And lo, losing them straightway with the former, he went off empty handed, helpless, and noticed not the approach of Cypris.

And she stood before her boy, and laying her hand on his lips, addressed him: (ll.

129-144) "Why dost thou smile in triumph, unutterable rogue?
Hast thou cheated him thus, and unjustly overcome the innocent child?
Come, be ready to perform for me the task I will tell thee of, and I will give thee Zeus' all-beauteous plaything--the one which his dear nurse Adrasteia made for him, while he still lived a child, with childish ways, in the Idaean cave--a well-rounded ball; no better toy wilt thou get from the hands of Hephaestus.

All of gold are its zones, and round each double seams run in a circle; but the stitches are hidden, and a dark blue spiral overlays them all.

But if thou shouldst cast it with thy hands, lo, like a star, it sends a flaming track through the sky.
This I will give thee; and do thou strike with thy shaft and charm the daughter of Aeetes with love for Jason; and let there be no loitering.
For then my thanks would be the slighter." (ll.