by Hades. Such an oath is kept not only by me, but even by the members of the City Council in Athens." "Oh, you exaggerate a little. Very well then! If you lose you must supply me in Trinachija with a herd of long-horned oxen, which you may steal where you please, as you did when you were only a boy, stealing my herds in Perea." "Understood! And what shall I get if I win?" "You may choose what you please." "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 divorcée, you could capture by promise of marriage." "What is her name?"