e halls of Zeus."

In a dream of joy and love Oenone sate by the river-side, and she
looked on her own fair face, which was shown to her in a still calm
pool where the power of the stream came not, and she said to herself,
"The gods are kind, for they have given to me a better gift than that
of beauty, for the love of Paris sheds for me a wondrous beauty over
the heaven above and the broad earth beneath." Then came Paris, and
said, "See, Oenone, dearest child of the bright waters, Zeus hath
called me to be judge in a weighty matter. Hither are coming Here, the
Queen, and Aphrodite and Athene, seeking each the golden apple which
must be given to her alone who is the fairest. Yet go not away,
Oenone; the broad vine leaves have covered our summer bower; there
tarry and listen to the judgment, where none may see thee."

So Paris sat in judgment, and Here spake to him, and said, "I know I
am the fairest, for none other has beauty and majesty like mine.
Hearken, then, to me, and I will give thee power to do great deeds
among the sons of men, and a name which the minstrels shall sing of
among those who shall be born in long time to come." But Athene
answered, "Heed not her words, O Paris. Thy hand is strong and thy
heart is pure, and the men among whom thou dwellest honor thee even
now because thou hast done them good. There are better things than
power and high renown; and if thou wilt hearken to me, I will give
thee wisdom and strength; and pure love shall be thine, and the memory
of happy days when thou drawest near to the dark land of Hades."

Then Paris thought that he heard the voice of Oenone, and it seemed to
whisper to him, "Wisdom and right are better than power, give it to
Athene." But Aphrodite gazed upon him with laughing eyes, as she came
up closer to his side. Her dark curls fell waving over his shoulder,
and he felt the breath from her rosy lips, as she laid her hand on his
arm and whispered softly in his ear, "I talk not to thee of my beauty,
for it may be thou seest that I am very fair, but hearken to me, and I
will give thee for thy wife the fairest of all the daughters of men."
But Paris answered, "I need not thy gift, O child of the bright sea
foam, for fairer wife than Oenone no mortal man may hope to have. Yet
art thou the fairest of all the daughters of the undying gods, and the
gift of the fairest is thine."

So he placed the golden apple in the palm of her snow-white hand, and
the touch of her sle