Homer’s Daughter by Robert Graves Read Free Book Online Page A

“How can a simple cattleman like myself become an arbiter of divine beauty?” he cried. “I shall divide this fruit equally between all three.”
    â€œNo, no, you cannot disobey Almighty Zeus!” Hermes exclaimed. “Nor am I authorized to give you advice. Use your native intelligence!”
    â€œSo be it,” sighed Paris. “But first I beg the losers not to grow vexed with me. I am only a human being, liable to make the stupidest mistakes.”
    The Goddesses all agreed to abide by his verdict.
    â€œAm I to judge them just as they are?” Paris asked Hermes. “Or should they be naked?”
    â€œThe rules of the contest are for you to decide,” Hermes answered with a wary smile.
    â€œIn that case, will they please disrobe?”
    Hermes told the Goddesses to do so, and politely turned his back.
    Aphrodite was soon ready, but Athene insisted that she should remove the famous magic girdle, which gave her an unfair advantage by making everyone fall in love with the wearer. “Very well,” said Aphrodite spitefully. “I will, on condition that you remove your helmet—you look hideous without it.”
    â€œIf I am permitted,” announced Paris, clapping his hands for order, “I shall judge the competitors one at a time, and thus avoid distractive arguments. Come here, Divine Hera! Will you other two Goddesses be kind enough to leave us for a while?”
    â€œExamine me conscientiously,” said Hera, turning slowly around, and displaying her magnificent figure, “and remember that if you judge me the fairest, I will make you lord of all Asia, and the richest man alive.”
    â€œI am not to be bribed, my lady… Ah yes, thank you.Now I have seen all that I need to see. Come, Divine Athene!”
    â€œHere I am,” said Athene, striding purposefully forward; but, being no less modest than virginal, hid as much of her body as she could behind the Aegis. “Listen, Paris,” she said, “if you are prudent enough to award me the prize, I will make you victorious in all your battles, besides being the handsomest and wisest man in the world.”
    â€œI am a humble herdsman, not a soldier,” said Paris, a little annoyed by the interposition of the Aegis. “You know very well that peace reigns throughout Lydia and Phrygia, and that King Priam’s sovereignty is unchallenged. But I promise to consider fairly your claim to the apple. Now you may put on your clothes and helmet again. Is Aphrodite ready?”
    Aphrodite sidled up to Paris, who blushed because she came so close that they were almost touching. She smelt of nard and roses.
    â€œLook carefully, please, pass nothing over… By the way, as soon as I saw you, I said to Hermes: ‘Upon my word, there goes the handsomest man in Phrygia! Why does he waste himself here in the wilderness herding stupid cattle?’ Well, why do you, Paris? Why not move into a city and lead a civilized life? What have you to lose by marrying someone like Helen of Sparta, who is almost as beautiful as I, and no less passionate? I am convinced that, once you two have met, she will abandon her home, her family, everything, to become your mistress. Surely, you have heard of Helen?”
    â€œNever until now, my lady. I should be most grateful if you would describe her.”
    â€œHelen is fair and of a delicate complexion, having beenhatched from a swan’s egg. She can claim Zeus for a father, loves hunting and wrestling, caused one war while she was still a child—and when she came of age, all the princes of Greece were her suitors. At present she is wife to Menelaus, brother of the High King Agamemnon; but that makes no odds—you can have her if you like.”
    â€œHow is that possible, if she is already married?”
    â€œHeavens! How innocent you are! Have you never heard that it is my divine duty to arrange affairs of this sort? I suggest now that you