"Verily thou hast wrought to some purpose, maiden," said one.
"Nay, she could never have done it of herself," said another.
"True, O bright-haired ones!" answered Psyche. "I toiled and toiled, and my labour did but mock me, and at length my strength gave way and I fell asleep upon the floor. But the little folk had pity on me, and came out in myriads and sorted out the grain till all was finished. And lo! the task is accomplished."
"We will see what our queen shall say to this," they answered.
And binding her once more in their rosy chains, they led her to Aphrodite.
"Hast thou swept my garner, Psyche, and sorted the grain each after its kind?" she asked.
"Thy garner is swept and thy grain is sorted, lady," she replied, "and therein I wrought the little my feeble strength could bear. When I failed the little folk came forth and did the task."
Trembling, she waited for the answer, for she feared that in the very first trial she had failed. But Aphrodite answered,
"Why dost thou tremble, Psyche? The task is accomplished, and that is all I ask; for well do I know the little folk help only those who help themselves. Two more tasks must thou do before I put thee to the final proof. Seest thou yon shining river? On the other bank graze my flocks and herds. Precious are they beyond all telling, for their skins are of pure gold. Go, now, and fetch me one golden lock by sunset."
So saying, she signed to the nymphs to release Psyche, who went at once towards the stream, light-hearted; for this task, she thought, would be no hard one after the last.