With passionate longing for love’s fruit they sought her, + 

This mortal Hebe of the Golden Crown. + 

Howbeit a marriage of more high renown + 

Her father purposed for his princess-daughter. + 

For he had heard how Danaus meditated + 

At Argos how should spousal-rites be won + 

For eight-and-forty daughters yet unmated, + 

Ere their life’s noontide should have come and gone, + 

And how he compassed this with no delaying. + 

For at the limits of the lists arraying + 

The throng of suitors of the maidens sweet, + 

He bade them by contention of swift feet + 

Decide which several daughter should be given + 

To each whose feet had for the guerdon striven. + 