_Zeus_. And my little Athene; have we her approval? Nay, never blush, nor hide your face. Well, well, maidens will be coy; 'tis a delicate subject. But there, she nods consent. Now, off with you; and mind, the beaten ones must not be cross with the judge; I will not have the poor lad harmed. The prize of beauty can be but one. _Herm_. Now for Phrygia. I will show the way; keep close behind me, ladies, and don't be nervous. I know Paris well: he is a charming young man; a great gallant, and an admirable judge of beauty. Depend on it, he will make a good award. _Aph_. I am glad to hear that; I ask for nothing better than a just judge.—Has he a wife, Hermes, or is he a bachelor? _Herm_. Not exactly a bachelor. _Aph_. What do you mean? _Herm_. I believe there is a wife, as it were; a good enough sort of girl—a native of those parts—but sadly countrified! I fancy he does not care very much about her.—Why do you ask? _Aph_. I just wanted to know. _Ath_. Now, Hermes, that is not fair. No whispering with Aphrodite. _Herm_. It was nothing, Athene; nothing about you. She only asked me whether Paris was a bachelor. _Ath_. What business is that of hers? _Herm_. None that I know of. She meant nothing by the question; she just wanted to know. _Ath_. Well, and is he? _Herm_. Why, no. _Ath_. And does he care for military glory? has he ambition? Or is he a _mere_ neatherd? _Herm_. I couldn't say for certain. But he is a young man, so it is to be presumed that distinction on the field of battle is among his desires. _Aph_. There, you see; _I_ don't complain; I say nothing when you whisper with _her_. Aphrodite is not so particular as some people. _Herm_. Athene asked me almost exactly the same as you did; so don't be cross. It will do you no harm, my answering a plain question.—Meanwhile, we have left the stars far behind us, and are almost over Phrygia. There is Ida: I can make out the peak of Gargarum quite plainly; and if I am not mistaken, there is Paris himself. _Hera_. Where is he? I don't see him. _Herm_. Look over there to the left, Hera: not on the top, but down the side, by that cave where you see the herd. _Hera_. But I _don't_ see the herd. _Herm_. What, don't you see them coming out from between the rocks,—where I am pointing, look—and the man running down from the crag, and keeping them together with his staff? _Hera_. I see him now; if he it is. _Herm_. Oh, that is Paris. But we are getting near; it is time to alight and walk. He might be frightened, if we were to descend upon him so suddenly. _Hera_. Yes; very well. And now that we are on the earth, you might go on ahead, Aphrodite, and show us the way. You know the country, of course, having been here so often to see Anchises; or so I have heard. _Aph_. Your sneers are thrown away on me, Hera.