HYMNS
I.
TO DIONYSUS
*
* *
Diodorus Siculus iii. 66. 3:
For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on windy Icarus; and some,
in Naxos, O Heaven-born, Insewn [1]; and others by the deep-eddying
river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to Zeus the thunder-lover.
And others yet, lord, say you were born in Thebes; but all these
lie. The Father of men and gods gave you birth remote from men
and secretly from white-armed Hera. There is a certain Nysa,
a mountain most high and richly grown with woods, far off in
Phoenice, near the streams of Aegyptus.
* * *
Leyden
(the Moscow MS):
"...and men will lay up for her [3] many offerings in her
shrines. And as these things are three, so shall mortals ever
sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three
years."
The
Son of Cronos spoke and nodded with his dark brows. And the
divine locks of the king flowed forward from his immortal head,
and he made great Olympus reel. So spake wise Zeus and ordained
it with a nod.
Be
favourable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women! we singers
sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and none forgetting
you may call holy song to mind. And so, farewell, Dionysus,
Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call Thyone.
Dionysus,
after his untimely birth from Semele, was sewn into the thigh
of Zeus.
II.
TO DEMETER
I
begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess — of
her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away, given
to him by all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer.
Apart
from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and glorious fruits,
she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and
gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and
beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus,
which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please the
Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl — a
marvellous, radiant flower. It was a thing of awe whether for
deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its root grew a hundred
blooms and is smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven
above and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for
joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands
to take the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there
in the plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal
horses sprang out upon her — the Son of Cronos, He who
has many names [5].
He
caught her up reluctant on his golden car and bare her away
lamenting. Then she cried out shrilly with her voice, calling
upon her father, the Son of Cronos, who is most high and excellent.
But no one, either of the deathless gods or of mortal men, heard
her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only
tender-hearted Hecate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of Persaeus,
heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios, Hyperion's
bright son, as she cried to her father, the Son of Cronos. But
he was sitting aloof, apart from the gods, in his temple where
many pray, and receiving sweet offerings from mortal men. So
he, that Son of Cronos, of many names, who is Ruler of Many
and Host of Many, was bearing her away by leave of Zeus on his
immortal chariot — his own brother's child and all unwilling.
And
so long as she, the goddess, yet beheld earth and starry heaven
and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and the rays
of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and the tribes
of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great heart for
all her trouble....
*
* *
....and
the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea rang
with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.
Bitter
pain seized her heart, and she rent the covering upon her divine
hair with her dear hands: her dark cloak she cast down from
both her shoulders and sped, like a wild-bird, over the firm
land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no one would tell
her the truth, neither god nor mortal men; and of the birds
of omen none came with true news for her. Then for nine days
queenly Deo wandered over the earth with flaming torches in
her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the
sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with water.
But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, with
a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her
news:
"Queenly
Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god
of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced
with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard her voice, yet saw
not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you truly and shortly
all I know."
So,
then, said Hecate. And the daughter of rich- haired Rhea answered
her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches
in her hands. So they came to Helios, who is watchman of both
gods and men, and stood in front of his horses: and the bright
goddess enquired of him: "Helios, do you at least regard
me, goddess as I am, if ever by word or deed of mine I have
cheered your heart and spirit. Through the fruitless air I heard
the thrilling cry of my daughter whom I bare, sweet scion of
my body and lovely in form, as of one seized violently; though
with my eyes I saw nothing. But you — for with your beams
you look down from the bright upper air Over all the earth and
sea — tell me truly of my dear child, if you have seen
her anywhere, what god or mortal man has violently seized her
against her will and mine, and so made off."
So
said she. And the Son of Hyperion answered her: "Queen
Demeter, daughter of rich-haired Rhea, I will tell you the truth;
for I greatly reverence and pity you in your grief for your
trim-ankled daughter. None other of the deathless gods is to
blame, but only cloud-gathering Zeus who gave her to Hades,
her father's brother, to be called his buxom wife. And Hades
seized her and took her loudly crying in his chariot down to
his realm of mist and gloom. Yet, goddess, cease your loud lament
and keep not vain anger unrelentingly: Aidoneus, the Ruler of
Many, is no unfitting husband among the deathless gods for your
child, being your own brother and born of the same stock: also,
for honour, he has that third share which he received when division
was made at the first, and is appointed lord of those among
whom he dwells."
So
he spake, and called to his horses: and at his chiding they
quickly whirled the swift chariot along, like long- winged birds.
But
grief yet more terrible and savage came into the heart of Demeter,
and thereafter she was so angered with the dark-clouded Son
of Cronos that she avoided the gathering of the gods and high
Olympus, and went to the towns and rich fields of men, disfiguring
her form a long while. And no one of men or deep-bosomed women
knew her when they saw her, until she came to the house of wise
Celeus who then was lord of fragrant Eleusis. Vexed in her dear
heart, she sat near the wayside by the Maiden Well, from which
the women of the place were used to draw water, in a shady place
over which grew an olive shrub. And she was like an ancient
woman who is cut off from childbearing and the gifts of garland-loving
Aphrodite, like the nurses of king's children who deal justice,
or like the house-keepers in their echoing halls. There the
daughters of Celeus, son of Eleusis, saw her, as they were coming
for easy-drawn water, to carry it in pitchers of bronze to their
dear father's house: four were they and like goddesses in the
flower of their girlhood, Callidice and Cleisidice and lovely
Demo and Callithoe who was the eldest of them all. They knew
her not —for the gods are not easily discerned by mortals—
but standing near by her spoke winged words:
"Old
mother, whence and who are you of folk born long ago? Why are
you gone away from the city and do not draw near the houses?
For there in the shady halls are women of just such age as you,
and others younger; and they would welcome you both by word
and by deed."
Thus they said. And she, that queen among goddesses answered
them saying: "Hail, dear children, whosoever you are of
woman-kind. I will tell you my story; for it is not unseemly
that I should tell you truly what you ask. Doso is my name,
for my stately mother gave it me. And now I am come from Crete
over the sea's wide back — not willingly; but pirates brought
be thence by force of strength against my liking. Afterwards
they put in with their swift craft to Thoricus, and there the
women landed on the shore in full throng and the men likewise,
and they began to make ready a meal by the stern-cables of the
ship. But my heart craved not pleasant food, and I fled secretly
across the dark country and escaped by masters, that they should
not take me unpurchased across the sea, there to win a price
for me. And so I wandered and am come here: and I know not at
all what land this is or what people are in it. But may all
those who dwell on Olympus give you husbands and birth of children
as parents desire, so you take pity on me, maidens, and show
me this clearly that I may learn, dear children, to the house
of what man and woman I may go, to work for them cheerfully
at such tasks as belong to a woman of my age. Well could I nurse
a new born child, holding him in my arms, or keep house, or
spread my masters' bed in a recess of the well-built chamber,
or teach the women their work."
So said the goddess. And straightway the unwed maiden Callidice,
goodliest in form of the daughters of Celeus, answered her and
said:
"Mother,
what the gods send us, we mortals bear perforce, although we
suffer; for they are much stronger than we. But now I will teach
you clearly, telling you the names of men who have great power
and honour here and are chief among the people, guarding our
city's coif of towers by their wisdom and true judgements: there
is wise Triptolemus and Dioclus and Polyxeinus and blameless
Eumolpus and Dolichus and our own brave father. All these have
wives who manage in the house, and no one of them, so soon as
she has seen you, would dishonour you and turn you from the
house, but they will welcome you; for indeed you are godlike.
But if you will, stay here; and we will go to our father's house
and tell Metaneira, our deep-bosomed mother, all this matter
fully, that she may bid you rather come to our home than search
after the houses of others. She has an only son, late-born,
who is being nursed in our well-built house, a child of many
prayers and welcome: if you could bring him up until he reached
the full measure of youth, any one of womankind who should see
you would straightway envy you, such gifts would our mother
give for his upbringing."
So
she spake: and the goddess bowed her head in assent. And they
filled their shining vessels with water and carried them off
rejoicing. Quickly they came to their father's great house and
straightway told their mother according as they had heard and
seen. Then she bade them go with all speed and invite the stranger
to come for a measureless hire. As hinds or heifers in spring
time, when sated with pasture, bound about a meadow, so they,
holding up the folds of their lovely garments, darted down the
hollow path, and their hair like a crocus flower streamed about
their shoulders. And they found the good goddess near the wayside
where they had left her before, and led her to the house of
their dear father. And she walked behind, distressed in her
dear heart, with her head veiled and wearing a dark cloak which
waved about the slender feet of the goddess.
Soon
they came to the house of heaven-nurtured Celeus and went through
the portico to where their queenly mother sat by a pillar of
the close-fitted roof, holding her son, a tender scion, in her
bosom. And the girls ran to her. But the goddess walked to the
threshold: and her head reached the roof and she filled the
doorway with a heavenly radiance. Then awe and reverence and
pale fear took hold of Metaneira, and she rose up from her couch
before Demeter, and bade her be seated. But Demeter, bringer
of seasons and giver of perfect gifts, would not sit upon the
bright couch, but stayed silent with lovely eyes cast down until
careful Iambe placed a jointed seat for her and threw over it
a silvery fleece. Then she sat down and held her veil in her
hands before her face. A long time she sat upon the stool (6)
without speaking because of her sorrow, and greeted no one by
word or by sign, but rested, never smiling, and tasting neither
food nor drink, because she pined with longing for her deep-bosomed
daughter, until careful Iambe — who pleased her moods in
aftertime also — moved the holy lady with many a quip and
jest to smile and laugh and cheer her heart. Then Metaneira
filled a cup with sweet wine and offered it to her; but she
refused it, for she said it was not lawful for her to drink
red wine, but bade them mix meal and water with soft mint and
give her to drink. And Metaneira mixed the draught and gave
it to the goddess as she bade. So the great queen Deo received
it to observe the sacrament.... [7]
*
* *
And
of them all, well-girded Metaneira first began to speak: "Hail,
lady! For I think you are not meanly but nobly born; truly dignity
and grace are conspicuous upon your eyes as in the eyes of kings
that deal justice. Yet we mortals bear perforce what the gods
send us, though we be grieved; for a yoke is set upon our necks.
But now, since you are come here, you shall have what I can
bestow: and nurse me this child whom the gods gave me in my
old age and beyond my hope, a son much prayed for. If you should
bring him up until he reach the full measure of youth, any one
of womankind that sees you will straightway envy you, so great
reward would I give for his upbringing."
Then
rich-haired Demeter answered her: "And to you, also, lady,
all hail, and may the gods give you good! Gladly will I take
the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse him. Never,
I ween, through any heedlessness of his nurse shall witchcraft
hurt him nor yet the Undercutter [8]: for I know a charm far
stronger than the Woodcutter, and I know an excellent safeguard
against woeful witchcraft."
When
she had so spoken, she took the child in her fragrant bosom
with her divine hands: and his mother was glad in her heart.
So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise Celeus'
goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare. And the child grew
like some immortal being, not fed with food nor nourished at
the breast: for by day rich-crowned Demeter would anoint him
with ambrosia as if he were the offspring of a god and breathe
sweetly upon him as she held him in her bosom. But at night
she would hide him like a brand in the heard of the fire, unknown
to his dear parents. And it wrought great wonder in these that
he grew beyond his age; for he was like the gods face to face.
And she would have made him deathless and unageing, had not
well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness kept watch by night
from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied. But she wailed and
smote her two hips, because she feared for her son and was greatly
distraught in her heart; so she lamented and uttered winged
words:
"Demophoon,
my son, the strange woman buries you deep in fire and works
grief and bitter sorrow for me."
Thus
she spoke, mourning. And the bright goddess, lovely-crowned
Demeter, heard her, and was wroth with her. So with her divine
hands she snatched from the fire the dear son whom Metaneira
had born unhoped-for in the palace, and cast him from her to
the ground; for she was terribly angry in her heart. Forthwith
she said to well-girded Metaneira:
"Witless
are you mortals and dull to foresee your lot, whether of good
or evil, that comes upon you. For now in your heedlessness you
have wrought folly past healing; for — be witness the oath
of the gods, the relentless water of Styx — I would have
made your dear son deathless and unaging all his days and would
have bestowed on him everlasting honour, but now he can in no
way escape death and the fates. Yet shall unfailing honour always
rest upon him, because he lay upon my knees and slept in my
arms. But, as the years move round and when he is in his prime,
the sons of the Eleusinians shall ever wage war and dread strife
with one another continually. Lo! I am that Demeter who has
share of honour and is the greatest help and cause of joy to
the undying gods and mortal men. But now, let all the people
build be a great temple and an altar below it and beneath the
city and its sheer wall upon a rising hillock above Callichorus.
And I myself will teach my rites, that hereafter you may reverently
perform them and so win the favour of my heart."
When
she had so said, the goddess changed her stature and her looks,
thrusting old age away from her: beauty spread round about her
and a lovely fragrance was wafted from her sweet-smelling robes,
and from the divine body of the goddess a light shone afar,
while golden tresses spread down over her shoulders, so that
the strong house was filled with brightness as with lightning.
And so she went out from the palace.
And
straightway Metaneira's knees were loosed and she remained speechless
for a long while and did not remember to take up her late-born
son from the ground. But his sisters heard his pitiful wailing
and sprang down from their well-spread beds: one of them took
up the child in her arms and laid him in her bosom, while another
revived the fire, and a third rushed with soft feet to bring
their mother from her fragrant chamber. And they gathered about
the struggling child and washed him, embracing him lovingly;
but he was not comforted, because nurses and handmaids much
less skilful were holding him now.
All
night long they sought to appease the glorious goddess, quaking
with fear. But, as soon as dawn began to show, they told powerful
Celeus all things without fail, as the lovely- crowned goddess
Demeter charged them. So Celeus called the countless people
to an assembly and bade them make a goodly temple for rich-haired
Demeter and an altar upon the rising hillock. And they obeyed
him right speedily and harkened to his voice, doing as he commanded.
As for the child, he grew like an immortal being.
Now
when they had finished building and had drawn back from their
toil, they went every man to his house. But golden-haired Demeter
sat there apart from all the blessed gods and stayed, wasting
with yearning for her deep-bosomed daughter. Then she caused
a most dreadful and cruel year for mankind over the all-nourishing
earth: the ground would not make the seed sprout, for rich-crowned
Demeter kept it hid. In the fields the oxen drew many a curved
plough in vain, and much white barley was cast upon the land
without avail. So she would have destroyed the whole race of
man with cruel famine and have robbed them who dwell on Olympus
of their glorious right of gifts and sacrifices, had not Zeus
perceived and marked this in his heart. First he sent golden-winged
Iris to call rich-haired Demeter, lovely in form. So he commanded.
And she obeyed the dark-clouded Son of Cronos, and sped with
swift feet across the space between. She came to the stronghold
of fragrant Eleusis, and there finding dark-cloaked Demeter
in her temple, spake to her and uttered winged words:
"Demeter,
father Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, calls you to come
join the tribes of the eternal gods: come therefore, and let
not the message I bring from Zeus pass unobeyed."
Thus said Iris imploring her. But Demeter's heart was not moved.
Then again the father sent forth all the blessed and eternal
gods besides: and they came, one after the other, and kept calling
her and offering many very beautiful gifts and whatever right
she might be pleased to choose among the deathless gods. Yet
no one was able to persuade her mind and will, so wrath was
she in her heart; but she stubbornly rejected all their words:
for she vowed that she would never set foot on fragrant Olympus
nor let fruit spring out of the ground, until she beheld with
her eyes her own fair-faced daughter.
Now
when all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer heard this, he sent
the Slayer of Argus whose wand is of gold to Erebus, so that
having won over Hades with soft words, he might lead forth chaste
Persephone to the light from the misty gloom to join the gods,
and that her mother might see her with her eyes and cease from
her anger. And Hermes obeyed, and leaving the house of Olympus,
straightway sprang down with speed to the hidden places of the
earth. And he found the lord Hades in his house seated upon
a couch, and his shy mate with him, much reluctant, because
she yearned for her mother. But she was afar off, brooding on
her fell design because of the deeds of the blessed gods. And
the strong Slayer of Argus drew near and said:
"Dark-haired
Hades, ruler over the departed, father Zeus bids me bring noble
Persephone forth from Erebus unto the gods, that her mother
may see her with her eyes and cease from her dread anger with
the immortals; for now she plans an awful deed, to destroy the
weakly tribes of earthborn men by keeping seed hidden beneath
the earth, and so she makes an end of the honours of the undying
gods. For she keeps fearful anger and does not consort with
the gods, but sits aloof in her fragrant temple, dwelling in
the rocky hold of Eleusis."
So
he said. And Aidoneus, ruler over the dead, smiled grimly and
obeyed the behest of Zeus the king. For he straightway urged
wise Persephone, saying:
"Go
now, Persephone, to your dark-robed mother, go, and feel kindly
in your heart towards me: be not so exceedingly cast down; for
I shall be no unfitting husband for you among the deathless
gods, that am own brother to father Zeus. And while you are
here, you shall rule all that lives and moves and shall have
the greatest rights among the deathless gods: those who defraud
you and do not appease your power with offerings, reverently
performing rites and paying fit gifts, shall be punished for
evermore."
When
he said this, wise Persephone was filled with joy and hastily
sprang up for gladness. But he on his part secretly gave her
sweet pomegranate seed to eat, taking care for himself that
she might not remain continually with grave, dark- robed Demeter.
Then Aidoneus the Ruler of Many openly got ready his deathless
horses beneath the golden chariot. And she mounted on the chariot,
and the strong Slayer of Argos took reins and whip in his dear
hands and drove forth from the hall, the horses speeding readily.
Swiftly they traversed their long course, and neither the sea
nor river-waters nor grassy glens nor mountain- peaks checked
the career of the immortal horses, but they clave the deep air
above them as they went. And Hermes brought them to the place
where rich-crowned Demeter was staying and checked them before
her fragrant temple.
And
when Demeter saw them, she rushed forth as does a Maenad down
some thick-wooded mountain, while Persephone on the other side,
when she saw her mother's sweet eyes, left the chariot and horses,
and leaped down to run to her, and falling upon her neck, embraced
her. But while Demeter was still holding her dear child in her
arms, her heart suddenly misgave her for some snare, so that
she feared greatly and ceased fondling her daughter and asked
of her at once: "My child, tell me, surely you have not
tasted any food while you were below? Speak out and hide nothing,
but let us both know. For if you have not, you shall come back
from loathly Hades and live with me and your father, the dark-clouded
Son of Cronos and be honoured by all the deathless gods; but
if you have tasted food, you must go back again beneath the
secret places of the earth, there to dwell a third part of the
seasons every year: yet for the two parts you shall be with
me and the other deathless gods. But when the earth shall bloom
with the fragrant flowers of spring in every kind, then from
the realm of darkness and gloom thou shalt come up once more
to be a wonder for gods and mortal men. And now tell me how
he rapt you away to the realm of darkness and gloom, and by
what trick did the strong Host of Many beguile you?"
Then
beautiful Persephone answered her thus: "Mother, I will
tell you all without error. When luck-bringing Hermes came,
swift messenger from my father the Son of Cronos and the other
Sons of Heaven, bidding me come back from Erebus that you might
see me with your eyes and so cease from your anger and fearful
wrath against the gods, I sprang up at once for joy; but he
secretly put in my mouth sweet food, a pomegranate seed, and
forced me to taste against my will. Also I will tell how he
rapt me away by the deep plan of my father the Son of Cronos
and carried me off beneath the depths of the earth, and will
relate the whole matter as you ask. All we were playing in a
lovely meadow, Leucippe [9] and Phaeno and Electra and Ianthe,
Melita also and Iache with Rhodea and Callirhoe and Melobosis
and Tyche and Ocyrhoe, fair as a flower, Chryseis, Ianeira,
Acaste and Admete and Rhodope and Pluto and charming Calypso;
Styx too was there and Urania and lovely Galaxaura with Pallas
who rouses battles and Artemis delighting in arrows: we were
playing and gathering sweet flowers in our hands, soft crocuses
mingled with irises and hyacinths, and rose-blooms and lilies,
marvellous to see, and the narcissus which the wide earth caused
to grow yellow as a crocus. That I plucked in my joy; but the
earth parted beneath, and there the strong lord, the Host of
Many, sprang forth and in his golden chariot he bore me away,
all unwilling, beneath the earth: then I cried with a shrill
cry. All this is true, sore though it grieves me to tell the
tale."
So
did they turn, with hearts at one, greatly cheer each the other's
soul and spirit with many an embrace: their heart had relief
from their griefs while each took and gave back joyousness.
Then
bright-coiffed Hecate came near to them, and often did she embrace
the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that time the lady Hecate
was minister and companion to Persephone.
And
all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to them, rich- haired Rhea,
to bring dark-cloaked Demeter to join the families of the gods:
and he promised to give her what right she should choose among
the deathless gods and agreed that her daughter should go down
for the third part of the circling year to darkness and gloom,
but for the two parts should live with her mother and the other
deathless gods. Thus he commanded. And the goddess did not disobey
the message of Zeus; swiftly she rushed down from the peaks
of Olympus and came to the plain of Rharus, rich, fertile corn-land
once, but then in nowise fruitful, for it lay idle and utterly
leafless, because the white grains was hidden by design of trim-ankled
Demeter. But afterwards, as springtime waxed, it was soon to
be waving with long ears of corn, and its rich furrows to be
loaded with grain upon the ground, while others would already
be bound in sheaves. There first she landed from the fruitless
upper air: and glad were the goddesses to see each other and
cheered in heart. Then bright- coiffed Rhea said to Demeter:
"Come,
my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus the loud- thunderer calls you
to join the families of the gods, and has promised to give you
what rights you please among the deathless gods, and has agreed
that for a third part of the circling year your daughter shall
go down to darkness and gloom, but for the two parts shall be
with you and the other deathless gods: so has he declared it
shall be and has bowed his head in token. But come, my child,
obey, and be not too angry unrelentingly with the dark-clouded
Son of Cronos; but rather increase forthwith for men the fruit
that gives them life."
So
spake Rhea. And rich-crowned Demeter did not refuse but straightway
made fruit to spring up from the rich lands, so that the whole
wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers. Then she went,
and to the kings who deal justice, Triptolemus and Diocles,
the horse-driver, and to doughty Eumolpus and Celeus, leader
of the people, she showed the conduct of her rites and taught
them all her mysteries, to Triptolemus and Polyxeinus and Diocles
also —awful mysteries which no one may in any way transgress
or pry into or utter, for deep awe of the gods checks the voice.
Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries;
but he who is uninitiate and who has no part in them, never
has lot of like good things once he is dead, down in the darkness
and gloom.
But
when the bright goddess had taught them all, they went to Olympus
to the gathering of the other gods. And there they dwell beside
Zeus who delights in thunder, awful and reverend goddesses.
Right blessed is he among men on earth whom they freely love:
soon they do send Plutus as guest to his great house, Plutus
who gives wealth to mortal men.
And
now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and
rocky Antron, lady, giver of good gifts, bringer of seasons,
queen Deo, be gracious, you and your daughter all beauteous
Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering substance.
And now I will remember you and another song also.
[5] The
Greeks feared to name Pluto directly and mentioned him by
one of many descriptive titles, such as `Host of Many': compare
the Christian use of O DIABOLOS or our `Evil One'.
[6] Demeter chooses the lowlier seat, supposedly as being
more suitable to her assumed condition, but really because
in her sorrow she refuses all comforts.
[7] An act of communion — the drinking of the potion
here described — was one of the most important pieces
of ritual in the Eleusinian mysteries, as commemorating the
sorrows of the goddess.
[8] Undercutter and Woodcutter are probably popular names
(after the style of Hesiod's `Boneless One') for the worm
thought to be the cause of teething and toothache.
[9] The list of names is taken — with five additions
— from Hesiod, "Theogony" 349 ff.: for their general
significance see note on that passage.
III.
TO DELIAN APOLLO
I
will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who shoots afar.
As he goes through the house of Zeus, the gods tremble before
him and all spring up from their seats when he draws near, as
he bends his bright bow. But Leto alone stays by the side of
Zeus who delights in thunder; and then she unstrings his bow,
and closes his quiver, and takes his archery from his strong
shoulders in her hands and hangs them on a golden peg against
a pillar of his father's house. Then she leads him to a seat
and makes him sit: and the Father gives him nectar in a golden
cup welcoming his dear son, while the other gods make him sit
down there, and queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a mighty
son and an archer. Rejoice, blessed Leto, for you bare glorious
children, the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in arrows;
her in Ortygia, and him in rocky Delos, as you rested against
the great mass of the Cynthian hill hard by a palm-tree by the
streams of Inopus.
How,
then, shall I sing of you who in all ways are a worthy theme
of song? For everywhere, O Phoebus, the whole range of song
is fallen to you, both over the mainland that rears heifers
and over the isles. All mountain-peaks and high headlands of
lofty hills and rivers flowing out to the deep and beaches sloping
seawards and havens of the sea are your delight. Shall I sing
how at the first Leto bare you to be the joy of men, as she
rested against Mount Cynthus in that rocky isle, in sea-girt
Delos — while on either hand a dark wave rolled on landwards
driven by shrill winds — whence arising you rule over all
mortal men?
Among
those who are in Crete, and in the township of Athens, and in
the isle of Aegina and Euboea, famous for ships, in Aegae and
Eiresiae and Peparethus near the sea, in Thracian Athos and
Pelion's towering heights and Thracian Samos and the shady hills
of Ida, in Scyros and Phocaea and the high hill of Autocane
and fair-lying Imbros and smouldering Lemnos and rich Lesbos,
home of Macar, the son of Aeolus, and Chios, brightest of all
the isles that lie in the sea, and craggy Mimas and the heights
of Corycus and gleaming Claros and the sheer hill of Aesagea
and watered Samos and the steep heights of Mycale, in Miletus
and Cos, the city of Meropian men, and steep Cnidos and windy
Carpathos, in Naxos and Paros and rocky Rhenaea — so far
roamed Leto in travail with the god who shoots afar, to see
if any land would be willing to make a dwelling for her son.
But they greatly trembled and feared, and none, not even the
richest of them, dared receive Phoebus, until queenly Leto set
foot on Delos and uttered winged words and asked her:
"Delos,
if you would be willing to be the abode of my son "Phoebus Apollo
and make him a rich temple — for no other will touch you,
as you will find: and I think you will never be rich in oxen
and sheep, nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants abundantly.
But if you have the temple of far-shooting Apollo, all men will
bring you hecatombs and gather here, and incessant savour of
rich sacrifice will always arise, and you will feed those who
dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your own
soil is not rich."
So
spake Leto. And Delos rejoiced and answered and said: "Leto,
most glorious daughter of great Coeus, joyfully would I receive
your child the far-shooting lord; for it is all too true that
I am ill-spoken of among men, whereas thus I should become very
greatly honoured. But this saying I fear, and I will not hide
it from you, Leto. They say that Apollo will be one that is
very haughty and will greatly lord it among gods and men all
over the fruitful earth. Therefore, I greatly fear in heart
and spirit that as soon as he sets the light of the sun, he
will scorn this island — for truly I have but a hard, rocky
soil — and overturn me and thrust me down with his feet
in the depths of the sea; then will the great ocean wash deep
above my head for ever, and he will go to another land such
as will please him, there to make his temple and wooded groves.
So, many-footed creatures of the sea will make their lairs in
me and black seals their dwellings undisturbed, because I lack
people. Yet if you will but dare to sware a great oath, goddess,
that here first he will build a glorious temple to be an oracle
for men, then let him afterwards make temples and wooded groves
amongst all men; for surely he will be greatly renowned.
So
said Delos. And Leto sware the great oath of the gods: "Now
hear this, Earth and wide Heaven above, and dropping water of
Styx (this is the strongest and most awful oath for the blessed
gods), surely Phoebus shall have here his fragrant altar and
precinct, and you he shall honour above all."
Now
when Leto had sworn and ended her oath, Delos was very glad
at the birth of the far-shooting lord. But Leto was racked nine
days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont. And there were
with her all the chiefest of the goddesses, Dione and Rhea and
Ichnaea and Themis and loud-moaning Amphitrite and the other
deathless goddesses save white-armed Hera, who sat in the halls
of cloud-gathering Zeus. Only Eilithyia, goddess of sore travail,
had not heard of Leto's trouble, for she sat on the top of Olympus
beneath golden clouds by white-armed Hera's contriving, who
kept her close through envy, because Leto with the lovely tresses
was soon to bear a son faultless and strong.
But
the goddesses sent out Iris from the well-set isle to bring
Eilithyia, promising her a great necklace strung with golden
threads, nine cubits long. And they bade Iris call her aside
from white-armed Hera, lest she might afterwards turn her from
coming with her words. When swift Iris, fleet of foot as the
wind, had heard all this, she set to run; and quickly finishing
all the distance she came to the home of the gods, sheer Olympus,
and forthwith called Eilithyia out from the hall to the door
and spoke winged words to her, telling her all as the goddesses
who dwell on Olympus had bidden her. So she moved the heart
of Eilithyia in her dear breast; and they went their way, like
shy wild-doves in their going.
And
as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on
Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto, and she longed to bring
forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree and kneeled on
the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath. Then
the child leaped forth to the light, and all the goddesses washed
you purely and cleanly with sweet water, and swathed you in
a white garment of fine texture, new-woven, and fastened a golden
band about you.
Now
Leto did not give Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, her breast;
but Themis duly poured nectar and ambrosia with her divine hands:
and Leto was glad because she had borne a strong son and an
archer. But as soon as you had tasted that divine heavenly food,
O Phoebus, you could no longer then be held by golden cords
nor confined with bands, but all their ends were undone. Forthwith
Phoebus Apollo spoke out among the deathless goddesses:
"The
lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to me, and I will
declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus."
So
said Phoebus, the long-haired god who shoots afar and began
to walk upon the wide-pathed earth; and all goddesses were amazed
at him. Then with gold all Delos [was laden, beholding the child
of Zeus and Leto, for joy because the god chose her above the
islands and shore to make his dwelling in her: and she loved
him yet more in her heart.] blossomed as does a mountain-top
with woodland flowers.
And
you, O lord Apollo, god of the silver bow, shooting afar, now
walked on craggy Cynthus, and now kept wandering about the island
and the people in them. Many are your temples and wooded groves,
and all peaks and towering bluffs of lofty mountains and rivers
flowing to the sea are dear to you, Phoebus, yet in Delos do
you most delight your heart; for there the long robed Ionians
gather in your honour with their children and shy wives: mindful,
they delight you with boxing and dancing and song, so often
as they hold their gathering. A man would say that they were
deathless and unageing if he should then come upon the Ionians
so met together. For he would see the graces of them all, and
would be pleased in heart gazing at the men and well- girded
women with their swift ships and great wealth. And there is
this great wonder besides — and its renown shall never
perish — the girls of Delos, hand-maidens of the Far-shooter;
for when they have praised Apollo first, and also Leto and Artemis
who delights in arrows, they sing a strain-telling of men and
women of past days, and charm the tribes of men. Also they can
imitate the tongues of all men and their clattering speech:
each would say that he himself were singing, so close to truth
is their sweet song.
And
now may Apollo be favourable and Artemis; and farewell all you
maidens. Remember me in after time whenever any one of men on
earth, a stranger who has seen and suffered much, comes here
and asks of you: "Whom think ye, girls, is the sweetest
singer that comes here, and in whom do you most delight?"
Then answer, each and all, with one voice: "He is a blind
man, and dwells in rocky Chios: his lays are evermore supreme."
As for me, I will carry your renown as far as I roam over the
earth to the well-placed this thing is true. And I will never
cease to praise far-shooting Apollo, god of the silver bow,
whom rich-haired Leto bare.
TO
PYTHIAN APOLLO
O
Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeonia and Miletus, charming
city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you greatly reign
your own self.
Leto's
all-glorious son goes to rocky Pytho, playing upon his hollow
lyre, clad in divine, perfumed garments; and at the touch of
the golden key his lyre sings sweet. Thence, swift as thought,
he speeds from earth to Olympus, to the house of Zeus, to join
the gathering of the other gods: then straightway the undying
gods think only of the lyre and song, and all the Muses together,
voice sweetly answering voice, hymn the unending gifts the gods
enjoy and the sufferings of men, all that they endure at the
hands of the deathless gods, and how they live witless and helpless
and cannot find healing for death or defence against old age.
Meanwhile the rich-tressed Graces and cheerful Seasons dance
with Harmonia and Hebe and Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, holding
each other by the wrist. And among them sings one, not mean
nor puny, but tall to look upon and enviable in mien, Artemis
who delights in arrows, sister of Apollo. Among them sport Ares
and the keen-eyed Slayer of Argus, while Apollo plays his lyre
stepping high and featly and a radiance shines around him, the
gleaming of his feet and close-woven vest. And they, even gold-tressed
Leto and wise Zeus, rejoice in their great hearts as they watch
their dear son playing among the undying gods.
How
then shall I sing of you — though in all ways you are a
worthy theme for song? Shall I sing of you as wooer and in the
fields of love, how you went wooing the daughter of Azan along
with god-like Ischys the son of well-horsed Elatius, or with
Phorbas sprung from Triops, or with Ereutheus, or with Leucippus
and the wife of Leucippus.... ((LACUNA)) ....you on foot, he
with his chariot, yet he fell not short of Triops. Or shall
I sing how at the first you went about the earth seeking a place
of oracle for men, O far-shooting Apollo? To Pieria first you
went down from Olympus and passed by sandy Lectus and Enienae
and through the land of the Perrhaebi. Soon you came to Iolcus
and set foot on Cenaeum in Euboea, famed for ships: you stood
in the Lelantine plain, but it pleased not your heart to make
a temple there and wooded groves. From there you crossed the
Euripus, far-shooting Apollo, and went up the green, holy hills,
going on to Mycalessus and grassy-bedded Teumessus, and so came
to the wood-clad abode of Thebe; for as yet no man lived in
holy Thebe, nor were there tracks or ways about Thebe's wheat-bearing
plain as yet.
And
further still you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and came to Onchestus,
Poseidon's bright grove: there the new- broken cold distressed
with drawing the trim chariot gets spirit again, and the skilled
driver springs from his car and goes on his way. Then the horses
for a while rattle the empty car, being rid of guidance; and
if they break the chariot in the woody grove, men look after
the horses, but tilt the chariot and leave it there; for this
was the rite from the very first. And the drivers pray to the
lord of the shrine; but the chariot falls to the lot of the
god.
Further
yet you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and reached next Cephissus'
sweet stream which pours forth its sweet- flowing water from
Lilaea, and crossing over it, O worker from afar, you passed
many-towered Ocalea and reached grassy Haliartus.
Then
you went towards Telphusa: and there the pleasant place seemed
fit for making a temple and wooded grove. You came very near
and spoke to her: "Telphusa, here I am minded to make a
glorious temple, an oracle for men, and hither they will always
bring perfect hecatombs, both those who live in rich Peloponnesus
and those of Europe and all the wave-washed isles, coming to
seek oracles. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot
fail, giving answer in my rich temple."
So
said Phoebus Apollo, and laid out all the foundations throughout,
wide and very long. But when Telphusa saw this, she was angry
in heart and spoke, saying: "Lord Phoebus, worker from
afar, I will speak a word of counsel to your heart, since you
are minded to make here a glorious temple to be an oracle for
men who will always bring hither perfect hecatombs for you;
yet I will speak out, and do you lay up my words in your heart.
The trampling of swift horses and the sound of mules watering
at my sacred springs will always irk you, and men will like
better to gaze at the well-made chariots and stamping, swift-footed
horses than at your great temple and the many treasures that
are within. But if you will be moved by me — for you, lord,
are stronger and mightier than I, and your strength is very
great — build at Crisa below the glades of Parnassus: there
no bright chariot will clash, and there will be no noise of
swift-footed horses near your well-built altar. But so the glorious
tribes of men will bring gifts to you as Iepaeon (`Hail- Healer'),
and you will receive with delight rich sacrifices from the people
dwelling round about." So said Telphusa, that she alone,
and not the Far-Shooter, should have renown there; and she persuaded
the Far-Shooter.
Further
yet you went, far-shooting Apollo, until you came to the town
of the presumptuous Phlegyae who dwell on this earth in a lovely
glade near the Cephisian lake, caring not for Zeus. And thence
you went speeding swiftly to the mountain ridge, and came to
Crisa beneath snowy Parnassus, a foothill turned towards the
west: a cliff hangs over if from above, and a hollow, rugged
glade runs under. There the lord Phoebus Apollo resolved to
make his lovely temple, and thus he said:
(287-293)
"In this place I am minded to build a glorious temple to
be an oracle for men, and here they will always bring perfect
hecatombs, both they who dwell in rich Peloponnesus and the
men of Europe and from all the wave-washed isles, coming to
question me. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot
fail, answering them in my rich temple."
(294-299)
When he had said this, Phoebus Apollo laid out all the foundations
throughout, wide and very long; and upon these the sons of Erginus,
Trophonius and Agamedes, dear to the deathless gods, laid a
footing of stone. And the countless tribes of men built the
whole temple of wrought stones, to be sung of for ever.
(300-310)
But near by was a sweet flowing spring, and there with his strong
bow the lord, the son of Zeus, killed the bloated, great she-dragon,
a fierce monster wont to do great mischief to men upon earth,
to men themselves and to their thin-shanked sheep; for she was
a very bloody plague. She it was who once received from gold-throned
Hera and brought up fell, cruel Typhaon to be a plague to men.
Once on a time Hera bare him because she was angry with father
Zeus, when the Son of Cronos bare all-glorious Athena in his
head. Thereupon queenly Hera was angry and spoke thus among
the assembled gods:
(311-330)
"Hear from me, all gods and goddesses, how cloud- gathering
Zeus begins to dishonour me wantonly, when he has made me his
true-hearted wife. See now, apart from me he has given birth
to bright-eyed Athena who is foremost among all the blessed
gods. But my son Hephaestus whom I bare was weakly among all
the blessed gods and shrivelled of foot, a shame and disgrace
to me in heaven, whom I myself took in my hands and cast out
so that he fell in the great sea. But silver-shod Thetis the
daughter of Nereus took and cared for him with her sisters:
would that she had done other service to the blessed gods! O
wicked one and crafty! What else will you now devise? How dared
you by yourself give birth to bright-eyed Athena? Would not
I have borne you a child — I, who was at least called your
wife among the undying gods who hold wide heaven. Beware now
lest I devise some evil thing for you hereafter: yes, now I
will contrive that a son be born me to be foremost among the
undying gods — and that without casting shame on the holy
bond of wedlock between you and me. And I will not come to your
bed, but will consort with the blessed gods far off from you."
(331-333)
When she had so spoken, she went apart from the gods, being
very angry. Then straightway large-eyed queenly Hera prayed,
striking the ground flatwise with her hand, and speaking thus:
(334-362)
"Hear now, I pray, Earth and wide Heaven above, and you
Titan gods who dwell beneath the earth about great Tartarus,
and from whom are sprung both gods and men! Harken you now to
me, one and all, and grant that I may bear a child apart from
Zeus, no wit lesser than him in strength — nay, let him
be as much stronger than Zeus as all-seeing Zeus than Cronos."
Thus she cried and lashed the earth with her strong hand. Then
the life-giving earth was moved: and when Hera saw it she was
glad in heart, for she thought her prayer would be fulfilled.
And thereafter she never came to the bed of wise Zeus for a
full year, not to sit in her carved chair as aforetime to plan
wise counsel for him, but stayed in her temples where many pray,
and delighted in her offerings, large-eyed queenly Hera. But
when the months and days were fulfilled and the seasons duly
came on as the earth moved round, she bare one neither like
the gods nor mortal men, fell, cruel Typhaon, to be a plague
to men. Straightway large-eyed queenly Hera took him and bringing
one evil thing to another such, gave him to the dragoness; and
she received him. And this Typhaon used to work great mischief
among the famous tribes of men. Whosoever met the dragoness,
the day of doom would sweep him away, until the lord Apollo,
who deals death from afar, shot a strong arrow at her. Then
she, rent with bitter pangs, lay drawing great gasps for breath
and rolling about that place. An awful noise swelled up unspeakable
as she writhed continually this way and that amid the wood:
and so she left her life, breathing it forth in blood. Then
Phoebus Apollo boasted over her:
(363-369)
"Now rot here upon the soil that feeds man! You at least
shall live no more to be a fell bane to men who eat the fruit
of the all-nourishing earth, and who will bring hither perfect
hecatombs. Against cruel death neither Typhoeus shall avail
you nor ill-famed Chimera, but here shall the Earth and shining
Hyperion make you rot."
(370-374)
Thus said Phoebus, exulting over her: and darkness covered her
eyes. And the holy strength of Helios made her rot away there;
wherefore the place is now called Pytho, and men call the lord
Apollo by another name, Pythian; because on that spot the power
of piercing Helios made the monster rot away. (ll. 375-378)
Then Phoebus Apollo saw that the sweet-flowing spring had beguiled
him, and he started out in anger against Telphusa; and soon
coming to her, he stood close by and spoke to her:
(379-381)
"Telphusa, you were not, after all, to keep to yourself
this lovely place by deceiving my mind, and pour forth your
clear flowing water: here my renown shall also be and not yours
alone?"
(382-387) Thus spoke the lord, far-working Apollo, and pushed
over upon her a crag with a shower of rocks, hiding her streams:
and he made himself an altar in a wooded grove very near the
clear-flowing stream. In that place all men pray to the great
one by the name Telphusian, because he humbled the stream of
holy Telphusa.
(388-439)
Then Phoebus Apollo pondered in his heart what men he should
bring in to be his ministers in sacrifice and to serve him in
rocky Pytho. And while he considered this, he became aware of
a swift ship upon the wine-like sea in which were many men and
goodly, Cretans from Cnossos (10), the city of Minos, they who
do sacrifice to the prince and announce his decrees, whatsoever
Phoebus Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, speaks in answer
from his laurel tree below the dells of Parnassus. These men
were sailing in their black ship for traffic and for profit
to sandy Pylos and to the men of Pylos. But Phoebus Apollo met
them: in the open sea he sprang upon their swift ship, like
a dolphin in shape, and lay there, a great and awesome monster,
and none of them gave heed so as to understand [11]; but they
sought to cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the
black ship every way and make the timbers quiver. So they sat
silent in their craft for fear, and did not loose the sheets
throughout the black, hollow ship, nor lowered the sail of their
dark-prowed vessel, but as they had set it first of all with
oxhide ropes, so they kept sailing on; for a rushing south wind
hurried on the swift ship from behind. First they passed by
Malea, and then along the Laconian coast they came to Taenarum,
sea-garlanded town and country of Helios who gladdens men, where
the thick-fleeced sheep of the lord Helios feed continually
and occupy a glad-some country. There they wished to put their
ship to shore, and land and comprehend the great marvel and
see with their eyes whether the monster would remain upon the
deck of the hollow ship, or spring back into the briny deep
where fishes shoal. But the well-built ship would not obey the
helm, but went on its way all along Peloponnesus: and the lord,
far-working Apollo, guided it easily with the breath of the
breeze. So the ship ran on its course and came to Arena and
lovely Argyphea and Thryon, the ford of Alpheus, and well-placed
Aepy and sandy Pylos and the men of Pylos; past Cruni it went
and Chalcis and past Dyme and fair Elis, where the Epei rule.
And at the time when she was making for Pherae, exulting in
the breeze from Zeus, there appeared to them below the clouds
the steep mountain of Ithaca, and Dulichium and Same and wooded
Zacynthus. But when they were passed by all the coast of Peloponnesus,
then, towards Crisa, that vast gulf began to heave in sight
which through all its length cuts off the rich isle of Pelops.
There came on them a strong, clear west-wind by ordinance of
Zeus and blew from heaven vehemently, that with all speed the
ship might finish coursing over the briny water of the sea.
So they began again to voyage back towards the dawn and the
sun: and the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, led them on until they
reached far-seen Crisa, land of vines, and into haven: there
the sea-coursing ship grounded on the sands.
(440-451)
Then, like a star at noonday, the lord, far-working Apollo,
leaped from the ship: flashes of fire flew from him thick and
their brightness reached to heaven. He entered into his shrine
between priceless tripods, and there made a flame to flare up
bright, showing forth the splendour of his shafts, so that their
radiance filled all Crisa, and the wives and well-girded daughters
of the Crisaeans raised a cry at that outburst of Phoebus; for
he cast great fear upon them all. From his shrine he sprang
forth again, swift as a thought, to speed again to the ship,
bearing the form of a man, brisk and sturdy, in the prime of
his youth, while his broad shoulders were covered with his hair:
and he spoke to the Cretans, uttering winged words:
(452-461)
"Strangers, who are you? Whence come you sailing along
the paths of the sea? Are you for traffic, or do you wander
at random over the sea as pirates do who put their own lives
to hazard and bring mischief to men of foreign parts as they
roam? Why rest you so and are afraid, and do not go ashore nor
stow the gear of your black ship? For that is the custom of
men who live by bread, whenever they come to land in their dark
ships from the main, spent with toil; at once desire for sweet
food catches them about the heart."
(462-473)
So speaking, he put courage in their hearts, and the master
of the Cretans answered him and said: "Stranger —
though you are nothing like mortal men in shape or stature,
but are as the deathless gods — hail and all happiness
to you, and may the gods give you good. Now tell me truly that
I may surely know it: what country is this, and what land, and
what men live herein? As for us, with thoughts set otherwards,
we were sailing over the great sea to Pylos from Crete (for
from there we declare that we are sprung), but now are come
on shipboard to this place by no means willingly — another
way and other paths — and gladly would we return. But one
of the deathless gods brought us here against our will."
(474-501)
Then far-working Apollo answered then and said: "Strangers
who once dwelt about wooded Cnossos but now shall return no
more each to his loved city and fair house and dear wife; here
shall you keep my rich temple that is honoured by many men.
I am the son of Zeus; Apollo is my name: but you I brought here
over the wide gulf of the sea, meaning you no hurt; nay, here
you shall keep my rich temple that is greatly honoured among
men, and you shall know the plans of the deathless gods, and
by their will you shall be honoured continually for all time.
And now come, make haste and do as I say. First loose the sheets
and lower the sail, and then draw the swift ship up upon the
land. Take out your goods and the gear of the straight ship,
and make an altar upon the beach of the sea: light fire upon
it and make an offering of white meal. Next, stand side by side
around the altar and pray: and in as much as at the first on
the hazy sea I sprang upon the swift ship in the form of a dolphin,
pray to me as Apollo Delphinius; also the altar itself shall
be called Delphinius and overlooking [12] for ever. Afterwards,
sup beside your dark ship and pour an offering to the blessed
gods who dwell on Olympus. But when you have put away craving
for sweet food, come with me singing the hymn Ie Paean (Hail,
Healer!), until you come to the place where you shall keep my
rich temple."
(502-523)
So said Apollo. And they readily harkened to him and obeyed
him. First they unfastened the sheets and let down the sail
and lowered the mast by the forestays upon the mast- rest. Then,
landing upon the beach of the sea, they hauled up the ship from
the water to dry land and fixed long stays under it. Also they
made an altar upon the beach of the sea, and when they had lit
a fire, made an offering of white meal, and prayed standing
around the altar as Apollo had bidden them. Then they took their
meal by the swift, black ship, and poured an offering to the
blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. And when they had put away
craving for drink and food, they started out with the lord Apollo,
the son of Zeus, to lead them, holding a lyre in his hands,
and playing sweetly as he stepped high and featly. So the Cretans
followed him to Pytho, marching in time as they chanted the
Ie Paean after the manner of the Cretan paean-singers and of
those in whose hearts the heavenly Muse has put sweet-voiced
song. With tireless feet they approached the ridge and straightway
came to Parnassus and the lovely place where they were to dwell
honoured by many men. There Apollo brought them and showed them
his most holy sanctuary and rich temple.
(524-525)
But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts, and the
master of the Cretans asked him, saying:
(526-530)
"Lord, since you have brought us here far from our dear
ones and our fatherland — for so it seemed good to your
heart — tell us now how we shall live. That we would know
of you. This land is not to be desired either for vineyards
or for pastures so that we can live well thereon and also minister
to men."
(531-544)
Then Apollo, the son of Zeus, smiled upon them and said: "Foolish
mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek cares and hard
toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word and set it
in your hearts. Though each one of you with knife in hand should
slaughter sheep continually, yet would you always have abundant
store, even all that the glorious tribes of men bring here for
me. But guard you my temple and receive the tribes of men that
gather to this place, and especially show mortal men my will,
and do you keep righteousness in your heart. But if any shall
be disobedient and pay no heed to my warning, of if there shall
be any idle word or deed and outrage as is common among mortal
men, then other men shall be your masters and with a strong
hand shall make you subject for ever. All has been told you:
do you keep it in your heart."
(545-546)
And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will remember
you and another hymn also.
IV.
TO HERMES
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 — a shy goddess, for she avoided the
company of the blessed gods, and lived within a deep, shady
cave. 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. And when
the purpose of great Zeus was fixed in heaven, she was delivered
and a notable thing was come to pass. For then she bare a son,
of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver,
a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates,
one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless
gods. 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. 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. But as he stepped over the
threshold of the high-roofed cave, he found a tortoise there
and gained endless delight. For it was Hermes who first made
the tortoise a singer. The creature fell in his way at the courtyard
gate, where it was feeding on the rich grass before the dwelling,
waddling along. When be saw it, the luck- bringing son of Zeus
laughed and said:
(30-38)
"An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight
it. 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 me and I will do you no disgrace, though first of all you
must profit me. It is better to be at home: harm may come out
of doors. Living, you shall be a spell against mischievous witchcraft
[13]; but if you die, then you shall make sweetest song."
(39-61)
Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both hands and went
back into the house carrying his charming toy. Then he cut off
its limbs and scooped out the marrow of the mountain- tortoise
with a scoop of grey iron. As a swift thought darts through
the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him, or as bright
glances flash from the eye, so glorious Hermes planned both
thought and deed at once. 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. Also he put in the horns and fitted a cross-piece
upon the two of them, and stretched seven strings of sheep-gut.
But when he had made it he proved each string in turn with the
key, as he held the lovely thing. At the touch of his hand it
sounded marvellously; and, as he tried it, the god sang sweet
random snatches, even as youths bandy taunts at festivals. 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. He celebrated, too,
the handmaids of the nymph, and her bright home, and the tripods
all about the house, and the abundant cauldrons.
(62-67)
But while he was singing of all these, his heart was bent on
other matters. And he took the hollow lyre and laid it in his
sacred cradle, and sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a
watch-place, pondering sheet trickery in his heart — deeds
such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time; for he longed
to taste flesh. (ll. 68-86) The Sun was going down beneath the
earth towards Ocean with his horses and chariot when Hermes
came hurrying to the shadowy mountains of Pieria, where the
divine cattle of the blessed gods had their steads and grazed
the pleasant, unmown meadows. Of these the Son of Maia, the
sharp-eyed slayer of Argus then cut off from the herd fifty
loud-lowing kine, and drove them straggling-wise across a sandy
place, turning their hoof-prints aside. 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 [14]. Then he wove sandals with wicker-work by
the sand of the sea, wonderful things, unthought of, unimagined;
for he mixed together tamarisk and myrtle-twigs, fastening together
an armful of their fresh, young wood, and tied them, leaves
and all securely under his feet as light sandals. The brushwood
the glorious Slayer of Argus plucked in Pieria as he was preparing
for his journey, making shift [15] as one making haste for a
long journey.
(87-89)
But an old man tilling his flowering vineyard saw him as he
was hurrying down the plain through grassy Onchestus. So the
Son of Maia began and said to him:
(90-93)
"Old man, digging about your vines with bowed shoulders,
surely you shall have much wine when all these bear fruit, if
you obey me and strictly remember not to have seen what you
have seen, and not to have heard what you have heard, and to
keep silent when nothing of your own is harmed."
(94-114) When he had said this much, he hurried the strong cattle
on together: through many shadowy mountains and echoing gorges
and flowery plains glorious Hermes drove them. And now the divine
night, his dark ally, was mostly passed, and dawn that sets
folk to work was quickly coming on, while bright Selene, daughter
of the lord Pallas, Megamedes' son, had just climbed her watch-post,
when the strong Son of Zeus drove the wide-browed cattle of
Phoebus Apollo to the river Alpheus. And they came unwearied
to the high-roofed byres and the drinking-troughs that were
before the noble meadow. Then, after he had well-fed the loud-bellowing
cattle with fodder and driven them into the byre, close-packed
and chewing lotus and began to seek the art of fire. He chose
a stout laurel branch and trimmed it with the knife....
(LACUNA)
[16]
....held
firmly in his hand: and the hot smoke rose up. For it was Hermes
who first invented fire-sticks and fire. Next he took many dried
sticks and piled them thick and plenty in a sunken trench: and
flame began to glow, spreading afar the blast of fierce-burning
fire.
(115-137)
And while the strength of glorious Hephaestus was beginning
to kindle the fire, he dragged out two lowing, horned cows close
to the fire; for great strength was with him. He threw them
both panting upon their backs on the ground, and rolled them
on their sides, bending their necks over [17], and pierced their
vital chord. Then he went on from task to task: first he cut
up the rich, fatted meat, and pierced it with wooden spits,
and roasted flesh and the honourable chine and the paunch full
of dark blood all together. He laid them there upon the ground,
and spread out the hides on a rugged rock: and so they are still
there many ages afterwards, a long, long time after all this,
and are continually [18]. Next glad-hearted Hermes dragged the
rich meats he had prepared and put them on a smooth, flat stone,
and divided them into twelve portions distributed by lot, making
each portion wholly honourable. Then glorious Hermes longed
for the sacrificial meat, for the sweet savour wearied him,
god though he was; nevertheless his proud heart was not prevailed
upon to devour the flesh, although he greatly desired [19].
But he put away the fat and all the flesh in the high- roofed
byre, placing them high up to be a token of his youthful theft.
And after that he gathered dry sticks and utterly destroyed
with fire all the hoofs and all the heads.
(138-154)
And when the god had duly finished all, he threw his sandals
into deep-eddying Alpheus, and quenched the embers, covering
the black ashes with sand, and so spent the night while Selene's
soft light shone down. Then the god went straight back again
at dawn to the bright crests of Cyllene, and no one met him
on the long journey either of the blessed gods or mortal men,
nor did any dog bark. And luck-bringing Hermes, the son of Zeus,
passed edgeways through the key-hole of the hall like the autumn
breeze, even as mist: straight through the cave he went and
came to the rich inner chamber, walking softly, and making no
noise as one might upon the floor. Then glorious Hermes went
hurriedly to his cradle, wrapping his swaddling clothes about
his shoulders as though he were a feeble babe, and lay playing
with the covering about his knees; but at his left hand he kept
close his sweet lyre.
(155-161)
But the god did not pass unseen by the goddess his mother; but
she said to him: "How now, you rogue! Whence come you back
so at night-time, you that wear shamelessness as a garment?
And now I surely believe the son of Leto will soon have you
forth out of doors with unbreakable cords about your ribs, or
you will live a rogue's life in the glens robbing by whiles.
Go to, then; your father got you to be a great worry to mortal
men and deathless gods."
(162-181)
Then Hermes answered her with crafty words: "Mother, why
do you seek to frighten me like a feeble child whose heart knows
few words of blame, a fearful babe that fears its mother's scolding?
Nay, but I will try whatever plan is best, and so feed myself
and you continually. We will not be content to remain here,
as you bid, alone of all the gods unfee'd with offerings and
prayers. Better to live in fellowship with the deathless gods
continually, rich, wealthy, and enjoying stories of grain, than
to sit always in a gloomy cave: and, as regards honour, I too
will enter upon the rite that Apollo has. If my father will
not give it to me, I will seek — and I am able — to
be a prince of robbers. And if Leto's most glorious son shall
seek me out, I think another and a greater loss will befall
him. For I will go to Pytho to break into his great house, and
will plunder therefrom splendid tripods, and cauldrons, and
gold, and plenty of bright iron, and much apparel; and you shall
see it if you will."
(182-189)
With such words they spoke together, the son of Zeus who holds
the aegis, and the lady Maia. Now Eros the early born was rising
from deep-flowing Ocean, bringing light to men, when Apollo,
as he went, came to Onchestus, the lovely grove and sacred place
of the loud-roaring Holder of the Earth. There he found an old
man grazing his beast along the pathway from his court-yard
fence, and the all-glorious Son of Leto began and said to him.
(190-200) "Old man, weeder [20] of grassy Onchestus, I
am come here from Pieria seeking cattle, cows all of them, all
with curving horns, from my herd. The black bull was grazing
alone away from the rest, but fierce-eyed hounds followed the
cows, four of them, all of one mind, like men. These were left
behind, the dogs and the bull — which is great marvel;
but the cows strayed out of the soft meadow, away from the pasture
when the sun was just going down. Now tell me this, old man
born long ago: have you seen one passing along behind those
cows?"
(201-211) Then the old man answered him and said: "My son,
it is hard to tell all that one's eyes see; for many wayfarers
pass to and fro this way, some bent on much evil, and some on
good: it is difficult to know each one. However, I was digging
about my plot of vineyard all day long until the sun went down,
and I thought, good sir, but I do not know for certain, that
I marked a child, whoever the child was, that followed long-horned
cattle — an infant who had a staff and kept walking from
side to side: he was driving them backwards way, with their
heads toward him."
(212-218)
So said the old man. And when Apollo heard this report, he went
yet more quickly on his way, and presently, seeing a long-winged
bird, he knew at once by that omen that thief was the child
of Zeus the son of Cronos. So the lord Apollo, son of Zeus,
hurried on to goodly Pylos seeking his shambling oxen, and he
had his broad shoulders covered with a dark cloud. But when
the Far-Shooter perceived the tracks, he cried:
(219-226)
"Oh, oh! Truly this is a great marvel that my eyes behold!
These are indeed the tracks of straight-horned oxen, but they
are turned backwards towards the flowery meadow. But these others
are not the footprints of man or woman or grey wolves or bears
or lions, nor do I think they are the tracks of a rough- maned
Centaur — whoever it be that with swift feet makes such
monstrous footprints; wonderful are the tracks on this side
of the way, but yet more wonderfully are those on that."
(227-234)
When he had so said, the lord Apollo, the Son of Zeus hastened
on and came to the forest-clad mountain of Cyllene and the deep-shadowed
cave in the rock where the divine nymph brought forth the child
of Zeus who is the son of Cronos. A sweet odour spread over
the lovely hill, and many thin-shanked sheep were grazing on
the grass. Then far-shooting Apollo himself stepped down in
haste over the stone threshold into the dusky cave.
(235-253)
Now when the Son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo in a rage about
his cattle, he snuggled down in his fragrant swaddling-clothes;
and as wood-ash covers over the deep embers of tree-stumps,
so Hermes cuddled himself up when he saw the Far- Shooter. He
squeezed head and hands and feet together in a small space,
like a new born child seeking sweet sleep, though in truth he
was wide awake, and he kept his lyre under his armpit. But the
Son of Leto was aware and failed not to perceive the beautiful
mountain-nymph and her dear son, albeit a little child and swathed
so craftily. He peered in ever corner of the great dwelling
and, taking a bright key, he opened three closets full of nectar
and lovely ambrosia. And much gold and silver was stored in
them, and many garments of the nymph, some purple and some silvery
white, such as are kept in the sacred houses of the blessed
gods. Then, after the Son of Leto had searched out the recesses
of the great house, he spake to glorious Hermes:
(254-259)
"Child, lying in the cradle, make haste and tell me of
my cattle, or we two will soon fall out angrily. For I will
take and cast you into dusty Tartarus and awful hopeless darkness,
and neither your mother nor your father shall free you or bring
you up again to the light, but you will wander under the earth
and be the leader amongst little folk." [21]
(260-277)
Then Hermes answered him with crafty words: "Son of Leto,
what harsh words are these you have spoken? And is it cattle
of the field you are come here to seek? I have not seen them:
I have not heard of them: no one has told me of them. I cannot
give news of them, nor win the reward for news. Am I like a
cattle-liter, a stalwart person? This is no task for me: rather
I care for other things: I care for sleep, and milk of my mother's
breast, and wrappings round my shoulders, and warm baths. Let
no one hear the cause of this dispute; for this would be a great
marvel indeed among the deathless gods, that a child newly born
should pass in through the forepart of the house with cattle
of the field: herein you speak extravagantly. I was born yesterday,
and my feet are soft and the ground beneath is rough; nevertheless,
if you will have it so, I will swear a great oath by my father's
head and vow that neither am I guilty myself, neither have I
seen any other who stole your cows — whatever cows may
be; for I know them only by hearsay."
(278-280)
So, then, said Hermes, shooting quick glances from his eyes:
and he kept raising his brows and looking this way and that,
whistling long and listening to Apollo's story as to an idle
tale.
(281-292)
But far-working Apollo laughed softly and said to him: "O
rogue, deceiver, crafty in heart, you talk so innocently that
I most surely believe that you have broken into many a well-
built house and stripped more than one poor wretch bare this
night [22], gathering his goods together all over the house
without noise. You will plague many a lonely herdsman in mountain
glades, when you come on herds and thick-fleeced sheep, and
have a hankering after flesh. But come now, if you would not
sleep your last and latest sleep, get out of your cradle, you
comrade of dark night. Surely hereafter this shall be your title
amongst the deathless gods, to be called the prince of robbers
continually."
(293-300) So said Phoebus Apollo, and took the child and began
to carry him. But at that moment the strong Slayer of Argus
had his plan, and, while Apollo held him in his hands, sent
forth an omen, a hard-worked belly-serf, a rude messenger, and
sneezed directly after. And when Apollo heard it, he dropped
glorious Hermes out of his hands on the ground: then sitting
down before him, though he was eager to go on his way, he spoke
mockingly to Hermes:
(301-303)
"Fear not, little swaddling baby, son of Zeus and Maia.
I shall find the strong cattle presently by these omens, and
you shall lead the way."
(304-306) When Apollo had so said, Cyllenian Hermes sprang up
quickly, starting in haste. With both hands he pushed up to
his ears the covering that he had wrapped about his shoulders,
and said:
(307-312)
"Where are you carrying me, Far-Worker, hastiest of all
the gods? Is it because of your cattle that you are so angry
and harass me? O dear, would that all the sort of oxen might
perish; for it is not I who stole your cows, nor did I see another
steal them — whatever cows may be, and of that I have only
heard report. Nay, give right and take it before Zeus, the Son
of Cronos."
(313-326)
So Hermes the shepherd and Leto's glorious son kept stubbornly
disputing each article of their quarrel: Apollo, speaking truly....
(LACUNA)
.
...not
fairly sought to seize glorious Hermes because of the cows;
but he, the Cyllenian, tried to deceive the God of the Silver
Bow with tricks and cunning words. But when, though he had many
wiles, he found the other had as many shifts, he began to walk
across the sand, himself in front, while the Son of Zeus and
Leto came behind. Soon they came, these lovely children of Zeus,
to the top of fragrant Olympus, to their father, the Son ofCronos;
for there were the scales of judgement set for them both. There
was an assembly on snowy Olympus, and the immortals who perish
not were gathering after the hour of gold-throned Dawn.
(327-329)
Then Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow stood at the knees
of Zeus: and Zeus who thunders on high spoke to his glorious
son and asked him:
(330-332)
"Phoebus, whence come you driving this great spoil, a child
new born that has the look of a herald? This is a weighty matter
that is come before the council of the gods."
(333-364)
Then the lord, far-working Apollo, answered him: "O my
father, you shall soon hear no triffling tale though you reproach
me that I alone am fond of spoil. Here is a child, a burgling
robber, whom I found after a long journey in the hills of Cyllene:
for my part I have never seen one so pert either among the gods
or all men that catch folk unawares throughout the world. He
strole away my cows from their meadow and drove them off in
the evening along the shore of the loud-roaring sea, making
straight for Pylos. There were double tracks, and wonderful
they were, such as one might marvel at, the doing of a clever
sprite; for as for the cows, the dark dust kept and showed their
footprints leading towards the flowery meadow; but he himself
— bewildering creature — crossed the sandy ground
outside the path, not on his feet nor yet on his hands; but,
furnished with some other means he trudged his way — wonder
of wonders! — as though one walked on slender oak-trees.
Now while he followed the cattle across sandy ground, all the
tracks showed quite clearly in the dust; but when he had finished
the long way across the sand, presently the cows' track and
his own could not be traced over the hard ground. But a mortal
man noticed him as he drove the wide-browed kine straight towards
Pylos. And as soon as he had shut them up quietly, and had gone
home by crafty turns and twists, he lay down in his cradle in
the gloom of a dim cave, as still as dark night, so that not
even an eagle keenly gazing would have spied him. Much he rubbed
his eyes with his hands as he prepared falsehood, and himself
straightway said roundly: 'I have not seen them: I have not
heard of them: no man has told me of them. I could not tell
you of them, nor win the reward of telling.'"
(365-367)
When he had so spoken, Phoebus Apollo sat down. But Hermes on
his part answered and said, pointing at the Son of Cronos, the
lord of all the gods:
(368-386)
"Zeus, my father, indeed I will speak truth to you; for
I am truthful and I cannot tell a lie. He came to our house
to-day looking for his shambling cows, as the sun was newly
rising. He brought no witnesses with him nor any of the blessed
gods who had seen the theft, but with great violence ordered
me to confess, threatening much to throw me into wide Tartarus.
For he has the rich bloom of glorious youth, while I was born
but yesterday — as he too knows — nor am I like a
cattle-lifter, a sturdy fellow. Believe my tale (for you claim
to be my own father), that I did not drive his cows to my house
— so may I prosper — nor crossed the threshold: this
I say truly. I reverence Helios greatly and the other gods,
and you I love and him I dread. You yourself know that I am
not guilty: and I will swear a great oath upon it: — No!
by these rich-decked porticoes of the gods. And some day I will
punish him, strong as he is, for this pitiless inquisition;
but now do you help the younger."
(387-396)
So spake the Cyllenian, the Slayer of Argus, while he kept shooting
sidelong glances and kept his swaddling-clothes upon his arm,
and did not cast them away. But Zeus laughed out loud to see
his evil-plotting child well and cunningly denying guilt about
the cattle. And he bade them both to be of one mind and search
for the cattle, and guiding Hermes to lead the way and, without
mischievousness of heart, to show the place where now he had
hidden the strong cattle. Then the Son of Cronos bowed his head:
and goodly Hermes obeyed him; for the will of Zeus who holds
the aegis easily prevailed with him.
(397-404)
Then the two all-glorious children of Zeus hastened both to
sandy Pylos, and reached the ford of Alpheus, and came to the
fields and the high-roofed byre where the beasts were cherished
at night-time. Now while Hermes went to the cave in the rock
and began to drive out the strong cattle, the son of Leto, looking
aside, saw the cowhides on the sheer rock. And he asked glorious
Hermes at once:
(405-408)
"How were you able, you crafty rogue, to flay two cows,
new-born and babyish as you are? For my part, I dread the strength
that will be yours: there is no need you should keep growing
long, Cyllenian, son of Maia!"
(409-414)
So saying, Apollo twisted strong withes with his hands meaning
to bind Hermes with firm bands; but the bands would not hold
him, and the withes of osier fell far from him and began to
grow at once from the ground beneath their feet in that very
