The Huntress Atalanta

The Huntress Atalanta who vowed that she would only marry the man who could beat her in a foot race has finally met her match Hippomenes who discovered the race and its prize by visiting the city seeing a gathering crowd on the edge of town joined the pensive group and upon asking two elderly merchants what this race was they explained to Hippomenes Ð'ÐŽÐ'§Atalanta the swift foot has put up a challenge to all youths that if any one can beat her in a foot race he will win the right to her hand in marriage a fair will by any standards those that fail to win will have execution as their prizeÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё later after the race where the youth lost his life Hippomenes was heard exclaiming Ð'ÐŽÐ'§youths! How foolish they are to go in a race against her she is indeed suited to the title Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґswift footÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ I conclude that only a witch would have these powers to defeat youths so easily as thisÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё after three more youths had lost their lives no more tried out on Saturday and headed off to the tavern where Hippomenes was over heard muttering a plan to defeat Atalanta which involved complicated dealing with the gods

he called upon Aphrodite the great goddess of love and beauty Ð'ÐŽÐ'§Hippomenes I have come to help you in your race with Atalanta for I wont allow you to be slain and id like to see the maiden Atalanta married you will give your greatest strength and swiftness into the race and shall grant you three golden apples these golden apples grow on the island of Cyprus only I may take them take them in the race you will know how to use themÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё said Aphrodite in her mystical voice with that she vanished and three shining flawless golden apples In the morning Hippomenes visited the home of Atalanta challenging her to race that very day when the crowds of people gathered for the race at high noon their was absolute silence for people admire both Hippomenes for his beauty and spirit that was captivated in his lean face but they knew any youth to race Atalanta is doomed to death. Hippomenes and Atalanta crouched at the start waiting for the word go side by side they race for a short while before Atalanta started to pull ahead of Hippomenes he put more effort into his racing and slowly he edge toward her but as he was drawing close to Atalanta she put a little more effort into a seemingly effortless run for her where Hippomenes