in Grecian Fable, the most swift-footed of mortals, promised her hand in marriage to him who should outstrip her in the race, on the condition, however, that the unsuccessful competitor should suffer the penalty of death. Milanion at length succeeded in obtaining her for his wife, by the stratagem of dropping during the race three golden apples, whose beauty so charmed Atalanta that she stopped to gather them, and thus suffered herself to be defeated. After their nuptials they were metamorphosed into lions for profaning a sanctuary by their embraces.