fleecedsheepofthelordHeliosfeedcontinuallyandoccupyaglad—somecountry。Theretheywishedtoputtheirshiptoshore,andlandandcomprehendthegreatmarvelandseewiththeireyeswhetherthemonsterwouldremainuponthedeckofthehollowship,orspringbackintothebrinydeepwherefishesshoal。Butthewell—builtshipwouldnotobeythehelm,butwentonitswayallalongPeloponnesus:andthelord,far—workingApollo,guidediteasilywiththebreathofthebreeze。SotheshipranonitscourseandcametoArenaandlovelyArgypheaandThryon,thefordofAlpheus,andwell—placedAepyandsandyPylosandthemenofPylos;pastCruniitwentandChalcisandpastDymeandfairElis,wheretheEpeirule。AndatthetimewhenshewasmakingforPherae,exultinginthebreezefromZeus,thereappearedtothembelowthecloudsthesteepmountainofIthaca,andDulichiumandSameandwoodedZacynthus。ButwhentheywerepassedbyallthecoastofPeloponnesus,then,towardsCrisa,thatvastgulfbegantoheaveinsightwhichthroughallitslengthcutsofftherichisleofPelops。Therecameonthemastrong,clearwest—
windbyordinanceofZeusandblewfromheavenvehemently,thatwithallspeedtheshipmightfinishcoursingoverthebrinywaterofthesea。Sotheybeganagaintovoyagebacktowardsthedawnandthesun:andthelordApollo,sonofZeus,ledthemonuntiltheyreachedfar—seenCrisa,landofvines,andintohaven:
therethesea—coursingshipgroundedonthesands。
（ll。440—451）Then,likeastaratnoonday,thelord,far—workingApollo,leapedfromtheship:flashesoffireflewfromhimthickandtheirbrightnessreachedtoheaven。Heenteredintohisshrinebetweenpricelesstripods,andtheremadeaflametoflareupbright,showingforththesplendourofhisshafts,sothattheirradiancefilledallCrisa,andthewivesandwell—girdeddaughtersoftheCrisaeansraisedacryatthatoutburstofPhoebus;forhecastgreatfearuponthemall。Fromhisshrinehesprangforthagain,swiftasathought,tospeedagaintotheship,bearingtheformofaman,briskandsturdy,intheprimeofhisyouth,whilehisbroadshoulderswerecoveredwithhishair:andhespoketotheCretans,utteringwingedwords:
（ll。452—461）`Strangers,whoareyou？Whencecomeyousailingalongthepathsofthesea？Areyoufortraffic,ordoyouwanderatrandomovertheseaaspiratesdowhoputtheirownlivestohazardandbringmischieftomenofforeignpartsastheyroam？Whyrestyousoandareafraid,anddonotgoashorenorstowthegearofyourblackship？Forthatisthecustomofmenwholivebybread,whenevertheycometolandintheirdarkshipsfromthemain,spentwithtoil;atoncedesireforsweetfoodcatchesthemabouttheheart。\'
（ll。462—473）Sospeaking,heputcourageintheirhearts,andthemasteroftheCretansansweredhimandsaid:`Stranger——
thoughyouarenothinglikemortalmeninshapeorstature,butareasthedeathlessgods——hailandallhappinesstoyou,andmaythegodsgiveyougood。NowtellmetrulythatImaysurelyknowit:whatcountryisthis,andwhatland,andwhatmenliveherein？Asforus,withthoughtssetotherwards,weweresailingoverthegreatseatoPylosfromCrete（forfromtherewedeclarethatwearesprung）,butnowarecomeonshipboardtothisplacebynomeanswillingly——anotherwayandotherpaths——andgladlywouldwereturn。Butoneofthedeathlessgodsbroughtushereagainstourwill。\'
（ll。474—501）Thenfar—workingApolloansweredthenandsaid:
`StrangerswhooncedweltaboutwoodedCnossosbutnowshallreturnnomoreeachtohislovedcityandfairhouseanddearwife;hereshallyoukeepmyrichtemplethatishonouredbymanymen。IamthesonofZeus;Apolloismyname:butyouIbroughthereoverthewidegulfofthesea,meaningyounohurt;nay,hereyoushallkeepmyrichtemplethatisgreatlyhonouredamongmen,andyoushallknowtheplansofthedeathlessgods,andbytheirwillyoushallbehonouredcontinuallyforalltime。Andnowcome,makehasteanddoasIsay。Firstloosethesheetsandlowerthesail,andthendrawtheswiftshipupupontheland。
Takeoutyourgoodsandthegearofthestraightship,andmakeanaltaruponthebeachofthesea:lightfireuponitandmakeanofferingofwhitemeal。Next,standsidebysidearoundthealtarandpray:andinasmuchasatthefirstonthehazyseaI
sprangupontheswiftshipintheformofadolphin,praytomeasApolloDelphinius;alsothealtaritselfshallbecalledDelphiniusandoverlooking（12）forever。Afterwards,supbesideyourdarkshipandpouranofferingtotheblessedgodswhodwellonOlympus。Butwhenyouhaveputawaycravingforsweetfood,comewithmesingingthehymnIePaean（Hail,Healer！）,untilyoucometotheplacewhereyoushallkeepmyrichtemple。\'
（ll。502—523）SosaidApollo。Andtheyreadilyharkenedtohimandobeyedhim。Firsttheyunfastenedthesheetsandletdownthesailandloweredthemastbytheforestaysuponthemast—
rest。Then,landinguponthebeachofthesea,theyhauleduptheshipfromthewatertodrylandandfixedlongstaysunderit。Alsotheymadeanaltaruponthebeachofthesea,andwhentheyhadlitafire,madeanofferingofwhitemeal,andprayedstandingaroundthealtarasApollohadbiddenthem。Thentheytooktheirmealbytheswift,blackship,andpouredanofferingtotheblessedgodswhodwellonOlympus。Andwhentheyhadputawaycravingfordrinkandfood,theystartedoutwiththelordApollo,thesonofZeus,toleadthem,holdingalyreinhishands,andplayingsweetlyashesteppedhighandfeatly。SotheCretansfollowedhimtoPytho,marchingintimeastheychantedtheIePaeanafterthemanneroftheCretanpaean—singersandofthoseinwhoseheartstheheavenlyMusehasputsweet—voicedsong。WithtirelessfeettheyapproachedtheridgeandstraightwaycametoParnassusandthelovelyplacewheretheyweretodwellhonouredbymanymen。ThereApollobroughtthemandshowedthemhismostholysanctuaryandrichtemple。
（ll。524—525）Buttheirspiritwasstirredintheirdearbreasts,andthemasteroftheCretansaskedhim,saying:
（ll。526—530）`Lord,sinceyouhavebroughtusherefarfromourdearonesandourfatherland,——forsoitseemedgoodtoyourheart,——tellusnowhowweshalllive。Thatwewouldknowofyou。Thislandisnottobedesiredeitherforvineyardsorforpasturessothatwecanlivewellthereonandalsoministertomen。\'
（ll。531—544）ThenApollo,thesonofZeus,smileduponthemandsaid:`Foolishmortalsandpoordrudgesareyou,thatyouseekcaresandhardtoilsandstraits！EasilywillItellyouawordandsetitinyourhearts。Thougheachoneofyouwithknifeinhandshouldslaughtersheepcontinually,yetwouldyoualwayshaveabundantstore,evenallthattheglorioustribesofmenbringhereforme。Butguardyoumytempleandreceivethetribesofmenthatgathertothisplace,andespeciallyshowmortalmenmywill,anddoyoukeeprighteousnessinyourheart。
Butifanyshallbedisobedientandpaynoheedtomywarning,ofifthereshallbeanyidlewordordeedandoutrageasiscommonamongmortalmen,thenothermenshallbeyourmastersandwithastronghandshallmakeyousubjectforever。Allhasbeentoldyou:doyoukeepitinyourheart。\'
（ll。545—546）Andso,farewell,sonofZeusandLeto;butIwillrememberyouandanotherhymnalso。
IV。TOHERMES（582lines）
（ll。1—29）Muse,singofHermes,thesonofZeusandMaia,lordofCylleneandArcadiarichinflocks,theluck—bringingmessengeroftheimmortalswhomMaiabare,therich—tressednymph,whenshewasjoinedinlovewithZeus,——ashygoddess,forsheavoidedthecompanyoftheblessedgods,andlivedwithinadeep,shadycave。TherethesonofCronosusedtoliewiththerich—tressednymph,unseenbydeathlessgodsandmortalmen,atdeadofnightwhilesweetsleepshouldholdwhite—armedHerafast。AndwhenthepurposeofgreatZeuswasfixedinheaven,shewasdeliveredandanotablethingwascometopass。Forthenshebareason,ofmanyshifts,blandlycunning,arobber,acattledriver,abringerofdreams,awatcherbynight,athiefatthegates,onewhowassoontoshowforthwonderfuldeedsamongthedeathlessgods。Bornwiththedawning,atmid—dayheplayedonthelyre,andintheeveninghestolethecattleoffar—shootingApolloonthefourthdayofthemonth;foronthatdayqueenlyMaiabarehim。Sosoonashehadleapedfromhismother\'sheavenlywomb,helaynotlongwaitinginhisholycradle,buthesprangupandsoughttheoxenofApollo。Butashesteppedoverthethresholdofthehigh—roofedcave,hefoundatortoisethereandgainedendlessdelight。ForitwasHermeswhofirstmadethetortoiseasinger。Thecreaturefellinhiswayatthecourtyardgate,whereitwasfeedingontherichgrassbeforethedwelling,waddlingalong。Whenbesawit,theluck—
bringingsonofZeuslaughedandsaid:
（ll。30—38）`Anomenofgreatluckformesosoon！Idonotslightit。Hail,comradeofthefeast,lovelyinshape,soundingatthedance！WithjoyImeetyou！Wheregotyouthatrichgaudforcovering,thatspangledshell——atortoiselivinginthemountains？ButIwilltakeandcarryyouwithin:youshallhelpmeandIwilldoyounodisgrace,thoughfirstofallyoumustprofitme。Itisbettertobeathome:harmmaycomeoutofdoors。Living,youshallbeaspellagainstmischievouswitchcraft（13）;butifyoudie,thenyoushallmakesweetestsong。
（ll。39—61）Thusspeaking,hetookupthetortoiseinbothhandsandwentbackintothehousecarryinghischarmingtoy。Thenhecutoffitslimbsandscoopedoutthemarrowofthemountain—
tortoisewithascoopofgreyiron。Asaswiftthoughtdartsthroughtheheartofamanwhenthrongingcareshaunthim,orasbrightglancesflashfromtheeye,sogloriousHermesplannedboththoughtanddeedatonce。Hecutstalksofreedtomeasureandfixedthem,fasteningtheirendsacrossthebackandthroughtheshellofthetortoise,andthenstretchedoxhidealloveritbyhisskill。Alsoheputinthehornsandfittedacross—pieceuponthetwoofthem,andstretchedsevenstringsofsheep—gut。
Butwhenhehadmadeitheprovedeachstringinturnwiththekey,asheheldthelovelything。Atthetouchofhishanditsoundedmarvellously;and,ashetriedit,thegodsangsweetrandomsnatches,evenasyouthsbandytauntsatfestivals。HesangofZeusthesonofCronosandneat—shodMaia,theconversewhichtheyhadbeforeinthecomradeshipoflove,tellingalltheglorioustaleofhisownbegetting。Hecelebrated,too,thehandmaidsofthenymph,andherbrighthome,andthetripodsallaboutthehouse,andtheabundantcauldrons。
（ll。62—67）Butwhilehewassingingofallthese,hisheartwasbentonothermatters。Andhetookthehollowlyreandlaiditinhissacredcradle,andsprangfromthesweet—smellinghalltoawatch—place,ponderingsheettrickeryinhisheart——deedssuchasknavishfolkpursueinthedarknight—time;forhelongedtotasteflesh。
（ll。68—86）TheSunwasgoingdownbeneaththeearthtowardsOceanwithhishorsesandchariotwhenHermescamehurryingtotheshadowymountainsofPieria,wherethedivinecattleoftheblessedgodshadtheirsteadsandgrazedthepleasant,unmownmeadows。OfthesetheSonofMaia,thesharp—eyedslayerofArgusthencutofffromtheherdfiftyloud—lowingkine,anddrovethemstraggling—wiseacrossasandyplace,turningtheirhoof—printsaside。Also,hebethoughthimofacraftyruseandreversedthemarksoftheirhoofs,makingthefrontbehindandthehindbefore,whilehehimselfwalkedtheotherway（14）。
Thenhewovesandalswithwicker—workbythesandofthesea,wonderfulthings,unthoughtof,unimagined;forhemixedtogethertamariskandmyrtle—twigs,fasteningtogetheranarmfuloftheirfresh,youngwood,andtiedthem,leavesandallsecurelyunderhisfeetaslightsandals。ThebrushwoodthegloriousSlayerofArguspluckedinPieriaashewaspreparingforhisjourney,makingshift（15）asonemakinghasteforalongjourney。
（ll。87—89）ButanoldmantillinghisfloweringvineyardsawhimashewashurryingdowntheplainthroughgrassyOnchestus。SotheSonofMaiabeganandsaidtohim:
（ll。90—93）`Oldman,diggingaboutyourvineswithbowedshoulders,surelyyoushallhavemuchwinewhenallthesebearfruit,ifyouobeymeandstrictlyremembernottohaveseenwhatyouhaveseen,andnottohaveheardwhatyouhaveheard,andtokeepsilentwhennothingofyourownisharmed。\'
（ll。94—114）Whenhehadsaidthismuch,hehurriedthestrongcattleontogether:throughmanyshadowymountainsandechoinggorgesandfloweryplainsgloriousHermesdrovethem。Andnowthedivinenight,hisdarkally,wasmostlypassed,anddawnthatsetsfolktoworkwasquicklycomingon,whilebrightSelene,daughterofthelordPallas,Megamedes\'son,hadjustclimbedherwatch—post,whenthestrongSonofZeusdrovethewide—browedcattleofPhoebusApollototheriverAlpheus。Andtheycameunweariedtothehigh—roofedbyresandthedrinking—troughsthatwerebeforethenoblemeadow。Then,afterhehadwell—fedtheloud—bellowingcattlewithfodderanddriventhemintothebyre,close—packedandchewinglotusandbegantoseektheartoffire。
Hechoseastoutlaurelbranchandtrimmeditwiththeknife……
（（LACUNA））（16）……heldfirmlyinhishand:andthehotsmokeroseup。ForitwasHermeswhofirstinventedfire—sticksandfire。Nexthetookmanydriedsticksandpiledthemthickandplentyinasunkentrench:andflamebegantoglow,spreadingafartheblastoffierce—burningfire。
（ll。115—137）AndwhilethestrengthofgloriousHephaestuswasbeginningtokindlethefire,hedraggedouttwolowing,hornedcowsclosetothefire;forgreatstrengthwaswithhim。Hethrewthembothpantingupontheirbacksontheground,androlledthemontheirsides,bendingtheirnecksover（17）,andpiercedtheirvitalchord。Thenhewentonfromtasktotask:
firsthecutuptherich,fattedmeat,andpierceditwithwoodenspits,androastedfleshandthehonourablechineandthepaunchfullofdarkbloodalltogether。Helaidthemthereupontheground,andspreadoutthehidesonaruggedrock:andsotheyarestilltheremanyagesafterwards,along,longtimeafterallthis,andarecontinually（18）。Nextglad—heartedHermesdraggedtherichmeatshehadpreparedandputthemonasmooth,flatstone,anddividedthemintotwelveportionsdistributedbylot,makingeachportionwhollyhonourable。ThengloriousHermeslongedforthesacrificialmeat,forthesweetsavourweariedhim,godthoughhewas;neverthelesshisproudheartwasnotprevailedupontodevourtheflesh,althoughhegreatlydesired（19）。Butheputawaythefatandallthefleshinthehigh—
roofedbyre,placingthemhighuptobeatokenofhisyouthfultheft。Andafterthathegathereddrysticksandutterlydestroyedwithfireallthehoofsandalltheheads。
（ll。138—154）Andwhenthegodhaddulyfinishedall,hethrewhissandalsintodeep—eddyingAlpheus,andquenchedtheembers,coveringtheblackasheswithsand,andsospentthenightwhileSelene\'ssoftlightshonedown。ThenthegodwentstraightbackagainatdawntothebrightcrestsofCyllene,andnoonemethimonthelongjourneyeitheroftheblessedgodsormortalmen,nordidanydogbark。Andluck—bringingHermes,thesonofZeus,passededgewaysthroughthekey—holeofthehallliketheautumnbreeze,evenasmist:straightthroughthecavehewentandcametotherichinnerchamber,walkingsoftly,andmakingnonoiseasonemightuponthefloor。ThengloriousHermeswenthurriedlytohiscradle,wrappinghisswaddlingclothesabouthisshouldersasthoughhewereafeeblebabe,andlayplayingwiththecoveringabouthisknees;butathislefthandhekeptclosehissweetlyre。
（ll。155—161）Butthegoddidnotpassunseenbythegoddesshismother;butshesaidtohim:`Hownow,yourogue！Whencecomeyoubacksoatnight—time,youthatwearshamelessnessasagarment？AndnowIsurelybelievethesonofLetowillsoonhaveyouforthoutofdoorswithunbreakablecordsaboutyourribs,oryouwilllivearogue\'slifeintheglensrobbingbywhiles。Goto,then;yourfathergotyoutobeagreatworrytomortalmenanddeathlessgods。\'
（ll。162—181）ThenHermesansweredherwithcraftywords:
`Mother,whydoyouseektofrightenmelikeafeeblechildwhoseheartknowsfewwordsofblame,afearfulbabethatfearsitsmother\'sscolding？Nay,butIwilltrywhateverplanisbest,andsofeedmyselfandyoucontinually。Wewillnotbecontenttoremainhere,asyoubid,aloneofallthegodsunfee\'dwithofferingsandprayers。Bettertoliveinfellowshipwiththedeathlessgodscontinually,rich,wealthy,andenjoyingstoriesofgrain,thantositalwaysinagloomycave:and,asregardshonour,ItoowillenterupontheritethatApollohas。Ifmyfatherwillnotgiveittome,Iwillseek——andIamable——tobeaprinceofrobbers。AndifLeto\'smostglorioussonshallseekmeout,Ithinkanotherandagreaterlosswillbefallhim。
ForIwillgotoPythotobreakintohisgreathouse,andwillplundertherefromsplendidtripods,andcauldrons,andgold,andplentyofbrightiron,andmuchapparel;andyoushallseeitifyouwill。\'
（ll。182—189）Withsuchwordstheyspoketogether,thesonofZeuswhoholdstheaegis,andtheladyMaia。NowErostheearlybornwasrisingfromdeep—flowingOcean,bringinglighttomen,whenApollo,ashewent,cametoOnchestus,thelovelygroveandsacredplaceoftheloud—roaringHolderoftheEarth。Therehefoundanoldmangrazinghisbeastalongthepathwayfromhiscourt—yardfence,andtheall—gloriousSonofLetobeganandsaidtohim。
（ll。190—200）`Oldman,weeder（20）ofgrassyOnchestus,IamcomeherefromPieriaseekingcattle,cowsallofthem,allwithcurvinghorns,frommyherd。Theblackbullwasgrazingaloneawayfromtherest,butfierce—eyedhoundsfollowedthecows,fourofthem,allofonemind,likemen。Thesewereleftbehind,thedogsandthebull——whichisgreatmarvel;butthecowsstrayedoutofthesoftmeadow,awayfromthepasturewhenthesunwasjustgoingdown。Nowtellmethis,oldmanbornlongago:haveyouseenonepassingalongbehindthosecows？\'
（ll。201—211）Thentheoldmanansweredhimandsaid:`Myson,itishardtotellallthatone\'seyessee;formanywayfarerspasstoandfrothisway,somebentonmuchevil,andsomeongood:itisdifficulttoknoweachone。However,Iwasdiggingaboutmyplotofvineyardalldaylonguntilthesunwentdown,andI
thought,goodsir,butIdonotknowforcertain,thatImarkedachild,whoeverthechildwas,thatfollowedlong—hornedcattle——
aninfantwhohadastaffandkeptwalkingfromsidetoside:hewasdrivingthembackwardsway,withtheirheadstowardhim。\'
（ll。212—218）Sosaidtheoldman。AndwhenApolloheardthisreport,hewentyetmorequicklyonhisway,andpresently,seeingalong—wingedbird,heknewatoncebythatomenthatthiefwasthechildofZeusthesonofCronos。SothelordApollo,sonofZeus,hurriedontogoodlyPylosseekinghisshamblingoxen,andhehadhisbroadshoulderscoveredwithadarkcloud。ButwhentheFar—Shooterperceivedthetracks,hecried:
（ll。219—226）`Oh,oh！Trulythisisagreatmarvelthatmyeyesbehold！Theseareindeedthetracksofstraight—hornedoxen,buttheyareturnedbackwardstowardstheflowerymeadow。Buttheseothersarenotthefootprintsofmanorwomanorgreywolvesorbearsorlions,nordoIthinktheyarethetracksofarough—
manedCentaur——whoeveritbethatwithswiftfeetmakessuchmonstrousfootprints;wonderfularethetracksonthissideoftheway,butyetmorewonderfullyarethoseonthat。\'
（ll。227—234）Whenhehadsosaid,thelordApollo,theSonofZeushastenedonandcametotheforest—cladmountainofCylleneandthedeep—shadowedcaveintherockwherethedivinenymphbroughtforththechildofZeuswhoisthesonofCronos。A
sweetodourspreadoverthelovelyhill,andmanythin—shankedsheepweregrazingonthegrass。Thenfar—shootingApollohimselfsteppeddowninhasteoverthestonethresholdintotheduskycave。
（ll。235—253）NowwhentheSonofZeusandMaiasawApolloinarageabouthiscattle,hesnuggleddowninhisfragrantswaddling—clothes;andaswood—ashcoversoverthedeepembersoftree—stumps,soHermescuddledhimselfupwhenhesawtheFar—
Shooter。Hesqueezedheadandhandsandfeettogetherinasmallspace,likeanewbornchildseekingsweetsleep,thoughintruthhewaswideawake,andhekepthislyreunderhisarmpit。ButtheSonofLetowasawareandfailednottoperceivethebeautifulmountain—nymphandherdearson,albeitalittlechildandswathedsocraftily。Hepeeredinevercornerofthegreatdwellingand,takingabrightkey,heopenedthreeclosetsfullofnectarandlovelyambrosia。Andmuchgoldandsilverwasstoredinthem,andmanygarmentsofthenymph,somepurpleandsomesilverywhite,suchasarekeptinthesacredhousesoftheblessedgods。Then,aftertheSonofLetohadsearchedouttherecessesofthegreathouse,hespaketogloriousHermes:
（ll。254—259）`Child,lyinginthecradle,makehasteandtellmeofmycattle,orwetwowillsoonfalloutangrily。ForIwilltakeandcastyouintodustyTartarusandawfulhopelessdarkness,andneitheryourmothernoryourfathershallfreeyouorbringyouupagaintothelight,butyouwillwanderundertheearthandbetheleaderamongstlittlefolk。\'（21）
（ll。260—277）ThenHermesansweredhimwithcraftywords:`SonofLeto,whatharshwordsaretheseyouhavespoken？Andisitcattleofthefieldyouarecomeheretoseek？Ihavenotseenthem:Ihavenotheardofthem:noonehastoldmeofthem。I
cannotgivenewsofthem,norwintherewardfornews。AmIlikeacattle—liter,astalwartperson？Thisisnotaskforme:
ratherIcareforotherthings:Icareforsleep,andmilkofmymother\'sbreast,andwrappingsroundmyshoulders,andwarmbaths。Letnoonehearthecauseofthisdispute;forthiswouldbeagreatmarvelindeedamongthedeathlessgods,thatachildnewlybornshouldpassinthroughtheforepartofthehousewithcattleofthefield:hereinyouspeakextravagantly。Iwasbornyesterday,andmyfeetaresoftandthegroundbeneathisrough;
nevertheless,ifyouwillhaveitso,Iwillswearagreatoathbymyfather\'sheadandvowthatneitheramIguiltymyself,neitherhaveIseenanyotherwhostoleyourcows——whatevercowsmaybe;forIknowthemonlybyhearsay。\'
（ll。278—280）So,then,saidHermes,shootingquickglancesfromhiseyes:andhekeptraisinghisbrowsandlookingthiswayandthat,whistlinglongandlisteningtoApollo\'sstoryastoanidletale。
（ll。281—292）Butfar—workingApollolaughedsoftlyandsaidtohim:`Orogue,deceiver,craftyinheart,youtalksoinnocentlythatImostsurelybelievethatyouhavebrokenintomanyawell—
builthouseandstrippedmorethanonepoorwretchbarethisnight（22）,gatheringhisgoodstogetheralloverthehousewithoutnoise。Youwillplaguemanyalonelyherdsmaninmountainglades,whenyoucomeonherdsandthick—fleecedsheep,andhaveahankeringafterflesh。Butcomenow,ifyouwouldnotsleepyourlastandlatestsleep,getoutofyourcradle,youcomradeofdarknight。Surelyhereafterthisshallbeyourtitleamongstthedeathlessgods,tobecalledtheprinceofrobberscontinually。\'
（ll。293—300）SosaidPhoebusApollo,andtookthechildandbegantocarryhim。ButatthatmomentthestrongSlayerofArgushadhisplan,and,whileApolloheldhiminhishands,sentforthanomen,ahard—workedbelly—serf,arudemessenger,andsneezeddirectlyafter。AndwhenApolloheardit,hedroppedgloriousHermesoutofhishandsontheground:thensittingdownbeforehim,thoughhewaseagertogoonhisway,hespokemockinglytoHermes:
（ll。301—303）`Fearnot,littleswaddlingbaby,sonofZeusandMaia。Ishallfindthestrongcattlepresentlybytheseomens,andyoushallleadtheway。\'
（ll。304—306）WhenApollohadsosaid,CyllenianHermessprangupquickly,startinginhaste。Withbothhandshepusheduptohisearsthecoveringthathehadwrappedabouthisshoulders,andsaid:
（ll。307—312）`Whereareyoucarryingme,Far—Worker,hastiestofallthegods？Isitbecauseofyourcattlethatyouaresoangryandharassme？Odear,wouldthatallthesortofoxenmightperish;foritisnotIwhostoleyourcows,nordidIseeanotherstealthem——whatevercowsmaybe,andofthatIhaveonlyheardreport。Nay,giverightandtakeitbeforeZeus,theSonofCronos。\'
（ll。313—326）SoHermestheshepherdandLeto\'sglorioussonkeptstubbornlydisputingeacharticleoftheirquarrel:Apollo,speakingtruly……
（（LACUNA））……notfairlysoughttoseizegloriousHermesbecauseofthecows;buthe,theCyllenian,triedtodeceivetheGodoftheSilverBowwithtricksandcunningwords。Butwhen,thoughhehadmanywiles,hefoundtheotherhadasmanyshifts,hebegantowalkacrossthesand,himselfinfront,whiletheSonofZeusandLetocamebehind。Soontheycame,theselovelychildrenofZeus,tothetopoffragrantOlympus,totheirfather,theSonofCronos;fortherewerethescalesofjudgementsetforthemboth。
TherewasanassemblyonsnowyOlympus,andtheimmortalswhoperishnotweregatheringafterthehourofgold—thronedDawn。
（ll。327—329）ThenHermesandApollooftheSilverBowstoodatthekneesofZeus:andZeuswhothundersonhighspoketohisglorioussonandaskedhim:
（ll。330—332）`Phoebus,whencecomeyoudrivingthisgreatspoil,achildnewbornthathasthelookofaherald？Thisisaweightymatterthatiscomebeforethecouncilofthegods。\'
（ll。333—364）Thenthelord,far—workingApollo,answeredhim:`O
myfather,youshallsoonhearnotrifflingtalethoughyoureproachmethatIaloneamfondofspoil。Hereisachild,aburglingrobber,whomIfoundafteralongjourneyinthehillsofCyllene:formypartIhaveneverseenonesoperteitheramongthegodsorallmenthatcatchfolkunawaresthroughouttheworld。Hestroleawaymycowsfromtheirmeadowanddrovethemoffintheeveningalongtheshoreoftheloud—roaringsea,makingstraightforPylos。Thereweredoubletracks,andwonderfultheywere,suchasonemightmarvelat,thedoingofacleversprite;forasforthecows,thedarkdustkeptandshowedtheirfootprintsleadingtowardstheflowerymeadow;buthehimself——bewilderingcreature——crossedthesandygroundoutsidethepath,notonhisfeetnoryetonhishands;but,furnishedwithsomeothermeanshetrudgedhisway——wonderofwonders！——asthoughonewalkedonslenderoak—trees。Nowwhilehefollowedthecattleacrosssandyground,allthetracksshowedquiteclearlyinthedust;butwhenhehadfinishedthelongwayacrossthesand,presentlythecows\'trackandhisowncouldnotbetracedoverthehardground。Butamortalmannoticedhimashedrovethewide—browedkinestraighttowardsPylos。Andassoonashehadshutthemupquietly,andhadgonehomebycraftyturnsandtwists,helaydowninhiscradleinthegloomofadimcave,asstillasdarknight,sothatnotevenaneaglekeenlygazingwouldhavespiedhim。Muchherubbedhiseyeswithhishandsashepreparedfalsehood,andhimselfstraightwaysaidroundly:\"Ihavenotseenthem:Ihavenotheardofthem:nomanhastoldmeofthem。Icouldnottellyouofthem,norwintherewardoftelling。\"\'
（ll。365—367）Whenhehadsospoken,PhoebusApollosatdown。
ButHermesonhispartansweredandsaid,pointingattheSonofCronos,thelordofallthegods:
（ll。368—386）`Zeus,myfather,indeedIwillspeaktruthtoyou;
forIamtruthfulandIcannottellalie。Hecametoourhouseto—daylookingforhisshamblingcows,asthesunwasnewlyrising。Hebroughtnowitnesseswithhimnoranyoftheblessedgodswhohadseenthetheft,butwithgreatviolenceorderedmetoconfess,threateningmuchtothrowmeintowideTartarus。Forhehastherichbloomofgloriousyouth,whileIwasbornbutyesterday——ashetooknows——noramIlikeacattle—lifter,asturdyfellow。Believemytale（foryouclaimtobemyownfather）,thatIdidnotdrivehiscowstomyhouse——somayI
prosper——norcrossedthethreshold:thisIsaytruly。I
reverenceHeliosgreatlyandtheothergods,andyouIloveandhimIdread。YouyourselfknowthatIamnotguilty:andIwillswearagreatoathuponit:——No！bytheserich—deckedporticoesofthegods。AndsomedayIwillpunishhim,strongasheis,forthispitilessinquisition;butnowdoyouhelptheyounger。\'
（ll。387—396）SospaketheCyllenian,theSlayerofArgus,whilehekeptshootingsidelongglancesandkepthisswaddling—clothesuponhisarm,anddidnotcastthemaway。ButZeuslaughedoutloudtoseehisevil—plottingchildwellandcunninglydenyingguiltaboutthecattle。Andhebadethembothtobeofonemindandsearchforthecattle,andguidingHermestoleadthewayand,withoutmischievousnessofheart,toshowtheplacewherenowhehadhiddenthestrongcattle。ThentheSonofCronosbowedhishead:andgoodlyHermesobeyedhim;forthewillofZeuswhoholdstheaegiseasilyprevailedwithhim。