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wreath was upon her head of gold； and her eyes were wide and tender。 She
turned her face to him； and then she knew by the wildness that was in his
look that he had come to enter the race with her。 Then the flush that was
on her face died away； and she shook her head as if she were imploring
him to go from that place。
The dark…bearded king bent his brows upon him and said； 〃Speak； 0
youth； speak and tell us what brings you here。〃
Then cried Hippomenes as if his whole life were bursting out with his
words： 〃Why does this maiden； your daughter； seek an easy renown by
conquering weakly youths in the race？ She has not striven yet。 Here stand
I； one of the blood of Poseidon； the god of the sea。 Should I be defeated by
her in the race； then； indeed； might Atalanta have something to boast of。〃
Atalanta stepped forward and said： 〃Do not speak of it； youth。 Indeed I
think that it is some god； envious of your beauty and your strength； who
sent you here to strive with me and to meet your doom。 Ah； think of the
youths who have striven with me even now！ Think of the hard doom that
is about to fall upon them！ You venture your life in the race； but indeed I
am not worthy of the price。 Go hence； O stranger youth； go hence and live
happily； for indeed I think that there is some maiden who loves you well。〃
〃Nay； maiden；〃 said Hippomenes； 〃I will enter the race and I will
venture my life on the chance of winning you for my bride。 What good
will my life and my spirit be to me if they cannot win this race for me？〃
She drew away from him then and looked upon him no more； but bent
down to fasten the sandals upon her feet。 And the black…bearded king
looked upon Hippomenes and said； 〃Face； then； this race to…morrow。 You
will be the only one who will enter it。 But bethink thee of the doom that
awaits thee at the end of it。〃 The king said no more； and Hippomenes went
from him and from Atalanta； and he came again to the place where the
race had been run。
He looked across the sandy course with its goal marks； and in his mind
he saw again Atalanta's swift race。 He would not meet doom at the hands
of the king's soldiers； he knew； for his spirit would leave him with the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
greatness of the effort he would make to reach the goal before her。 And he
thought it would be well to die in that effort and on that sandy place that
was so far from his own land。
Even as he looked across the sandy course now deserted by the throng；
he saw one move across it； coming toward him with feet that did not seem
to touch the ground。 She was a woman of wonderful presence。 As
Hippomenes looked upon her he knew that she was Aphrodite； the goddess
of beauty and of love。
〃Hippomenes；〃 said the immortal goddess； 〃the gods are mindful of
you who are sprung from one of the gods； and I am mindful of you
because of your own worth。 I have come to help you in your race with
Atalanta； for I would not have you slain； nor would I have that maiden go
unwed。 Give your greatest strength and your greatest swiftness to the race；
and behold！ here are wonders that will prevent the fleet…footed Atalanta
from putting all her spirit into the race。〃
And then the immortal goddess held out to Hippomenes a branch that
had upon it three apples of shining gold。
〃In Cyprus；〃 said the goddess； 〃where I have come from； there is a tree
on which these golden apples grow。 Only I may pluck them。 I have
brought them to you； Hippomenes。 Keep them in your girdle； and in the
race you will find out what to do with them； I think。〃
So Aphrodite said； and then she vanished； leaving a fragrance in the air
and the three shining apples in the hands of Hippomenes。 Long he looked
upon their brightness。 They were beside him that night； and when he arose
in the dawn he put them in his girdle。 Then； before the throng； he went to
the place of the race。
When he showed himself beside Atalanta； all around the course were
silent； for they all admired Hippomenes for his beauty and for the spirit
that was in his face； they were silent out of compassion； for they knew the
doom that befell the youths who raced with Atalanta。
And now Schoeneus； the black…bearded king； stood up； and he spoke
to the throng； saying； 〃Hear me all； both young and old： this youth；
Hippomenes； seeks to win the race from my daughter； winning her for his
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
bride。 Now； if he be victorious and escape death I will give him my dear
child； Atalanta； and many fleet horses besides as gifts from me； and in
honor he shall go back to his native land。 But if he fail in the race； then he
will have to share the doom that has been meted out to the other youths
who raced with Atalanta hoping to win her for a bride。〃
Then Hippomenes and Atalanta crouched for the start。 The trumpets
were sounded and they darted off。
Side by side with Atalanta； Hippomenes went。 Her flying hair touched
his breast； and it seemed to him that they were skimming the sandy course
as if they were swallows。 But then Atalanta began to draw away from him。
He saw her ahead of him； and then he began to hear the words of cheer
that came from the throng 〃Bend to the race； Hippomenes！ Go on； go on！
Use your strength to the utmost。〃 He bent himself to the race； but further
and further from him Atalanta drew。
Then it seemed to him that she checked her swiftness a little to look
back at him。 He gained on her a little。 And then his hand touched the
apples that were in his girdle。 As it touched them it came into his mind
what to do with the apples。
He was not far from her now； but already her swiftness was drawing
her further and further away。 He took one of the apples into his hand and
tossed it into the air so that it fell on the track before her。
Atalanta saw the shining apple。 She checked her speed and stooped in
the race to pick it up。 And as she stooped Hippomenes darted past her； and
went flying toward the goal that now was within his sight。
But soon she was beside him again。 He looked； and he saw that the
goal marks were far； far ahead of him。 Atalanta with the flying hair passed
him； and drew away and away from him。 He had not speed to gain upon
her now； he thought； so he put his strength