might be
unconversant with a mortal bed, and might not some day with sweet
laughter make her boast among all the Gods, the smiling Aphrodite, that
she had given the Gods to mortal paramours, and they for deathless Gods
bare deathly sons, and that she mingled Goddesses in love with mortal
men. Therefore Zeus sent into her heart sweet desire of Anchises, who as
then was pasturing his kine on the steep hills of many-fountained Ida, a
man in semblance like the Immortals. Him thereafter did smiling
Aphrodite see and love, and measureless desire took hold on her heart. To
Cyprus wended she, within her fragrant shrine: even to Paphos, where is
her sacred garth and odorous altar. Thither went she in, and shut the
shining doors, and there the Graces laved and anointed her with oil
ambrosial, such as is on the bodies of the eternal Gods, sweet fragrant
oil that she had by her. Then clad she her body in goodly raiment, and
prinked herself with gold, the smiling Aphrodite; then sped to Troy,
leaving fragrant Cyprus, and high among the clouds she swiftly
accomplished her way.

To many-fountained Ida she came, mother of wild beasts, and made straight
for the steading through the mountain, while behind her came fawning the
beasts, grey wolves, and lions fiery-eyed, and bears, and swift pards,
insatiate pursuers of the roe-deer. Glad was she at the sight of them,
and sent desire into their breasts, and they went coupling two by two in
the shadowy dells. But she came to the well-builded shielings, {170} and
him she found left alone in the shielings with no company, the hero
Anchises, graced with beauty from the Gods. All the rest were faring
after the kine through the grassy pastures, but he, left lonely at the
shielings, walked up and down, harping sweet and shrill. In front of him
stood the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, in semblance and stature like an
unwedded maid, lest he should be adread when he beheld the Goddess. And
Anchises marvelled when he beheld her, her height, and beauty, and
glistering raiment. For she was clad in vesture more shining than the
flame of fire, and with twisted armlets and glistering earrings of flower-
fashion. About her delicate neck were lovely jewels, fair and golden:
and like the moon's was the light on her fair breasts, and love came upon
Anchises, and he spake unto her:

"Hail, Queen, whosoever of the Immortals thou art that comest to this
house; whether Artemis, or Leto, or golden Aphrod