---
title: "The Homeric Hymns · Ὁμηρικοὶ ὕμνοι"
author: "Homer"
translator: "Hugh G. Evelyn-White"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 6 of 35
url: https://scriptura.si/works/homeric-hymns/6/
cite: "Homer, tr. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, The Homeric Hymns · Ὁμηρικοὶ ὕμνοι, section 6. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/homeric-hymns/6/"
---

# The Homeric Hymns · Ὁμηρικοὶ ὕμνοι

*Homer, tr. Hugh G. Evelyn-White*

Thirty-three hymns to the gods in Homer’s metre: Demeter searching for Persephone, the birth of Apollo on Delos, the infant Hermes stealing Apollo’s cattle and inventing the lyre, Aphrodite and Anchises, and short preludes to many more.

> Greek: ed. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0013.tlg001–tlg033, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Hugh G. Evelyn-White, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0013.tlg001–tlg033, perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 6. Hymn 4 · To Hermes · lines 325–580

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/homeric-hymns/6/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/homeric-hymns/6/#p-N

[¶0] There was an assembly on snowy Olympus, and the immortals who perish not were gathering after the hour of gold-throned Dawn. 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:

> Greek: οὐμιλίη δʼ ἔχʼ Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον, ἀθάνατοι δὲ
ἄφθιτοι ἠγερέθοντο μετὰ χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ.
ἔστησαν δʼ Ἑρμῆς τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
πρόσθε Διὸς γούνων· ὃ δʼ ἀνείρετο φαίδιμον υἱὸν
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

[¶1] “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.” Then the lord, far-working Apollo, answered him: “O my father, you shall soon hear no trifling 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.

> Greek: φοῖβε, πόθεν ταύτην μενοεικέα ληίδʼ ἐλαύνεις,
παῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα, φυὴν κήρυκος ἔχοντα;
σπουδαῖον τόδε χρῆμα θεῶν μεθʼ ὁμήγυριν ἦλθε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τάχα μῦθον ἀκούσεαι οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,
κερτομέων ὡς οἶος ἐγὼ φιλολήιός εἰμι.
παῖδά τινʼ εὗρον τόνδε διαπρύσιον κεραϊστὴν
Κυλλήνης ἐν ὄρεσσι, πολὺν διὰ χῶρον ἀνύσσας,
κέρτομον, οἷον ἐγώ γε θεῶν οὐκ ἄλλον ὄπωπα
οὐδʼ ἀνδρῶν, ὁπόσοι λησίμβροτοί εἰσʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ.

[¶2] He stole 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.

> Greek: κλέψας δʼ ἐκ λειμῶνος ἐμὰς βοῦς ὤχετʼ ἐλαύνων
ἑσπέριος παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,
εὐθὺ Πύλονδʼ ἐλάων· τὰ δʼ ἄρʼ ἴχνια δοῖα πέλωρα,
οἷά τʼ ἀγάσσασθαι, καὶ ἀγαυοῦ δαίμονος ἔργα.
τῇσιν μὲν γὰρ βουσὶν ἐς ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα
ἀντία βήματʼ ἔχουσα κόνις ἀνέφαινε μέλαινα·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, τις ἀμήχανος, οὔτʼ ἄρα ποσσὶν
οὔτʼ ἄρα χερσὶν ἔβαινε διὰ ψαμαθώδεα χῶρον·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλην τινὰ μῆτιν ἔχων διέτριβε κέλευθα
τοῖα πέλωρʼ ὡς εἴ τις ἀραιῇσι δρυσὶ βαίνοι.

[¶3] 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.’”

> Greek: ὄφρα μὲν οὖν ἐδίωκε διὰ ψαμαθώδεα χῶρον,
ῥεῖα μάλʼ ἴχνια πάντα διέπρεπεν ἐν κονίῃσιν·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψαμάθοιο μέγαν στίβον ἐξεπέρησεν,
ἄφραστος γένετʼ ὦκα βοῶν στίβος ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοῦ
χῶρον ἀνὰ κρατερόν· τὸν δʼ ἐφράσατο βροτὸς ἀνὴρ
ἐς Πύλον εὐθὺς ἐλῶντα βοῶν γένος εὐρυμετώπων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τὰς μὲν ἐν ἡσυχίῃ κατέερξε
καὶ διαπυρπαλάμησεν ὁδοῦ τὸ μὲν ἔνθα, τὸ δʼ ἔνθα,
ἐν λίκνῳ κατέκειτο μελαίνῃ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,
ἄντρῳ ἐν ἠερόεντι κατὰ ζόφον· οὐδέ κεν αὐτὸν
αἰετὸς ὀξὺ λάων ἐσκέψατο· πολλὰ δὲ χερσὶν
αὐγὰς ὠμόργαζε δολοφροσύνην ἀλεγύνων.
αὐτὸς δʼ αὐτίκα μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀγόρευεν·
οὐκ ἴδον, οὐ πυθόμην, οὐκ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσα
οὐδέ κε μηνύσαιμʼ, οὐδʼ ἂν μήνυτρον ἀροίμην.

[¶4] 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: “Zeus, my father, indeed I will speak truth to you; for I am truthful and I cannot tell a lie.

> Greek: Ἠ τοι ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
Ερμῆς δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα,
δείξατο δʼ ἐς Κρονίωνα, θεῶν σημάντορα πάντων·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐγώ σοι ἀληθείην καταλέξω·
νημερτής τε γάρ εἰμι καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ψεύδεσθαι.

[¶5] 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.

> Greek: ἦλθεν ἐς ἡμετέρου διζήμενος εἰλίποδας βοῦς
σήμερον ἠελίοιο νέον ἐπιτελλομένοιο·
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων ἄγε μάρτυρας οὐδὲ κατόπτας,
μηνύειν δʼ ἐκέλευεν ἀναγκαίης ὑπὸ πολλῆς,
πολλὰ δέ μʼ ἠπείλησε βαλεῖν ἐς Τάρταρον εὐρύν,
οὕνεχʼ ὃ μὲν τέρεν ἄνθος ἔχει φιλοκυδέος ἥβης,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χθιζὸς γενόμην, τὰ δέ τʼ οἶδε καὶ αὐτός,
οὔτι βοῶν ἐλατῆρι, κραταιῷ φωτί, ἐοικώς.
πείθεο· καὶ γὰρ ἐμεῖο πατὴρ φίλος εὔχεαι εἶναι,
ὡς οὐκ οἴκαδʼ ἔλασσα βόας, ὣς ὄλβιος εἴην,
οὐδʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἔβην· τὸ δέ τʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύω.
Ἠέλιον δὲ μάλʼ αἰδέομαι καὶ δαίμονας ἄλλους,
καί σε φιλῶ καὶ τοῦτον ὀπίζομαι· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτός,
ὡς οὐκ αἴτιός εἰμι· μέγαν δʼ ἐπιδώσομαι ὅρκον·
οὐ μὰ τάδʼ ἀθανάτων εὐκόσμητα προθύραια.

[¶6] And some day I will punish him, strong as he is, for this pitiless inquisition; but now do you help the younger.” 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.

> Greek: καί που ἐγὼ τούτῳ τίσω ποτὲ νηλέα φώρην,
καὶ κρατερῷ περ ἐόντι· σὺ δʼ ὁπλοτέροισιν ἄρηγε.
ὣς φάτʼ ἐπιλλίζων Κυλλήνιος Ἀργειφόντης·
καὶ τὸ σπάργανον εἶχεν ἐπʼ ὠλένῃ οὐδʼ ἀπέβαλλε.
Ζεὺς δὲ μέγʼ ἐξεγέλασσεν ἰδὼν κακομηδέα παῖδα
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως ἀρνεύμενον ἀμφὶ βόεσσιν.
ἀμφοτέρους δʼ ἐκέλευσεν ὁμόφρονα θυμὸν ἔχοντας
ζητεύειν, Ἑρμῆν δὲ διάκτορον ἡγεμονεύειν
καὶ δεῖξαι τὸν χῶρον ἐπʼ ἀβλαβίῃσι νόοιο,
ὅππη δὴ αὖτʼ ἀπέκρυψε βοῶν ἴφθιμα κάρηνα.

[¶7] 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. 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:

> Greek: νεῦσεν δὲ Κρονίδης, ἐπεπείθετο δʼ ἀγλαὸς Ἑρμῆς·
ῥηιδίως γὰρ ἔπειθε Διὸς νόος αἰγιόχοιο.
τὼ δʼ ἄμφω σπεύδοντε Διὸς περικαλλέα τέκνα
ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα ἐπʼ Ἀλφειοῦ πόρον ἷξον·
ἀγροὺς δʼ ἐξίκοντο καὶ αὔλιον ὑψιμέλαθρον,
ἡχοῦ δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀτάλλετο νυκτὸς ἐν ὥρῃ.
ἔνθʼ Ἑρμῆς μὲν ἔπειτα κιὼν παρὰ λάινον ἄντρον
ἐς φῶς ἐξήλαυνε βοῶν ἴφθιμα κάρηνα·
Λητοΐδης δʼ ἀπάτερθεν ἰδὼν ἐνόησε βοείας
πέτρῃ ἐπʼ ἠλιβάτῳ, τάχα δʼ εἴρετο κύδιμον Ἑρμῆν·

[¶8] “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!” 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. Then the strong slayer of Argus
looked furtively upon the ground with eyes flashing fire … desiring to hide … 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 at his touch
it sounded awesomely. 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 honored 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: “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.

> Greek: πῶς ἐδύνω, δολομῆτα, δύω βόε δειροτομῆσαι,
ὧδε νεογνὸς ἐὼν καὶ νήπιος; αὐτὸς ἐγώ γε
θαυμαίνω κατόπισθε τὸ σὸν κράτος· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
μακρὸν ἀέξεσθαι, Κυλλήνιε, Μαιάδος υἱέ.
ὣς ἄρ ἔφη καὶ χερσὶ περίστρεφε καρτερὰ δεσμὰ
[ἐνδῆσαι μεμαὼς Ἑρμῆν κρατεραῖσι λύγοισι.
τὸν δʼ οὐκ ἴσχανε δεσμά, λύγοι δʼ ἀπὸ τηλόσε πῖπτον]
ἄγνου· ταὶ δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ κατὰ χθονὸς αἶψα φύοντο
αὐτόθεν, ἐμβολάδην ἐστραμμέναι ἀλλήλῃσι,
ῥεῖά τε καὶ πάσῃσιν ἐπʼ ἀγραύλοισι βόεσσιν,
Ἑρμέω βουλῇσι κλεψίφρονος· αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων
θαύμασεν ἀθρήσας. τότε δὴ κρατὺς Ἀργειφόντης
χῶρον ὑποβλήδην ἐσκέψατο, πῦρ ἀμαρύσσων,
… ἐγκρύψαι μεμαώς· Λητοῦς δʼ ἐρικυδέος υἱὸν
ῥεῖα μάλʼ ἐπρήυνεν ἑκηβόλον, ὡς ἔθελʼ αὐτός,
καὶ κρατερόν περ ἐόντα· λαβὼν δʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς
πλήκτρῳ ἐπειρήτιζε κατὰ μέρος· ἣ δʼ ὑπὸ χειρὸς
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
γηθήσας, ἐρατὴ δὲ διὰ φρένας ἤλυθʼ ἰωὴ
θεσπεσίης ἐνοπῆς καί μιν γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει
θυμῷ ἀκουάζοντα· λύρῃ δʼ ἐρατὸν κιθαρίζων
στῆ ῥʼ ὅ γε θαρσήσας ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ Μαιάδος υἱὸς
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος· τάχα δὲ λιγέως κιθαρίζων
γηρύετʼ ἀμβολάδην — ἐρατὴ δέ οἱ ἕσπετο φωνή —
κραίνων ἀθανάτους τε θεοὺς καὶ γαῖαν ἐρεμνήν,
ὡς τὰ πρῶτα γένοντο καὶ ὡς λάχε μοῖραν ἕκαστος.
Μνημοσύνην μὲν πρῶτα θεῶν ἐγέραιρεν ἀοιδῇ,
μητέρα Μουσάων· ἣ γὰρ λάχε Μαιάδος υἱόν·
τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρέσβιν τε καὶ ὡς γεγάασιν ἕκαστος
ἀθανάτους ἐγέραιρε θεοὺς Διὸς ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
πάντʼ ἐνέπων κατὰ κόσμον, ἐπωλένιον κιθαρίζων.
τὸν δʼ ἔρος ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀμήχανος αἴνυτο θυμόν,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
βουφόνε, μηχανιῶτα, πονεύμενε, δαιτὸς ἑταῖρε,
πεντήκοντα βοῶν ἀντάξια ταῦτα μέμηλας.
ἡσυχίως καὶ ἔπειτα διακρινέεσθαι ὀίω·
νῦν δʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπέ, πολύτροπε Μαιάδος υἱέ,
ἦ σοί γʼ ἐκ γενετῆς τάδʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο θαυματὰ ἔργα
ἠέ τις ἀθανάτων ἠὲ θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
δῶρον ἀγαυὸν ἔδωκε καὶ ἔφρασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν;
θαυμασίην γὰρ τήνδε νεήφατον ὄσσαν ἀκούω,
ἣν οὐ πώ ποτέ φημι δαήμεναι οὔτε τινʼ ἀνδρῶν
οὔτε τινʼ ἀθανάτων, οἳ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσι,
νόσφι σέθεν, φηλῆτα, Διὸς καὶ Μαιάδος υἱέ.
τίς τέχνη, τίς μοῦσα ἀμηχανέων μελεδώνων,
τίς τρίβος; ἀτρεκέως γὰρ ἅμα τρία πάντα πάρεστιν,
εὐφροσύνην καὶ ἔρωτα καὶ ἥδυμον ὕπνον ἑλέσθαι.

[¶9] 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:

> Greek: καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ Μούσῃσιν Ὀλυμπιάδεσσιν ὀπηδός,
τῇσι χοροί τε μέλουσι καὶ ἀγλαὸς οἶμος ἀοιδῆς
καὶ μολπὴ τεθαλυῖα καὶ ἱμερόεις βρόμος αὐλῶν·
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τί μοι ὧδε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἄλλο μέλησεν,
οἷα νέων θαλίῃς ἐνδέξια ἔργα πέλονται.

[¶10] 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:

> Greek: θαυμάζω, Διὸς υἱέ, τάδʼ, ὡς ἐρατὸν κιθαρίζεις.
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ὀλίγος περ ἐὼν κλυτὰ μήδεα οἶδας,
ἷζε, πέπον, καὶ μῦθον ἐπαίνει πρεσβυτέροισι·
νῦν γάρ τοι κλέος ἔσται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
σοί τʼ αὐτῷ καὶ μητρί· τὸ δʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω·

[¶11] 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.” 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 honors 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;

> Greek: ναὶ μὰ τόδε κρανέινον ἀκόντιον, ἦ μὲν ἐγώ σε
κυδρὸν ἐν ἀθανάτοισι καὶ ὄλβιον ἡγεμόνʼ εἵσω
δώσω τʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα καὶ ἐς τέλος οὐκ ἀπατήσω.
τὸν δʼ Ἑρμῆς μύθοισιν ἀμείβετο κερδαλέοισιν·
εἰρωτᾷς μʼ, Ἑκάεργε, περιφραδές· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ σοι
τέχνης ἡμετέρης ἐπιβήμεναι οὔ τι μεγαίρω.
σήμερον εἰδήσεις· ἐθέλω δέ τοι ἤπιος εἶναι
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι. σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ πάντʼ εὖ οἶδας·
πρῶτος γάρ, Διὸς υἱέ, μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θαάσσεις,
ἠύς τε κρατερός τε· φιλεῖ δέ σε μητίετα Ζεὺς
ἐκ πάσης ὁσίης, ἔπορεν δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
καὶ τιμάς σέ γέ φασι δαήμεναι ἐκ Διὸς ὀμφῆς
μαντείας θʼ Ἑκάεργε, Διὸς παρά, θέσφατα πάντα
τῶν νῦν αὐτὸς ἐγώ σε μαλʼ ἀφνειὸν δεδάηκα·
σοὶ δʼ αὐτάγρετόν ἐστι δαήμεναι, ὅττι μενοινᾷς.

[¶12] 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.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τοι θυμὸς ἐπιθύει κιθαρίζειν,
μέλπεο καὶ κιθάριζε καὶ ἀγλαίας ἀλέγυνε
δέγμενος ἐξ ἐμέθεν· σὺ δέ μοι, φίλε, κῦδος ὄπαζε.
εὐμόλπει μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων λιγύφωνον ἑταίρην,
καλὰ καὶ εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐπιστάμενος ἀγορεύειν.

[¶13] 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.

> Greek: εὔκηλος μὲν ἔπειτα φέρειν ἐς δαῖτα θάλειαν
καὶ χορὸν ἱμερόεντα καὶ ἐς φιλοκυδέα κῶμον
εὐφροσύνην νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματος. ὅς τις ἂν αὐτὴν
τέχνῃ καὶ σοφίῃ δεδαημένος ἐξερεείνῃ,
φθεγγομένη παντοῖα νόῳ χαρίεντα διδάσκει
ῥεῖα συνηθείῃσιν ἀθυρομένη μαλακῇσιν,
ἐργασίην φεύγουσα δυήπαθον· ὃς δέ κεν αὐτὴν
νῆις ἐὼν τὸ πρῶτον ἐπιζαφελῶς ἐρεείνῃ,
μὰψ αὔτως κεν ἔπειτα μετήορά τε θρυλλίζοι.
σοὶ δʼ αὐτάγρετόν ἐστι δαήμεναι, ὅττι μενοινᾷς.

[¶14] 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.” 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. 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. Then the son of Leto said to Hermes: “Son of Maia, guide and cunning one, I fear
you may steal from 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.” 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 swear also: “Verily I will make you only to be an omen for the immortals and all alike, trusted and honored 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.

> Greek: καί τοι ἐγὼ δώσω ταύτην, Διὸς ἀγλαὲ κοῦρε·
ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτʼ ὄρεός τε καὶ ἱπποβότου πεδίοιο
βουσὶ νομούς, Ἑκάεργε, νομεύσομεν ἀγραύλοισιν.
ἔνθεν ἅλις τέξουσι βόες ταύροισι μιγεῖσαι
μίγδην θηλείας τε καὶ ἄρσενας· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
κερδαλέον περ ἐόντα περιζαμενῶς κεχολῶσθαι.
ὣς εἰπὼν ὤρεξʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
Ἐρμῇ δʼ ἐγγυάλιξεν ἑκὼν μάστιγα φαεινήν,
βουκολίας τʼ ἐπέτελλεν· ἔδεκτο δὲ Μαιάδος υἱὸς
γηθήσας· κίθαριν δὲ λαβὼν ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς
Λητοῦς ἀγλαὸς υἱός, ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων,
πλήκτρῳ ἐπειρήτιζε κατὰ μέρος· ἣ δʼ ὑπένερθε
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· θεὸς δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισεν.
ἔνθα βόας μὲν ἔπειτα ποτὶ ζάθεον λειμῶνα
ἐτραπέτην· αὐτοὶ δέ, Διὸς περικαλλέα τέκνα,
ἄψορροι πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον ἐρρώσαντο
τερπόμενοι φόρμιγγι· χάρη δʼ ἄρα μητιέτα Ζεύς,
ἄμφω δʼ ἐς φιλότητα συνήγαγε· καὶ τὰ μὲν Ἑρμῆς
Λητοΐδην ἐφίλησε διαμπερὲς ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν,
σήματʼ ἐπεὶ κίθαριν μὲν Ἑκηβόλῳ ἐγγυάλιξεν
ἱμερτήν, δεδαώς, ὃ δʼ ἐπωλένιον κιθάριζεν·
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρης σοφίης ἐκμάσσατο τέχνην·
συρίγγων ἐνοπὴν ποιήσατο τηλόθʼ ἀκουστήν.
καὶ τότε Λητοΐδης Ἑρμῆν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
δείδια, Μαιάδος υἱέ, διάκτορε, ποικιλομῆτα,
μή μοι ἅμα κλέψῃς κίθαριν καὶ καμπύλα τόξα·
τιμὴν γὰρ πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἔχεις ἐπαμοίβια ἔργα
θήσειν ἀνθρώποισι κατὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν.
ἀλλʼ εἴ μοι τλαίης γε θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,
ἢ κεφαλῇ νεύσας ἢ ἐπὶ Στυγὸς ὄβριμον ὕδωρ,
πάντʼ ἂν ἐμῷ θυμῷ κεχαρισμένα καὶ φίλα ἔρδοις.
καὶ τότε Μαιάδος υἱὸς ὑποσχόμενος κατένευσε,
μή ποτʼ ἀποκλέψειν, ὅσʼ Ἑκηβόλος ἐκτεάτισται,
μηδέ ποτʼ ἐμπελάσειν πυκινῷ δόμῳ· αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων
Λητοΐδης κατένευσεν ἐπʼ ἀρθμῷ καὶ φιλότητι,
μή τινα φίλτερον ἄλλον ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἔσεσθαι,
μήτε θεὸν μήτʼ ἄνδρα Διὸς γόνον· ἐκ δὲ τέλειον
[αἰετὸν ἧκε πατήρ· ὁ δʼ ἐπώμοσεν· ἦ σε μάλʼ οἶον]
σύμβολον ἀθανάτων ποιήσομαι ἠδʼ ἅμα πάντων,
πιστὸν ἐμῷ θυμῷ καὶ τίμιον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ὄλβου καὶ πλούτου δώσω περικαλλέα ῥάβδον,
χρυσείην, τριπέτηλον, ἀκήριον ἥ σε φυλάξει
πάντας ἐπικραίνουσʼ ἄθλους ἐπέων τε καὶ ἔργων
τῶν ἀγαθῶν, ὅσα φημὶ δαήμεναι ἐκ Διὸς ὀμφῆς.
μαντείην δέ, φέριστε, διοτρεφές, ἣν ἐρεείνεις,
οὔτε σὲ θέσφατόν ἐστι δαήμεναι οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλον
ἀθανάτων· τὸ γὰρ οἶδε Διὸς νόος· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
πιστωθεὶς κατένευσα καὶ ὤμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον,
μή τινα νόσφιν ἐμεῖο θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
ἄλλον γʼ εἴσεσθαι Ζηνὸς πυκινόφρονα βουλήν.
καὶ σύ, κασίγνητε χρυσόρραπι, μή με κέλευε
θέσφατα πιφαύσκειν, ὅσα μήδεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
ἀνθρώπων δʼ ἄλλον δηλήσομαι, ἄλλον ὀνήσω,
πολλὰ περιτροπέων ἀμεγάρτων φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.
καὶ μὲν ἐμῆς ὀμφῆς ἀπονήσεται, ὅς τις ἂν ἔλθῃ
φωνῇ καὶ πτερύγεσσι τεληέντων οἰωνῶν·
οὗτος ἐμῆς ὀμφῆς ἀπονήσεται, οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω.
ὃς δέ κε μαψιλόγοισι πιθήσας οἰωνοῖσι
μαντείην ἐθέλῃσι παρὲκ νόον ἐξερεείνειν
ἡμετέρην, νοέειν δὲ θεῶν πλέον αἰὲν ἐόντων,
φήμʼ, ἁλίην ὁδὸν εἶσιν. ἐγὼ δέ κε δῶρα δεχοίμην.

[¶15] 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 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.

> Greek: ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, Μαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱὲ
καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο, θεῶν ἐριούνιε δαῖμον·
σεμναὶ γάρ τινες εἰσί, κασίγνηται γεγαυῖαι,
παρθένοι, ὠκείῃσιν ἀγαλλόμεναι πτερύγεσσι,
τρεῖς· κατὰ δὲ κρατὸς πεπαλαγμέναι ἄλφιτα λευκά,
οἰκία ναιετάουσιν ὑπὸ πτυχὶ Παρνησοῖο,
μαντείης ἀπάνευθε διδάσκαλοι, ἣν ἐπὶ βουσὶ
παῖς ἔτʼ ἐὼν μελέτησα· πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν,
ἐντεῦθεν δὴ ἔπειτα ποτώμεναι ἄλλοτε ἄλλη
κηρία βόσκονται καί τε κραίνουσιν ἕκαστα.

[¶16] 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.”
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. 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. And so, farewell, Son of Zeus and Maia;

> Greek: αἳ δʼ ὅτε μὲν θυΐωσιν ἐδηδυῖαι μέλι χλωρόν,
προφρονέως ἐθέλουσιν ἀληθείην ἀγορεύειν·
ἢν δʼ ἀπονοσφισθῶσι θεῶν ἡδεῖαν ἐδωδήν,
ψεύδονται δὴ ἔπειτα διʼ ἀλλήλων δονέουσαι.
τάς τοι ἔπειτα δίδωμι· σὺ δʼ ἀτρεκέως ἐρεείνων
σὴν αὐτοῦ φρένα τέρπε, καὶ εἰ βροτὸν ἄνδρα δαείῃς,
πολλάκι σῆς ὀμφῆς ἐπακούσεται, αἴ κε τύχῃσι.
ταῦτʼ ἔχε, Μαιάδος υἱέ, καὶ ἀγραύλους ἕλικας βοῦς
ἵππους τʼ ἀμφιπόλευε καὶ ἡμιόνους ταλαεργούς.
[ὡς ἔφατʼ· οὐρανόθεν δὲ πατὴρ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἔπεσσι
θῆκε τέλος· πᾶσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ οἰωνοῖσι κέλευσεν]
καὶ χαροποῖσι λέουσι καὶ ἀργιόδουσι σύεσσι
καὶ κυσὶ καὶ μήλοισιν, ὅσα τρέφει εὐρεῖα χθών,
πᾶσι δʼ ἐπὶ προβάτοισιν ἀνάσσειν κύδιμον Ἑρμῆν,
οἶον δʼ εἰς Ἀΐδην τετελεσμένον ἄγγελον εἶναι,
ὅς τʼ ἄδοτός περ ἐὼν δώσει γέρας οὐκ ἐλάχιστον.
οὕτω Μαιάδος υἱὸν ἄναξ ἐφίλησεν Ἀπόλλων
παντοίῃ φιλότητι· χάριν δʼ ἐπέθηκε Κρονίων.
πᾶσι δʼ ὅ γε θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμιλεῖ.
παῦρα μὲν οὖν ὀνίνησι, τὸ δʼ ἄκριτον ἠπεροπεύει
νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην φῦλα θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
καὶ σὺ μὲν οὕτω χαῖρε, Διὸς καὶ Μαιάδος, υἱέ·

[¶17] but I will remember you and another song also.

> Greek: αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ σεῖο καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομʼ ἀοιδῆς.