![]() ![]() 2 Then he wove sandals with wicker-work by the sand of the sea, Also, he bethought him of a crafty ruse and reversed the marks of their hoofs, making the front behind and the hind before, while he himself walked the other way. Of these the Son of Maia, the sharp-eyed slayer of Argus then cut off from the herd fifty loud-lowing kine,Īnd drove them straggling-wise across a sandy place, turning their hoof-prints aside. The Sun was going down beneath the earth towards Ocean with his horses and chariot when HermesĬame hurrying to the shadowy mountains of Pieria, where the divine cattle of the blessed gods had their steads and grazed the pleasant, unmown meadows. And he took the hollow lyre and laid it in his sacred cradle,Īnd sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a watch-place, pondering sheer trickery in his heart -deeds such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time for he longed to taste flesh. He celebrated, too, the handmaids of the nymph, and her bright home, and the tripods all about the house, and the abundant cauldrons.īut while he was singing of all these, his heart was bent on other matters. He sang of Zeus the son of Cronos and neat-shod Maia, the converse which they had before in the comradeship of love, telling all the glorious tale of his own begetting. But when he had made it he proved each string in turn with the key, as he held the lovely thing.Īt the touch of his hand it sounded marvelously and, as he tried it, the god sang sweet random snatches, even as youths bandy taunts at festivals. He cut stalks of reed to measure and fixed them, fastening their ends across the back and through the shell of the tortoise, and then stretched ox hide all over it by his skill.Īlso he put in the horns and fitted a cross-piece upon the two of them, and stretched seven strings of sheep-gut. Or as bright glances flash from the eye, so glorious Hermes planned both thought and deed at once. As a swift thought darts through the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him, Then he cut off its limbs and scooped out the marrow of the mountain-tortoise with a scoop of grey iron. Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both handsĪnd went back into the house carrying his charming toy. Living, you shall be a spell against mischievous witchcraft 1 but if you die, then you shall make sweetest song.” It is better to be at home: harm may come out of doors. Hail, comrade of the feast, lovely in shape, sounding at the dance! With joy I meet you! Where got you that rich gaud for covering, that spangled shell -a tortoise living in the mountains? But I will take and carry you within: you shall help meĪnd I will do you no disgrace, though first of all you must profit me. “An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight it. When he saw it, the luck-bringing son of Zeus laughed and said: ![]() The creature fell in his way at the courtyard gate, where it was feeding on the rich grass before the dwelling, waddling along. But as he stepped over the threshold of the high-roofed cave, he found a tortoise there and gained endless delight.įor it was Hermes who first made the tortoise a singer. So soon as he had leaped from his mother's heavenly womb, he lay not long waiting in his holy cradle, but he sprang up and sought the oxen of Apollo. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo on the fourth day of the month for on that day queenly Maia bare him. For then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams,Ī watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods. There the son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph, unseen by deathless gods and mortal men, at dead of night while sweet sleep should hold white-armed Hera fast.Īnd when the purpose of great Zeus was fulfilled, and the tenth moon with her was fixed in heaven, she was delivered and a notable thing was come to pass. a shy goddess, for she avoided the company of the blessed gods, and lived within a deep, shady cave. Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the luck-bringing messenger of the immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed nymph, when she was joined in love with Zeus, ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |