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
place. And intertwining with one another, they quickly grew
and covered all the wild-roving cattle by the will of thievish
Hermes, so that Apollo was astonished as he gazed.
(414-435)
Then the strong slayer of Argus looked furtively upon the ground
with eyes flashing fire.... desiring to hide....
(LACUNA)
....Very
easily he softened the son of all-glorious Leto as he would,
stern though the Far-shooter was. He took the lyre upon his
left arm and tried each string in turn with the key, so that
it sounded awesomely at his touch. And Phoebus Apollo laughed
for joy; for the sweet throb of the marvellous music went to
his heart, and a soft longing took hold on his soul as he listened.
Then the son of Maia, harping sweetly upon his lyre, took courage
and stood at the left hand of Phoebus Apollo; and soon, while
he played shrilly on his lyre, he lifted up his voice and sang,
and lovely was the sound of his voice that followed. He sang
the story of the deathless gods and of the dark earth, how at
the first they came to be, and how each one received his portion.
First among the gods he honoured Mnemosyne, mother of the Muses,
in his song; for the son of Maia was of her following. And next
the goodly son of Zeus hymned the rest of the immortals according
to their order in age, and told how each was born, mentioning
all in order as he struck the lyre upon his arm. But Apollo
was seized with a longing not to be allayed, and he opened his
mouth and spoke winged words to Hermes:
(436-462)
"Slayer of oxen, trickster, busy one, comrade of the feast,
this song of yours is worth fifty cows, and I believe that presently
we shall settle our quarrel peacefully. But come now, tell me
this, resourceful son of Maia: has this marvellous thing been
with you from your birth, or did some god or mortal man give
it you — a noble gift — and teach you heavenly song?
For wonderful is this new-uttered sound I hear, the like of
which I vow that no man nor god dwelling on Olympus ever yet
has known but you, O thievish son of Maia. What skill is this?
What song for desperate cares? What way of song? For verily
here are three things to hand all at once from which to choose
— mirth, and love, and sweet sleep. And though I am a follower
of the Olympian Muses who love dances and the bright path of
song — the full-toned chant and ravishing thrill of flutes
— yet I never cared for any of those feats of skill at
young men's revels, as I do now for this: I am filled with wonder,
O son of Zeus, at your sweet playing. But now, since you, though
little, have such glorious skill, sit down, dear boy, and respect
the words of your elders. For now you shall have renown among
the deathless gods, you and your mother also. This I will declare
to you exactly: by this shaft of cornel wood I will surely make
you a leader renowned among the deathless gods, and fortunate,
and will give you glorious gifts and will not deceive you from
first to last."
(463-495)
Then Hermes answered him with artful words: "You question
me carefully, O Far-worker; yet I am not jealous that you should
enter upon my art: this day you shall know it. For I seek to
be friendly with you both in thought and word. Now you well
know all things in your heart, since you sit foremost among
the deathless gods, O son of Zeus, and are goodly and strong.
And wise Zeus loves you as all right is, and has given you splendid
gifts. And they say that from the utterance of Zeus you have
learned both the honours due to the gods, O Far-worker, and
oracles from Zeus, even all his ordinances. Of all these I myself
have already learned that you have great wealth. Now, you are
free to learn whatever you please; but since, as it seems, your
heart is so strongly set on playing the lyre, chant, and play
upon it, and give yourself to merriment, taking this as a gift
from me, and do you, my friend, bestow glory on me. Sing well
with this clear-voiced companion in your hands; for you are
skilled in good, well-ordered utterance. From now on bring it
confidently to the rich feast and lovely dance and glorious
revel, a joy by night and by day. Whoso with wit and wisdom
enquires of it cunningly, him it teaches through its sound all
manner of things that delight the mind, being easily played
with gentle familiarities, for it abhors toilsome drudgery;
but whoso in ignorance enquires of it violently, to him it chatters
mere vanity and foolishness. But you are able to learn whatever
you please. So then, I will give you this lyre, glorious son
of Zeus, while I for my part will graze down with wild-roving
cattle the pastures on hill and horse-feeding plain: so shall
the cows covered by the bulls calve abundantly both males and
females. And now there is no need for you, bargainer though
you are, to be furiously angry."
(496-502)
When Hermes had said this, he held out the lyre: and Phoebus
Apollo took it, and readily put his shining whip in Hermes'
hand, and ordained him keeper of herds. The son of Maia received
it joyfully, while the glorious son of Leto, the lord far-working
Apollo, took the lyre upon his left arm and tried each string
with the key. Awesomely it sounded at the touch of the god,
while he sang sweetly to its note.
(503-512)
Afterwards they two, the all-glorious sons of Zeus turned the
cows back towards the sacred meadow, but themselves hastened
back to snowy Olympus, delighting in the lyre. Then wise Zeus
was glad and made them both friends. And Hermes loved the son
of Leto continually, even as he does now, when he had given
the lyre as token to the Far-shooter, who played it skilfully,
holding it upon his arm. But for himself Hermes found out another
cunning art and made himself the pipes whose sound is heard
afar.
(513-520)
Then the son of Leto said to Hermes: "Son of Maia, guide
and cunning one, I fear you may steal form me the lyre and my
curved bow together; for you have an office from Zeus, to establish
deeds of barter amongst men throughout the fruitful earth. Now
if you would only swear me the great oath of the gods, either
by nodding your head, or by the potent water of Styx, you would
do all that can please and ease my heart."
(521-549)
Then Maia's son nodded his head and promised that he would never
steal anything of all the Far-shooter possessed, and would never
go near his strong house; but Apollo, son of Leto, swore to
be fellow and friend to Hermes, vowing that he would love no
other among the immortals, neither god nor man sprung from Zeus,
better than Hermes: and the Father sent forth an eagle in confirmation.
And Apollo sware also: "Verily I will make you only to
be an omen for the immortals and all alike, trusted and honoured
by my heart. Moreover, I will give you a splendid staff of riches
and wealth: it is of gold, with three branches, and will keep
you scatheless, accomplishing every task, whether of words or
deeds that are good, which I claim to know through the utterance
of Zeus. But as for sooth-saying, noble, heaven-born child,
of which you ask, it is not lawful for you to learn it, nor
for any other of the deathless gods: only the mind of Zeus knows
that. I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a strong oath that
no other of the eternal gods save I should know the wise-hearted
counsel of Zeus. And do not you, my brother, bearer of the golden
wand, bid me tell those decrees which all- seeing Zeus intends.
As for men, I will harm one and profit another, sorely perplexing
the tribes of unenviable men. Whosoever shall come guided by
the call and flight of birds of sure omen, that man shall have
advantage through my voice, and I will not deceive him. But
whoso shall trust to idly-chattering birds and shall seek to
invoke my prophetic art contrary to my will, and to understand
more than the eternal gods, I declare that he shall come on
an idle journey; yet his gifts I would take.
(550-568)
But I will tell you another thing, Son of all- glorious Maia
and Zeus who holds the aegis, luck-bringing genius of the gods.
There are certain holy ones, sisters born — three virgins
[23] gifted with wings: their heads are besprinkled with white
meal, and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus. These are teachers
of divination apart from me, the art which I practised while
yet a boy following herds, though my father paid no heed to
it. From their home they fly now here, now there, feeding on
honey-comb and bringing all things to pass. And when they are
inspired through eating yellow honey, they are willing to speak
truth; but if they be deprived of the gods' sweet food, then
they speak falsely, as they swarm in and out together. These,
then, I give you; enquire of them strictly and delight your
heart: and if you should teach any mortal so to do, often will
he hear your response — if he have good fortune. Take these,
Son of Maia, and tend the wild roving, horned oxen and horses
and patient mules."
(568a-573)
So he spake. And from heaven father Zeus himself gave confirmation
to his words, and commanded that glorious Hermes should be lord
over all birds of omen and grim-eyed lions, and boars with gleaming
tusks, and over dogs and all flocks that the wide earth nourishes,
and over all sheep; also that he only should be the appointed
messenger to Hades, who, though he takes no gift, shall give
him no mean prize.
(574-578)
Thus the lord Apollo showed his kindness for the Son of Maia
by all manner of friendship: and the Son of Cronos gave him
grace besides. He consorts with all mortals and immortals: a
little he profits, but continually throughout the dark night
he cozens the tribes of mortal men.
(579-580)
And so, farewell, Son of Zeus and Maia; but I will remember
you and another song also.
V.
TO APHRODITE
(1-6)
Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who
stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of
mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures
that the dry land rears, and all the sea: all these love the
deeds of rich-crowned Cytherea.
(7-32)
Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor yet ensnare.
First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, bright-eyed
Athene; for she has no pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite,
but delights in wars and in the work of Ares, in strifes and
battles and in preparing famous crafts. She first taught earthly
craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars variously wrought
with bronze, and she, too, teaches tender maidens in the house
and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each one's mind. Nor does
laughter-loving Aphrodite ever tame in love Artemis, the huntress
with shafts of gold; for she loves archery and the slaying of
wild beasts in the mountains, the lyre also and dancing and
thrilling cries and shady woods and the cities of upright men.
Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works.
She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too
[24], by will of Zeus who holds the aegis — a queenly maid
whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. But she was wholly
unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of
father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair goddess, sware
a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would
be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave her an high
honour instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst
of the house and has the richest portion. In all the temples
of the gods she has a share of honour, and among all mortal
men she is chief of the goddesses.
(33-44)
Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts.
But of all others there is nothing among the blessed gods or
among mortal men that has escaped Aphrodite. Even the heart
of Zeus, who delights in thunder, is led astray by her; though
he is greatest of all and has the lot of highest majesty, she
beguiles even his wise heart whensoever she pleases, and mates
him with mortal women, unknown to Hera, his sister and his wife,
the grandest far in beauty among the deathless goddesses —
most glorious is she whom wily Cronos with her mother Rhea did
beget: and Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, made her his chaste
and careful wife.
(45-52) But upon Aphrodite herself Zeus cast sweet desire to
be joined in love with a mortal man, to the end that, very soon,
not even she should be innocent of a mortal's love; lest laughter-loving
Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say mockingly among
all the gods that she had joined the gods in love with mortal
women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods, and had
mated the goddesses with mortal men.
(53-74)
And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises who was
tending cattle at that time among the steep hills of many-fountained
Ida, and in shape was like the immortal gods. Therefore, when
laughter-loving Aphrodite saw him, she loved him, and terribly
desire seized her in her heart. She went to Cyprus, to Paphos,
where her precinct is and fragrant altar, and passed into her
sweet-smelling temple. There she went in and put to the glittering
doors, and there the Graces bathed her with heavenly oil such
as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods — oil divinely
sweet, which she had by her, filled with fragrance. And laughter-loving
Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes, and when she had decked
herself with gold, she left sweet-smelling Cyprus and went in
haste towards Troy, swiftly travelling high up among the clouds.
So she came to many-fountained Ida, the mother of wild creatures
and went straight to the homestead across the mountains. After
her came grey wolves, fawning on her, and grim- eyed lions,
and bears, and fleet leopards, ravenous for deer: and she was
glad in heart to see them, and put desire in their breasts,
so that they all mated, two together, about the shadowy coombes.
(75-88)
(25) But she herself came to the neat-built shelters, and him
she found left quite alone in the homestead — the hero
Anchises who was comely as the gods. All the others were following
the herds over the grassy pastures, and he, left quite alone
in the homestead, was roaming hither and thither and playing
thrillingly upon the lyre. And Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus
stood before him, being like a pure maiden in height and mien,
that he should not be frightened when he took heed of her with
his eyes. Now when Anchises saw her, he marked her well and
wondered at her mien and height and shining garments. For she
was clad in a robe out-shining the brightness of fire, a splendid
robe of gold, enriched with all manner of needlework, which
shimmered like the moon over her tender breasts, a marvel to
see. Also she wore twisted brooches and shining earrings in
the form of flowers; and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces.
(91-105)
And Anchises was seized with love, and said to her: "Hail,
lady, whoever of the blessed ones you are that are come to this
house, whether Artemis, or Leto, or golden Aphrodite, or high-born
Themis, or bright-eyed Athene. Or, maybe, you are one of the
Graces come hither, who bear the gods company and are called
immortal, or else one of those who inhabit this lovely mountain
and the springs of rivers and grassy meads. I will make you
an altar upon a high peak in a far seen place, and will sacrifice
rich offerings to you at all seasons. And do you feel kindly
towards me and grant that I may become a man very eminent among
the Trojans, and give me strong offspring for the time to come.
As for my own self, let me live long and happily, seeing the
light of the sun, and come to the threshold of old age, a man
prosperous among the people."
(106-142)
Thereupon Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him: "Anchises,
most glorious of all men born on earth, know that I am no goddess:
why do you liken me to the deathless ones? Nay, I am but a mortal,
and a woman was the mother that bare me. Otreus of famous name
is my father, if so be you have heard of him, and he reigns
over all Phrygia rich in fortresses. But I know your speech
well beside my own, for a Trojan nurse brought me up at home:
she took me from my dear mother and reared me thenceforth when
I was a little child. So comes it, then, that I well know you
tongue also. And now the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand
has caught me up from the dance of huntress Artemis, her with
the golden arrows. For there were many of us, nymphs and marriageable
[26] maidens, playing together; and an innumerable company encircled
us: from these the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand rapt
me away. He carried me over many fields of mortal men and over
much land untilled and unpossessed, where savage wild-beasts
roam through shady coombes, until I thought never again to touch
the life-giving earth with my feet. And he said that I should
be called the wedded wife of Anchises, and should bear you goodly
children. But when he had told and advised me, he, the strong
Slayer of Argos, went back to the families of the deathless
gods, while I am now come to you: for unbending necessity is
upon me. But I beseech you by Zeus and by your noble parents
— for no base folk could get such a son as you — take
me now, stainless and unproved in love, and show me to your
father and careful mother and to your brothers sprung from the
same stock. I shall be no ill-liking daughter for them, but
a likely. Moreover, send a messenger quickly to the swift- horsed
Phrygians, to tell my father and my sorrowing mother; and they
will send you gold in plenty and woven stuffs, many splendid
gifts; take these as bride-piece. So do, and then prepare the
sweet marriage that is honourable in the eyes of men and deathless
gods."
(143-144)
When she had so spoken, the goddess put sweet desire in his
heart. And Anchises was seized with love, so that he opened
his mouth and said:
(145-154)
"If you are a mortal and a woman was the mother who bare
you, and Otreus of famous name is your father as you say, and
if you are come here by the will of Hermes the immortal Guide,
and are to be called my wife always, then neither god nor mortal
man shall here restrain me till I have lain with you in love
right now; no, not even if far-shooting Apollo himself should
launch grievous shafts from his silver bow. Willingly would
I go down into the house of Hades, O lady, beautiful as the
goddesses, once I had gone up to your bed."
(155-167)
So speaking, he caught her by the hand. And laughter-loving
Aphrodite, with face turned away and lovely eyes downcast, crept
to the well-spread couch which was already laid with soft coverings
for the hero; and upon it lay skins of bears and deep-roaring
lions which he himself had slain in the high mountains. And
when they had gone up upon the well-fitted bed, first Anchises
took off her bright jewelry of pins and twisted brooches and
earrings and necklaces, and loosed her girdle and stripped off
her bright garments and laid them down upon a silver-studded
seat. Then by the will of the gods and destiny he lay with her,
a mortal man with an immortal goddess, not clearly knowing what
he did.
(168-176) But at the time when the herdsmen driver their oxen
and hardy sheep back to the fold from the flowery pastures,
even then Aphrodite poured soft sleep upon Anchises, but herself
put on her rich raiment. And when the bright goddess had fully
clothed herself, she stood by the couch, and her head reached
to the well-hewn roof-tree; from her cheeks shone unearthly
beauty such as belongs to rich-crowned Cytherea. Then she aroused
him from sleep and opened her mouth and said:
(177-179)
"Up, son of Dardanus! — why sleep you so heavily?
— and consider whether I look as I did when first you saw
me with your eyes."
(180-184) So she spake. And he awoke in a moment and obeyed
her. But when he saw the neck and lovely eyes of Aphrodite,
he was afraid and turned his eyes aside another way, hiding
his comely face with his cloak. Then he uttered winged words
and entreated her:
(185-190)
"So soon as ever I saw you with my eyes, goddess, I knew
that you were divine; but you did not tell me truly. Yet by
Zeus who holds the aegis I beseech you, leave me not to lead
a palsied life among men, but have pity on me; for he who lies
with a deathless goddess is no hale man afterwards."
(191-201)
Then Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him: "Anchises,
most glorious of mortal men, take courage and be not too fearful
in your heart. You need fear no harm from me nor from the other
blessed ones, for you are dear to the gods: and you shall have
a dear son who shall reign among the Trojans, and children's
children after him, springing up continually. His name shall
be Aeneas [27], because I felt awful grief in that I laid me
in the bed of mortal man: yet are those of your race always
the most like to gods of all mortal men in beauty and in stature
[28].
(202-217)
Verily wise Zeus carried off golden-haired Ganymedes because
of his beauty, to be amongst the Deathless Ones and pour drink
for the gods in the house of Zeus — a wonder to see —
honoured by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar from
the golden bowl. But grief that could not be soothed filled
the heart of Tros; for he knew not whither the heaven-sent whirlwind
had caught up his dear son, so that he mourned him always, unceasingly,
until Zeus pitied him and gave him high- stepping horses such
as carry the immortals as recompense for his son. These he gave
him as a gift. And at the command of Zeus, the Guide, the slayer
of Argus, told him all, and how his son would be deathless and
unageing, even as the gods. So when Tros heard these tidings
from Zeus, he no longer kept mourning but rejoiced in his heart
and rode joyfully with his storm-footed horses.
(218-238)
So also golden-throned Eos rapt away Tithonus who was of your
race and like the deathless gods. And she went to ask the dark-clouded
Son of Cronos that he should be deathless and live eternally;
and Zeus bowed his head to her prayer and fulfilled her desire.
Too simply was queenly Eos: she thought not in her heart to
ask youth for him and to strip him of the slough of deadly age.
So while he enjoyed the sweet flower of life he lived rapturously
with golden-throned Eos, the early- born, by the streams of
Ocean, at the ends of the earth; but when the first grey hairs
began to ripple from his comely head and noble chin, queenly
Eos kept away from his bed, though she cherished him in her
house and nourished him with food and ambrosia and gave him
rich clothing. But when loathsome old age pressed full upon
him, and he could not move nor lift his limbs, this seemed to
her in her heart the best counsel: she laid him in a room and
put to the shining doors. There he babbles endlessly, and no
more has strength at all, such as once he had in his supple
limbs.
(239-246)
I would not have you be deathless among the deathless gods and
live continually after such sort. Yet if you could live on such
as now you are in look and in form, and be called my husband,
sorrow would not then enfold my careful heart. But, as it is,
harsh [29] old age will soon enshroud you — ruthless age
which stands someday at the side of every man, deadly, wearying,
dreaded even by the gods.
(247-290)
And now because of you I shall have great shame among the deathless
gods henceforth, continually. For until now they feared my jibes
and the wiles by which, or soon or late, I mated all the immortals
with mortal women, making them all subject to my will. But now
my mouth shall no more have this power among the gods; for very
great has been my madness, my miserable and dreadful madness,
and I went astray out of my mind who have gotten a child beneath
my girdle, mating with a mortal man. As for the child, as soon
as he sees the light of the sun, the deep-breasted mountain
Nymphs who inhabit this great and holy mountain shall bring
him up. They rank neither with mortals nor with immortals: long
indeed do they live, eating heavenly food and treading the lovely
dance among the immortals, and with them the Sileni and the
sharp-eyed Slayer of Argus mate in the depths of pleasant caves;
but at their birth pines or high-topped oaks spring up with
them upon the fruitful earth, beautiful, flourishing trees,
towering high upon the lofty mountains (and men call them holy
places of the immortals, and never mortal lops them with the
axe); but when the fate of death is near at hand, first those
lovely trees wither where they stand, and the bark shrivels
away about them, and the twigs fall down, and at last the life
of the Nymph and of the tree leave the light of the sun together.
These Nymphs shall keep my son with them and rear him, and as
soon as he is come to lovely boyhood, the goddesses will bring
him here to you and show you your child. But, that I may tell
you all that I have in mind, I will come here again towards
the fifth year and bring you my son. So soon as ever you have
seen him — a scion to delight the eyes — you will
rejoice in beholding him; for he shall be most godlike: then
bring him at once to windy Ilion. And if any mortal man ask
you who got your dear son beneath her girdle, remember to tell
him as I bid you: say he is the offspring of one of the flower-like
Nymphs who inhabit this forest-clad hill. But if you tell all
and foolishly boast that you lay with rich-crowned Aphrodite,
Zeus will smite you in his anger with a smoking thunderbolt.
Now I have told you all. Take heed: refrain and name me not,
but have regard to the anger of the gods."
(291)
When the goddess had so spoken, she soared up to windy heaven.
(292-293)
Hail, goddess, queen of well-builded Cyprus! With you have I
begun; now I will turn me to another hymn.
VI. TO APHRODITE
I
will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful,
whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There
the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves
of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted
Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly
garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of
gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc
and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over
her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-
filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father's
house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had
fully decked her, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed
her when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them
prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so
greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea.
Hail,
sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess! Grant that I may gain the
victory in this contest, and order you my song. And now I will
remember you and another song also.
VII. TO DIONYSUS
I
will tell of Dionysus, the son of glorious Semele, how he appeared
on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea, seeming
like a stripling in the first flush of manhood: his rich, dark
hair was waving about him, and on his strong shoulders he wore
a purple robe. Presently there came swiftly over the sparkling
sea Tyrsenian (30) pirates on a well- decked ship — a miserable
doom led them on. When they saw him they made signs to one another
and sprang out quickly, and seizing him straightway, put him
on board their ship exultingly; for they thought him the son
of heaven-nurtured kings. They sought to bind him with rude
bonds, but the bonds would not hold him, and the withes fell
far away from his hands and feet: and he sat with a smile in
his dark eyes. Then the helmsman understood all and cried out
at once to his fellows and said:
"Madmen!
What god is this whom you have taken and bind, strong that he
is? Not even the well-built ship can carry him. Surely this
is either Zeus or Apollo who has the silver bow, or Poseidon,
for he looks not like mortal men but like the gods who dwell
on Olympus. Come, then, let us set him free upon the dark shore
at once: do not lay hands on him, lest he grow angry and stir
up dangerous winds and heavy squalls."
So
said he: but the master chid him with taunting words: "Madman,
mark the wind and help hoist sail on the ship: catch all the
sheets. As for this fellow we men will see to him: I reckon
he is bound for Egypt or for Cyprus or to the Hyperboreans or
further still. But in the end he will speak out and tell us
his friends and all his wealth and his brothers, now that providence
has thrown him in our way."
When
he had said this, he had mast and sail hoisted on the ship,
and the wind filled the sail and the crew hauled taut the sheets
on either side. But soon strange things were seen among them.
First of all sweet, fragrant wine ran streaming throughout all
the black ship and a heavenly smell arose, so that all the seamen
were seized with amazement when they saw it. And all at once
a vine spread out both ways along the top of the sail with many
clusters hanging down from it, and a dark ivy-plant twined about
the mast, blossoming with flowers, and with rich berries growing
on it; and all the thole-pins were covered with garlands. When
the pirates saw all this, then at last they bade the helmsman
to put the ship to land. But the god changed into a dreadful
lion there on the ship, in the bows, and roared loudly: amidships
also he showed his wonders and created a shaggy bear which stood
up ravening, while on the forepeak was the lion glaring fiercely
with scowling brows. And so the sailors fled into the stern
and crowded bemused about the right-minded helmsman, until suddenly
the lion sprang upon the master and seized him; and when the
sailors saw it they leapt out overboard one and all into the
bright sea, escaping from a miserable fate, and were changed
into dolphins. But on the helmsman Dionysus had mercy and held
him back and made him altogether happy, saying to him:
"Take
courage, good...; you have found favour with my heart. I am
loud-crying Dionysus whom Cadmus' daughter Semele bare of union
with Zeus."
(ll. 58-59) Hail, child of fair-faced Semele! He who forgets
you can in no wise order sweet song.
VIII.
TO ARES
Ares,
exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden- helmed, doughty
in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze,
strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defence
of Olympus, father of warlike Victory, ally of Themis, stern
governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous men, sceptred
King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere among the planets
in their sevenfold courses through the aether wherein your blazing
steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear
me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly
ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may
be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush
down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen
fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling
strife. Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide
within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred
and the violent fiends of death.
IX.
TO ARTEMIS
Muse,
sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the virgin who
delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollo. She waters
her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives her
all-golden chariot through Smyrna to vine-clad Claros where
Apollo, god of the silver bow, sits waiting for the far-shooting
goddess who delights in arrows.
And so
hail to you, Artemis, in my song and to all goddesses as well.
Of you first I sing and with you I begin; now that I have
begun with you, I will turn to another song.
X.
TO APHRODITE
Of Cytherea,
born in Cyprus, I will sing. She gives kindly gifts to men:
smiles are ever on her lovely face, and lovely is the brightness
that plays over it.
Hail,
goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt Cyprus;
grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and
another song also.
XI.
TO ATHENA
Of Pallas
Athene, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is she,
and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the sack of cities and
the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people
as they go out to war and come back.
Hail,
goddess, and give us good fortune with happiness!
XII.
TO HERA
I sing
of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of the immortals
is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister and the
wife of loud-thundering Zeus — the glorious one whom
all the blessed throughout high Olympus reverence and honour
even as Zeus who delights in thunder.
XIII.
TO DEMETER
I begin
to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess, of her and
of her daughter lovely Persephone.
Hail,
goddess! Keep this city safe, and govern my song.
XIV.
TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS
I prithee,
clear-voiced Muse, daughter of mighty Zeus, sing of the mother
of all gods and men. She is well-pleased with the sound of
rattles and of timbrels, with the voice of flutes and the
outcry of wolves and bright-eyed lions, with echoing hills
and wooded coombes.
And so
hail to you in my song and to all goddesses as well!
XV.
TO HERACLES THE LION-HEARTED
I will
sing of Heracles, the son of Zeus and much the mightiest of
men on earth. Alcmena bare him in Thebes, the city of lovely
dances, when the dark-clouded Son of Cronos had lain with
her. Once he used to wander over unmeasured tracts of land
and sea at the bidding of King Eurystheus, and himself did
many deeds of violence and endured many; but now he lives
happily in the glorious home of snowy Olympus, and has neat-ankled
Hebe for his wife.
Hail,
lord, son of Zeus! Give me success and prosperity.
XVI.
TO ASCLEPIUS
I begin
to sing of Asclepius, son of Apollo and healer of sicknesses.
In the Dotian plain fair Coronis, daughter of King Phlegyas,
bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel pangs.
And so
hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to thee!
XVII.
TO THE DIOSCURI
Sing,
clear-voiced Muse, of Castor and Polydeuces, the Tyndaridae,
who sprang from Olympian Zeus. Beneath the heights fo Taÿgetus
stately Leda bare them, when the dark-clouded Son of Cronos
had privily bent her to his will.
Hail,
children of Tyndareus, riders upon swift horses!
XVIII.TO
HERMES
I sing
of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord of Cyllene
and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of the
deathless gods. He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas,
when she had made with Zeus — a shy goddess she. Ever
she avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a
shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with
the rich- tressed nymph at dead of night, while white-armed
Hera lay bound in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor
mortal man knew it.
And so
hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun:
now I will turn to another song!
Hail,
Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things! [31]
XIX.
TO PAN
Muse,
tell me about Pan, the dear son of Hermes, with his goat's
feet and two horns — a lover of merry noise. Through
wooded glades he wanders with dancing nymphs who foot it on
some sheer cliff's edge, calling upon Pan, the shepherd-god,
long- haired, unkempt. He has every snowy crest and the mountain
peaks and rocky crests for his domain; hither and thither
he goes through the close thickets, now lured by soft streams,
and now he presses on amongst towering crags and climbs up
to the highest peak that overlooks the flocks. Often he courses
through the glistening high mountains, and often on the shouldered
hills he speeds along slaying wild beasts, this keen-eyed
god. Only at evening, as he returns from the chase, he sounds
his note, playing sweet and low on his pipes of reed: not
even she could excel him in melody — that bird who in
flower-laden spring pouring forth her lament utters honey-voiced
song amid the leaves. At that hour the clear-voiced nymphs
are with him and move with nimble feet, singing by some spring
of dark water, while Echo wails about the mountain-top, and
the god on this side or on that of the choirs, or at times
sidling into the midst, plies it nimbly with his feet. On
his back he wears a spotted lynx-pelt, and he delights in
high-pitched songs in a soft meadow where crocuses and sweet-smelling
hyacinths bloom at random in the grass.
They sing
of the blessed gods and high Olympus and choose to tell of
such an one as luck-bringing Hermes above the rest, how he
is the swift messenger of all the gods, and how he came to
Arcadia, the land of many springs and mother of flocks, there
where his sacred place is as god fo Cyllene. For there, though
a god, he used to tend curly-fleeced sheep in the service
of a mortal man, because there fell on him and waxed strong
melting desire to wed the rich-tressed daughter of Dryops,
and there be brought about the merry marriage. And in the
house she bare Hermes a dear son who from his birth was marvellous
to look upon, with goat's feet and two horns — a noisy,
merry-laughing child. But when the nurse saw his uncouth face
and full beard, she was afraid and sprang up and fled and
left the child. Then luck-bringing Hermes received him and
took him in his arms: very glad in his heart was the god.
And he went quickly to the abodes of the deathless gods, carrying
the son wrapped in warm skins of mountain hares, and set him
down beside Zeus and showed him to the rest of the gods. Then
all the immortals were glad in heart and Bacchie Dionysus
in especial; and they called the boy Pan [32] because he delighted
all their hearts.
And so
hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with a song. And now
I will remember you and another song also.
XX.
TO HEPHAESTUS
Sing,
clear-voiced Muses, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With
bright-eyed Athene he taught men glorious gifts throughout the
world — men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains
like wild beasts. But now that they have learned crafts through
Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life
in their own houses the whole year round.
Be
gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!
XXI.
TO APOLLO
Phoebus,
of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating
of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river
Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, holding his
high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last.
And so
hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with my song.
XXII.
TO POSEIDON
I
begin to sing about Poseidon, the great god, mover of the earth
and fruitless sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon
and wide Aegae. A two-fold office the gods allotted you, O Shaker
of the Earth, to be a tamer of horses and a saviour of ships!
Hail,
Poseidon, Holder of the Earth, dark-haired lord! O blessed one,
be kindly in heart and help those who voyage in ships!
XXIII.
TO THE SON OF CRONOS, MOST HIGH
I will
sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing,
the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom
to Themis as she sits leaning towards him.
Be gracious,
all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great!
XXIV.
TO HESTIA
Hestia,
you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter
at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks,
come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus
the all-wise — draw near, and withal bestow grace upon
my song.
XXV.
TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO
I will
begin with the Muses and Apollo and Zeus. For it is through
the Muses and Apollo that there are singers upon the earth
and players upon the lyre; but kings are from Zeus. Happy
is he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from his lips.
Hail,
children of Zeus! Give honour to my song! And now I will remember
you and another song also.
XXVI.
TO DIONYSUS
I begin
to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud- crying god, splendid
son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphs received
him in their bosoms from the lord his father and fostered
and nurtured him carefully in the dells of Nysa, where by
the will of his father he grew up in a sweet- smelling cave,
being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses
had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander
continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with
ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train with
him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled
with their outcry.
And so
hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant clusters! Grant that
we may come again rejoicing to this season, and from that
season onwards for many a year.
XXVII.
TO ARTEMIS
I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the
hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery,
own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy
hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in
the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high
mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with
the outcry of beasts: earthquakes and the sea also where fishes
shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying
the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered
her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her
supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus
Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, there to order the lovely
dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved
bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully
arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing
how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals
both in thought and in deed.
Hail
to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will
remember you and another song also.
XXVIII.
TO ATHENA
I begin
to sing of Pallas Athene, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed,
inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities,
courageous, Tritogeneia. From his awful head wise Zeus himself
bare her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe
seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly
from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the
aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel
horribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth
round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed
with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright
Son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while,
until the maiden Pallas Athene had stripped the heavenly armour
from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad.
And so
hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis! Now I will
remember you and another song as well.
XXIX.
TO HESTIA
Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and
men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode
and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your right.
For without you mortals hold no banquet — where one does
not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and
last.
And
you, slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the
blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod, giver of good, be favourable
and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear. Come and
dwell in this glorious house in friendship together; for you
two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom
and their strength.
Hail,
Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, bearer of the golden
rod! Now I will remember you and another song also.
XXX.
TO EARTH THE MOTHER OF ALL
I will
sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings.
She feeds all creatures that are in the world, all that go
upon the goodly land, and all that are in the paths of the
seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her store. Through
you, O queen, men are blessed in their children and blessed
in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give means of
life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the man whom
you delight to honour! He has all things abundantly: his fruitful
land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered with cattle,
and his house is filled with good things. Such men rule orderly
in their cities of fair women: great riches and wealth follow
them: their sons exult with ever-fresh delight, and their
daughters in flower-laden bands play and skip merrily over
the soft flowers of the field. Thus is it with those whom
you honour O holy goddess, bountiful spirit.
Hail,
Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven; freely bestow upon
me for this my song substance that cheers the heart! And now
I will remember you and another song also.
XXXI.
TO HELIOS
And
now, O Muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin to sing of glowing
Helios whom mild-eyed Euryphaessa, the far-shining one, bare
to the Son of Earth and starry Heaven. For Hyperion wedded glorious
Euryphaessa, his own sister, who bare him lovely children, rosy-armed
Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios who is like
the deathless gods. As he rides in his chariot, he shines upon
men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes
from his golden helmet. Bright rays beam dazzlingly from him,
and his bright locks streaming form the temples of his head
gracefully enclose his far-seen face: a rich, fine-spun garment
glows upon his body and flutters in the wind: and stallions
carry him. Then, when he has stayed his golden-yoked chariot
and horses, he rests there upon the highest point of heaven,
until he marvellously drives them down again through heaven
to Ocean.
Hail
to you, lord! Freely bestow on me substance that cheers the
heart. And now that I have begun with you, I will celebrate
the race of mortal men half-divine whose deeds the Muses have
showed to mankind.
XXXII.
TO SELENE
And next,
sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well- skilled in song,
tell of the long-winged [35] Moon. From her immortal head
a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great
is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The air,
unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and
her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed
her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming,
shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed,
at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full
and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she
is a sure token and a sign to mortal men.
Once the
Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived
and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless
gods.
Hail,
white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen!
And now I will leave you and sing the glories of men half-divine,
whose deeds minstrels, the servants of the Muses, celebrate
with lovely lips.
[35] The
epithet is a usual one for birds, cp. Hesiod, Works and
Days, l. 210; as applied to Selene it may merely indicate
her passage, like a bird, through the air, or mean `far flying'.
XXXIII.
TO THE DIOSCURI
Bright-eyed
Muses, tell of the Tyndaridae, the Sons of Zeus, glorious children
of neat-ankled Leda, Castor the tamer of horses, and blameless
Polydeuces. When Leda had lain with the dark-clouded Son of
Cronos, she bare them beneath the peak of the great hill Taÿgetus
—children who are delivers of men on earth and of swift-going
ships when stormy gales rage over the ruthless sea. Then the
shipmen call upon the sons of great Zeus with vows of white
lambs, going to the forepart of the prow; but the strong wind
and the waves of the sea lay the ship under water, until suddenly
these two are seen darting through the air on tawny wings. Forthwith
they allay the blasts of the cruel winds and still the waves
upon the surface of the white sea: fair signs are they and deliverance
from toil. And when the shipmen see them they are glad and have
rest from their pain and labour.
Hail,
Tyndaridae, riders upon swift horses! Now I will remember you
and another song also.
