Towards the subtle babe the following scoff: —
‘Do not imagine this will get you off, 395
51.
‘You little swaddled child of Jove and May!
And seized him:—’By this omen I shall trace
My noble herds, and you shall lead the way.’ —
Cyllenian Hermes from the grassy place,
Like one in earnest haste to get away, 400
Rose, and with hands lifted towards his face
Round both his ears up from his shoulders drew
His swaddling clothes, and—’What mean you to do
52.
‘With me, you unkind God?’ — said Mercury:
‘Is it about these cows you tease me so? 405
I wish the race of cows were perished! — I
Stole not your cows — I do not even know
What things cows are. Alas! I well may sigh
That since I came into this world of woe,
I should have ever heard the name of one — 410
But I appeal to the Saturnian’s throne.’
53.
Thus Phoebus and the vagrant Mercury
Talked without coming to an explanation,
With adverse purpose. As for Phoebus, he
Sought not revenge, but only information, 415
And Hermes tried with lies and roguery
To cheat Apollo. — But when no evasion
Served — for the cunning one his match had found —
He paced on first over the sandy ground.
54.
…
He of the Silver Bow the child of Jove 420
Followed behind, till to their heavenly Sire
Came both his children, beautiful as Love,
And from his equal balance did require
A judgement in the cause wherein they strove.
O’er odorous Olympus and its snows 425
A murmuring tumult as they came arose, —
55.
And from the folded depths of the great Hill,
While Hermes and Apollo reverent stood
Before Jove’s throne, the indestructible
Immortals rushed in mighty multitude; 430
And whilst their seats in order due they fill,
The lofty Thunderer in a careless mood
To Phoebus said:—’Whence drive you this sweet prey,
This herald-baby, born but yesterday? —
56.
‘A most important subject, trifler, this 435
To lay before the Gods!’—’Nay, Father, nay,
When you have understood the business,
Say not that I alone am fond of prey.
I found this little boy in a recess
Under Cyllene’s mountains far away — 440
A manifest and most apparent thief,
A scandalmonger beyond all belief.
57.
‘I never saw his like either in Heaven
Or upon earth for knavery or craft: —
Out of the field my cattle yester-even, 445
By the low shore on which the loud sea laughed,
He right down to the river-ford had driven;
And mere astonishment would make you daft
To see the double kind of footsteps strange
He has impressed wherever he did range. 450
58.
‘The cattle’s track on the black dust, full well
Is evident, as if they went towards
The place from which they came — that asphodel
Meadow, in which I feed my many herds, —
HIS steps were most incomprehensible — 455
I know not how I can describe in words
Those tracks — he could have gone along the sands
Neither upon his feet nor on his hands; —
59.
‘He must have had some other stranger mode
Of moving on: those vestiges immense, 460
Far as I traced them on the sandy road,
Seemed like the trail of oak-toppings: — but thence
No mark nor track denoting where they trod
The hard ground gave: — but, working at his fence,
A mortal hedger saw him as he passed 465
To Pylos, with the cows, in fiery haste.
60.
‘I found that in the dark he quietly
Had sacrificed some cows, and before light
Had thrown the ashes all dispersedly
About the road — then, still as gloomy night, 470
Had crept into his cradle, either eye
Rubbing, and cogitating some new sleight.
No eagle could have seen him as he lay
Hid in his cavern from the peering day.
61.
‘I taxed him with the fact, when he averred 475
Most solemnly that he did neither see
Nor even had in any manner heard
Of my lost cows, whatever things cows be;
Nor could he tell, though offered a reward,
Not even who could tell of them to me.’ 480
So speaking, Phoebus sate; and Hermes then
Addressed the Supreme Lord of Gods and Men: —
62.
‘Great Father, you know clearly beforehand
That all which I shall say to you is sooth;
I am a most veracious person, and 485
Totally unacquainted with untruth.
At sunrise Phoebus came, but with no band
Of Gods to bear him witness, in great wrath,
To my abode, seeking his heifers there,
And saying that I must show him where they are, 490
63.
‘Or he would hurl me down the dark abyss.
I know that every Apollonian limb
Is clothed with speed and might and manliness,
As a green bank with flowers — but unlike him
I was born yesterday, and you may guess 495
He well knew this when he indulged the whim
Of bullying a poor little new-born thing
That slept, and never thought of cow-driving.
64.
‘Am I like a strong fellow who steals kine?
Believe me, dearest Father — such you are — 500
This driving of the herds is none of mine;
Across my threshold did I wander ne’er,
So may I thrive! I reverence the divine
Sun and the Gods, and I love you, and care
Even for this hard accuser — who must know 505
I am as innocent as they or you.
65.
‘I swear by these most gloriously-wrought portals
(It is, you will allow, an oath of might)
Through which the multitude of the Immortals
Pass and repass forever, day and night, 510
Devising schemes for the affairs of mortals —
I am guiltless; and I will requite,
Although mine enemy be great and strong,
His cruel threat — do thou defend the young!’
66.
So speaking, the Cyllenian Argiphont 515
Winked, as if now his adversary was fitted: —
And Jupiter, according to his wont,
Laughed heartily to hear the subtle-witted
Infant give such a plausible account,
And every word a lie. But he remitted 520
Judgement at present — and his exhortation
Was, to compose the affair by arbitration.
67.
And they by mighty Jupiter were bidden
To go forth with a single purpose both,
Neither the other chiding nor yet chidden: 525
And Mercury with innocence and truth
To lead the way, and show where he had hidden
The mighty heifers. — Hermes, nothing loth,
Obeyed the Aegis-bearer’s will — for he
Is able to persuade all easily. 530
68.
These lovely children of Heaven’s highest Lord
Hastened to Pylos and the pastures wide
And lofty stalls by the Alphean ford,
Where wealth in the mute night is multiplied
With silent growth. Whilst Hermes drove the herd 535
Out of the stony cavern, Phoebus spied
The hides of those the little babe had slain,
Stretched on the precipice above the plain.
69.
‘How was it possible,’ then Phoebus said,
‘That you, a little child, born yesterday, 540
A thing on mother’s milk and kisses fed,
Could two prodigious heifers ever flay?
Even I myself may well hereafter dread
Your prowess, offspring of Cyllenian May,
When you grow strong and tall.’ — He spoke, and bound 545
Stiff withy bands the infant’s wrists around.
70.
He might as well have bound the oxen wild;
The withy bands, though starkly interknit,
Fell at the feet of the immortal child,
Loosened by some device of his quick wit. 550
Phoebus perceived himself again beguiled,
And stared — while Hermes sought some hole or pit,
Looking askance and winking fast as thought,
Where he might hide himself and not be caught.
71.
Sudden he changed his plan, and with strange skill 555
Subdued the strong Latonian, by the might
Of winning music, to his mightier will;
His left hand held the lyre, and in his right
The plectrum struck the chords — unconquerable
Up from beneath his hand in circling flight 560
The gathering music rose — and sweet as Love
The penetrating notes did live and move
72.
Within the heart of great Apollo — he
Listened with all his soul, and laughed for pleasure.
Close to his side stood harping fearlessly 565
The unabashed boy; and to the measure
Of the sweet lyre, there followed loud and free
His joyous voice; for he unlocked the treasure
Of his deep song, illustrating the birth
Of the bright Gods, and the dark desert Earth: 570
73.
And how to the Immortals every one
A portion was assigned of all that is;
But chief Mnemosyne did Maia’s son
Clothe in the light of his loud melodies; —
And, as each God was born or had begun, 575
He in their order due and fit degrees
Sung of his birth and being — and did move
Apollo to unutterable love.
74.
These words were winged with his swift delight:
‘You heifer-stealing schemer, well do you 580
Deserve that fifty oxen should requite
Such minstrelsies as I have heard even now.
Comrade of feasts, little contriving wight,
One of your secrets I would gladly know,
Whether the glorious power you now show forth 585
Was folded up within you at your birth,
75.
‘Or whether mortal taught or God inspired
The power of unpremeditated song?
Many divinest sounds have I admired,
The Olympian Gods and mortal men among; 590
But such a strain of wondrous, strange, untired,
And soul-awakening music, sweet and strong,
Yet did I never hear except from thee,
Offspring of May, impostor Mercury!
76.
‘What Muse, what skill, what unimagined use, 595
What exercise of subtlest art, has given
Thy songs such power? — for those who hear may choose
From three, the choicest of the gifts of Heaven,
Delight, and love, and sleep, — sweet sleep, whose dews
Are sweeter than the balmy tears of even: — 600
And I, who speak this praise, am that Apollo
Whom the Olympian Muses ever follow:
77.
‘And their delight is dance, and the blithe noise
Of song and overflowing poesy;
And sweet, even as desire, the liquid voice 605
Of pipes, that fills the clear air thrillingly;
But never did my inmost soul rejoice
In this dear work of youthful revelry
As now. I wonder at thee, son of Jove;
Thy harpings and thy song are soft as love. 610
78.
‘Now since thou hast, although so very small,
Science of arts so glorious, thus I swear, —
And let this cornel javelin, keen and tall,
Witness between us what I promise here, —
That I will lead thee to the Olympian Hall, 615
Honoured and mighty, with thy mother dear,
And many glorious gifts in joy will give thee,
And even at the end will ne’er deceive thee.’
79.
To whom thus Mercury with prudent speech: —
‘Wisely hast thou inquired of my skill: 620
I envy thee no thing I know to teach
Even this day: — for both in word and will
I would be gentle with thee; thou canst reach
All things in thy wise spirit, and thy sill
Is highest in Heaven among the sons of Jove, 625
Who loves thee in the fulness of his love.
80.
‘The Counsellor Supreme has given to thee
Divinest gifts, out of the amplitude
Of his profuse exhaustless treasury;
By thee, ‘tis said, the depths are understood 630
Of his far voice; by thee the mystery
Of all oracular fates, — and the dread mood
Of the diviner is breathed up; even I —
A child — perceive thy might and majesty.
81.
‘Thou canst seek out and compass all that wit 635
Can find or teach; — yet since thou wilt, come take
The lyre — be mine the glory giving it —
Strike the sweet chords, and sing aloud, and wake
Of tranced sound — and with fleet fingers make 640
Thy liquid-voiced comrade talk with thee, —
It can talk measured music eloquently.
82.
‘Then bear it boldly to the revel loud,
Love-wakening dance, or feast of solemn state,
A joy by night or day — for those endowed 645
With art and wisdom who interrogate
It teaches, babbling in delightful mood
All things which make the spirit most elate,
Soothing the mind with sweet familiar play,
Chasing the heavy shadows of dismay. 650
83.
‘To those who are unskilled in its sweet tongue,
Though they should question most impetuously
Its hidden soul, it gossips something wrong —
Some senseless and impertinent reply.
But thou who art as wise as thou art strong 655
Canst compass all that thou desirest. I
Present thee with this music-flowing shell,
Knowing thou canst interrogate it well.
84.
‘And let us two henceforth together feed,
On this green mountain-slope and pastoral plain, 660
The herds in litigation — they will breed
Quickly enough to recompense our pain,
If to the bulls and cows we take good heed; —
And thou, though somewhat over fond of gain,
Grudge me not half the profit.’ — Having spoke, 665
The shell he proffered, and Apollo took;
85.
And gave him in return the glittering lash,
Installing him as herdsman; — from the look
Of Mercury then laughed a joyous flash.
And then Apollo with the plectrum strook 670
The chords, and from beneath his hands a crash
Of mighty sounds rushed up, whose music shook
The soul with sweetness, and like an adept
His sweeter voice a just accordance kept.
86.
The herd went wandering o’er the divine mead, 675
Whilst these most beautiful Sons of Jupiter
Won their swift way up to the snowy head
Of white Olympus, with the joyous lyre
Soothing their journey; and their father dread
Gathered them both into familiar 680
Affection sweet, — and then, and now, and ever,
Hermes must love Him of the Golden Quiver,
87.
To whom he gave the lyre that sweetly sounded,
Which skilfully he held and played thereon.
He piped the while, and far and wide rebounded 685
The echo of his pipings; every one
Of the Olympians sat with joy astounded;
While he conceived another piece of fun,
One of his old tricks — which the God of Day
Perceiving, said:—’I fear thee, Son of May; — 690
88.
‘I fear thee and thy sly chameleon spirit,
Lest thou should steal my lyre and crooked bow;
This glory and power thou dost from Jove inherit,
To teach all craft upon the earth below;
Thieves love and worship thee — it is thy merit 695
To make all mortal business ebb and flow
By roguery: — now, Hermes, if you dare
By sacred Styx a mighty oath to swear
89.
‘That you will never rob me, you will do
A thing extremely pleasing to my heart.’ 700
Then Mercury swore by the Stygian dew,
That he would never steal his bow or dart,
Or lay his hands on what to him was due,
Or ever would employ his powerful art
Against his Pythian fane. Then Phoebus swore 705
There was no God or Man whom he loved more.
90.
‘And I will give thee as a good-will token,
The beautiful wand of wealth and happiness;
A perfect three-leaved rod of gold unbroken,
Whose magic will thy footsteps ever bless; 710
And whatsoever by Jove’s voice is spoken
Of earthly or divine from its recess,
It, like a loving soul, to thee will speak,
And more than this, do thou forbear to seek.
91.
‘For, dearest child, the divinations high 715
Which thou requirest, ‘tis unlawful ever
That thou, or any other deity
Should understand — and vain were the endeavour;