Of Hermes sing, O Muse, the son of Zeus and Maia, Lord of Cyllene, and
Arcadia rich in sheep, the fortune-bearing Herald of the Gods, him whom
Maia bore, the fair-tressed nymph, that lay in the arms of Zeus; a
shamefaced nymph was she, shunning the assembly of the blessed Gods,
dwelling within a shadowy cave. Therein was Cronion wont to embrace the
fair-tressed nymph in the deep of night, when sweet sleep held
white-armed Hera, the immortal Gods knowing it not, nor mortal men.
But when the mind of great Zeus was fulfilled, and over _her_ the tenth
moon stood in the sky, the babe was born to light, and all was made
manifest; yea, then she bore a child of many a wile and cunning counsel,
a robber, a driver of the kine, a captain of raiders, a watcher of the
night, a thief of the gates, who soon should show forth deeds renowned
among the deathless Gods. Born in the dawn, by midday well he harped,
and in the evening stole the cattle of Apollo the Far-darter, on that
fourth day of the month wherein lady Maia bore him. Who, when he leaped
from the immortal knees of his mother, lay not long in the sacred cradle,
but sped forth to seek the cattle of Apollo, crossing the threshold of
the high-roofed cave. There found he a tortoise, and won endless
delight, for lo, it was Hermes that first made of the tortoise a
minstrel. The creature met him at the outer door, as she fed on the rich
grass in front of the dwelling, waddling along, at sight whereof the luck-
bringing son of Zeus laughed, and straightway spoke, saying:
"Lo, a lucky omen for me, not by me to be mocked! Hail, darling and
dancer, friend of the feast, welcome art thou! whence gatst thou the gay
garment, a speckled shell, thou, a mountain-dwelling tortoise? Nay, I
will carry thee within, and a boon shalt thou be to me, not by me to be
scorned, nay, thou shalt first serve my turn. Best it is to bide at
home, since danger is abroad. Living shalt thou be a spell against ill
witchery, and dead, then a right sweet music-maker."
[Hermes making the lyre. Bronze relief in the British Museum (Fourth
Century B.C.): lang136.jpg]
So spake he, and raising in both hands the tortoise, went back within the
dwelling, bearing the glad treasure. Then he choked the creature, and
with a gouge of grey iron he scooped out the marrow of the hill tortoise.
And as a swift thought wings through the breast of one that crowding
cares are haunting, or as bright glances fleet from the eyes, so swiftly
devised renowned Hermes both deed and word. He cut to measure stalks of
reed, and fixed them in through holes bored in the stony shell of the
tortoise, and cunningly stretched round it the hide of an ox, and put in
the horns of the lyre, and to both he fitted the bridge, and stretched
seven harmonious chords of sheep-gut. {136}
Then took he his treasure, when he had fashioned it, and touched the
strings in turn with the _plectrum_, and wondrously it sounded under his
hand, and fair sang the God to the notes, improvising his chant as he
played, like lads exchanging taunts at festivals. Of Zeus Cronides and
fair-sandalled Maia he sang how they had lived in loving dalliance, and
he told out the tale of his begetting, and sang the handmaids and the
goodly halls of the Nymph, and the tripods in the house, and the store of
cauldrons. So then he sang, but dreamed of other deeds; then bore he the
hollow lyre and laid it in the sacred cradle, then, in longing for flesh
of kine he sped from the fragrant hall to a place of outlook, with such a
design in his heart as reiving men pursue in the dark of night.
The sun had sunk down beneath earth into ocean, with horses and chariot,
when Hermes came running to the shadowy hills of Pieria, where the
deathless kine of the blessed Gods had ever their haunt; there fed they
on the fair unshorn meadows. From their number did the keen-sighted
Argeiphontes, son of Maia, cut off fifty loud-lowing kine, and drove them
hither and thither over the sandy land, reversing their tracks, and,
mindful of his cunning, confused the hoof-marks, the front behind, the
hind in front, and himself fared down again. Straightway he wove sandals
on the sea-sand (things undreamed he wrought, works wonderful,
unspeakable) mingling myrtle twigs and tamarisk, then binding together a
bundle of the fresh young wood, he shrewdly fastened it for light sandals
beneath his feet, leaves and all, {138}--brushwood that the renowned
slayer of Argos had plucked on his way from Pieria [being, as he was, in
haste, down the long way].
Then an old man that was labouring a fruitful vineyard, marked the God
faring down to the plain through grassy Onchestus, and to him spoke first
the son of renowned Maia:
"Old man that bowest thy shoulders over thy hoeing, verily thou shalt
have wine enough when all these vines are bearing. . . . See thou, and
see not; hear thou, and hear not; be silent, so long as naught of thine
is harmed."
Therewith he drave on together the sturdy heads of cattle. And over many
a shadowy hill, and through echoing corries and flowering plains drave
renowned Hermes. Then stayed for the more part his darkling ally, the
sacred Night, and swiftly came morning when men can work, and sacred
Selene, daughter of Pallas, mighty prince, clomb to a new place of
outlook, and then the strong son of Zeus drave the broad-browed kine of
Phoebus Apollo to the river Alpheius. Unwearied they came to the high-
roofed stall and the watering-places in front of the fair meadow. There,
when he had foddered the deep-voiced kine, he herded them huddled
together into the byre, munching lotus and dewy marsh marigold; next
brought he much wood, and set himself to the craft of fire-kindling.
Taking a goodly shoot of the daphne, he peeled it with the knife, fitting
it to his hand, {140} and the hot vapour of smoke arose. [Lo, it was
Hermes first who gave fire, and the fire-sticks.] Then took he many dry
faggots, great plenty, and piled them in the trench, and flame began to
break, sending far the breath of burning fire. And when the force of
renowned Hephaestus kept the fire aflame, then downward dragged he, so
mighty his strength, two bellowing kine of twisted horn: close up to the
fire he dragged them, and cast them both panting upon their backs to the
ground. [Then bending over them he turned them upwards and cut their
throats] . . . task upon task, and sliced off the fat meat, pierced it
with spits of wood, and broiled it,--flesh, and chine, the joint of
honour, and blood in the bowels, all together;--then laid all there in
its place. The hides he stretched out on a broken rock, as even now they
are used, such as are to be enduring: long, and long after that ancient
day. {141a} Anon glad Hermes dragged the fat portions on to a smooth
ledge, and cut twelve messes sorted out by lot, to each its due meed he
gave. Then a longing for the rite of the sacrifice of flesh came on
renowned Hermes: for the sweet savour irked him, immortal as he was, but
not even so did his strong heart yield. {141b} . . . The fat and flesh
he placed in the high-roofed stall, the rest he swiftly raised aloft, a
trophy of his reiving, and, gathering dry faggots, he burned heads and
feet entire with the vapour of flame. Anon when the God had duly
finished all, he cast his sandals into the deep swirling pool of
Alpheius, quenched the embers, and all night long spread smooth the black
dust: Selene lighting him with her lovely light. Back to the crests of
Cyllene came the God at dawn, nor blessed God, on that long way, nor
mortal man encountered him; nay, and no dog barked. Then Hermes, son of
Zeus, bearer of boon, bowed his head, and entered the hall through the
hole of the bolt, like mist on the breath of autumn. Then, standing
erect, he sped to the rich inmost chamber of the cave, lightly treading
noiseless on the floor. Quickly to his cradle came glorious Hermes and
wrapped the swaddling bands about his shoulders, like a witless babe,
playing with the wrapper about his knees. So lay he, guarding his dear
lyre at his left hand. But his Goddess mother the God did not deceive;
she spake, saying:
"Wherefore, thou cunning one, and whence comest thou in the night, thou
clad in shamelessness? Anon, methinks, thou wilt go forth at Apollo's
hands with bonds about thy sides that may not be broken, sooner than be a
robber in the glens. Go to, wretch, thy Father begat thee for a trouble
to deathless Gods and mortal men."
But Hermes answered her with words of guile: "Mother mine, why wouldst
thou scare me so, as though I were a redeless child, with little craft in
his heart, a trembling babe that dreads his mother's chidings? Nay, but
I will essay the wiliest craft to feed thee and me for ever. We twain
are not to endure to abide here, of all the deathless Gods alone
unapproached with sacrifice and prayer, as thou commandest. Better it is
eternally to be conversant with Immortals, richly, nobly, well seen in
wealth of grain, than to be homekeepers in a darkling cave. And for
honour, I too will have my dues of sacrifice, even as Apollo. Even if my
Father give it me not I will endeavour, for I am of avail, to be a
captain of reivers. And if the son of renowned Leto make inquest for me,
methinks some worse thing will befall him. For to Pytho I will go, to
break into his great house, whence I shall sack goodly tripods and
cauldrons enough, and gold, and gleaming iron, and much raiment. Thyself,
if thou hast a mind, shalt see it."
So held they converse one with another, the son of Zeus of the AEgis, and
Lady Maia. Then Morning the Daughter of Dawn was arising from the deep
stream of Oceanus, bearing light to mortals, what time Apollo came to
Onchestus in his journeying, the gracious grove, a holy place of the loud
Girdler of the Earth: there he found an old man grazing his ox, the stay
of his vineyard, on the roadside. {144} Him first bespoke the son of
renowned Leto.
"Old man, hedger of grassy Onchestus; hither am I come seeking cattle
from Pieria, all the crook-horned kine out of my herd: my black bull was
wont to graze apart from the rest, and my four bright-eyed hounds
followed, four of them, wise as men and all of one mind. These were
left, the hounds and the bull, a marvel; but the kine wandered away from
their soft meadow and sweet pasture, at the going down of the sun. Tell
me, thou old man of ancient days, if thou hast seen any man faring after
these cattle?"
Then to him the old man spake and answered:
"My friend, hard it were to tell all that a man may see: for many
wayfarers go by, some full of ill intent, and some of good: and it is
difficult to be certain regarding each. Nevertheless, the whole day long
till sunset I was digging about my vineyard plot, and methought I
marked--but I know not surely--a child that went after the horned kine;
right young he was, and held a staff, and kept going from side to side,
and backwards he drove the kine, their faces fronting him."
So spake the old man, but Apollo heard, and went fleeter on his path.
Then marked he a bird long of wing, and anon he knew that the thief had
been the son of Zeus Cronion. Swiftly sped the Prince, Apollo, son of
Zeus, to goodly Pylos, seeking the shambling kine, while his broad
shoulders were swathed in purple cloud. Then the Far-darter marked the
tracks, and spake:
"Verily, a great marvel mine eyes behold! These be the tracks of high-
horned kine, but all are turned back to the meadow of asphodel. But
these are not the footsteps of a man, nay, nor of a woman, nor of grey
wolves, nor bears, nor lions, nor, methinks, of a shaggy-maned Centaur,
whosoever with fleet feet makes such mighty strides! Dread to see they
are that backwards go, more dread they that go forwards."
So speaking, the Prince sped on, Apollo, son of Zeus. To the Cyllenian
hill he came, that is clad in forests, to the deep shadow of the hollow
rock, where the deathless nymph brought forth the child of Zeus Cronion.
A fragrance sweet was spread about the goodly hill, and many tall sheep
were grazing the grass. Thence he went fleetly over the stone threshold
into the dusky cave, even Apollo, the Far-darter.
Now when the son of Zeus and Maia beheld Apollo thus in wrath for his
kine, he sank down within his fragrant swaddling bands, being covered as
piled embers of burnt tree-roots are covered by thick ashes, so Hermes
coiled himself up, when he saw the Far-darter; and curled himself, feet,
head, and hands, into small space [summoning sweet sleep], though of a
verity wide awake, and his tortoise-shell he kept beneath his armpit. But
the son of Zeus and Leto marked them well, the lovely mountain nymph and
her dear son, a little babe, all wrapped in cunning wiles. Gazing round
all the chamber of the vasty dwelling, Apollo opened three aumbries with
the shining key; full were they of nectar and glad ambrosia, and much
gold and silver lay within, and much raiment of the Nymph, purple and
glistering, such as are within the dwellings of the mighty Gods. Anon,
when he had searched out the chambers of the great hall, the son of Leto
spake to renowned Hermes:
"Child, in the cradle lying, tell me straightway of my kine: or speedily
between us twain will be unseemly strife. For I will seize thee and cast
thee into murky Tartarus, into the darkness of doom where none is of
avail. Nor shall thy father or mother redeem thee to the light: nay,
under earth shalt thou roam, a reiver among folk fordone."
Then Hermes answered with words of craft: "Apollo, what ungentle word
hast thou spoken? And is it thy cattle of the homestead thou comest here
to seek? I saw them not, heard not of them, gave ear to no word of them:
of them I can tell no tidings, nor win the fee of him who tells. Not
like a lifter of cattle, a stalwart man, am I: no task is this of mine:
hitherto I have other cares; sleep, and mother's milk, and about my
shoulders swaddling bands, and warmed baths. Let none know whence this
feud arose! And verily great marvel among the Immortals it would be,
that a new-born child should cross the threshold after kine of the
homestead; a silly rede of thine. Yesterday was I born, my feet are
tender, and rough is the earth below. But if thou wilt I shall swear the
great oath by my father's head, that neither I myself am to blame, nor
have I seen any other thief of thy kine: be kine what they may, for I
know but by hearsay."
So spake he with twinkling eyes, and twisted brows, glancing hither and
thither, with long-drawn whistling breath, hearing Apollo's word as a
vain thing. Then lightly laughing spake Apollo the Far-darter:
"Oh, thou rogue, thou crafty one; verily methinks that many a time thou
wilt break into stablished homes, and by night leave many a man bare,
silently pilling through his house, such is thy speech to-day! And many
herdsmen of the steadings wilt thou vex in the mountain glens, when in
lust for flesh thou comest on the herds and sheep thick of fleece. Nay
come, lest thou sleep the last and longest slumber, come forth from thy
cradle, thou companion of black night! For surely this honour hereafter
thou shalt have among the Immortals, to be called for ever the captain of
reivers."
So spake Phoebus Apollo, and lifted the child, but even then strong Argus-
bane had his device, and, in the hands of the God, let forth an Omen, an
evil belly-tenant, with tidings of worse, and a speedy sneeze thereafter.
Apollo heard, and dropped renowned Hermes on the ground, then sat down
before him, eager as he was to be gone, chiding Hermes, and thus he
spoke:
"Take heart, swaddling one, child of Zeus and Maia. By these thine Omens
shall I find anon the sturdy kine, and thou shalt lead the way."
So spake he, but swiftly arose Cyllenian Hermes, and swiftly fared,
pulling about his ears his swaddling bands that were his shoulder
wrapping. Then spake he:
"Whither bearest thou me, Far-darter, of Gods most vehement? Is it for
wrath about thy kine that thou thus provokest me? Would that the race of
kine might perish, for thy cattle have I not stolen, nor seen another
steal, whatsoever kine may be; I know but by hearsay, I! But let our
suit be judged before Zeus Cronion."
Now were lone Hermes and the splendid son of Leto point by point
disputing their pleas, Apollo with sure knowledge was righteously seeking
to convict renowned Hermes for the sake of his kine, but he with craft
and cunning words sought to beguile,--the Cyllenian to beguile the God of
the Silver Bow. But when the wily one found one as wily, then speedily
he strode forward through the sand in front, while behind came the son of
Zeus and Leto. Swiftly they came to the crests of fragrant Olympus, to
father Cronion they came, these goodly sons of Zeus, for there were set
for them the balances of doom. Quiet was snowy Olympus, but they who
know not decay or death were gathering after gold-throned Dawn. Then
stood Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow before the knees of Zeus, the
Thunderer, who inquired of his glorious Son, saying:
"Phoebus, whence drivest thou such mighty spoil, a new-born babe like a
Herald? A mighty matter this, to come before the gathering of the Gods!"
Then answered him the Prince, Apollo the Far-darter:
"Father, anon shalt thou hear no empty tale; tauntest thou me, as though
I were the only lover of booty? This boy have I found, a finished
reiver, in the hills of Cyllene, a long way to wander; so fine a knave as
I know not among Gods or men, of all robbers on earth. My kine he stole
from the meadows, and went driving them at eventide along the loud sea
shores, straight to Pylos. Wondrous were the tracks, a thing to marvel
on, work of a glorious god. For the black dust showed the tracks of the
kine making backward to the mead of asphodel; but this child intractable
fared neither on hands nor feet, through the sandy land, but this other
strange craft had he, to tread the paths as if shod on with oaken shoots.
{153} While he drove the kine through a land of sand, right plain to
discern were all the tracks in the dust, but when he had crossed the
great tract of sand, straightway on hard ground his traces and those of
the kine were ill to discern. But a mortal man beheld him, driving
straight to Pylos the cattle broad of brow. Now when he had stalled the
kine in quiet, and confused his tracks on either side the way, he lay
dark as night in his cradle, in the dusk of a shadowy cave. The keenest
eagle could not have spied him, and much he rubbed his eyes, with crafty
purpose, and bluntly spake his word:
"I saw not, I heard not aught, nor learned another's tale; nor tidings
could I give, nor win reward of tidings."
Therewith Phoebus Apollo sat him down, but another tale did Hermes tell,
among the Immortals, addressing Cronion, the master of all Gods:
"Father Zeus, verily the truth will I tell thee: for true am I, nor know
the way of falsehood. To-day at sunrise came Apollo to our house,
seeking his shambling kine. No witnesses of the Gods brought he, nor no
Gods who had seen the fact. But he bade me declare the thing under
duress, threatening oft to cast me into wide Tartarus, for he wears the
tender flower of glorious youth, but I was born but yesterday, as well
himself doth know, and in naught am I like a stalwart lifter of kine.
Believe, for thou givest thyself out to be my father, that may I never be
well if I drove home the kine, nay, or crossed the threshold. This I say
for sooth! The Sun I greatly revere, and other gods, and Thee I love,
and _him_ I dread. Nay, thyself knowest that I am not to blame; and
thereto I will add a great oath: by these fair-wrought porches of the
Gods I am guiltless, and one day yet I shall avenge me on him for this
pitiless accusation, mighty as he is; but do thou aid the younger!"
So spake Cyllenian Argus-bane, and winked, with his wrapping on his arm:
he did not cast it down. But Zeus laughed aloud at the sight of his evil-
witted child, so well and wittily he pled denial about the kine. Then
bade he them both be of one mind, and so seek the cattle, with Hermes as
guide to lead the way, and show without guile where he had hidden the
sturdy kine. The Son of Cronos nodded, and glorious Hermes obeyed, for
lightly persuadeth the counsel of Zeus of the AEgis.
Then sped both of them, the fair children of Zeus, to sandy Pylos, at the
ford of Alpheius, and to the fields they came, and the stall of lofty
roof, where the booty was tended in the season of darkness. There anon
Hermes went to the side of the rocky cave, and began driving the sturdy
cattle into the light. But the son of Leto, glancing aside, saw the
flayed skins on the high rock, and quickly asked renowned Hermes:
"How wert thou of avail, oh crafty one, to flay two kine; new-born and
childish as thou art? For time to come I dread thy might: no need for
thee to be growing long, thou son of Maia!" {156}
[So spake he, and round his hands twisted strong bands of withes, but
they at his feet were soon intertwined, each with other, and lightly were
they woven over all the kine of the field, by the counsel of thievish
Hermes, but Apollo marvelled at that he saw.]
Then the strong Argus-bane with twinkling glances looked down at the
ground, wishful to hide his purpose. But that harsh son of renowned
Leto, the Far-darter, did he lightly soothe to his will; taking his lyre
in his left hand he tuned it with the _plectrum_: and wondrously it rang
beneath his hand. Thereat Phoebus Apollo laughed and was glad, and the
winsome note passed through to his very soul as he heard. Then Maia's
son took courage, and sweetly harping with his harp he stood at Apollo's
left side, playing his prelude, and thereon followed his winsome voice.
He sang the renowns of the deathless Gods, and the dark Earth, how all
things were at the first, and how each God gat his portion.
To Mnemosyne first of Gods he gave the meed of minstrelsy, to the Mother
of the Muses, for the Muse came upon the Son of Maia.
Then all the rest of the Immortals, in order of rank and birth, did he
honour, the splendid son of Zeus, telling duly all the tale, as he struck
the lyre on his arm. But on Apollo's heart in his breast came the stress
of desire, who spake to him winged words:
"Thou crafty slayer of kine, thou comrade of the feast; thy song is worth
the price of fifty oxen! Henceforth, methinks, shall we be peacefully
made at one. But, come now, tell me this, thou wily Son of Maia, have
these marvels been with thee even since thy birth, or is it that some
immortal, or some mortal man, has given thee the glorious gift and shown
thee song divine? For marvellous is this new song in mine ears, such as,
methinks, none hath known, either of men, or of Immortals who have
mansions in Olympus, save thyself, thou reiver, thou Son of Zeus and
Maia! What art is this, what charm against the stress of cares? What a
path of song! for verily here is choice of all three things, joy, and
love, and sweet sleep. For truly though I be conversant with the
Olympian Muses, to whom dances are a charge, and the bright minstrel
hymn, and rich song, and the lovesome sound of flutes, yet never yet hath
aught else been so dear to my heart, dear as the skill in the festivals
of the Gods. I marvel, Son of Zeus, at this, the music of thy
minstrelsy. But now since, despite thy youth, thou hast such glorious
skill, to thee and to thy Mother I speak this word of sooth: verily, by
this shaft of cornel wood, I shall lead thee renowned and fortunate among
the Immortals, and give thee glorious gifts, nor in the end deceive
thee."
Then Hermes answered him with cunning words:
"Shrewdly thou questionest me, Far-darter, nor do I grudge thee to enter
upon mine art. This day shalt thou know it: and to thee would I fain be
kind in word and will: but within thyself thou well knowest all things,
for first among the Immortals, Son of Zeus, is thy place. Mighty art
thou and strong, and Zeus of wise counsels loves thee well with reverence
due, and hath given thee honour and goodly gifts. Nay, they tell that
thou knowest soothsaying, Far-darter, by the voice of Zeus: for from Zeus
are all oracles, wherein I myself now know thee to be all-wise. Thy
province it is to know what so thou wilt. Since, then, thy heart bids
thee play the lyre, harp thou and sing, and let joys be thy care, taking
this gift from me; and to me, friend, gain glory. Sweetly sing with my
shrill comrade in thy hands, that knoweth speech good and fair and in
order due. Freely do thou bear it hereafter into the glad feast, and the
winsome dance, and the glorious revel, a joy by night and day. Whatsoever
skilled hand shall inquire of it artfully and wisely, surely its voice
shall teach him all things joyous, being easily played by gentle
practice, fleeing dull toil. But if an unskilled hand first impetuously
inquires of it, vain and discordant shall the false notes sound. But
thine it is of nature to know what things thou wilt: so to thee will I
give this lyre, thou glorious son of Zeus. But we for our part will let
graze thy cattle of the field on the pastures of hill and plain, thou Far-
darter. So shall the kine, consorting with the bulls, bring forth calves
male and female, great store, and no need there is that thou, wise as
thou art, should be vehement in anger."
So spake he, and held forth the lyre that Phoebus Apollo took, and
pledged his shining whip in the hands of Hermes, and set him over the
herds. Gladly the son of Maia received it; while the glorious son of
Leto, Apollo, the Prince, the Far-darter, held the lyre in his left hand,
and tuned it orderly with the _plectrum_. Sweetly it sounded to his
hand, and fair thereto was the song of the God. Thence anon the twain
turned the kine to the rich meadow, but themselves, the glorious children
of Zeus, hastened back to snow-clad Olympus, rejoicing in the lyre: ay,
and Zeus, the counsellor, was glad of it. [Both did he make one in love,
and Hermes loved Leto's son constantly, even as now, since when in
knowledge of his love he pledged to the Far-darter the winsome lyre, who
held it on his arm and played thereon.] But Hermes withal invented the
skill of a new art, the far-heard music of the reed pipes.
Then spake the son of Leto to Hermes thus:
"I fear me, Son of Maia, thou leader, thou crafty one, lest thou steal
from me both my lyre and my bent bow. For this meed thou hast from Zeus,
to establish the ways of barter among men on the fruitful earth.
Wherefore would that thou shouldst endure to swear me the great oath of
the Gods, with a nod of the head or by the showering waters of Styx, that
thy doings shall ever to my heart be kind and dear."
Then, with a nod of his head, did Maia's son vow that never would he
steal the possessions of the Far-darter, nor draw nigh his strong
dwelling. And Leto's son made vow and band of love and alliance, that
none other among the Gods should be dearer of Gods or men the seed of
Zeus. [And I shall make, with thee, a perfect token of a Covenant of all
Gods and all men, loyal to my heart and honoured.] {162a} "Thereafter
shall I give thee a fair wand of wealth and fortune, a golden wand, three-
pointed, which shall guard thee harmless, accomplishing all things good
of word and deed that it is mine to learn from the voice of Zeus. {162b}
But as touching the art prophetic, oh best of fosterlings of Zeus,
concerning which thou inquirest, for thee it is not fit to learn that
art, nay, nor for any other Immortal. That lies in the mind of Zeus
alone. Myself did make pledge, and promise, and strong oath, that, save
me, none other of the eternal Gods should know the secret counsel of
Zeus. And thou, my brother of the Golden Wand, bid me not tell thee what
awful purposes is planning the far-seeing Zeus.
"One mortal shall I harm, and another shall I bless, with many a turn of
fortune among hapless men. Of mine oracle shall he have profit whosoever
comes in the wake of wings and voice of birds of omen: he shall have
profit of mine oracle: him I will not deceive. But whoso, trusting birds
not ominous, approaches mine oracle, to inquire beyond my will, and know
more than the eternal Gods, shall come, I say, on a bootless journey, yet
his gifts shall I receive. Yet another thing will I tell thee, thou Son
of renowned Maia and of Zeus of the AEgis, thou bringer of boon; there be
certain Thriae, sisters born, three maidens rejoicing in swift wings.
Their heads are sprinkled with white barley flour, and they dwell beneath
a glade of Parnassus, apart they dwell, teachers of soothsaying. This
art I learned while yet a boy I tended the kine, and my Father heeded
not. Thence they flit continually hither and thither, feeding on
honeycombs and bringing all things to fulfilment. They, when they are
full of the spirit of soothsaying, having eaten of the wan honey, delight
to speak forth the truth. But if they be bereft of the sweet food
divine, then lie they all confusedly. These I bestow on thee, and do
thou, inquiring clearly, delight thine own heart, and if thou instruct
any man, he will often hearken to thine oracle, if he have the good
fortune. {164} These be thine, O Son of Maia, and the cattle of the
field with twisted horn do thou tend, and horses, and toilsome mules. . . .
And be lord over the burning eyes of lions, and white-toothed swine,
and dogs, and sheep that wide earth nourishes, and over all flocks be
glorious Hermes lord. And let him alone be herald appointed to Hades,
who, though he be giftless, will give him highest gift of honour."
With such love, in all kindness, did Apollo pledge the Son of Maia, and
thereto Cronion added grace. With all mortals and immortals he consorts.
Somewhat doth he bless, but ever through the dark night he beguiles the
tribes of mortal men.
Hail to thee thus, Son of Zeus and Maia, of thee shall I be mindful and
of another lay.