To the Mother of the Gods

Sing me a hymn to the Mother of all Gods and men, harmonious Muse, daughter of great Zeus! The sound of krotales and tympani pleases her, and the stamping of feet, and the howling of wolves, and the roaring of fierce lions; and the sonorous mountains please her, and the wooded gorges.

And I greet you thus with my song, you and all the Goddesses.

To the mother of the gods

Muse of the melodious voice, daughter of great Jupiter, sings of the mother of all gods and men; she is charmed by the sound of cymbals and tambourines, the sweet quivering of flutes, the roaring of wolves, of wild lions, the resounding mountains and the valleys with thick shade.

So I greet you in these songs, O mother of the gods and of all the goddesses together.

To Gaia, Mother of All.

I will sing of Gaia, Mother of all, of solid foundations, most ancient, and who nourishes on her soil all things that are. And everything that walks on the divine soil, everything that swims in the sea, everything that flies, feeds on your riches, O Gaia!

From you come men who have many children and much fruit, O Venerable One! And it is yours to give life or to take it away from mortal men.

Happy is he whom you honor with kindness in your heart, and all things abound to him. His field is always fruitful, his pastures are full of livestock, and his dwelling is full of riches.

Those whom you honor rule by just laws, over cities where beautiful women abound; they have riches and happiness, their sons glory in the joys of youth; and their virgin daughters, with joyful hearts, form happy choirs and dance on the soft flowers of the grass. And such will be the rich destiny of those whom you honor, O venerable Goddess!

Hail, Mother of the Gods, Spouse of starry Ouranos! Kindly give me, for this song, sweet nourishment. I will remember you and the other songs.

To the mother of all

I will celebrate the solid Earth, ancient mother of all things, nurse of all beings scattered over the world. They all live on your generosity, whether they crawl on the ground, whether they inhabit the sea or whether they fly in the air. It is through you, venerable goddess, that men have a numerous family and that they enjoy abundant fruits, for it is you who give and sustain the life of weak mortals. Those whom you honor are happy: all things are granted to them with generosity. Their fields are covered with harvests, their flocks multiply in the pastures; their houses overflow with goods; their cities fertile in beautiful women obey wise laws; everywhere wealth and happiness accompany them. O august goddess, beneficent divinity! Youth and pleasures animate the children of those whom you protect. Their joyful young girls form choirs, and, crowned with roses, lead their dances in the meadows covered with flowers.

Hail, O mother of the gods! wife of the starry sky, deign, in your benevolence towards my songs, to grant me a happy life; I will never forget you, and I will say another song.

To Zeus

I will sing of Zeus, the best of the Gods, the greatest, who thunders from afar, powerful, accomplished, and who has frequent conversations with Themis who bows, seated beside him.

Be propitious, Kronides who thunders in the distance, most august, most great!

To Jupiter

I will sing of Jupiter, the greatest and most illustrious of the gods, Jupiter whose thunderbolts resound in the distance, the powerful god through whom everything is accomplished, and who gives Themis, seated near him, advice full of wisdom.

Be propitious to us, most great and most illustrious son of Saturn.

In Poseidon

I begin to sing about Poseidon, the great God, who shakes the earth and the barren sea, who possesses Aigas and the Helikon.

The Gods have shared the honors with you, O you who shake the earth! They have made you a tamer of horses and a savior of ships.

Hail, Poseidon, who surrounds the earth, Blessed, blue-haired, kind-hearted, and who helps sailors!

To Neptune

Let us first sing of Neptune, powerful god, king of the seas, who makes the earth and the barren sea tremble, who reigns over Helicon and the immense city of Aigues. Neptune, you have received from the Immortals the double honor of taming the horses and saving the ships.

Hail, Neptune, azure-haired, fortunate god, may your benevolent heart protect sailors.

In Hèrè

I sing of Here on the golden throne, whom Rhei gave birth to, immortal Queen, illustrious for her unequalled beauty, wife and sister of Zeus who thunders in the heights, glorious, and whom all the happy Gods, in wide Olympos, honor and venerate as much as Zeus who rejoices in lightning.

To Juno

I sing of Juno on the golden throne, the daughter of illustrious Rhea; Juno, immortal queen, endowed with ravishing beauty, wife and sister of the fearsome Jupiter, she whom all the fortunate inhabitants of Olympus honor as equal to Jupiter himself, the master of lightning.

In Athens

I will sing of Pallas Athenai, powerful protector of cities, and who takes care, with Ares, of warlike works, of sacked cities, of clamours and of melees. She protects the peoples who go to battle or who return from it.

Hail, Goddess! Give me good destiny and bliss.

In Minerve

I will begin by singing of the terrible Pallas Minerva, guardian of our cities, who delights with the god Mars in the fatigues of war, the ruins of cities, the tumult of arms, the dangers of battles, and who extends her protection over the people, whether they march to combat, or return from it.

Hail, goddess, grant us fortune and happiness.

In Athens.

I begin by singing of Pallas Athenaiè, illustrious Goddess, with clear eyes, very wise, with an indomitable heart, venerable virgin, protector of cities, vigorous, whom the provident Zeus himself gave birth to from his august head, covered with golden and resplendent warlike weapons, and whom all the Immortals contemplated with admiration.

Before Zeus she sprang impetuously from the immortal head, brandishing her sharp spear, and great Olympus was shaken under the leap of the clear-eyed Goddess, and around her the earth resounded horribly, and the sea was shaken, overturning its purple waters; but the salty abyss was immediately calmed, and the illustrious son of Hyperion halted his swift-footed horses until the Virgin Pallas Athenaiè had removed her divine weapons from her immortal shoulders, and all-wise Zeus rejoiced.

And thus I greet you, daughter of tempestuous Zeus! I will remember you and the other songs.

In Minerve

I will sing first of Pallas Minerva, illustrious goddess, fruitful in wise counsel, bearing an inflexible heart, venerable virgin, guardian of cities, strong divinity, whom prudent Jupiter made emerge from his venerable head, all dressed in weapons of war, sparkling with gold.

In the presence of the god of the aegis, Minerva sprang from the divine head brandishing a sharp spear; vast Olympus was shaken by the power of Minerva, the earth cried out loud, the sea was troubled, its deep billows were raised, the bitter wave hung suspended. The bright son of Hyperion stopped his fiery steeds for a long time, until Pallas had cast off the divine arms from her shoulders. Jupiter full of prudence was gladdened.

Hail, mighty daughter of the aegis god, I will never forget you, and I will say another song.

To Apollo.

I will always remember Apollo the Archer, and I will never forget him, whom even the gods fear when he walks in the hall of Zeus; and all indeed rise from their seats at his approach, when he bends his illustrious bow.

Leto remains alone with Zeus, who rejoices at the thunderbolt. She relaxes the nerve, she closes the quiver, and, having removed it from the strong shoulders of the god, she hangs the bow along a pillar of the paternal dwelling, on a golden nail; and, leading Apollo, she makes him sit on a throne.

And the Father, glorifying his dear son, gives him the nectar in a golden cup; then the other Gods sit down, and the venerable Leto rejoices because she has given birth to a son, a powerful archer.

Hail, O happy Leto, for you have borne illustrious children, King Apollo and Artemis joyful with her arrows, the latter in Ortygia and the former in rugged Delos, being bent down by the great mountain and hill of Kynthios, under a palm tree, along the Inopos.

How shall I praise thee, O Phoebus, most worthy of praise? It is by thee, O Phoebus, that songs are inspired, whether on the dry land that feeds the heifers, or in the islands. The high rocks sing of thee, and the mountain tops, and the rivers that roll into the sea, and the promontories that jut out into the sea, and the harbors.

First, I will tell how Leto bore you, the joy of mortal men, lying near the mountain of Kynthios, on a rugged island in Delos surrounded by waves. And on both sides the black waters beat against the land, driven by the winds that blew harmoniously.

From there you command all mortal men, all those who are in Krete and the Athenian Demes, and the island of Aigina, and Euboia famous for its ships, Aigas, Eiresia, and Peparethos on the seashore, and Thracian Athos, and the peaks of Pelios, and Thracian Samos, and the forested Idaian mountains, and Skyros, and Phokaia, and the high mountain of Autokane, and well-peopled Imbros, and inaccessible Lemnos, and divine Lesbos, land of Aiolion, and Chios, the most fertile of the islands of the sea, and rocky Mimas, and the peaks of Korycos, and bright Klaros, and the high mountain of Aisagie, and humid Samos, and the lofty peaks of Mykale, and Miletus, and Koos, the city of mortal men, and high Knidos, and wind-swept Karpathos, and Naxos, and Paros, and rocky Rainaia.

In all these places, at the time of giving birth to the divine Archer, Leto wandered, asking if any of these lands would serve as a shelter for her son; but all were seized with terror, and none, however fertile, would welcome Phoebus.

And the venerable Leto, having finally landed at Delos, she questioned him and said these winged words to him:

— Delos, if you wish to be the land of my son Phoebus Apollo and place him in a rich temple, no other will approach you, nor pray to you, and I do not think that you are henceforth rich in oxen and sheep. You will not bear vines and you will not produce the innumerable plants; but, if you possess the temple of the Archer Apollo, all men will bring you hecatombs, and they will assemble here, and the immense odor of sacrifices will surround you, as long as you feed the King; and the Gods will preserve you from foreign domination, for your soil has no fertility.

She spoke thus, and Delos rejoiced, and she answered him:

—Leto, most illustrious daughter of great Koios, I would gladly welcome your race, the royal Archer, for I am in bad repute among men, and I would thus be more honored; but I fear what is said, O Leto, and I will not hide it from you. They say that Apollo must be proud and that he will be a harsh Prytane of the Immortals and mortal men on the fertile earth. Therefore I fear greatly, in my mind and in my soul, that as soon as he has seen the light of Helios, he will despise the Island, because I am a barren land, and that, striking me with his foot, he will push me into the high sea, where the great waters full of violence will always inundate me. Then he will go to another land that will please him better and where a temple will be built for him in a sacred grove of thick trees. And the Polypods and the black Seals will make me their cavernous dwellings, being neglected by the crowd of men. But you will reassure me, Goddess, if you swear by the great Oath, that he will build here his great temple where will be the Oracle of men, but of all men, for he is very famous.

Delos spoke thus, and Leto swore the great Oath of the Gods:

— Let Gaia know, and the broad upper Ouranos, and the subterranean water of Styx! And this is the greatest oath that is for the happy Gods. Surely the perfumed temple of Phoibos will always be here, and it will honor you above all the islands.

And when she had sworn and spoken all the words of the Oath, Delos rejoiced at the birth of Apollo the Archer.

And nine days and nine nights was Leto tormented with the desperate pangs of childbirth. And all the goddesses were around her, and the most illustrious, Dione, Rhei, and Themis who follows the tracks, and the sonorous Amphitrite, and the other immortals, except Here of the white arms who sat in the halls, of Zeus who gathers the clouds.

Only Eileithia, who relieves pain, knew nothing. And she sat on the summit of Olympus, on golden clouds, for white-armed Here had held her back out of jealousy, fair-haired Letoh going to bear a blameless and powerful son.

And the goddesses sent Iris from the island of beautiful dwellings to bring Eileithia, promising her a great necklace knotted with threads of gold and nine cubits long. And they bade her call her without the knowledge of Here of the white arms, lest by her words she should turn her away from coming.

And as soon as swift Iris, swift-footed as the wind, heard them, she set out with a rush and crossed the space swiftly. And when she had arrived at high Olympos, the throne of the Gods, she immediately called Eileithia to the gate of the mansions, and she spoke to her in winged and hasty words all that the Goddesses who have Olympian mansions had commanded her to say, and she persuaded her heart in her dear breast.

And both of them went forth, like timid doves in their feet. And when the deliverer Eileithia came to Delos, then childbirth seized Leto, and she was ready to give birth. And she threw her arms around the palm-tree, and she bent her knees on the soft meadow, and the earth smiled beneath her, and the Child sprang into the light, and all the Goddesses howled for joy.

Then they washed thee in clear water, Archer Phoebus, chastely and purely; and they wrapped thee in a white garment, light and beautiful, which they surrounded with a golden girdle. And his mother gave not her breast to Apollo of the golden sword, but Themis offered him from her immortal hands the nectar and the desirable ambrosia, and Leto rejoiced because she had borne a son, a mighty archer.

But, O Phoebus, after having tasted the immortal food, the golden girdle could not contain the throbbing one; no bond held you any longer, and all were broken; and Phoebus Apollo said immediately to the Immortals:

—Give me the friendly kithara and the curved bow, and I will reveal to men the true designs of Zeus.

Having spoken thus, the long-haired Archer Phoebus descended upon the land of broad paths, and all the immortals were astonished, and Delos covered herself entirely with gold, seeing the offspring of Zeus and Leto; and she rejoiced, because the God had chosen her for his dwelling among all the islands of the mainland, and had preferred her; and she blossomed like the summit of a mountain under the flowers of the forest.

And thou, Archer Apollo with the silver bow, now didst thou climb rocky Kynthios, now didst thou flee from islands and men, for thy temples and thy sacred groves with thick trees are many, and high rocks are dear to thee, and the summits of great mountains, and the rivers that flow to the sea. But thou dost most charm thy soul at Delos, O Phoebus. There the Iaones with trailing tunics, with their children and their wives, gather for thee; and remembering thee, they rejoice, when they celebrate games, with pugilism, dancing, and singing.

If anyone were to come while the Iaones are thus gathered for you, he would believe that they are so many immortals safe from old age. And he would admire the grace of them all, and he would be charmed, in his soul, to contemplate the men and women with beautiful belts, and the swift ships and their many riches, and, above all, a great wonder whose praise will never cease: The Deliade Virgins, servants of the Archer Apollo.

They first praise Apollo, then Leto, and Artemis joyful with her arrows. Then they remember the men and women of antiquity, and, singing a hymn, they charm the race of men. They know how to imitate the voices and rhythms of all peoples, and one would seem to hear a single voice, so perfectly do they tune their song.

Come! by Leto, Apollo, and Artemis! Greetings to you all! And remember me later, if any one from among earthly men, an unfortunate stranger, comes along and asks you thus:

— O young girls, who is this man, the most harmonious of the Aoides, who remains here and to whom you listen with great charm?

So, answer him, full of kindness:

— He is a blind man. He lives in rocky Khios, and all his songs will be the best in the future.

And we, wandering among the well-populated cities of men, will carry our praise throughout the earth, and all will believe us, because we have spoken the truth. And I, I will never cease to praise the Archer Apollo with the silver bow whom Leto with the beautiful hair gave birth to.

O King! you possess Lycia, and lovely Meonia, and maritime Miletus, a desirable city; but you rule above all in Delos surrounded by the waves.

And the son of the illustrious Leto, sounding his hollow kithar, and covered with ambrosial and perfumed garments, advances towards the rocky Pytho; and with the help of the plectrum, his golden kithar gives a harmonious sound.

From there, like thought, leaping from the earth to great Olympus, he enters the dwelling of Zeus, in the midst of the assembly of the other gods, and, immediately, the immortals think only of the kithar and of song. And all the Muses, responding with their beautiful voices, celebrate the ambrosial gifts of the gods and the miseries of men, which these receive from the immortal gods, living in despair and insanity, and finding no remedy either for old age or for death.

But the fair-haired Kharites and the kindly Hours, Harmony, and Hebe, and Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, dance, holding hands, and with them dances also, not ugly and small, but admirable in grandeur and beauty, Artemis, joyous with her arrows and equal to Apollo. And with her dances also Ares and the vigilant Slayer of Argos.

And Phoebus Apollo makes his kithara resound magnificently, and the brightness of his feet and the brilliance of his beautiful tunic envelop him in splendor, and golden-haired Leto and wise Zeus are greatly charmed, in their hearts, to see their dear son playing with the immortal Gods.

How shall I praise thee, O most praiseworthy? Shall I praise thee in the midst of thy wives, and in thy love, when thou didst ardently love the Virgin Azantides, together with the divine Iskhys Elasionides of the fair horses? Or when thou didst wrestle with Phorbas, son of Triopos, or with Erekhteus, or with Leukippos, or with the wife of Leukippos, on foot or in thy chariot? And yet Triopos was not absent. Or shall I praise thee, Archer Apollo, when thou didst walk upon the earth, seeking where thou wouldest give thy oracle to men?

And first you went down from Olympus into Pieria, and you crossed the sandy Lektos and the Hemathea and Perrhaibes, and you came quickly to Iolkos, and to Kenaios and to Euboia famous for its ships. And you stopped in the plain of Lelas, but it did not please you in your heart to build your temple there and to plant your sacred groves there.

And from there, Archer Apollo, having passed the Euripos, you ascended the divine green mountain, and you quickly moved away from it towards Mykalessus and Teumessus full of grass, then towards the Theban land covered with forests. Indeed, no mortal yet inhabited holy Thebe; there were as yet neither paths nor roads, in the Theban land fertile in wheat, but it was covered with forests.

And you went away, Archer Apollo, and came to Onkhestos, the sacred and beautiful grove of Poseidon, where the newly tamed horse panted, overwhelmed with work, while dragging the beautiful chariots. And the driver, although full of skill, walked, leaping from the chariot to the ground; and the horses, having no driver, dragged the empty chariot. And if they led it into the sacred grove, they were followed and unharnessed. And, according to the primitive rite, they prayed to King Poseidon; and the Moirai kept the chariot for the God.

And you went away from there, Archer Apollo, and you came to the fair-flowing Kephissus, which from Lilaei rolls its beautiful waters. Then, crossing it, O Archer, like the fertile Okhalei, you came to Amartos full of grass. And there you saw Delphus, a peaceful land that pleased you to build your temple there and plant your sacred groves. And you stopped near it, and you said to it:

— Delphusè, I think to build here an illustrious temple, oracle of men who will always sacrifice perfect hecatombs to me there. And those who inhabit the fat Peloponnesos, or Europe, or the Islands surrounded by waves, will come to question me, and I will prophesy in true words, giving my oracles in the opulent temple.

Having thus spoken, Phoebus Apollo laid the broad and long foundations of the temple. But when Delphos saw this, she was angry in her heart and said to him:

— Royal Archer Phoibos, I will put a few words into your mind. Since you think to build here an illustrious temple, oracle of men who will always sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you there, I will tell you this; keep it in your mind: The stamping of swift horses will disturb you, and that of the mules watering in my sacred fountains. Here every man will prefer to look at the well-made chariots and hear the stamping of swift horses than to look at the great temple and the riches that will be there. But, if you let yourself be persuaded, O King, for you are stronger and better than I, and your strength is very great, build at Krisse, under the gorge of Parnesus, where the beautiful chariots will not run, where the stamping of swift-footed horses will not resound around the well-built altar. The illustrious races of men will bring gifts to Io-Paian, and you will receive, joyful in your spirit, the beautiful sacrifices of the neighboring men.

Having thus spoken, she persuaded her spirit, so that there might be glory on earth for herself, Delphousè, and not for the Archer.

And thou wentest away from thence, Archer Apollo, and came to the city of the injurious Phlegyans, who dwelt on earth, having no care for Zeus, in a fair valley by the lake of Kephisus. And from thence, climbing rapidly up the mountain, thou camest to Krisse, under snowy Parnesus, at the foot of a peak turned toward Zephyrus. And above it rises the rock, and below it lies a hollow and harsh valley; and there King Phoebus Apollo thought to build a desirable temple, and he spoke these words:

—I think to build here an illustrious temple, oracle of men who will always sacrifice perfect hecatombs to me there. And those who inhabit the fat Peloponnesos, and Europe, and the islands surrounded by waves, will come to question me, and I will prophesy in true words, giving my oracles in the opulent temple.

Having thus spoken, Phoebus Apollo laid the broad and long foundations of the temple, and on these foundations Trophonius and Agamedes, sons of Erginus, dear to the Immortal Gods, built the stone threshold, and around it the innumerable races of men built the temple of hewn stones, that it might be eternally illustrious.

And there was, nearby, a spring with beautiful waters, where the King son of Zeus killed, with the strong sinew of his bow, a female dragon, an enormous monster, long and horrible, which, on earth, did countless evils to men, and, as much as to them, to their long-footed sheep, for it was a bloody scourge.

And, formerly, having received it from Here on the golden throne, she nursed the fierce and horrible Typhaon, scourge of mortals; whom Here once bore, angry with Father Zeus, when the Kronos begot from his head the most illustrious Athene. And, immediately, the venerable Here, angry, said to the assembled immortal Gods:

—Hear me, all ye gods, and all ye goddesses, since Zeus, who gathers the clouds, is the first to do me an injury, whom he has made his wife and who am chaste. Now he has begotten without me Athene of the clear eyes, who is most illustrious among all the happy Immortals, while my son Hephaestus, whom I myself bore, is feeble-minded and has turned feet; for, having seized him with his hands, he threw him into the wide sea; but the daughter of Nereus, Thetis of the silver feet, received him and led him to her sisters. O fatal and cunning one, you ought otherwise to please the happy gods! And now what do you meditate? How did you dare to beget Athene of the clear eyes alone? Can I no longer give birth, I who am called yours, yet among the Immortals who dwell in wide Ouranos? Now I will attempt something, that a son may be born of me who will rule among the immortal Gods, without my having defiled your sacred bed or mine. And I will not lie in your bed, and, far from you, I will go to other immortal Gods.

Having spoken thus, she was angry and withdrew from the Gods. And immediately the venerable Ox-eyed Here prayed, and striking the earth with her hand, she said:

—Hear me now, Gaia, and thou, broad upper Ouranos, and thou, Titan Gods who dwell beneath the earth round about great Tartaros, and from whom men and Gods are born! Hear me all now, and give me a son, without Zeus, and let him not be inferior to him in strength, and let him surpass him, as much as Zeus of wide sight surpasses Kronos.

Having spoken thus, she struck the earth with her strong hand, and the earth that gives life trembled; and seeing this, Here rejoiced in her heart, for she thought that her desire was fulfilled. And from that time on, until the end of the year, she came not to the bed of all-wise Zeus, nor did she sit by him on the fair throne where before she had meditated wise designs; but she remained in her temples frequented by many suppliants; and there the venerable Here with the ox's eyes rejoiced at the sacrifices offered.

At last, after the nights and days, and the return of the seasons and the year, she gave birth to a son unlike the Gods and men, the cruel and horrible Typhaon, scourge of mortals. And the venerable Here with the ox's eyes, having seized him at once, gave the monster to the monster.

And the female Dragon took him, and he did great harm to the illustrious races of men. And she, to him whom she met she brought her fatal day, before the Archer Apollo had launched a vigorous arrow at him. And, consumed with bitter pains, she lay, panting, stretched out on the ground. Then, uttering an immense and violent cry, she writhed furiously under the woods, and, all bloody, she gave up the ghost. And Phoebus Apollo, boasting, said:

—Now, rotten, there, on the earth that nourishes men. You no longer live and you will no longer be the scourge of men who eat the fruits of the earth that nourishes all, and they will bring here perfect hecatombs. Neither Typhoeus, nor the lugubrious Khimaira will keep sad death away from you; but, here, the black earth and the tireless Hyperion will rot you.

He spoke thus, boasting, and darkness covered the eyes of the female Dragon. And from then on that place was called Pytho, because the sacred force of Helios had there rotted the monster; and the King was called Pythian, because there the sharp force of Helios had rotted the monster.

And then Phoebus Apollo recognized in his mind that the spring with the beautiful waters had deceived him, and, angry, he went to Delphouse, and he arrived quickly, and, standing by her, he said to her:

— Delphousè, it was not in your destiny, having deceived my mind, to flow any longer, in this desirable place, your beautiful limpid water. Here my glory will burst forth and not yours alone.

He spoke thus, and the royal Archer Apollo pushed aside the rock from which the water flowed and hid its course. And he built a temple, in a thick sacred grove, near the spring with the fair course; and there all men make vows to the King, calling him Delphusian, because he has humbled the sacred course of Delphusè.

And then Phoebus Apollo thought in his mind what men he would initiate into his mysteries, that they might be his ministers in rocky Pytho.

So thinking of this in his mind, he saw on the purple sea a swift ship in which were brave and numerous men, Kretians of Knossos, the city of Minos, skilled in the sacrifices of the King and who reveal the will of Phoebus Apollo with the golden sword, whatever he may say, when he delivers his oracles from the midst of a laurel tree, under Parnesus. And they were sailing on a black ship, for their business and their needs, going to sandy Pylos, to the Pylians men.

And Phoebus Apollo, in front of them, leapt into the sea, like a dolphin, and entered the swift ship where he lay, a huge and horrible monster. And none of them recognized him in his mind, and he tossed about on every side, shaking the timbers of the ship; and all, mute and full of fear, remained seated in the ship. And they did not loosen the rigging on the black and hollow ship, nor did they tighten the sail of the ship with the black stern; but they sailed, sitting at the oars as before. And violent Notos pushed the swift ship from behind, and they passed before Maleia, and the land of Lakonida, and the high city of Helos, and Tainaros, the place of Helios that charms men, where the illustrious sheep with thick wool of King Helios always graze and have a desirable place.

And they wanted, there, to stop the ship and get out of it to admire this great prodigy and see with their own eyes whether the monster would remain on the deck of the hollow ship, or whether it would leap into the water of the sea which nourishes many fish. But the well-built ship did not obey the oars, and it continued its course along the fat Peloponnesos, and the royal Archer Apollo steered it easily with the help of the wind.

And the ship, making its way, came to Arena, to desirable Argyphaea, to Thrios where is the ford of Alphaeus, to well-populated Aipys, to sandy Pylos where are the men born Pylians; then it skirted Khalkis, and Dyme, and divine Elis where the Epeians rule; then, having passed Phera, driven by the favorable wind of Zeus, the high mountain of Ithaca appeared to them from the midst of the clouds, and Doulikhios, and Samè, and Zakynthos covered with forests.

But when the ship had passed all Peloponnesos, the immense gulf of Krisse, which ends the fat Peloponnesos, appeared to them; and the great wind Zephyros, by the will of Zeus, blew impetuously from Aither, so that the ship might quickly complete its course on the salt water of the sea.

And they sailed, returning from the side of Eos and Helios, led by king Apollo, son of Zeus; and they arrived at the port of Krisse which abounds in vineyards; and the ship, as it sailed, skimmed the sands.

And the royal Archer Apollo leapt from the ship, like a star in the middle of the day, and countless sparks flashed from him, and the splendor rose from him even to Ouranos. And the God entered the sanctuary, towards the venerable tripods; and he set fire to them, manifesting his signs; and the brilliance of the flame enveloped Krisse entirely. And the women of the Krissagones and their daughters with beautiful belts howled at the shock of Phoibos, and a great terror seized each of them.

Then the God, with a bound, flew again, like thought, upon the ship, like a young and robust man, in his first puberty, with flowing hair on his broad shoulders. There he spoke to them these winged words:

— O Strangers, who are you? Whence come you on the wet roads? Are you sailing for trade, or at random, like pirates who wander on the sea, exposing their lives and bringing calamities to other men? Why do you remain stupid and do not go ashore, after having laid aside the rigging of the black ship? Such, indeed, is the custom of industrious men, when, having arrived from the high seas on their black ship, they touch land, overwhelmed with fatigue. Immediately the desire for sweet food seizes their spirit.

He spoke thus, and he inspired boldness into their souls, and the leader of the Kretans answered him:

— Stranger, for you are not like mortals, neither in body nor in beauty, but you resemble the immortal Gods, hail! Rejoice, and may the Gods make you happy! But tell me the truth, that I may know it. What is your people? What is your land? What men have begotten you? Having other thoughts, we sailed on the great waters, towards Pylos, coming from Krète where we boast of being born. And now we have come here against our will, with our ship, by other roads and other paths, and desiring to return. But one of the Immortals has brought us here against our will.

And the Archer Apollo, answering them, said:

— Strangers, indeed, you used to dwell in Knossos covered with forests, but now none of you will return to your lovely city and its beautiful houses and its dear wife; and you will guard here my magnificent temple honored by the crowd of men. And I, I boast that I am Apollo, son of Zeus. I have led you here on the great waters of the sea, meaning you no harm; but you will guard here my magnificent temple honored by the crowd of men. And you will know the wills of the Immortals, and, by the will of the Gods, you will be honored without ceasing every day. But, come! obey quickly what I am going to say. First tighten the sail with the straps, and drag the swift ship to land. Remove from the equal ship the cargo and the rigging, and build an altar on the sea-shore. Then, lighting a fire and sacrificing the white flours, pray, standing around the altar. And, as I leaped from the black sea on the swift ship, like a Dolphin, so you will call me, in prayer, Delphian; and the Delphian altar itself will always be illustrious. Then take your meal by the black and swift ship, and make libations to the happy Gods who dwell on Olympus. And, after you have satisfied the desire of sweet food, come with me, and sing Io-Paian, until you have arrived at the place where you will guard the magnificent temple.

He spoke thus, and they feared him and obeyed. And first they tightened the sail and untied the oars; and, having lowered the mast with cables, they laid it on its bow; then they themselves went down to the sea shore, and they dragged the swift ship ashore, up from the sands, and they supported it with long stays. Then they made an altar on the sea shore, and, lighting a fire and sacrificing white flour, they prayed, as he had ordered, standing around the altar.

Then they took their meal by the black and swift ship, and they made libations to the happy Gods who dwell on Olympus. Then, having satisfied the desire of food and drink, they set out on their way, and King Apollo, son of Zeus, led them; and he had a kithar in his hands, and he played it admirably, and the Kretans, astonished, followed him towards Pytho, singing Io-Paian, as the Kretans are wont to sing, whose breasts the divine Muse fills with sweet songs.

And with unwearied foot they ascended the mountain, and they came to Parnesus and to the desirable place where they were to dwell in the future, being honored by the multitude of men. And the God who led them showed them the land and the opulent temple. And their soul was moved in their dear breasts, and the leader of the Kretans, answering him, said:

— O King, since you have led us far from our friends and from the land of our fatherland, as it has pleased your dear heart, we ask you to tell us how we shall live now. This land is not fertile in vines and has no meadows so that we can live on it and, at the same time, be useful to men.

And Apollo, son of Zeus, smiling, answered them:

— Foolish, miserable men, greedy for worries, bitter sorrows and groans of heart, I will easily tell you the truth and I will place it in your mind. Let each of you have in his right hand a knife to slaughter the sheep without ceasing. All things that the illustrious races of men bring me will be offered to you abundantly. Guard the temple and welcome the men who assemble here, and above all observe my will, whether a vain word is spoken to you, or whether you are outraged, which happens to mortal men. Afterwards, you will have other masters to whom you will always be subject by necessity. All these things are told to you; keep them in your mind.

And you, I salute you, son of Zeus and Leto! And I will always remember you and the other songs.

To Apollo

I will not forget Apollo who shoots his arrows far away, Apollo whom the gods honor when he advances into the palace of Jupiter. As soon as he approaches, as soon as he bends his fearsome bow, all the divinities abandon their seats. Latona alone remains at the side of the king of thunder. She releases the string; she closes the quiver, with her hands she removes the bow from Apollo's strong shoulders and hangs it, by a golden peg, on his father's column. Then she leads him to a superb throne.

Jupiter welcomes his son and presents him with the nectar in a golden cup: all the Immortals then return to their places, and the august

Latona is proud to have given birth to this illustrious son who carries a formidable bow.

Hail, fortunate mother, O Latona! You have given birth to glorious children, great Apollo and Diana who delights in shooting arrows; she was born in Ortygia, he in rugged Delos, when you were resting on the heights of Mount Cynthus, by a palm tree and not far from the springs of the Inope. How can I honor you worthily, O Phoebus, worthy of the greatest praises? It is to you that the laws of harmony are attributed everywhere, whether on the fertile continent or on the islands. You love rocks, the rugged peaks of high mountains, the rivers that rush into the sea, the promontories leaning over the waves, and the vast harbors of the ocean. Latona was the first to give birth to you, O you who charm mortals! She was then lying on Mount Cynthus in a wild island, in the maritime Delos, where the blueish wave, driven by the gentle breath of the winds, comes to break on the shore. It is from there that you have departed to reign over all men, over all those who are contained in Crete, the city of Athens, the island of Aegina, Euboea, famous for its ships, Aeges and Piresia and Peparethus, near the sea, Athos of Thrace, the high peaks of Pelion, Samothrace, the mountains of Ida covered with shade, Scyros, Phocaea, the high mountain of Autocane, Imbros with rich palaces, Lemnos of so rough a approach, divine Lesbos, the abode of Macare, descendant of Aeolus; Chios, the most fertile of all the islands that issue from the bosom of the seas, stony Mimas, the heights of Coryce, brilliant Claros, the vast mountain of Aesagea, humid Samos, the lofty peaks of Mycale, Miletus, Cos, the city of Merope, high Cnidus, Carpathia, beaten by the winds, Naxos, Paros and Rhenea, bristling with rocks. Latona, about to give birth to Apollo, was obliged to travel through all these lands to find one that would offer asylum to her son: but all were seized with fear and terror and none dared, although fertile, to receive Apollo. At last the venerable Latona arrived at Delos and addressing this island she uttered these words:

"Delos, give my son a sanctuary, place him in a magnificent temple. No one has come near your shores to this day and made vows to you: neither herds of cattle nor flocks of sheep enrich you: you do not produce vines, you do not produce any kind of plant. But build a temple to the mighty Apollo and immediately all the men gathered in a crowd will sacrifice hecatombs to you; this king will always fertilize you, the gods will protect you, and although your soil is not fertile, foreigners will bring you sacrifices whose smoke will rise to the heavens."

She said. Delos, filled with joy, answered her in these words:

"Latona, illustrious daughter of the great Caeus, it is with pleasure that I will receive at his birth the god who must one day shoot his arrows far away; for it is true that I am despised by mortals and then, on the contrary, I will be filled with honors. But I fear one word, O Latona! and I will not hide it from you: it is said that Apollo will become terrible; that his dominion will extend over the Immortals and the weak humans who dwell on the fertile earth. I fear therefore in the depths of my soul that when this god sees the rays of the sun he will despise me, me who am sterile, and that, striking me with his foot, he will throw me into the depths of the sea. Then a swirling flood would swallow me up whole and forever. He, however, would go to seek a more pleasant land to possess a temple and sacred groves, and then the polyps would build their dwellings on my soil, the black seals would build their homes there during the absence of the peoples. I yield, however, to your desires, O goddess, if you consent to swear with an oath that in these places Apollo will build his magnificent temple to be the oracle of men, since in the future this god must be honored under several names by all mortals."

Thus spoke Delos: then Latona, speaking, thus pronounced the terrible oath of the gods:

"I swear now by the earth, by the high heavens, and by the subterranean waters of the Styx, the most feared oath of the immortal gods: here shall be forever the fragrant altar and the song consecrated to Phoebus, and he shall honour thee above all lands."

As soon as she had sworn this oath, Delos rejoiced at the birth of the god who hurled his arrows far and wide. Then for nine days and nine nights Latona was torn by the cruel pains of childbirth. All the most illustrious goddesses were gathered around her. Dione, Rhea, Themis who pursued the guilty, the moaning Amphitrite, all, with the exception of Juno with the alabaster arms: she remained in the palace of the formidable Jupiter. However, only Ilithia, goddess of childbirth, was unaware of this news; she was seated on the summit of Olympus in a golden cloud and was held back by the advice of Juno who felt a jealous fury because Latona, with her beautiful hair, was to give birth to a powerful and blameless son.

Then to bring Ilithia, the other goddesses sent from Delos the light Iris, promising her a necklace woven with gold threads and nine cubits long. They especially recommended that she warn him without Juno knowing, for fear that she would stop him with her words. Iris, as swift as the winds, having received this order, rushed and crossed space in an instant. Arrived at the abode of the gods on the summit of Olympus, she called Ilithia from the threshold of the palace and faithfully repeated to her all the words as the inhabitants of the celestial dwellings had recommended to her. She persuaded the soul of Ilithia and both flew away like timid doves. When the goddess who presides over childbirth arrived at Delos, Latona was in the grip of the most acute pains. On the point of giving birth, she wrapped her arms around a palm tree and her knees pressed the soft meadow. Soon the earth smiles with joy; the god appears in the light; all the goddesses utter a religious cry. Immediately, divine Phoebus, they wash you chastely and purify you in a limpid wave and wrap you in a white veil, delicate fabric, newly worked that they tie with a golden belt. Latona did not suckle Apollo with the sparkling sword. Themis, with her immortal hands, offered him nectar and divine ambrosia. Latona was then filled with joy to have given birth to this valiant son who carries a fearsome bow.

But you, O Phoebus! scarcely had you tasted the heavenly food, than the golden belts could not restrain your impetuosity: the bonds no longer restrain you, you tear your swaddling clothes. Suddenly the brilliant Apollo said to the goddesses:

"Give me a harmonious lyre and curved bows, and henceforth I will reveal to men the certain oracles of Jupiter."

So speaking, Phoebus, with his thick hair and his far-reaching arrows, advanced proudly over the fertile earth. The goddesses were struck with astonishment. Delos appeared covered with gold at the sight of the son of Jupiter and Latona. She rejoiced that this powerful god had chosen her from among all the islands to establish his dwelling there and that his heart had preferred her. She shone with a bright brilliance like the summit of the mountain crowned with the flowers of the forest.

O divine Apollo, you who carry a silver bow and shoot your arrows far away, now you climb the rocks of Cynthius, now you visit men and the islands they inhabit. Many temples and shady woods are raised in your honor. You love rocks, rugged mountain peaks and rivers that rush into the sea. But Delos, O Phoebus, is the place dearest to your heart; there the Ionians with their trailing robes assemble with their children and venerable wives; there they try to charm you with combats of pugilism, dancing and singing. If anyone saw the Ionians assembled, he would say they were immortal and free from age. The heart rejoices at the sight of these graceful heroes, their women adorned with belts, their swift ships and their abundant treasures. But there is still a great wonder whose glory is imperishable, they are the daughters of Delos themselves, priestesses of the god who throws his arrows far away. They celebrate first the glory of Apollo, then they recall Latona and Diana jealous of his arrows; they also sing of the ancient heroes and their wives and charm the crowd of humans. They know how to imitate the dances and songs of all peoples. One would say that each of them speaks himself, so easily do these beautiful voices imitate their chords.

Be favourable to us, Apollo and Diana. Hail to you, O their priestesses. Remember me in the future, and if ever among men some unfortunate traveller questions you and says to you:

"Young ladies, who is the most illustrious of the singers who frequent this island? Which one charms you the most?"

Full of kindness to me, may you answer:

"This is the blind singer. He lives in the mountainous Chios: his songs will retain an eternal fame in future centuries."

As for me, I will tell of your glory throughout all the earth, even in the midst of populated cities; men will be convinced, because it is the truth.

No, I will not forget Apollo who throws his arrows far away. I will sing of the god who carries a silver bow, the god whom fair-haired Latona bore (1)…

O Apollo, who possess Lycia, and pleasant Maeonia, and the lovely city of Miletus, situated on the seashore, you also extend your power over Delos, which is surrounded by waves. The son of fair Latona, making a harmonious lyre resound, advances towards the harsh country of Pytho, clothed in immortal garments and all perfumed with essences; his golden bow makes the instrument render the most melodious sounds. Then leaving the earth, he rises up to Olympus, and, swift as thought, enters the dwellings of Jupiter to go to the assembly of the gods; immediately the Immortals devote all their moments to song and to the lyre. All the Muses utter their melodious voices: they sing of the eternal bliss of the gods and the sufferings of men who live in error and weakness, under the dominion of the Immortals, and can find no refuge from death, no remedy from old age. The Graces, with their superb hair, the benevolent Hours, Hebe, Harmony, and Venus the daughter of Jupiter form the chorus of the dances holding hands; a divinity great and admirable to behold and who is certainly not a weak goddess, Diana, happy with her arrows and the sister of Apollo, accompanies them with a melodious voice. Mars and the vigilant murderer of Argus join in these games. Finally the brilliant Apollo himself plays the lyre as he walks in the splendor of his grace and pride. He shines with a bright light, the brilliance of his feet and his long tunic radiates far and wide. Fair-haired Latona and mighty Jupiter felt a great joy in their souls as they saw their son thus joining in the games of the immortal troop.

How shall I lavish you with sufficient honour, O you worthy of the greatest praise? Shall I sing of your pleasures and your loves when, to unite you with the young Azantide, you wrestled with noble Ischys, valiant horseman from Elation? or with Phorbas, son of Triopeia, with Erechtheus, with Leucippus and his wife, you on foot, he mounted in a chariot? ... Or shall I tell, O Apollo, of all the lands you have travelled in search of a suitable place to deliver your oracles to mortals.

First, leaving Olympus, you came to Pieria, to Lectus, to Emathia, to the country of the Aenians and among the Perrhebians; you visited Iolchus and Cenea, a promontory of Euboea, famous for its ships. You stayed for a while in the fields of Lelanta, but your heart did not find this country beautiful enough to build a temple there in the middle of a shady wood. From there, you crossed the Euripus, divine Apollo; you crossed a green mountain; you arrived in a few moments at Mycalessa and even at Teumese with its rich pastures. Finally you arrived at Thebes, whose ground was covered with woods. Men did not yet inhabit the sacred city of Thebes; neither roads nor paths crossed then this vast fertile plain; one saw there only an immense forest.

Powerful divinity, you did not delay in leaving these places; you came to Oncheste, where the sacred grove of Neptune stands. It is there that the young steed, newly tamed, breathes heavily from his nostrils after having dragged the magnificent chariot. The skilled driver leaps to the ground and abandons the chariot which continues its course. Now without a guide, the horses run away with speed. If they reach the shady grove, servants unharness the steeds they take care of and put the chariot away by tilting it. Thus was this festival established in the beginning. Then the people implore Neptune so that Destiny preserves the chariot of this god.

Soon you left these places, divine Apollo; you arrived on the laughing banks of the Cephissus which rolls its limpid waves far from Litée. You passed the city of Ocalie with its many towers, and you arrived in the meadows of Aliartes near the Telphouse fountain. This place was propitious to build a temple and plant a shady wood. You then approached the fountain and addressed these words to it:

"Telphouse, I have resolved to build a superb temple in these places to deliver my oracles to mortals. They will sacrifice magnificent hecatombs to me and will come to consult me from all parts of the earth, from the fertile Peloponnese, from Europe or from the islands. I will make known to them all a certain future and I will deliver oracles in this sumptuous temple."

As Apollo spoke thus, he laid the foundations of a vast and solid temple. Delphus, seeing this, was angered to the depths of her soul and made these words heard:

"Listen to me, mighty Phoebus who casts your arrows far and wide, I want to place a word in your bosom: you have resolved to build in these places a superb temple to deliver your oracles to the mortals who will come to sacrifice illustrious hecatombs to you. But know this and remember this speech well in your thoughts: you will be constantly troubled by the noise of the swift steeds and the mules who will come to quench their thirst at my sacred springs. Here men prefer the spectacle of solid chariots and the noise of the steeds that split the air to the sight of a spacious temple containing abundant riches. Let yourself be persuaded, illustrious divinity, much greater, much more powerful than I, and whose strength is immense; and build a temple to Crisa in a valley of Parnassus. There never are magnificent chariots seen; the noise of the swift steeds will never resound around your magnificent altar. Mortals will come to offer their sacrifices to the divine Iè Paean; you, with a heart full with joy, you will receive their pompous offerings."

With this clever speech Telphouse persuaded the god who casts his arrows far away. She wanted to keep and not let Apollo steal from her the glory of reigning over this country.

You have therefore left these places, O mighty Apollo, and have come to the city of the Phlegians, bold men, scorning Jupiter, who dwell in a rich valley near Lake Cephisus. You have run up to the top of the mountain, you have arrived at Crisa on snowy Parnassus, at the place where this mountain is beaten by the breath of the zephyr. There, vast rocks hanging over the abyss form a rough and deep valley; brilliant Phoebus conceived the design of building there a magnificent temple and spoke these words:

"I have resolved to build a superb temple in these places to deliver my oracles to mortals. They will sacrifice magnificent hecatombs to me and will come to consult me from all parts of the earth, from the fertile Peloponnese, from Europe or from the islands. I will make known to them all a certain future and I will deliver oracles in this sumptuous temple."

So speaking the divine Apollo laid the foundations of his vast and solid temple. On these foundations Agamedes and Trophonius, both sons of Ergina and dear to the immortal gods, laid the threshold. The numerous tribes of men built with polished stones a temple that was to be forever famous. Near this temple was a limpid fountain where Apollo slew with his fearsome bow an enormous, frightful hydra, a wild and bloodthirsty monster that overwhelmed men and flocks of sheep with many evils. Formerly this hydra, protected by Juno on the golden throne, had nourished the infamous Typhon, the terror of mortals, this son of Juno, whom she had given birth to in her indignation against Jupiter when he conceived in her brain the illustrious Minerva. Full of wrath the august Juno addressed this speech to the assembled immortals:

"Listen to me, gods and goddesses, the formidable Jupiter is the first who despises me after having chosen me above all others to be his virtuous wife. Far from me now, he has conceived the superb Pallas, famous among all the fortunate goddesses, while my son Vulcan with mutilated feet was born the weakest of all the divinities; I myself when I gave birth to him, I seized him and threw him into the vast sea; but the daughter of Nereus, Thetis with the silver feet, received him and nourished him with her sisters. Ah! Jupiter should have honored the gods more worthily. Fool! perfidious! what other design do you meditate now? How could you alone have conceived the thought of giving birth to the beautiful Minerva? Could I not have given birth to him too, I, named your wife by all the Immortals who reign in the heavens? Well! I too will use all my skill to have born to me a son who will be famous among all the gods; I will not outrage your bed or mine, I will not share your bed, and although far from you I will live among the immortal gods."

She said, and went away from the gods, her heart devoured by sorrow. Immediately the august Juno formed vows, and with her hand striking the earth she pronounced these words:

"Hear me, Earth, high Heavens, and you Titan gods, who in horrible abysses dwell in the depths of Tartarus, you who have given birth to gods and men, hear me all now, and procure for me without the help of Jupiter, a son whose strength is not inferior to him, but who is as superior to Jupiter as Jupiter is superior to Saturn."

Juno spoke thus and struck the ground with a strong hand; the fertile earth was shaken, and Juno rejoiced in her soul, for she thought that her wishes were granted. For a whole year she did not share the bed of Jupiter, and as formerly did not take her place on the magnificent throne from which she often dictated wise counsels; but she remained in the temples filled with her numerous worshippers; she delighted in receiving their sacrifices. The days and months having passed and the hours in their course having brought the end of the year, this divinity gave birth to a son different from gods and men, the horrible and fatal Typhon, the terror of mortals. Juno taking this monster in her arms carried him to the dreadful Hydra; the latter received him. This Hydra caused innumerable evils to humans; whoever offered himself to its sight found death, until the moment when the mighty Apollo struck it with a terrible arrow. Then the hydra, in the grip of the most intense pain, barely breathing, rolled on the sand, let out horrible hisses, twisted in all directions, threw itself into the middle of the forest; and in its stinking breath exhaled its bloody life. Meanwhile Apollo cried out in the joy of his triumph:

"Let your dried-up body rot on this fertile soil; you will no longer be the scourge of mortals who feed on the fruits of the fertile earth and they will come to sacrifice magnificent hecatombs to me here; neither Typhoeus nor the odious Chimera will be able to snatch you from death, but the earth and the sun in its celestial career will rot your corpse here."

Thus said Apollo, proud of his victory. A thick shadow covers the eyes of the serpent; heated by the rays of the sun he falls into putrefaction. This is how this region took the name of Pytho: the inhabitants gave the god the name of Pythian, because in these places the sun with its devouring rays has putrefied this terrible monster. Apollo then perceiving that the brilliant fountain has deceived him, full of anger, goes near Telphouse and addresses him these words:

"Telphouse, you should not have deceived me to reign alone over this charming region where your limpid waves flow; I want my glory to shine in these places and not just yours."

The mighty Apollo immediately hurls the promontory and its high rocks upon the fountain; he hides its source and builds an altar in the middle of a sacred wood not far from the murmuring waters. The people nicknamed him Telphousien because he took away all the honors from the sacred fountain of Telphouse.

Meanwhile the divine Apollo was reflecting in the depths of his soul what men would be his ministers to serve him in harsh Pytho.

While he was pondering these thoughts in his bosom, he perceived on the wide sea a swift ship; in it were many brave men, Cretans coming from Cnossos, the city of Minos, destined one day to offer sacrifices to the divinity, to publish the oracles of the brilliant Apollo of the golden sword, when he shall announce his immortal prophecies in the valleys of Parnassus. These Cretans, with the intention of trading and amassing wealth, were sailing in their light ship towards sandy Pylos and the men who inhabit it. Apollo having discovered them threw himself into the waves and, in the form of a dolphin, placed himself on the ship like a huge and terrible monster. None of the sailors noticed him, none saw him, but each time the dolphin moved, he moved all the beams of the ship; The trembling sailors sat and kept silent; they did not stretch the ropes, they did not spread the sails, but they sailed always in the same direction in which they had first been thrown by the force of the oars. Notus, with his impetuous breath, pushed the swift ship with force. First they doubled Cape Malea, skirted Laconia, Helos situated on the seashore and the land of the fertilizing sun, Taenarus, where the flocks of the powerful Sun always graze, who reigns alone in this charming land.

It was there that the Cretans wanted to stop their ship, and see, going down, whether the monster would remain on the deck of the ship, or whether it would plunge into the fish-filled waves: but the ship with the broad sides refused to obey the rudder; it continued on its route, skirting the

fertile Peloponnese. The powerful Apollo of his breath directs it effortlessly; the ship continues its rapid course, it passes in front of Arene,

the pleasant Thryos where the Alpheus offers an easy ford, before sandy Pylos and the men who inhabit it. He crossed Crune, Chalcis, Dyme, and divine Elis where the Epai reign. After having crossed the shores of Phère, the high mountain of Ithaca, Same, Dulichium, and green Zacynthus were seen outlined in the clouds. Then the ship having skirted the whole Peloponnese, the vast gulf of Crisa was discovered, which serves as its limit. At this moment a violent and serene wind, the zephyr, obeying the will of Jupiter, rushes from the heavens, so that the ship may more quickly cleave with its prow the salty waves of the sea. At this moment, the Cretans are heading towards the dawn and the sun. A god guides them, it is Apollo, son of Jupiter: they soon arrive in happy Crisa, fertile in vines; they enter the port, the large ship sinks into the sand.

Apollo immediately leaps from the ship, like a meteor appearing in broad daylight: a thousand rays form a halo around him, and his splendor rises to the heavens. The god enters his sanctuary in the midst of the sacred tripods.

He himself shines with a bright flame, a sign of his presence, and his radiance spreads over the crowd of the city of Crisa: the wives of the Crisaeans and their daughters with beautiful belts throw up to heaven a religious cry at the appearance of Apollo. Everyone is seized with fear. Immediately Phoebus, swift as thought, leaps on the ship in the guise of a vigorous and valiant hero, resplendent in the flower of youth, and his hair flowing on his broad shoulders; then he addresses the Cretans and says to them these words:

"Who then are you, O strangers? From what countries do you come across the liquid plains? Is it to engage in trade, or do you wander at random like pirates, gambling your life and splitting the sea, to surprise and ravage distant nations? Why do you remain thus motionless and trembling, not going ashore and not taking off the ship's tackle? Yet this is what sailors do when, after the fatigues of a long voyage, they at last reach the shores: for then they feel a keen desire to take sweet food."

With these words the god renews their courage, and the leader of the Cretans answers him in these words:

"Stranger, who in your figure and stature resemble not men, but immortal gods, hail! Be filled with happiness and may the inhabitants of Olympus grant you all blessings. Speak to me sincerely and make me acquainted with this people and this country. What men were born in these places? We desire to go to Pylos. We set out from Crete, where we boast of being born, and have crossed the vast seas. Now, impatient to return, it is in spite of ourselves that our ship has brought us to these places by another road and by other paths. A divinity has brought us here against our will.

- Strangers, answered the great Apollo, O you who until this day have dwelt in Cnossa, crowned with forests, you will never again see this lovely city, you will never again see your rich dwellings or your beloved wives, but you will remain here to guard my temple, and you will be honored by many mortals. I am the son of Jupiter, I glory in being Apollo: it is I who have guided you to these places, across the immense seas without evil design, but that you may be the guardians of my temple and that you may receive the homage of all the peoples. You will know the designs of the gods, and by their will you will be filled with honors for ever. But obey my orders at once, fold the sails, pull the ship to shore, quickly remove the riches and the tackle that it contains, and build an altar on the seashore. Then you will light the fire, you will throw the white fine flour on it and you will pray while standing around the altar: you will implore Apollo Delphian, because it is I who, in the form of a dolphin, directed your ship through the azure waves: the altar, which will also receive the name of Delphian, will always remain. Prepare the meal near the ship and make libations in honor of the immortal gods of Olympus. When you have taken abundantly of the sweet food, you will accompany me singing Iè Paean until you arrive at the places where my rich temple will be raised."

He said. The Cretans obeyed the order they had heard: they folded the sails and untied the cables; they lowered the mast, supporting it with ropes, then they spread out on the sea shore. They pulled the ship into the sand, supported it with broad beams, and built an altar on the beach. They lit the fire, threw the white fine flour on it, and prayed standing around the altar, as the god had ordered. Then all prepared the meal not far from the ship and made libations in honor of the fortunate inhabitants of Olympus. Hunger and thirst being appeased, they left these shores. The son of Jupiter, Apollo, preceded them, holding a lyre in his hands and making it resound in melodious accents: he advanced with a tall and proud gait. The Cretans accompanied him as far as Pythos, singing Jè Paean; for such are the Paeans of the Cretans, sacred hymns, sublime songs which a muse has inspired in them. Without any fatigue they cross the hill on foot and soon arrive at the smiling hill of Parnassus, where the god was to dwell and receive the homage of all the peoples of the earth. Apollo, who leads them, shows them the rich courts of the temple. Their souls are moved in their breasts, and the leader of the Cretans, questioning the god, addresses these words to him:

"Mighty king, you have led us far from our homeland and our friends, that is your will; but from now on how shall we subsist? We beg you to teach us. These places produce neither pleasant vineyards, nor fertile pastures, nor anything that can make one happy in the society of men."

Apollo immediately answers him with a sweet smile:

"Weak and unfortunate men, why then abandon your souls thus to cares, to painful work, to black sorrows? I will give you an easy advice to follow; keep it in your memory. Each of you, holding a sword in your right hand, will sacrifice a sheep every day, for you will have in abundance the victims that the different peoples of the world will come to offer me. Be then the guardians of this temple; welcome the men who will gather here by my inspiration, even if their actions and their words are vain things or even an insult, as often happens to weak mortals. Then other men will come who will serve as your guides: you will be subject to them by necessity. Cretan, I have told you all these things: let your soul keep them in its memory."

Hail! O son of Jupiter and Latona! I will never forget you; and I pass on to another song.

To Apollo

Phoebus, the swan, indeed, sings to you harmoniously, flying with his wings over the banks of the swirling Peneius; but the sweet-spoken Aoides, who holds the sonorous kithara, always sings to you first and last.

And I salute you thus, O King! And I appease you with my song.

To Apollo

O Phoebus, the swan celebrates you in his melodious songs, when, flapping his wings, he leaps upon the shore near the swift river Peneus; it is you that the poet on his sonorous lyre always sings first and last.

Hail, O great king, may I woo you with my songs.

To the Muses and Apollo

I will begin with the Muses, with Apollo and Zeus. For the Aoides and the Kitharists on earth come from the Muses and from Apollo the Archer; but the Kings come from Zeus. And happy is he whom the Muses love! A sweet voice flows from his mouth.

Hail, children of Zeus! Give honor to my song, and I will remember you and the other songs.

To the Muses and Apollo

I will sing first of the Muses, Apollo and Jupiter. From the Muses and Apollo were born on earth singers and players of instruments, from Jupiter were born kings. Happy is he who is beloved by the Muses, a sweet voice flows from his lips.

Hail, children of Jupiter, lend some charms to my accents: I will not forget you and I will say another song.

To Artemis

Sing of Artemis, Muse, sister of the Archer, the Virgin who rejoices in her arrows, nourished with Apollo, and who, having watered her horses in the reed-filled Meles, drives her golden chariot swiftly through Smyrna to Klaros where the vines grow, and where Apollo with the silver bow sits, waiting for the harasser who rejoices in his arrows.

And I salute you thus with my song, you and all the Goddesses. But I will sing to you first, and I will begin by singing what comes from you; then, having begun with you, I will pass on to another hymn.

To Diane

Muse, sing Diana, sister of the god who shoots his arrows far away, virgin who puts all her happiness in her arrows, virgin born of the same blood as Apollo. Hurtling her steeds into the waves of the reed-lined Meles, she quickly crosses on her chariot sparkling with gold the plains of Smyrna and Claros, fertile in vines, where Apollo rests while waiting for his sister who delights in shooting arrows.

Diana and all the other deities, rejoice at my voice! It is with you that I had to begin, powerful goddess; now, after having celebrated you, I will sing another hymn.

To Artemis.

I sing of Artemis of the golden spindle, tumultuous, venerable virgin, who pierces the stags, who rejoices in her arrows, sister of Apollo of the golden sword, who, by the wooded mountains and the windswept peaks, is charmed by the hunt, bends her bow all of gold and launches deadly arrows.

The peaks of the high mountains tremble and the dark forest resounds with the clamor of wild beasts. And the earth trembles, and the sea full of fish, while the firm-hearted Goddess, going on all sides, destroys the race of wild beasts.

But when the Huntress who rejoices in her arrows has thus charmed herself, having loosened her bow, she goes joyfully to the great dwelling of her dear brother Phoibos Apollo, to the rich people of the Delphians, in order to form the beautiful choir of the Muses and the Kharites.

There, having suspended the flexible bow and arrows, dressed in rich finery, she commands and leads the choirs.

And all, making their divine voice heard, praise Leto of the beautiful heels, because she has conceived children who are the first of the Immortals in thought and action.

Hail, children of Zeus and Leto with beautiful hair! I will remember you and the other songs.

To Diane

I celebrate Diana of the golden arrows. Sister of Apollo with the glittering sword, she delights in the tumult of the hunt, and full of joy she pierces the stags with her arrows. On the mountains, on the wind-beaten peaks, enjoying all the happiness of the hunt, she bends her shining bow and shoots far away arrows whose blows are deadly. The lofty mountains are shaken to their peaks, and the thickets of the forest tremble with horror at the voice of the wild beasts; the earth and the fish-filled sea tremble; the goddess, filled with noble courage, flies on all sides and overturns the crowd of wild monsters. Meanwhile, murderer of wild animals, Diana gives her heart to joy; she unbends her flexible bow and goes to the vast dwelling of her brother the brilliant Apollo, in the fertile fields of the Delphians, leading the choir of the Muses and the Graces. There she hangs up her bow and arrows, puts on a brilliant dress and walks radiantly, leading the dances of the Nymphs. These in a divine voice praise the beautiful Latona and tell how, by the will of the gods, she gave birth to children famous among all for their illustrious works.

Hail, children of Jupiter and the fair Latona, I will never forget you, and I will say another song.

To Aphrodite

Muse, tell me the works of golden Aphrodite, of Kypris, who gave the Gods sweet desire, and who tamed the races of mortal men, and the birds of the air, and the multitude of wild beasts that the dry land feeds, and those that the sea feeds. All have the care of Kytherea with the beautiful crown.

But there are three goddesses whose souls she could not bend and whom she could not deceive. First, the clear-eyed Virgin Athene, daughter of tempestuous Zeus. Indeed, the works of golden Aphrodite do not please her; but it is wars that please her, and the work of Ares, and combats and melees, and also illustrious works. The first, she taught the earthly men workers to make battle chariots and chariots adorned with bronze; and she taught the young virgins, in their dwellings, to make illustrious works, and she inspired their spirit.

Nor did Aphrodite, who loves smiles, ever tame noisy Artemis of the golden spindle. For bows please her, and the killing of wild beasts on the mountains, and lyres, and dancing, and loud howls, and dark woods, and a city of just men.

Nor did the works of Aphrodite ever please the venerable Virgin Histie, who was first begotten by the subtle Kronos, and who was afterwards venerated by the will of tempestuous Zeus, and who was sought by Poseidon and Apollo. But she would not, and she firmly refused, and she swore a great oath which was fulfilled, having touched the head of tempestuous Father Zeus, to remain always a virgin and the noblest of the Goddesses. And Father Zeus gave her a beautiful gift, instead of the wedding: she possesses the fat of the sacrifices offered, sitting in the middle of the dwelling. In all the temples of the Gods she has first right to honors, and of all the Gods she is the most honored among mortal men.

Aphrodite could not bend the souls of these three Goddesses, nor deceive them; but none of the other happy Gods and mortal men escaped her. She subdued the spirit of Zeus who rejoices in lightning, he who is the greatest and who has received the greatest honors. As many times as she wanted, she deceived this wise spirit, and she easily united him with mortal women, unknown to Here, his sister and his wife, who is of great beauty, the most beautiful among the Immortal Goddesses. The subtle Kronos and Rhei gave birth to this most illustrious Goddess, and Zeus with eternal thoughts made her his venerable and wise wife.

But Zeus inspired the soul of Aphrodite herself with the sweet desire to be united with a mortal man, that she might experience a man's bed, and that Aphrodite who loves smiles should not boast and laugh among the Immortals that she had united the Gods with mortal women who bore mortal sons with the Gods, nor that she had united Goddesses with mortal men.

Therefore he inspired him with the sweet desire of Ankhises, who then wandered on the summits of Ida with its countless springs, grazing his oxen, and similar in beauty to the Immortals.

And when Aphrodite, who loves smiles, saw him, she loved him, and desire seized her soul violently. And having gone to Kypros, she entered the fragrant temple of Paphos, where are the sacred grove and the divine altar. After entering, she closed the shining doors. There the Kharites bathed her and perfumed her with ambrosial oil which serves the eternal Gods, ambrosial, divine, and which had been offered to her in sacrifice.

Then, having put beautiful garments around her body and having adorned herself with gold, Aphrodite who loves smiles set out from fragrant Kypros for Troy; and making her way quickly through the high clouds, she reached Ida, where springs and wild beasts abound.

And she walked straight to the stable, through the mountain, and around her the grey wolves, the terrible lions, the bears, and the light leopards insatiable for deer, went wagging their tails. And, seeing them, she was charmed in her spirit, and she put desire into their breasts, and all of them, at once, mated in the shady valleys.

And she herself stopped at the strong shepherds' huts, and she found in the stables, alone, far from the others, the hero Ankhises, who had received beauty from the gods. All the shepherds had followed the oxen into the rich pastures, and he had remained alone in the stable, walking here and there and sounding his kithare with force. And the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, stopped before him, like in stature and beauty an untamed virgin, so that he would not be seized with terror at the sight of her.

And Ankhises, having seen her, gazed upon her, admiring her beauty and her stature and her rich clothing. Indeed, she was wrapped in a peplos more splendid than the brilliance of fire, and she had flexible bracelets, and bright pins, and, around her delicate neck, very beautiful chains of gold which sparkled like Selene on her fair breast and which were admirable to behold. And desire seized Ankhises, and he said to her:

— Hail, Queen, one of the Blessed, who comes here! Artemis, or Leto, or golden Aphrodite, or noble Themis, or clear-eyed Athene, or one of the Kharites who accompany all the Gods and are called Immortals; or one of the Nymphs who dwell in the fair forests, or of those who dwell in this fair mountain, or the springs of the rivers, or the fat valleys! As for me, on the heights, in an open place, I will raise an altar to you and I will sacrifice to you there abundantly and at all hours; and you, in a benevolent spirit, grant me to be illustrious among the Trojans, make me a flourishing posterity, that I may live well and long, that I may see the light of Helios, and that, rich among the peoples, I may reach the threshold of old age!

And Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus, answered him:

— Ankhises, most illustrious of men born on earth, I am not a goddess: why do you compare me to the immortals? I am mortal, and a woman bore me. My father's name is Otreus, if you have heard that name, and he rules over all strong-walled Phrygia. I know your language as well as ours, for a Trojan nurse nursed me in our homes and brought me up when I was little, having received me from my dear mother. That is why I know our language and yours. And now the Argive Slayer with the golden rod has carried me away from the midst of a choir of noisy Artemis with the golden spindle. We were playing there, a great number of nymphs and virgins worth many oxen, and a multitude surrounded us. It was from there that the Argive Slayer with the golden rod carried me away. And he led me through many works of mortal men and places uncultivated and unbuilt, haunted only by wild beasts that eat raw flesh, into dark gorges. And he did not let me touch with my feet the earth that gives life; and he told me that I was called, virgin bride, to the bed of Ankhises, and that fair children should be born to you from me. Then, having spoken thus, the mighty Slayer of Argos returned among the immortal Race. Therefore have I come to you, for necessity has constrained me. But I beseech you by Zeus and by your illustrious parents, for unworthy parents would not have begotten such a son, lead me, untamed and still a virgin, to your father, to your illustrious and wise mother, to your brothers of the same blood as you. I will not be an unworthy sister-in-law to them, but worthy of them; and they will know whether I am a worthy wife for you or not. Send a messenger quickly to the Phrygians who have horses of varied hair, that he may speak to my father and to my anxious mother. And they will send you much gold and woven garments, and you will receive many and beautiful gifts. And when all these things are accomplished, celebrate our wedding, happy and honorable in the sight of men and immortal Gods.

The Goddess, having spoken thus, put into his heart the sweet desire, and the desire seized Ankhises, and he said to her:

—If you are truly mortal, if a woman has borne you, if your illustrious father is Otreus, as you say, and if you have come here by order of the Messenger of the Gods, of Hermes, you will always be called my wife. None of the Gods or mortal men will prevent me from uniting myself to you in love, now and at once, even if the Archer Apollo should hurl at me, with his silver bow, his bitter shafts! I would even consent, O woman like the Goddesses, to descend to the dwellings of Aides, after having entered your bed!

Having thus spoken, he took her hand, and Aphrodite, who loves smiles, followed him, turning her head away and lowering her beautiful eyes, towards the well-dressed bed where the King lay, and which was made of woolen carpets and covered with the skins of bears and roaring lions which he himself had killed on the high mountains.

Having both mounted the well-made bed, Ankhises first removed from Aphrodite's body her dazzling finery, the clasps and the flexible bracelets, and the pins, and the necklaces. He unfastened the girdle and took off the wonderful garments, and he laid them on a throne studded with silver. And thus, by the will of the Gods and by destiny, a mortal lay with an immortal Goddess, but not knowing it.

At the hour when the shepherds bring back to the stable, from the flowery pastures, the oxen and the fat sheep, then Aphrodite poured sweet sleep upon Ankhises, and the noble Goddess, taking up her beautiful garments, and having clothed herself completely in them, stood by the bed, touching with her head the top of the well-built dwelling. And the immortal beauty of her cheeks shone resplendent, and it was indeed Kythereia with the beautiful crown. And, waking him, she said to him:

— Rise, Dardanides! Why do you sleep so soundly? Tell me if I seem to you as you first saw me.

She spoke thus, and, waking up, he heard her immediately. And seeing the neck and the beautiful eyes of Aphrodite, he trembled, and, turning away his eyes, he covered her beautiful face with a blanket, and he implored her, and he spoke to her these winged words:

— As soon as I saw you with my eyes, Goddess, I recognized that you were a Goddess; but you did not tell me the truth. I beg you by Zeus, do not allow me to live full of weakness among men; have pity on me, for he who has slept with the immortal Goddesses does not long retain the vigor of youth.

And Zeus' daughter Aphrodite answered him:

— Ankhises, most illustrious of mortal men, be assured, and fear nothing in your mind. Fear no evil from me, nor from the happy Gods, for you are dear to the Gods. You will have a son who will reign among the Trojans, and sons will always be born of his sons. And his name will be Aineias, for I felt a terrible pain in having entered the bed of a mortal man. And the mortal men of your race will, always and above all, be close to the Gods in beauty and stature. The very wise Zeus has taken away, because of his beauty, the blond Ganymedes, so that, mingling with the Gods, he might pour out wine for them in the dwelling of Zeus. And he is admirable to behold, honored by all the Immortals and drawing from a golden crater the red nectar. But Tros had a great pain in his breast, and he did not know where the divine storm had carried his dear son. And he wept for him every day, and Zeus had pity on him, and he gave him, as a reward for his son, swift-footed horses, of those that bear the Immortals. He gave them to him, and the slayer Messenger of Argos told him, according to the will of Zeus, that his son was immortal and should not grow old. And when he had heard the message of Zeus, he did not groan any more, but, joyful in spirit, he let himself be borne by the swift horses. Likewise, Eos on the golden throne carried off Tithon, a man of your race, like the Immortals. She went to ask the Kronion who gathers the clouds that he might be immortal and live forever, and Zeus consented with a nod, and he fulfilled her wish; but venerable Eos, the foolish one! did not think in her spirit to ask for youth for him and to save him from cruel old age. As long as he possessed the youth dear to all, charmed by Eos on the golden throne, born in the morning, he dwelt at the limits of the earth, on the banks of Okeanos; but as soon as the first white hairs spread from his fair head, and his beard was white, the venerable Eos departed from his bed. And yet she fed him in her dwelling with wheat and ambrosia, and she gave him beautiful clothes. But when he had reached odious old age, unable to move his limbs or rise, Eos thought it best to lay him in the bridal chamber, whose shining doors she closed. There his voice flows unheard, and the strength is no longer that was once in his flexible limbs. I would not desire you such among the Immortals and to live forever; but if you were to live always beautiful as you are, and if you were called my husband, never would heavy sorrow envelop my spirit. However, pitiless old age will quickly bury you, she who besieges all men, cruel and heavy, and whom the Gods hate. Truly, a great injury will be done to me from now on, because of you, among the immortal Gods who previously feared my words and my designs,because I had united them all to mortal women, and my will had subdued them all. Now I shall not be permitted to remind them of this, since I myself have committed a great fault, an evil and intolerable action, and have erred in my mind. Behold, I carry a child under my girdle, having united myself to a mortal man. As soon as he has seen the light of Helios, the broad-breasted mountain Nymphs will nurse him, they who inhabit this great and divine mountain and who obey neither mortals nor Immortals, but live long, eat ambrosia and dance in chorus with the Immortals. The Sileni and the vigilant Argive Slayer unite with them, in love, in the depths of the cool caverns. The tall firs and oaks, born at the same time as they on the earth that nourishes men, grow tall, beautiful and flourishing on the high mountains, and the Nymphs call them the sacred groves of the Immortals, and men never cut them down with iron. But when the Moirai of death approaches them, the beautiful trees first wither, their bark becomes corrupted and their branches fall, and, at the same time, the souls of the Nymphs abandon the light of Helios. They will guard and nourish my son, and, when he is taken by the youth dear to all, the Goddesses will bring him to you and show you your child. But I myself, in order to remember everything, will come bringing you your son in his fifth year. And as soon as you have seen this flower with your own eyes, you will rejoice, for he will be like the Gods. And you will lead him straight to wind-swept Ilios; and if any of mortal men ask you what mother bore your dear son under her girdle, remember to answer as I command you. Tell them that it is the fruit of a nymph with skin as fresh as a rose, who lives on the wooded mountain. For if you speak the truth, if you boast like a fool that you have united yourself in love with Kythereia to the fair one, Zeus will be angry and strike you with white thunder. All is said, keep my words in your mind, restrain yourself, do not name me, and fear the wrath of the gods.on the high mountains, and the Nymphs call them the sacred groves of the Immortals, and men never cut them with iron. But when the Moirai of death approaches them, the beautiful trees first wither, their bark becomes corrupted and their branches fall, and, at the same time, the soul of the Nymphs abandons the light of Helios. They will guard and nourish my son, and, when he is taken by the youth dear to all, the Goddesses will bring him to you and show you your child. But, I myself, in order to remember all, will come bringing you your son in his fifth year. And as soon as you have seen this flower with your eyes, you will rejoice, for he will be like the Gods. And you will lead him at once to wind-swept Ilios; and if any of mortal men should ask thee what mother bore thy dear son under her girdle, remember to answer as I bid thee. Tell them that it is the fruit of a nymph with skin fresh as a rose, who dwells in the wooded mountain. For if thou speakest the truth, if thou boastest like a fool that thou hast united thyself in love with Kythereia the fair one, Zeus will be angry and strike thee with white thunder. All is said, keep my words in thy mind, restrain thyself, do not name me, and fear the wrath of the Gods.on the high mountains, and the Nymphs call them the sacred groves of the Immortals, and men never cut them with iron. But when the Moirai of death approaches them, the beautiful trees first wither, their bark becomes corrupted and their branches fall, and, at the same time, the soul of the Nymphs abandons the light of Helios. They will guard and nourish my son, and, when he is taken by the youth dear to all, the Goddesses will bring him to you and show you your child. But, I myself, in order to remember all, will come bringing you your son in his fifth year. And as soon as you have seen this flower with your eyes, you will rejoice, for he will be like the Gods. And you will lead him at once to wind-swept Ilios; and if any of mortal men should ask thee what mother bore thy dear son under her girdle, remember to answer as I bid thee. Tell them that it is the fruit of a nymph with skin fresh as a rose, who dwells in the wooded mountain. For if thou speakest the truth, if thou boastest like a fool that thou hast united thyself in love with Kythereia the fair one, Zeus will be angry and strike thee with white thunder. All is said, keep my words in thy mind, restrain thyself, do not name me, and fear the wrath of the Gods.

Having thus spoken, she returned to the windswept Ouranos.

Hail, Goddess who commands well-built Kypros! Having begun with you, I will move on to other hymns.

To Venus

Muse retells the labors of the fair Venus, goddess of Cyprus: it is she who makes tender desires blossom in the bosom of the gods, who subjects to her laws mortals, the light birds inhabiting the air, all monsters, both those of the continent and those of the sea; it is she, sweet Venus, crowned with flowers, it is she who bends under her labors all that breathes.

But there are three divinities who are inflexible to her seductions and whose hearts she cannot bend. Minerva with the azure eyes, daughter of the fearsome Jupiter, rejects the labors of the fair Venus. What she loves are wars, the fatigues of Mars, combats, battles, charming fabrics. She was the first to teach the arts to mortals, she taught them to fashion chariots and chariots glittering with bronze. It is she who, in the interior of palaces, teaches young virgins to use the needle and trains their hands in these delicate works.

Venus with the sweet smile could not subdue Diana, who carries golden arrows and cherishes the tumultuous hunt, to love. She loves bows whose swift arrows strike prey on high mountains, lyres, choruses of dances, the cries of hunters, the darkness of deep forests and the city of just men.

The labours of Venus are not agreeable to Vesta, a venerable virgin, the first born of the cunning Saturn, and the last according to the will of the powerful Jupiter. Apollo and Mercury desired to marry this august goddess, but she would not consent; she constantly refused, and, touching the head of the powerful god of the aegis, this goddess made the great oath which she has always kept to remain a virgin in all times. Instead of this marriage, her father granted her a beautiful prerogative: in the hearth of the house she receives all the offerings of the first fruits; she is honoured in all the temples of the gods; she is for mortals the most august of goddesses.

The hearts of these divinities were inflexible to Venus: she could not seduce them; no other escapes Venus, whether he be god or mortal. She even misleads the thoughts of Jupiter, king of thunder, the greatest of the gods honored by the most illustrious men. She deceives at will this spirit full of prudence, unites him with mortal women and makes him forget Juno, his sister and his wife, who by her beauty surpasses all the goddesses. It is this glorious divinity that Saturn and Rhea gave birth to. Jupiter, in the wisdom of his counsels, has chosen this noble wife, skilled in the most beautiful works.

But Jupiter inspired Venus with a longing to be united with a mortal, that she might not be freed from earthly pleasures; for often among the immortals she boasted with a malicious smile that she had united the gods with women who conceived sons subject to death, and that she had united goddesses with men. Jupiter therefore inspired Venus with a keen desire for Anchises, who in his beauty resembled the immortals, and who pastured his flocks on the summit of Ida, the source of abundant fountains.

As soon as the beautiful Venus saw this shepherd, she fell in love with him. The most ardent desire seized her soul. She immediately took flight, headed for Cyprus and entered the perfumed temple which stood at Paphos. There an altar always laden with perfumes was erected in a field reserved for her: as soon as the goddess had entered, she closed the brilliant doors; the Graces hastened to bathe her and pour over her a divine, fragrant oil, intended for the immortal gods, and which added to their beauty. The goddess of smiles clothed her beautiful body in magnificent garments, adorned herself with all her golden jewels, and leaving the fragrant retreats of Cyprus, she hastened to cross the high regions of the clouds to go to Troy. She soon arrived on Ida, source of abundant fountains, retreat of wild beasts, and headed straight for the sheepfold across the mountains. The cruel wolves, the lions bent on devouring their prey, the bears, the agile panthers, insatiable for carnage, follow his tracks with a caressing air: his soul rejoices; it fills these wild monsters with ardor, and all immediately in the depths of the valleys go to unite with their companions.

Meanwhile the goddess arrives near the solidly built huts: she sees near the stables and left alone far from the others the shepherd Anchises whose beauty made him like the gods. At that moment all the shepherds were grazing the oxen in fertile pastures. He, near the stables, left alone, was wandering at random playing the lyre. Venus, the daughter of Jupiter, stops before him: she takes the size and form of a young virgin, so that when he recognizes her he will not be frightened; the hero is struck with surprise and admiration at the sight of this beauty, this size and her superb clothes. Her head was covered with a veil more brilliant than the glare of the flame; she wore curved bracelets and rich earrings. Around her neck were rounded superb gold necklaces; on her magnificent breast an adornment admirable to see shone like the rays of the moon. Anchises is immediately penetrated with love; He addresses the goddess in these terms:

"Hail, O queen! Doubtless you dwell in the palaces of the gods, whether you are Diana or Latona, or fair Venus, or venerable Themis or azure-eyed Minerva. Perhaps you are even one of the Graces who live with the gods and whom we call immortal. Perhaps you are one of the nymphs who dwell in this pleasant forest, or one of those who dwell on this beautiful mountain at the sources of the rivers, and among the humid meadows. I will build you an altar on a high mound in the most visible wood of Ida, and in all ages I will sacrifice to you superb victims. Be full of kindness to me: make me an illustrious hero among the Trojans, may my posterity flourish in the future, may I myself enjoy the light of the sun for a long time yet, may I arrive filled with good things among the peoples on the threshold of a long old age."

Venus, daughter of Jupiter, answers him in these words:

"Anchises, the most illustrious of mortals born on earth; why should I be equal to the gods? I am not a goddess: I am a mortal: the mother who gave birth to me is mortal too; my father is the illustrious Otrea; you must know him: he reigns over all Phrygia with its strong walls. I know your language as well as mine: a Trojan woman having received me from my tender mother raised me in our palace and lavished her care on me from my earliest childhood. Thus, I speak both your language and mine as well. Mercury with the golden wand has just taken me away from a choir led by Diana armed with arrows and who delights in the tumult of the hunt. There were several nymphs there and several virgins with rich dowries: we were playing together in a large circle. It was there that the murderer of Argus seized me: he led me through the fields cultivated by the hands of men across the lands uncultivated and deserted lands inhabited by wild beasts in the midst of dark valleys: my feet seemed not to touch the earth. He told me that I was destined to share the bed of Anchises, that I would be his faithful wife, and that I would bear him beautiful children: after having shown me your dwelling and revealed these oracles, the murderer of Argus returned to the assembly of the Immortals; I, however, come to you, guided by inflexible necessity. But I beg you on my knees, Anchises, in the name of Jupiter and your illustrious parents, for a hero such as you was not born of obscure mortals, lead me, a virgin and unloved, to your father, your prudent mother and your brothers born of the same blood as you, that they may see if I am destined to make a worthy wife. Send also a swift messenger to the Phrygians with many couriers to inform my father and mother, whom I have left in affliction, of your designs. They will give you gold in abundance and sumptuous garments; you will receive from them many and magnificent presents. These duties accomplished, we will celebrate a desired marriage, which will be honorable in the eyes of men and immortal gods.

In speaking thus, Venus spreads a strong desire in the soul of the shepherd. Love penetrates the heart of Anchises, who answers with these words:

"If you are a mortal, if you are the offspring of a woman, if, as you tell me, the illustrious Otrea is your father, if it is by the will of Mercury that you come to these places, you will be called in all times my wife: none of the Gods or men will prevent me from uniting myself immediately in love with you; should Apollo himself pierce me with his terrible arrows, I would consent, woman like the goddesses, I would consent after having shared your bed to descend into the dark kingdom of Pluto."

As he spoke these words he seized the goddess's hand. Venus with the sweet smile turned away, lowered her beautiful eyes and slipped timidly into the superb couch. It was made of soft and delicate carpets, the skins of bears and roaring lions killed on the high mountains. Both having climbed onto this couch, Anchises unfastened the brilliant finery of Venus, the rounded bracelets, the earrings and the necklaces; he untied his belt, took off the goddess's superb clothes and placed them on a seat enriched with silver studs. Thus, by the will of the gods and the fates, a man unknowingly rested in the arms of an immortal.

At the moment when the shepherds, bringing back from the pastures studded with flowers the oxen and the fat sheep, lead them back to the stable, Venus spreads over Anchises the sweetest, the deepest sleep and resumes her magnificent garments. Thus dressed, the powerful goddess stops at the entrance to the sheepfold: her head touches the top of the door; her face radiates a divine beauty, a beauty that belongs only to Cytherea crowned with violets. She immediately wakes Anchises and says to him:

"Son of Dardanus, arise; why do you remain thus plunged in sleep? consider my features and say if I appear to you as I was when your eyes first saw me."

At this speech Anchises wakes up; but as soon as he sees the neck and eyes of Venus, he is seized with fear and turns away his gaze: then, covering his face with his tunic, he implores the goddess in these words:

"Powerful divinity, as soon as I saw you I recognized you as a goddess: you did not tell me the truth; but I beg you on my knees, by Jupiter, god of the aegis, do not allow me to live miserable among men; take pity on me, for life is not long for the man who has united himself in love with the goddesses.

- Anchises, hero full of glory, answered the daughter of Jupiter, be of good cheer; let your mind cease to be troubled: you have nothing to fear either from me or from the other divinities, for you are loved by the gods. A son will be born to you who will reign over the Trojans; his children will forever engender other children. He will bear the name of Aeneas, because I suffer a terrible pain for having rested in the arms of a mortal: those of your race will be illustrious among all: they will almost equal the gods in intelligence and beauty. Thus once Jupiter carried off the fair Ganymede because of his admirable beauty, to place him in the rank of the divinities and to be the cupbearer of the gods in the palace of Jupiter, and since then he has been honored by all the celestial assembly when he draws the red nectar from a golden crater. Meanwhile Tros, not knowing to what place the storm had carried off his son, felt deep sorrow: his groans were continual. Jupiter took pity on him and gave him as a ransom for his son swift steeds to carry the gods. This was Jupiter's gift. Mercury, the messenger of the gods, also announced to him at his command that his son was freed from old age and death for ever. Tros, having received Jupiter's message, ceased to groan; his soul felt exceeding joy, and in his happiness he drove his steeds as swift as the wind into the plain. In the same way, the bright Aurora carried off one of your ancestors, Tithonus, who was like the gods. Then she went to the dread Jupiter and asked him that her husband might be immortal and live forever. Jupiter promised to fulfill her desires. Fool! The venerable Aurora did not think of securing her husband eternal youth and sparing him the sorrows of old age. As long as he was in the flower of his youth, he dwelt on the shores of the ocean at the ends of the earth, by the side of Aurora, the daughter of the morning; but when his hair and thick beard were silvery with whiteness, Aurora left Tithonus's bed; she continued, however, to feed him with bread and ambrosia in her dwellings, and to furnish him with magnificent clothing. But when he had reached the last stages of old age, he could neither move nor lift his limbs, this course seemed best to Aurora: she placed him in a room, the doors of which she carefully locked: there his voice can scarcely be heard; he no longer has what once animated his agile limbs.

"I do not want to place you among the gods, therefore, to make you immortal and live forever. But as long as you are as you are today in the splendor of your beauty and noble stature, you will be called my husband, no sorrow will darken your mind full of wisdom. Finally the day will come when you will be subjected to cold old age, the sad fate of all humans, to the importunate and painful old age that even the gods abhor; then in the assembly of the gods I will experience eternal shame because of you. Previously they feared my words and my advice, because I had subjected them all, I had inspired them with the desire to unite with mortal women; but my mouth will no longer dare to boast in their presence, because I have committed a great fault, an irreparable fault; my soul has fallen into error: I carry a son in my womb for having rested in the arms of a man. As soon as this child sees the light, he will be raised by the rustic nymphs with their wide tunics, who inhabit this high and divine mountain and follow neither gods nor men; yet they enjoy a long life, they feed on ambrosia and form beautiful dances with the gods. The Silenus and the clairvoyant Mercury unite in love with them in the deep caves. When they come into the world, the fertile earth immediately produces the pines and the oaks with their tall hair, green trees: they rise in their magnificent vigor on the steep mountains where they form the sacred grove of the Immortals, and men never strike them with the axe. When the destiny of death comes for them, these beautiful trees dry up, their bark rots around the trunk and their branches fall; then life leaves them, they no longer enjoy the brightness of the sun. Such are the nymphs who will raise my son. When he reaches the happy age of adolescence, these divinities will bring the child to you to show him to you. This young flower will penetrate your soul with a lively joy (he will resemble the gods), and you will lead this beloved child to the beautiful city of Ilion. There, if anyone questions you and asks you what mother carried him in her womb, remember to answer as I am going to order you:

"They say he was born of one of those beautiful nymphs who inhabit the shaded countryside of the forests."

If in a moment of imprudence you were to tell them that you have united yourself in love with the beautiful Cytherea, Jupiter, furious, would crush you with his brilliant thunderbolt. Such are my orders: keep them in your soul, never name me and fear the vengeance of the immortal gods."

At these words she instantly flew back into the high heavens.

Hail, O goddess who reigns over the lovely land of Cyprus: I have celebrated you first and now I will say another hymn.

To Aphrodite

I will sing of Aphrodite, beautiful, venerable, who has a crown of gold, to whom were given as a share the citadels of maritime Kypros, where the humid force of Zephyros' breath carried her, in the soft foam, on the water of the sea with countless sounds.

And the golden-banded Hours received her with kindness and covered her with ambrosial garments. And they placed on her ambrosial head a beautiful crown of well-wrought gold, and in her pierced ears flowers of precious brass and gold. And they adorned her delicate neck and her white breast with the golden necklaces with which they themselves, the golden-banded Hours, were adorned, when they joined the lovely choir of the Gods, in the dwellings of their father.

And having thus adorned her all over her body, they led her to the Immortals. And these, having seen her, saluted her and held out their hands to her, and each one desired to take her as his wife while still a virgin and to lead her to his dwelling. And they admired the beauty of Kythereia crowned with violets.

Hail, honey-sweet, round-eyed one! Give me victory in this fight, and adorn my song! And I will remember you and the other songs.

I will sing of the beautiful Venus with the golden crown.

Her dominion is the banks of Cyprus, where the moist breath of the zephyr carries her on a soft foam through the roaring waves of the sea. The Hours with rich headbands receive her with joy and adorn her with divine garments: on her immortal brow they place a beautiful crown of gold admirably worked, in her pierced ears jewels of orichalcum, enriched with pure gold; they surround her delicate neck with a golden necklace which falls back on her white breast, an admirable necklace which the Hours themselves wear when they go to the dances of the gods and to the palace of their father. Her toilette completed, they lead this goddess into the assembly of the immortals. These greet her and offer her their hand. Each of them would like to lead this lovely virgin to his home to make her his wife, so worthy of admiration does Cytherea crowned with violets seem to them.

Hail, goddess with the seductive gaze, the sweet smile: grant me victory in this fight, protect the accents of my voice: I will not forget you and I will sing another hymn.

To Aphrodite.

I will sing of Kytherea, born in Kypros, who gives sweet gifts to mortals. Her charming face always smiles, and she wears the lovely flower of youth.

Hail, Goddess who commands well-built Salamis and whole Kypros! Give me a song that charms, and I will remember you and the other songs.

To Venus

I will sing of Cytherea, born in the island of Cyprus: she fills mortals with the sweetest favors; on her sweet face she always wears a kind smile and the flower of beauty.

Hail, O goddess who reigns over beautiful Salamis and throughout the island of Cyprus, lend my voice your infinite charm; never will I forget you and now I will sing another hymn.

In Ares

Most powerful Ares, burden of chariots, golden-helmeted, great-hearted, shield-bearer, savior of cities, armed with bronze, strong-armed, tireless, powerful by your spear, bulwark of Olympos, father of the happy warrior Nike, helper of Themis, tyrant of the rebels, leader of just men, scepter-bearer of courage, rolling in the flaming circle of Aither, among the seven moving stars, there where your flaming horses always carry you, above the third orbit! hear me, ally of mortals, who givest bold youth, who spreads from above the sweet light and warrior courage on our life! May I turn away the bitter cowardice of my head, and restrain the deceptive impetuosity of the soul, and repress the violence of the heart which would drive me to horrible combats!

But thou, O Happy One! give me true courage, that I may remain under the inviolate laws of peace, having escaped the melee of enemies and the violent Keres.

To Mars

Mighty Mars, who bends a chariot under your weight, you whose head is armed with a golden helmet and your arm with a shield, magnanimous god with a strong arm, savior of cities, divinity armored with bronze, bulwark of Olympus, father of Victory in a fair war, support of Themis, terror of your enemies, leader of virtuous men, king of strength, who rolls in the air a luminous circle in the midst of the seven planets, where ardent steeds continually carry you above the third orbit, grant my wishes, friend of heroes, source of a bold youth. Spread upon my life from the heights, both sweet light and martial strength; that I may remove from my head the bitter pain, repress by my prudence the deceitful impetuosity of my soul, and restrain the ardor of my courage which drives me to cruel war; Grant me, fortunate god, to live under peaceful laws, avoiding the impetuosity of warriors and violent death.

At Hermes

Muse, sing of Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, who reigns over Kyllènè and Arkadia abundant in herds, very useful messenger of the Immortals, whom Maia, the venerable Nymph with beautiful hair, bore after having united herself in love with Zeus.

Far from the happy gods, she dwelt in a dark cavern, where the Kroniôn united himself, in the middle of the night, with the Nymph of the fair hair, that the sweet Hypnos might enfold Here of the white arms, and that they might hide themselves from the immortal gods and from mortal men. But when the will of Zeus had been accomplished, and when the tenth month was marked in Ouranos, Maia gave birth, and wondrous works appeared. And she then bore a subtle and eloquent son, a thief, a raider of oxen, a guide of dreams, a night scout, a gatekeeper, and who was soon to manifest illustrious works among the immortal gods.

Born in the morning, he played the kithar at noon, and in the evening he stole the oxen of the Archer Apollo. And the venerable Maia bore him on the fourth of the month.

As soon as he had sprung from the immortal body of his mother, he no longer lay in the sacred cradle; but, rising, he sought the oxen of Apollo. Then, coming out of the lofty cavern, and having found a tortoise, he possessed infinite wealth.

Indeed, Hermes was the first to build the sounding tortoise, which came before him at the gates of the court, grazing in the flowery grass before the house, and walking slowly. And the useful son of Zeus, seeing it, laughed, and said at once:

—Here is something that will be very profitable to me and not to be despised. Hail, lovely being, companion who excites to dances and feasts and who has appeared to me happily! Where do you come from, beautiful toy, turtle that lives in the mountains, with varied shell? But, having taken you, I will carry you to my home. You will be useful to me, and I will not despise you, and, first, you will serve me. It is better to be in the home, because it is dangerous to remain outside. Certainly, alive, you will be a remedy for many ills; and, if you die, you will then sing admirably.

Having thus spoken, he took it up with both his hands, and he entered immediately into the dwelling, carrying the lovely toy. And there, with a chisel of shining iron, he tore the life from the mountain tortoise. As a rapid thought crosses the mind of a man agitated by many worries, or as rays flash from the eyes, so the illustrious Hermes spoke and acted at the same time. He fixed stalks of reeds, cut to various lengths, and he passed them through the back of the tortoise; then, he stretched, around it, with skill, an ox's skin; and he adapted the two arms and the bridge, and he then stretched seven harmonic strings of sheep's gut.

Then, having constructed the lovely toy, he made each note resonate with the help of the plectrum; and the tortoise, under his hand, resonated, sonorous; and the God, excited by his work, sang admirably. In the same way, adolescents, in the flowery age, prick one another with mockery in the middle of meals.

And he sang of Zeus Kronides and Maia of the fair sandals, when they delighted in their love, and of his own birth; and he announced his illustrious name, and he celebrated the companions and the fair dwellings of the Nymph, and the tripods and the lasting pools.

He said these things, but he had other thoughts in his mind. And he laid the hollow lyre on the sacred cradle. Then, desiring flesh, he jumped from the fragrant dwelling on a hill, meditating in his mind a deep trick, such as thieves meditate in the hour of the dark night.

In truth, Helios fell, under the earth, into Okeanos, with his horses and his chariot; and Hermes reached running to the shady mountains of Pieria, where the immortal oxen of the happy Gods have their stables and graze the unmown and desirable meadows.

Then Maia's son, the watchful Argive Slayer, separated fifty lowing cows from the herd, and drove them, wandering, through a sandy place, having erased their tracks, for he did not forget his cunning art. And he turned the front hooves backward, and the hind ones forward, and he himself walked backward. And he immediately threw his sandals upon the sand of the sea, and he wove others, incredible and marvelous, entwining the branches of the tamarisks and myrtles. Then, having bound this bundle of fresh foliage, he fearlessly fastened, under his feet, these light sandals with their leaves. And, carrying these sandals, the illustrious Argive Slayer turned aside from his path by leaving Picria, and, although hastening, took the longer route.

And an Old Man, working in a rich orchard, saw him as he reached the plain through the pastures of Onkhestos; but the son of the illustrious Maia said to him first:

— O Old Man, who digs the earth around the trees, bending your shoulders, you will certainly reap much, when all have borne fruit; but do not see what you see, do not hear what you hear, and be silent, since your own good has not suffered.

Having spoken thus, he pushed the strong heads of the cows. And illustrious Hermes passed through many shady mountains, and dark valleys, and desirable plains. And already the divine black night that aided him had almost passed, and already divine Selene, daughter of King Pallas Megamides, had ascended to the height, when the mighty son of Zeus pushed into the river Alpheios the broad-browed cows of Phoebus Apollo. And they came, unwearied, to a large stable and a lake, before a beautiful meadow.

There, having satisfied the lowing cows that were eating lotus and dewy chufa with good grass, he pushed them all together into the stable.

Then he gathered much wood, and he sought the art of fire. Having taken a beautiful branch of laurel, which he peeled with the help of the iron, he rubbed it with the palm of his hand, and a hot steam escaped from it. Hermes first prepared the things of fire, then the fire. He placed in a hollow pit much dry and thick wood, and a high flame shone, making the crackling of the burning hearth spring forth.

While the strength of the illustrious Hephaestus was burning, he dragged out of the stable, towards the fire, two lowing cows with flexible feet, for his strength was very great. And he threw them both, panting, on their backs; and, bending them, he rolled them and slaughtered them; and, passing from one work to another, he cut into pieces their flesh laden with fat. Then, having pierced them with wooden skewers, he roasted the flesh and the honorable back, and the black blood which is in the entrails. And all this was spread out on the ground.

Then he spread the skins on a rough rock, as even now, when they are cut after having been prepared for a long time, so that they may last with impunity; then Hermes, full of joy, took out the fat meats and put them in a flat place, and divided them into twelve parts to be drawn by lot, assigning to each a great honour.

Then the illustrious Hermes desired a sacred portion of the flesh, and their odor troubled him, although he was immortal. But his generous heart did not obey his great desire, and he did not pass them through his sacred throat. And he deposited, in the high stable, the abundant fat and flesh; and he deposited them immediately, as a sign of his recent action; and he gathered dry wood, and the heat of the fire devoured quickly and entirely the feet and the heads.

After the God had performed these things according to the rite, he threw his sandals into the deep-turbulent Alpheios, and he extinguished the fire; and, during the rest of the night, he scattered the black ashes.

The fair light of Selene shone, and in the morning Hermes returned to the divine Kyllenian peaks; and in his long journey none of the happy gods met him, nor mortal men, nor did the dogs bark. And the most benevolent son of Zeus, having stooped, entered his dwelling by the keyhole of the door, like a mist or a breath of autumn, and walking noiselessly, he came to the rich temple of the cave, and he made no noise on the ground, as is usual.

Then the illustrious Hermes entered quickly into the sacred cradle, wrapping his shoulders in his swaddling clothes, like a newborn child. And he lay down, pushing back with his hands, playfully, the blanket up to his hocks, and holding his dear tortoise in his left hand. But the God could not hide from the Goddess his mother, who said to him:

—Why this, full of cunning and clothed in impudence? Where do you come from at this hour of the night? I think that, even with your sides surrounded by long bonds, even seized by the hands of the Letoid who would carry you away in his arms, you would slip away again! Certainly, your father engendered you to be a great worry to mortal men and to the immortal Gods!

And Hermes answered him with these cunning words:

— My mother, why do you watch over me like a newborn child who, in his mind, knows very little of evil, timid and fearful of his mother's reprimands? But, thinking of you and me, I will use an art that is the best of all, and we will not remain here, as you order, alone, among the immortal Gods, without presents and without food. It is better to dwell every day with the Immortals, in wealth and abundance, and possessing many harvests, than to inhabit this dark cave. I too will obtain, like Apollo, the honor of sacrifices. If my father does not give it to me, I will try to possess it, and I can become the prince of thieves. And if the son of the illustrious Leto pursues me with his searches, I think that a worse thing will happen to him. I will go to Pytho, I will enter by force into the great house, and there I will steal in quantity the shining tripods and the basins, and the gold, and the shining iron, and many garments, and you will see it, if you wish.

And thus spake they, the son of tempestuous Zeus and the venerable Maia. And behold, Eos, born in the morning, issuing from the deep course of Okeanos, brought light to mortal men. But Apollo, having departed, came to Onkhestos, the sacred and lovely grove of the resounding Poseidaon which surrounds the earth, and there he found the decrepit old man working at the hedge of the orchard by the road. And the illustrious son of Leto said to him first:

— O old man, who cuts the bushes of Onkhestos full of grass, I come here, seeking the flocks of Pieria. All the beasts are female, and all have curved horns. A black bull was grazing alone, apart from the herd, and four terrible dogs followed them, full of the same zeal, like men. The dogs and the bull were left to me, a wonderful thing! but all the cows disappeared, at the last fall of Helios, from their soft meadow and their sweet pasture. Tell me, very old old man, if you have seen a man traveling with these cows.

And the old man answered him with these words:

— O friend, indeed, it is difficult to tell all the things that one sees with one's own eyes, for many travelers pass by the way, some seeking to do evil, and others good; and it is difficult to tell what each of them thinks. As for me, all day long, until the fall of Helios, I dug around the green vineyard, and I saw a child, O dearest one, but I do not know for sure, I saw a child who followed cows with beautiful horns. He held a stick, and he walked by making detours, and he urged them backwards, and they had their heads in front of his.

The old man spoke thus, and Phoebus Apollo went on his way very quickly. And he saw a bird with outstretched wings, and immediately he knew the thief son of Zeus Kroniôn. And King Apollo, son of Zeus, rushed impetuously towards the most divine Pylos, seeking his flexible-footed cows, and he covered his broad shoulders with a purple cloud. And the Archer found his tracks, and he said thus:

— O Gods! indeed, I see with my eyes a great wonder. These tracks are those of cows with raised horns, but now they are turned again towards the Meadow of Asphodel; and these steps are neither those of a man, nor those of a woman, nor of wolves with gray hair, nor of bears, nor of lions. Nor do they resemble those of a thick-necked bull, who would have left such tracks with a swift foot. Cunning on one side of the road, and greater cunning on the other side.

Having spoken thus, King Apollo, son of Zeus, set out, and came to the forested mountain of Kyllène, and to the dark, rocky retreat where the Ambrosian Nymph had given birth to Zeus' son Kroniôn. And a sweet odour spread over the divine mountain; and there many long-legged sheep were feeding on the grass.

Then Apollo the Archer descended quickly upon the stone threshold, and entered the dark cavern. But as soon as the son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo the Archer angry because of his cows, he sank into his perfumed swaddling clothes, even as the ashes of wood hide many coals. So Hermes, having seen the Archer, hid himself from him. And at the same time he gathered up his head, his arms, and his feet, calling for sweet sleep, as one does, returning from hunting and having bathed. And he held under his armpit the newly worked tortoise.

But the son of Zeus and Leto recognized without error the illustrious mountain Nymph and her little child full of subtle wiles; and, looking into all the corners of the great dwelling, he opened, having taken the shining key, three secret places full of nectar and sweet ambrosia. And there was also much gold and silver there, and many of the Nymph's garments, of purple or silver, such as are in the sacred dwellings of the happy Gods. And the Letoideus, having searched in all the corners of the great dwelling, spoke thus to illustrious Hermes:

— O child, who lies in this cradle, tell me quickly where my cows are, or we will quarrel at once, which will not be fitting. Indeed, I will cast you into black Tartaros, into the dreadful darkness of evil death. And neither your mother nor your father will restore you to the light, and you will wander beneath the earth, the leader of a few men.

And Hermes answered him in cunning words:

—Letoid, what harsh words have you spoken? Why have you come here to seek your wild cows? I have seen nothing, nor learned anything; I have heard nothing of them, I cannot tell you anything, and I will not win a reward for having found them. I am not like a vigorous man who steals oxen. That is not my business, and I have other concerns. I worry about sleep, about my mother's milk, about having swaddling clothes around my shoulders, and about taking warm baths. Take care that you are heard and that people know where this quarrel comes from. It would certainly be a great wonder for the Immortals if a newborn child crossed the portico with wild oxen! You have spoken like a fool. I was born yesterday, my feet are tender and the earth is hard. But if you wish, I will swear by my father's head, which is a great oath, that I do not affirm that I am guilty and that I have not seen anyone steal your cows, if they are cows, for this is the first news for me.

He spoke thus, making his eyes shine under his eyelids, frowning, looking here and there and whistling long, as if he had heard an empty word. But the Archer Apollo, smiling gently, said to him:

— O little child, liar and full of cunning, since you say such things, certainly, I think that you will very often penetrate into rich dwellings, and that, during the night, having noiselessly robbed the house, you will make more than one man sleep on the earth. Certainly, you will thus afflict many shepherds of sheep, in the valleys of the mountain, when, desiring flesh, you will meet herds of oxen or flocks of sheep. But, come! for fear of sleeping your last and supreme sleep, come out of this winnowing basket, Companion of the dark night. You will at least have, and henceforth, this honor among the Immortals of being called always the Prince of Thieves.

Having thus spoken, Phoebus Apollo, taking the child, carried him away. But at the same time the mighty Slayer of Argos thought in his mind, and, while the hands were taking him away, he sent an augur, miserable servant of his belly, insolent messenger; then he sneezed loudly. And as soon as Apollo heard him, he threw illustrious Hermes to the ground, and he sat down before him, notwithstanding his desire to walk, and, rebuking Hermes, he said to him:

— Be of good cheer, son of Zeus and Maia, wrapped in swaddling clothes! With these omens I will soon find the strong heads of my cows, and you will lead me yourself.

He spoke thus, and the Kyllenian Hermes rose again with speed. And, walking with difficulty, he pushed with his hands, towards his two ears, the swaddling clothes which enveloped his shoulders, and he said:

—Where are you leading me thus, O most violent of all the gods? Surely it is because you are angry because of your cows that you mistreat me thus. O gods! would that the race of oxen had perished! I have not stolen your cows, and I have seen no one, if they are cows, for this is the first news to me. Do me justice and receive it from Zeus Kroniôn.

And they spoke thus, one after the other, and loudly, each having a contrary feeling, Hermes the solitary and the illustrious son of Leto. And the latter spoke the truth and did not accuse illustrious Hermes unjustly about his cows; and the Kyllenian, with the help of his flattering words and his wiles, wanted to deceive the God with the silver bow; but the dissembler had met the crafty.

Hermes was walking swiftly over the sand, and behind him came the son of Zeus and Leto. And the illustrious sons of Zeus soon reached the summits of fragrant Olympos, to Father Kroniôn. There the scales of the Balance awaited them both.

And a great noise spread through snowy Olympus, and the incorruptible Immortals gathered in the gorges of Olympus. And Hermes and Apollo of the silver bow stood before the knees of Zeus, and Zeus who thunders on high questioned his illustrious son and said to him:

— Phoibos, whence bringest thou this prized capture, this new-born child having the appearance of a herald? It is a difficult matter that presents itself in the assembly of the Gods.

And the royal Archer Apollo answered him:

— O Father, you will hear a word that is not ordinary, you who reprimand me as if I were the only plunderer. Having crossed a great distance, I found, on the mountain of Kyllènè, this child, a brazen thief, such as I have not seen his like, neither among the Gods, nor among men, all, as many as they are, eating on the earth. Having stolen my cows in the Meadow, he drove them, in the evening, towards the shore of the sea of ​​countless noises, and he led them straight to Pylos, and their tracks were full of cunning, and, indeed, admirable, and they were the work of an illustrious Daimôn. Indeed, the black dust showed the steps of the cows turned towards the Meadow of Asphodel, and he himself, cunning beyond measure, walked neither on feet nor on hands, in this sandy place; but by a singular precaution he left such traces on the road that one would have said that he was walking on young oaks. As long as he advanced in that sandy place, he left all these traces openly on the dust; but, when he had crossed the great sandy road, the tracks of the cows and his own became invisible on a harder ground. And a mortal man saw him, driving rapidly towards Pylos the race of cows with broad foreheads. Having then quietly shut them up, and having accomplished here and there all that he had meditated in the heat of action, he lay down in his cradle, like the black night, in the depths of the gloomy cavern; and even the keen-eyed eagle would not have seen him. And he often rubbed his eyes with his hands, meditating tricks; and immediately he said hastily:

—I have seen nothing, nor learned anything; I have heard nothing of them, I can say nothing of them, and I shall win no reward for having found them.

Having thus spoken, Phoebus Apollo sat down, and Hermes, in his turn, answered him, speaking to the Krôniôn who commands all the Gods:

—Father Zeus, I will certainly tell you the truth, for I am truthful and I cannot lie. He came to me seeking his flexible-footed cows today, at the rising of Helios; and he brought no immortal gods as witnesses or spectators. And he ordered me violently to tell him the matter, threatening me greatly to throw me into wide Tartaros, because he possesses the tender flower of glorious puberty, while I was born yesterday, and he knows it well, and I do not resemble a vigorous man who steals oxen. Believe me, — indeed, you boast of being my dear father, — I did not drive the cows into our house. May I be rich as surely! I did not cross the threshold. And I tell you this truthfully. I revere Helios and the other Daimons greatly, and I love you, and I fear this one. You yourself know that I am not the cause of all this. And I will make the great Oath: No! by the well-built porticos of the Immortals! And I, one day, will earn him this injurious quarrel, although he is vigorous. And you, come to the aid of the younger ones.

The Kyllenian slayer of Argos spoke thus, winking his eyes, and he had his swaddling clothes on his arms, and he did not throw them away. And Zeus laughed greatly when he saw this cunning child denying cleverly and artfully about the cows; but he bade them seek with one accord, and Hermes lead, and show, in all innocence of mind, the place where he had hidden the strong heads of the cows. And the Kroniôn nodded, and illustrious Hermes obeyed, for the will of tempestuous Zeus easily persuades.

And the illustrious sons of Zeus both hastened, and they came to sandy Pylos, and to the ford of Alpheius, and to the fields and to the high stable, where the spoil had been locked up towards night.

And then Hermes entered the stone cave, and he thrust the strong heads of the cows into the light. But the Letoideus, looking from afar, recognized the cows' skins on the high rock, and immediately he questioned the illustrious Hermes:

—How could you, full of cunning, cut the throats of two cows, being a child who has barely been born? I myself am astonished at your strength. You must not grow any larger, Kyllenian, son of Maia!

So he spake, and with his hands he turned strong osier branches; and these, under his feet, took root in the earth, even there, though intertwined; and the same happened to all the cows, by the will of the subtle Hermes. And when Apollo saw this, he was seized with admiration; and the mighty Slayer of Argos looked sideways all around him, his eyes full of fire and wishing to hide himself.

But, willing it thus, he very easily appeased the son of the illustrious Leto, for he was powerful. Seizing the tortoise with his left hand, he tested its sound with the plectrum, and the tortoise resounded admirably under his hand. And Phoebus Apollo laughed, joyful, and the charming sound penetrated his spirit, while he listened with his soul. And the son of Maia, reassured, and playing the sweet lyre, stood on the left of Phoebus Apollo. And, vibrating strongly the kithar, he sang in his turn, and his lovely voice rose.

And he sang of the immortal Gods and the dark earth, and how things were made in the beginning, and how each was divided by lot. And he sang of Mnemosyne above all the Goddesses, the mother of the Muses, for she had fallen to the son of Maia. And the illustrious son of Zeus then sang of the other immortal Gods, each according to his rank, and how they had been born; all admirably, and making the kithara resound under his hands. And a great desire arose in the soul of Apollo, and he spoke to Hermes these winged words:

— Cow-killer, cunning worker, companion of meals, you possess there something worth fifty oxen. I think we shall come out of the quarrel in peace. And now, tell me, cunning son of Maia, whether you did this admirable thing after your birth, or whether any one among the Immortals or mortal men gave you this illustrious gift and taught you the divine song? But I listen to this new and admirable voice, and I think that none of the men or none of the Gods who have Olympian dwellings taught it to you, except yourself, O liar, son of Zeus and Maia! What is this art? This Muse who heals bitter worries? And this skill? Indeed these three things are united, for joy, desire and sweet sleep. I, who am the companion of the Olympian Muses, who care for their choirs and the illustrious rule of verses and flowery song and the lovely accord of flutes, never have my soul been more penetrated than by these sounds, such as those of young men at feasts. I admire them, O son of Zeus, and how sweetly you vibrate your kithar. And now, since, although very small, you possess illustrious art, I will tell you and your mother the truth. Yes! by this dogwood spear, indeed, I will lead you illustrious and happy among the Immortals, and I will give you magnificent gifts, and I will never deceive you.

And Hermes answered him with these cunning words:

— You ask me, O Archer, and I do not refuse to teach you my art. You will know it today. I will be kind to you in thought and in word, for you know all things in your mind, and you sit, son of Zeus, first among the Immortals, beautiful and vigorous; and Zeus who loves you warns you of sacred things, and he has given you illustrious gifts, and it is said that you are honored by the will of Zeus and that you have received from him, O Archer, the science of divinations and of all destinies. And now it is I who will teach a rich child. But you are free to learn what you will. Since you have the desire to play the kithare, sing and play the kithare, and rejoice, receiving it from me, and you, dear, give me glory. Sing, having in your hands this sweet companion instructed to resonate with art and admirable. Then, tranquil, carry, night and day, in feasts and funeral games, joy and amiable dances. To him who questions it with knowledge and art, the kithara, docile to soft pressures, will teach many varied and agreeable things to the mind; but, fearing painful work, it will answer in a discordant way to him who questions it violently. But you are free to learn what you will, and I will give you this kithara, O illustrious son of Zeus. Then, O Archer, we will return to the mountain and to the plain where the horses graze, and we will graze your oxen in the pastures. There, the cows, united with the bulls, the females with the males, will produce in abundance. Therefore, although you are greedy, you must not remain violently irritated.

Having thus spoken, he offered him the kithar, and Phoebus Apollo took it; and he gave to Hermes a shining whip, and he entrusted to him the care of the cows, and the son of Maia, joyful, took the whip.

And the illustrious son of Leto, the royal archer Apollo, supporting the kithar with his left hand, tested the sound with the plectrum, and the kithar resounded admirably, and the God sang.

Then, when the cows had returned to the divine Meadow, the illustrious sons of Zeus both returned to snowy Olympos, charmed by the kithara. And wise Zeus was glad and made them love each other. And then Hermes always loved Letoideus, as he loves him to this day, having given him the kithara as a token of friendship. And when the Archer had learned to play the lovely kithara, it always resounded on his arm. Letoideus himself invented another art. He made the sonorous syrinx, and he said to Hermes:

— I fear, son of Maia, cunning messenger, that you will stealthily take away my kithar and my curved bow. Indeed, you have received from Zeus this honor to preside over the exchanges of men on the fertile earth. But if you swear the great Oath of the Gods, with a nod of your head, or by the violent Water of Styx, whatever you do will be pleasing to my spirit.

And then the son of Maia promised him with a nod of his head that he would steal nothing that belonged to the Archer, and that he would never come near his firm dwelling. And the Letoidean Apollo sealed with a nod of his head their concord and their friendship, and he swore that none should be dearer to him, neither among the Immortals, nor among the sons of Zeus, nor among men, and he said:

— I will make this manifest to the Immortals, and to all, by a sign honourable and dear to my soul. I will give you an illustrious rod of happiness and wealth, of pure gold, with three leaves. It will protect you, powerful over all the Gods, by the virtue of the useful words and actions which I declare have been revealed to me by the will of Zeus. But it is not given to you, son of Zeus, nor to any other of the Immortals, to understand the divinatory science which you will inquire. Only the thought of Zeus understands it; and I, to whom it has been revealed, have promised, and have sworn by the great Oath, that no other of the Immortals, except me, should know the wise thought of Zeus. And you, brother with the golden rod, do not ask me to reveal to you the destinies which Zeus who thunders in the heights has resolved. I will harm some among men, and I will help others, mingling myself with the innumerable races of wretched men. I will help with my voice him who believes in my oracle and in the flight of the unquestionable birds. He will be protected by my oracle, and I will not deceive him; but he who trusts in vain birds, who wants to question my oracle outside my thought, and to know more than the gods who live forever, I say that he will take a dead-end road, even if I had received gifts. And I tell you, most illustrious son of Maia and of tempestuous Zeus, most useful Daimon of the gods: there are three Moirai, virgins and sisters, and who rejoice in their swift wings. Their heads covered with white flour, they dwell in a valley of Parnesus; and they taught me the divinatory science to which I aspired, still a child, among my oxen, and my father did not worry about it. Since then, in this place, flying here and there, they eat the honeycombs and accomplish everything. Then, having eaten the green honey, they become furious and ardently want to tell the truth; but when they are deprived of the sweet food of the Gods, they try to lead off the path. I give them to you, question them carefully and thus charm your mind; and, if any mortal known to you meets you, he will be able to believe your oracle. Take them, son of Maia, as well as the rustic oxen with flexible feet. Take care of the horses and the patient mules, and the horrible lions, and the wild boars with white teeth, and the dogs, and all the sheep that the wide earth feeds. Command all the sheep, illustrious Hermes, and be the only unimpeachable messenger to Aides; and, although he is not rich, he will not give you a poor present.

So King Apollo loved Maia's son with all his friendship, and the Kroniôn granted him grace. And he mingles with all mortals and all Immortals. And he comes to the aid of a few, but he deceives without ceasing, in the dark night, the races of mortal men.

And so I salute you, son of Zeus and Maia, and I will remember you and the other songs.

To Mercury

Muse, famous Mercury, son of Jupiter and Maia, king of Cyllene and Arcadia, fertile in flocks, benevolent messenger of the gods whom the august and beautiful Maia gave birth to, after having united herself in love with Jupiter. Far from the fortunate gods, she dwelt in a shady cave. It is there

that the son of Saturn, taking advantage of a dark night, united himself with this young nymph, at the hour when sweet sleep had seized the majestic Juno, for he wished to hide this new love from the Immortals as well as from weak humans. When the thought of the great Jupiter was accomplished, and the tenth month shone in the heavens, great wonders were seen to appear. The nymph gave birth to an eloquent and cunning son, a clever thief, quick to steal oxen, master of dreams, night watchman, guardian of the gates, and who was soon to perform admirable wonders among the immortal gods. Scarcely had he been born in the morning, when already at midday he was playing the lyre, and in the evening he was stealing the oxen of Apollo. All was finished on the fourth day of the month when the venerable Maia brought him into the world. As soon as he had left his mother's womb, he did not remain long wrapped in sacred swaddling clothes; but, rushing forward, he sought the oxen of Apollo and crossed the threshold of the dark cave. He met a tortoise and seized it. It was at the entrance of the cave, dragging itself slowly and grazing on the flowers of the meadow: at this sight the son of Jupiter smiled with joy and uttered these words:

"This is doubtless an encounter that foretells happiness for me: I will not disdain it. Hail, amiable product of nature, you who can become a melodious instrument, soul of the dance, companion of feasts, you fill me with joy by appearing to me: turtle that lives on the mountains, charming toy, motley shell, where do you come from? I will take you to my home, you will be of great help to me. I will not despise you, you will be the origin of my fortune: it is better for you to live in a house, it would be harmful to you to stay at the door. Alive, you would be an obstacle to fatal enchantments, if you die you will make harmonious sounds."

He says, takes it off with both hands and returns to his home, carrying this lovely toy. He empties the shell with the chisel of sparkling steel, and thus he tears the life from the mountain tortoise. As quick as the thought that crosses the mind of the man agitated by a thousand worries, as quick as the sparks that fly, Mercury accomplishes this work with the rapidity of speech. He cuts reeds in a just measure and makes them pass through the back of the tortoise with the stone shell; all around he skillfully stretches an ox's skin; he fits a handle to it, on both sides he drives pegs; then he joins to it seven harmonious strings of sheep's intestines.

This work completed, he lifts up this delicious instrument, he strikes it in cadence with the bow, and his hand makes it give out a resounding sound. Then the god sings, improvising harmonious verses, and as young people at feasts abandon themselves to joyful talk, so he recounts the amorous conversations of Jupiter and the beautiful Maia his mother, he celebrates her illustrious birth, he sings of the companions of the nymph, her rich dwellings, the tripods and the sumptuous basins which are in the grotto: but other thoughts agitated his mind while he sang. He places the harmonious lyre in the sacred cradle; he wants to savor the flesh of the victims; he leaps from the perfumed grotto, arrives on a height, rolling in his soul a perfidious project such as thieves often execute under cover of the shadows of the night.

The sun was hurling his horses and his chariot into the bosom of the ocean, when Mercury reached with a rapid course the shady mountains of Pieria, where a stable was seen for the immortal oxen of the gods; they were at that moment grazing on the thick grass of the smiling meadows. The son of Maia, the clever murderer of Argus, takes from this herd fifty lowing oxen: to divert from their tracks, he leads them astray through the windings of a sandy path. He employs besides a clever ruse: he makes it so that sometimes the front feet are last, and sometimes the hind feet are in front: the god himself walks backwards. He unties his shoe on the shores of the sea, he gathers branches of myrtle and tamarisk and braids them in a wonderful, incomprehensible and mysterious way. Having bound together these green spoils of the forest, he fitted them to his feet in a light shoe which still bore the leaves he had taken from the Pierian mountain, for illustrious Mercury feared the fatigues of the sea and desired to finish a long voyage quickly.

Arriving in the green countryside of Oncheste, he is seen by an old man who was cultivating an orchard in bloom. The divine son of Maia immediately gives him this speech:

"Old man, who with a bent back cultivates these plants, if they all bear fruit, you will have an abundant harvest. But oh old man, look at everything without seeing anything: be deaf to what strikes your ears and be mute on things that do not harm your interests."

Having spoken these words, illustrious Mercury gathered his oxen, struck their sturdy heads and led them through the shady mountains, the sonorous valleys and the fields dappled with flowers. Meanwhile the darkness of the night, propitious for his theft, was beginning to

to dissipate; already dawn was rising, which brings back labors: the moon, daughter of Pallante from King Megamedes, was barely rising behind a hill.

The mighty son of Jupiter drives the broad-browed oxen he has stolen from brilliant Apollo to the banks of the river Alpheus. They arrive without any weariness near a stable and marshy places, opposite a green meadow. Mercury lets them graze on the thick grass, then he shuts them up in the stable. There all together, they eat again the lotus moist with dew. Then the god piles up a large quantity of wood and thinks of a way to light a fire. Taking a branch of laurel, with his strong hand he warms it by the friction of the steel: soon a bright light shines, which spreads far and wide with a sparkling ardent heat. While Vulcan stirs up the fire, Mercury drags out of the stable two lowing heifers and leads them taken from the hearth: his strength is invincible. He overthrows them panting under him, and rushing he tears away their lives. To this first work, he adds a second by removing the succulent flesh covered with fat: then he pierces this flesh with long wooden skewers and roasts it carefully as well as the broad back, a portion of honor; he also gathers the blood enclosed in the entrails; then leaving the other parts of the victim on the ground, he spreads the skins on a rough rock.

Soon after, Mercury, who inspires joy, removes the succulent flesh from the hearths, places it on the level beach, makes twelve portions of it which he draws successively by lot; he offers them to each divinity as a solemn homage. However, the illustrious Mercury would have liked to savor the meats of the sacrifice; he was attracted by a pleasant perfume, but his noble heart does not yield to the desire to fill his divine stomach with such food. He carefully places in the high stable the flesh and fat of the victims; he gathers their feet and heads, which could testify to the theft he has just committed, piles them on the dry boards and delivers them to the flame. The sacrifice completed, Mercury throws his shoe into the deep chasms of the Alpheus, extinguishes the brazier and during the whole night leaves it to reduce to black ashes. The moon then spread the soft light of its rays.

When day came, he came swiftly to the heights of Cyllene. No one among gods or men came to his sight on so long a journey; not even the dogs gave voice. Then the benevolent son of Jupiter stooped and slipped into the dwelling through the keyhole, like an autumn wind or a light mist. He walked stealthily into the sacred recess of the cave, he entered noiselessly as he usually did on earth, he arrived thus at his cradle, he wrapped his shoulders in his swaddling clothes like a weak child and lay there, playing with one hand with his vest and with the other lifting his melodious lyre; but the god had not been able to hide his flight from his divine mother; she spoke to him in these words:

"Little crafty one, child full of audacity, whence comest thou in the darkness of the night? I fear that the mighty son of Latona will burden the limbs with heavy bonds, tear her from her home, or surprise thee in the valleys engaged in committing reckless thefts. Go, wretch: mighty Jupiter brought thee into the world to be the scourge of men and immortal gods."

Mercury answered him with these cunning words:

"Mother, why do you want to frighten me as a weak child who barely knows any fraud and trembles at his mother's voice? I want to continue to practice this art which seems to me the best for your glory and for mine. We must not thus remain alone among the Immortals without presents and without sacrifices, as you order me; certainly it is sweeter to enjoy riches and treasures, like the immortal gods, than to languish idle in the darkness of this cave. I want to enjoy the same honors as Apollo; I will try everything to seize them, since my father refused them to me: I will be the god of thieves. If the illustrious son of Latona wants to pursue me, some fatal adventure could well befall him. I will penetrate as far as Pytho; there I will break down the doors of his vast dwelling, I will carry off his tripods, his golden basins, the shining bronze and his many garments. You, mother, if you wish, you will be able to be witness this triumph."

Such were the discourses held together by the son of the master of the aegis and the divine Maia. Soon the morning dawn rose from the bosom of the Ocean to come and enlighten mortals.

Meanwhile the brilliant Apollo arrived at Oncheste, traveling through the sacred woods of the noisy Neptune. There he met an old man who, near the road, was busy enclosing his field with a hedge. The son of Latona spoke to him in these terms:

"Old man who binds together the bushes of the green fields of Oncheste, I come here from Pieria in search of horned heifers that have been taken from my herd. A single black bull was grazing apart; four watchful dogs were watching the herd as faithful shepherds would have done: what is astonishing is that the dogs and the black bull remained, while at sunset the heifers abandoned the green meadows and the rich pastures. Venerable old man, please tell me if you have seen a man chasing heifers ahead of him on this road.

- Friend, replied the old man, it would be difficult for me to tell you all that my eyes have seen. Many travelers pass by this road, some with good intentions, others with bad thoughts: I cannot penetrate the soul of each one in this way. However, during the whole day and until the setting of the sun, I worked constantly in my vineyard. Indeed, noble stranger, it seems to me that I caught a glimpse of a child (I could not distinguish him perfectly) who, although at a very tender age, was pushing with a stick in his hand a herd of beautiful heifers. He walked backwards; he followed the heifers well, but their heads were turned in a direction contrary to his own."

Such was the speech of the old man. Phoebus, having heard it, ran quickly on. Then he saw a bird crossing the sky with outstretched wings, he immediately recognized that the thief was the son of Jupiter; he wrapped himself in a cloud, rushed into divine Pylos to seek his heifers, and as soon as he saw the traces of their feet, he cried out:

"Great gods! what a wonder is offered to my sight! Here indeed are the tracks of my heifers with raised horns, but they are directed towards the meadow. These are not the steps of a man, nor of wolves, nor of bears, nor of lions, nor of other wild beasts; they do not seem to me to resemble the steps of the hairy Centaur who leaves enormous traces by walking with a rapid step: these steps are even more difficult to recognize far from the path than on its edges."

Having spoken these words, the son of Jupiter rushed forward with speed; he reached the summit of Cyllene, shaded by forests, and approached the deep cavern where the divine nymph gave birth to Saturn's grandson. The mountain exhaled a delicious perfume and numerous flocks grazed on the grass; from the meadow Apollo, who was shooting his arrows far away, hastened to cross the stone threshold and enter the darkness of the cave.

The son of Jupiter and Maia, seeing Apollo angry at the theft of his heifers, immediately plunges into his perfumed swaddling clothes and remains wrapped like a brand buried under heaped ashes. At the sight of the god who throws his arrows into the distance, Mercury, who fears his presence, gathers up in a ball his head, hands and feet, like a man who, coming out of the bath, wants to abandon himself to the charms of sleep. The god carried under his arm the divine lyre. He immediately recognizes the beautiful mountain nymph and her beloved son, a weak child wrapping himself in deceptive swaddling clothes. Then Apollo penetrates with his eyes all the corners of this vast dwelling; he seizes a shining key, opens three most remote cabinets, all filled with nectar and ambrosia. There were piled up much gold, silver, the many purple ornaments and the white ornaments of the nymph, such as are contained in the secret dwellings of the gods. The son of Latona having searched in these recesses addresses these words to Mercury:

"Child who lies in this cradle, tell me quickly where my heifers are; otherwise fatal debates would arise between us: I will seize you, I will throw you into dark Tartarus, into the bosom of fatal and horrible shadows. Neither your father nor your venerable mother will be able to restore you to the light, but you will live buried under the earth, reigning only over a small number of men."

Mercury immediately replied with these cunning words:

"Son of Latona, why do you speak to me in this terrible language? Why do you come here to seek your heifers? I have never seen them, I have never heard of them; it is not possible for me to point out the thief to you: I will not receive the reward promised to anyone who finds the thief. I have not the strength of a man capable of stealing flocks; that is not my profession, other cares claim me: I need sweet sleep, my mother's milk, these swaddling clothes that cover my shoulders and the baths of a warm wave. But see to it that no one knows where this quarrel comes from: it would be a great cause of astonishment for all the Immortals if a young child who has just been born had crossed the threshold of your dwelling with untamed heifers. What you say is madness: I was born yesterday, the stones would have torn the delicate skin of my feet; but if you demand it, I will pronounce a terrible oath: I will swear by my father's head that I am not the author of this theft and that I do not know the thief of these heifers, whoever they may be: you were the first to tell me the news."

As he spoke these words, his eyes shone with a bright brilliance, he raised his eyebrows, impudently cast his glances on all sides and let out an ironic whistle as if he had heard only an empty word. Then Apollo said to him with a smile full of mockery:

"Young, deceitful and cunning child, from hearing your speeches, I believe that you will often penetrate into rich dwellings and that during the night you will put more than one man at the door of his house after having robbed him without noise. You will also fill with sorrow the hearts of the cowherds in the wild valleys of the mountain, when seeking prey you will meet herds of oxen and sheep. But enough of this sleep, come down from your cradle, my beautiful companion of the dark night: it is right that you enjoy the divine honors intended for the Immortals, you who will one day be hailed with the title of chief of thieves."

And at the same time Phoebus seizes the child and carries him away. Then, after a treacherous reflection, the mighty murderer of Argus, carried away by the arms of Apollo, lets loose an augur, a daring servant from the womb and an impertinent messenger, then he sneezes with a mighty sound. At this noise Apollo throws him to the ground, and, although impatient to depart, he sits down in the presence of Mercury and says these mocking words to him with the intention of stinging him:

"Courage, son of Jupiter and Maia, still wrapped in swaddling clothes. Thanks to your omens, I will soon find my heifers with robust heads, you yourself will serve as my guide."

He said. The god of Cyllene immediately got up, walking quickly; he wrapped the swaddling clothes that covered his shoulders around his ears and cried out:

"Where then do you want to take me, Apollo, cruelest of all the gods? Why, furious at having lost your heifers, do you overwhelm me with insults? May their race be annihilated! It was not I who stole them, I tell you, and I do not know the thief of your heifers, whatever they may be; you are the first to bring me the news: do me justice then and let us submit to having our disputes judged by Jupiter."

Thus conversed together the solitary Mercury and the brilliant son of Latona, but animated by contrary sentiments, the one, speaking in the sincerity of his heart, had seized the illustrious Mercury as a thief of his heifers, and the king of Cyllene, by his ruses and his guileful words, seeks to deceive the god who bears the silver bow. But, however clever his ruse, Mercury had found a rival who could be his master. The son of Jupiter and Latona made him walk first on the sand and then followed him behind. Thus these children of Jupiter arrive on the summit of perfumed Olympus; there were the scales of justice intended for them. The heavens resound with sweet harmony, and the Immortals assemble in the retreats of Olympus. Before Jupiter stood Apollo and Mercury. Then the god who hurls the thunderbolt addresses his son in these terms:

"Where do you come from with this superb prey, bringing us this newborn child who would be taken for a herald? No doubt you come before the council of the gods for an important matter?"

Apollo, who was throwing his arrows far away, answered him:

"Father, I have important things to tell you, though you always mock me as too greedy for booty. I found this boy, already a formidable thief, in the mountains of Cyllene: I traveled through many countries before I reached him, for he is a child full of cunning and perfidy such as I have never seen either among gods or mortals, whatever brigands may be who devastate the earth. Under cover of the evening shadows, he led my heifers away from the meadows, he made them cross the shores of the sea and led them to Pylos. He left marvelous tracks which can be admired as the work of a powerful god: the prints of their feet still marked on the black dust indicate a path opposite to that which leads to the pastures. As for him, clever, cunning, he walked on the sandy ground neither with his hands nor with his feet, it was with the help of a thought cunning that he travelled this wonderful path as with oak branches. The tracks of heifers marked the dust as long as he followed the sandy ground, but as soon as he arrived on solid ground the steps of the heifers were no longer visible; nevertheless he was seen by a man at the moment when he was driving to Pylos this herd of heifers with broad foreheads: having shut them up without noise, and having mixed together all the races, he lay down in his cradle, and like the deep night, he huddled in the darkness of a dark cave; the keen eye of the eagle himself could not have discovered him. True to his tricks, he covered both his eyes with his hands, then in a confident tone he said these words to me: "I have not seen your heifers, I have not known them, I have never even heard of them, so I cannot show them to you or receive the reward promised to the one who returns them to you."

So spoke the bright Apollo and he sat down.

In turn, Mercury, addressing Jupiter, the master of all the gods, replies with these words:

"Mighty Jupiter, I want to tell you the truth, my heart is sincere, I do not know how to lie. This very day, at sunrise,

Apollo came to our house seeking his strong-footed heifers. He brought no god as a witness; he offered me no clue, and yet he violently ordered me to tell where the heifers were; he threatened to throw me into vast Tartarus; he abused his strength, he, in the flower of life, while he knows full well that I, born yesterday, am not like the vigorous man who steals flocks. Believe, O you who boast of being my beloved father, believe that I have not led any flocks into my house; I would be too happy! I have not even crossed the threshold of my cave: I say this with sincerity. Certainly I have respect for Apollo and for all the other gods; I cherish you and I honor Apollo; you know it well and he knows it himself; I am not guilty, I will swear it by a great oath: I attest to it the sacred palace of the Immortals. Although he is full of strength, one day I will take revenge for his pursuit. You, however, help the weak."

The god of Cyllene winked as he spoke, and held on his shoulder his swaddling clothes which he had not yet thrown off. Jupiter smiled at the skill of his son, who so confidently denied the theft of the heifers: he then ordered the two divinities to agree and to seek together the herds of Apollo; he then enjoined Mercury to serve as guide to the divine Apollo and to show him without any trickery where the strong heifers were shut up. The son of Saturn nodded, and the handsome Mercury hastened to obey, for he yielded without difficulty to the thought of the god of the aegis.

The two sons of Jupiter therefore hastened; they soon reached sandy Pylos, on the banks of the Alpheus, crossed the fields and entered the high stable where the flocks had been fed during the night. Mercury entered the dark rock and brought back to light the strong heifers; the son of Latona looking sideways saw stretched out on the rock the skins of the heifers offered in sacrifice, and struck with astonishment he said to Mercury:

"Cunning child, so young and so weak, how could you skin these two heifers? Ah! your terrible strength frightens me for the future. May it not increase further, powerful god of Cyllene, son of Maia!"

At these words Apollo twists with both hands the strong wickerwork bands that hold the heifers, but they remain motionless, their feet tied to the ground, facing each other by the tricks of Mercury full of deceit. Apollo, astonished, admired this prodigy. Mercury first easily calms the son of Latona, however powerful he may be; then, with his left hand taking his lyre, he strikes the strings in time with the bow. Under his fingers, the instrument gives a resounding sound. The brilliant Apollo smiles with pleasure, the divine accents penetrate his soul and fill his heart with a lively emotion.

The son of Maia, thus reassured, makes his melodious lyre resound. Sitting near Apollo, he joins his songs to the accents of his lyre; his voice is sweet and harmonious, he celebrates the birth of the gods when the earth was still covered with darkness and when it was divided between the various Immortals. But first he dedicates his songs to Mnemosyne, the mother of the Muses she fills the son of Maia with gracious gifts. The son of Jupiter celebrates in turn each of the Immortals according to the rank he occupies and according to the order of his birth, accompanying himself on his lyre he omits nothing. Lively desires to possess this sonorous lyre spread in the heart of Apollo, he addresses Mercury in these terms:

"Clever and clever spirit who so skillfully kills heifers, pleasant companion of feasts, fifty heifers could not equal the price of your songs. From now on there will arise between us only peaceful debates. But tell me, O cunning son of Maia, if it was given to you at the hour of your birth to accomplish all these wonders or if some god or some mortal fills you with these brilliant favors or teaches you these sublime songs. You have just made me hear quite new chords and an admirable voice that no man, no inhabitant of Olympus can ever equal, I think. O beloved divinity, son of Jupiter and Maia, whence comes this art to you? What Muse can thus dispel black sorrows? What is this harmony? I find there united all the voluptuousness, pleasure, love, and the inclination to sweet sleep. I myself, habitual companion of the Muses of Olympus, "A friend of sweet songs, of the melodious accents of the lyre and of the sweet chords of the flutes, I myself have never tasted so much pleasure in lending an ear to the refrains that young people repeat at meals. Son of Jupiter, I admire what wonderful sounds you can draw from your lyre. Sit down then, dear child, you who are still young and already know the noble thoughts, celebrate the praises of your elders: the glory and that of your mother are already great among the gods. I speak to you sincerely: I swear to you by this dogwood dart; I will lead you back happy and triumphant to the assembly of the Immortals; I will give you magnificent gifts and I will never deceive you."

Mercury immediately replied with these flattering words:

"Illustrious Apollo, since you question me, I will not refuse to teach you the secrets of my art: I want to teach them to you this very day; I want to be favorable to you in my thoughts and in my words, son of Jupiter, you are strong and powerful, you sit first among the Immortals: Jupiter rightly cherishes you, he loads you with gifts and honors. It is said indeed that you received from this god the gift of revealing the future: it is from Jupiter that all oracles are born; I now recognize you as an opulent heir. What you desire to know, it would be up to me to learn from you. Since you wish to play the lyre, sing, prelude, deliver your heart to joy by receiving it from my hands. Thus it is you who fill me with glory, sing then while accompanying yourself on this melodious instrument which knows how to render with accuracy all the modulations. Happy and proud, you will then carry it to the feasts, to the amidst the lovely choirs of dances and splendid feasts that charm the night and the day. Let a man skilled in his art question this lyre, and it immediately reveals to his soul a thousand delightful thoughts; it leads him away from painful work and draws him to joyous assemblies; but if some ignorant person touches it roughly, it murmurs only vague and dull sounds. Yes, what you desire to know, it is up to you to explain to us. Accept then this lyre, glorious son of Jupiter, Apollo; henceforth together on the mountains and in the fertile fields, we will graze your wild heifers; there these heifers, uniting with the bulls, will engender females and males in abundance; but abandon yourself neither to cunning nor to anger."

So saying he presents the lyre to Phoebus; the latter receives it, gives in exchange a sparkling whip and charges Mercury with the care of the heifers; the latter acquits himself with joy. Then seizing the lyre in his left hand, the son of Latona, Apollo, who is casting his arrows far away, strikes it in cadence with the bow; the instrument resounds in melodious chords, and the god marries the accents of his voice to the sounds of the lyre.

Having led the heifers into the fair meadow, these gods, beautiful children of Jupiter, climb together again to the snowy summit of Olympus: they rejoice at the sound of the lyre, and joyful Jupiter tightens the bonds of this intimacy. From that day on, and even now, Mercury has always loved the son of Latona, to whom he had given his lyre. Apollo played with it under his arm, but he himself invented a new art: he made the voice of melodious flutes resound far and wide. At that moment the son of Latona said these words to Mercury:

"Cunning son of Maia, I fear that you will now steal my bow and my lyre. You received from Jupiter the care of watching over commerce, the deceptive exchanges of men who live on the fertile earth; if you would consent to make the great oath of the gods by swearing by the dreaded waves of the Styx, you would satisfy the wish of my soul."

Maia's cunning son promises with a nod to steal nothing of Apollo's possessions, never to approach his magnificent dwelling. In turn Apollo with a nod swears him lasting friendship, swears to cherish him more than any of the gods or men descended from great Jupiter:

"Finally," he added, "so that my words may inspire you with respect and confidence, I will deposit the solemn pledge of the gods: I will give you this magnificent staff, source of riches and happiness, surrounded by three leaves of pure gold: it will be a tutelary aid to you and will allow you to serve all the gods, but if among all the words and privileged things that I have learned from Jupiter, you were to ask me, powerful god, the art of predicting the future, I could not instruct you nor any of the other Immortals: this is the thought that Jupiter has reserved for himself. When he entrusted it to me, I promised on my head, I made the great oath, that none of the Immortals, none other than me would know the secret designs of the son of Saturn. Thus, brother with the golden scepter, do not ask me to reveal to you the destinies that powerful Jupiter meditates. As for men, I will travel through their numerous tribes: to some I will be favorable; to others I will be fatal. My prophetic voice will help the one who comes to me guided by the song and flight of birds destined to predict the future; but I will harm the one who, trusting in deceptive birds, wants to know the future in spite of me in order to know more than the immortal gods. I will accept his gifts, but I will make his journey useless.

I will tell you again, son of great Jupiter and illustrious Maia, Mercury, a divinity useful to the gods themselves, there are three venerable sisters, all three virgins, and crossing space on swift wings, their heads are covered with white flour, they inhabit a valley of Parnassus. Far from men, they taught me the art of revealing the future while I was a child and I was watching the flocks. My father took no care to instruct me in all these things. They flutter in all directions, they feed on honey and accomplish all things. When they are satisfied with new honey, these virgins willingly tell the truth; but when this sweet food of the gods comes to them to fail, they strive to turn men from the road they should follow. I place them under your empire; question them carefully, and your spirit will be filled with joy; and if you favor any mortal, when he comes to you, you will make him hear your prophetic voice. Enjoy all these goods, son of Maia; possess also oxen with strong feet, steeds and well-membered mules. Illustrious Mercury, I want you to reign over the terrible lions, over the sharp-toothed wild boars, over the dogs, over the sheep and over all the animals that the fertile earth nourishes. You alone will be employed as a faithful messenger in the kingdom of Pluto, and, although avaricious, this god will not give you a common reward."

From then on Apollo was always united to the son of Maia by the greatest friendship. Jupiter rewarded this intimacy with many favors. Thus Mercury mixes in the society of gods and men: he is rarely benevolent; most often he deceives mortals during the darkness of the night.

Hail, son of Jupiter and Maia; I will remember you, and I will modulate new songs.

At Hermes

I sing of Hermes Kyllenius, Slayer of Argos, who reigns over Kyllènè and Arkadia of many flocks, most useful Messenger of the Immortals, and whom Maia, venerable daughter of Atlas, bore, having united herself in love with Zeus. She avoided the assembly of the happy Gods, and she dwelt in a dark cave, where the Kroniôn united himself with the Nymph of the beautiful hair, during the dark night, at the moment when sweet sleep enveloped Here of the white arms, and he hid himself from the immortal Gods and from mortal men.

And thus I greet you, son of Zeus and Maia! Having begun with you, I will pass on to another hymn.

Hail, Hermes, dispenser of graces, Messenger, dispenser of goods.

To Mercury

I sing of Mercury the Cyllenian, the murderer of Argus. He protects the flocks on Mount Cyllene and in Arcadia, rich in flocks. Benevolent messenger of the Immortals, he owed his birth to the daughter of Atlas, the venerable Maia, who united herself in love with Jupiter; far from the assembly of the gods, she dwelt in the depths of a dark cave: it was there that, during the darkness of the night, the son of Saturn united with her, while Juno abandoned herself to the sweetness of sleep; both hid themselves from the sight of gods and men.

Hail, son of Jupiter and Maia; now that I have celebrated your glory, I will sing other hymns.

Hail, benevolent Mercury, heavenly messenger; dispenser of all blessings.

To Histiè and Hermes.

Histie, who in the lofty abodes of all the immortal Gods and men who walk on earth hast received as your share an eternal seat, an ancient honour! You have this beautiful reward and this honour, for, in truth, there would be no feasts among mortals without you. It is with Histie that each begins and ends, by making libations of honeyed wine.

And thou, Slayer of Argos, son of Zeus and Maia, Messenger of the Blessed, who bears a golden rod, dispenser of blessings! be propitious to me! You both dwell in beautiful dwellings that please both of you. Be propitious to me, with venerable and dear Histie! Both, indeed, know the fine works of earthly men, and you are companions of the spirit and youth.

Hail, daughter of Kronos! And you, Hermes of the golden wand! I will remember you and the other songs.

To Vesta and Mercury

O Vesta! you dwell in the first place in the lofty palaces of the immortal gods and of men who live on earth; you have the most illustrious honors; you obtain the most beautiful and the richest offerings: never without you were there any agreeable feasts for mortals; no one begins or ends his meal without having first made libations of generous wine to the goddess Vesta.

Mercury, son of Jupiter and Maia, messenger of the gods, bearer of a golden scepter, dispenser of all blessings, be propitious to us and come also with the august and beloved Vesta. Both instructed in the good deeds of mortals, grant them wit and youth, divinities who dwell in illustrious houses.

Hail, daughter of Saturn; hail, Mercury bearer of a golden scepter; I will never forget you, and I will say another song.

In Histiè

Histie, who protects the sacred dwelling of the Archer Apollo, in divine Pytho, the liquid oil always flows from your tresses. Come to this dwelling, having a propitious spirit, with the provident Zeus, and grant grace to my song.

To Vesta

O Vesta, who in the divine Pythia watches over the sacred temple of Apollo, you whose hair always exhales sweet perfumes, you who are endowed with a benevolent soul, come into this house with the great Jupiter and be propitious to our songs.

I begin by singing of Demeter of fair hair, venerable goddess, she and her daughter of fair ankles whom Aidoneus, with the consent of the resounding Zeus of wide gaze, carried away from Demeter of the golden sickle and of fair fruits, as she played with the deep-breasted daughters of Okeanos, gathering flowers, roses, saffron and beautiful violets, in a soft meadow, gladioli and hyacinths, and a daffodil which Gaia had produced to deceive the rosy-skinned Virgin, by the will of Zeus, and in order to please the insatiable Aidoneus. And this daffodil was beautiful to behold, and all who saw it admired it, immortal gods and mortal men. And from its root came a hundred heads, and all the wide upper Ouranos, and all the earth and the salty deep of the sea laughed at the fragrant odor.

And the Virgin, surprised, stretched out both hands at the same time to seize this beautiful toy; but behold the vast earth opened in the plains of Nysios, and the insatiable King, illustrious son of Kronos, sprang forth, borne on his immortal horses. And he took her by force and carried her weeping on his golden chariot. And she cried aloud, invoking Father Kroniôn, the most powerful and the most supreme; but none of the immortal Gods nor of mortal men heard her voice nor those of her companions with hands full of beautiful flowers.

Only the kind daughter of Persaios, Hekatè of the shining bandages, heard it from the depths of her cave; and King Helios, the illustrious son of Hyperion, also heard the Virgin invoke Father Kroniôn; but he was seated far from the Gods, in a temple with many supplicants, where he accepted the beautiful sacrifices of mortal men.

And her father's brother, the Insatiable One who commands many, the illustrious son of Kronos, with immortal horses, carried off the young Virgin by force, by the will of Zeus. And as long as the Goddess saw the earth and the starry Ouranos, and the abyss of the fish-filled sea, and the light of Helios, she hoped to see again her venerable mother and the tribes of the eternal Gods, and hope charmed her great soul, in spite of her pain.

And the peaks of the mountains and the depths of the sea resounded with her immortal voice, and her venerable mother heard her. And a bitter pain entered her heart, and she tore from her hands the bands of her ambrosial hair, and, throwing a blue veil over her two shoulders, she rushed forth, like a bird, searching over land and sea.

But no one would tell her the truth, no one of the gods, nor of men, nor of birds; and no true messenger came to her. And for nine days the venerable Demeter wandered over the earth, holding in her hands burning torches, and in her sorrow tasting neither ambrosia nor sweet nectar, and not bathing her body. But when bright Eos returned for the tenth time, Hekatè, carrying a light in her hand, met her, and, giving her news, said:

— Venerable Demeter, who givest seasons and fair gifts, who among the Uranian gods or mortal men has carried off Persephone and afflicted your dear heart? Indeed, I heard her voice, but I did not see with my eyes who carried her off. I tell you promptly the whole truth.

Thus spake Hekatè, and the daughter of Rheiè with the fair hair answered her nothing, but, with her, she rushed forward, holding in her hands burning torches. And they came to Helios who looks upon the Gods and men, and they stopped before his horses, and the most noble Goddess questioned him:

— Helios, honor me above all the Goddesses, if ever I have charmed your heart and soul by my words or by my actions! Honor also the daughter I have borne, sweet flower, illustrious for her beauty! I have heard her voice resounding through the bottomless Aither, as if someone had done her violence; but I have not seen her with my eyes. Tell me the truth, you who, from the sacred Aither, discover with your rays all the earth and the sea, tell me, dear child, which of the Gods or mortal men, if you have seen him, took my daughter from me, in my absence, and by violence, and against her will.

She spoke thus, and the Hyperionides answered her:

— Daughter of Rhei of fair hair, Queen Demeter, you will know. Certainly, I venerate you greatly and have compassion on you who groan over your child with beautiful ankles. None of the Immortals has done this, except Zeus who gathers the clouds. He gave your daughter as a flourishing wife to his brother Aides, and he, having carried her away on his horses, despite her cries, led her under the black darkness. However, Goddess, repress your cruel grief; it is not fitting that you should nourish a rash and vain anger. Aidoneus, who rules over many, is not an unworthy son-in-law of you among the Immortals. He is your brother and of the same blood; and, when all was divided into three parts, he received this honor as his share of dwelling with the Dead and commanding them.

Having thus spoken, he excited his horses, and these, frightened by his threats, immediately drove the swift chariot, their wings spread like birds.

But a bitterer and more oppressive grief came to Demeter's heart; and, angry with Kroniôn who gathers the black clouds, fleeing from high Olympus and the agora of the gods, she went to the cities of men and the rich crops, hiding her beauty for a long time. And none of the men and women with broad belts who saw her recognized her, until she came to the house of prudent Keleus, who was then king of fragrant Eleusis.

And she sat down by the roadside, grieved at heart, not far from the Parthenian well, where the citizens drew water, in the shade, for a thick olive tree grew above her. And she was like a very old woman deprived of the power of childbearing and of the gifts of Aphrodite who loves crowns. Such are the nurses of the sons of kings who guard justice, or their stewards, in sonorous dwellings.

And the daughters of the Eleusinian Keleos saw her, coming to draw water to carry it, in bronze urns, to the dear dwellings of their father. And there were four of them, like goddesses, adorned with the flower of youth, Kallidike, Kleisidike, the beautiful Demo and Kallithoe who was the eldest of all. And they did not recognize her. Indeed, the Gods are not easily manifested to mortals. And, approaching her, they spoke these winged words to her:

—Who are you and where do you come from, old woman, contemporary of ancient men? Why do you stay far from the city and do not approach the dwellings? There, in our dwellings full of shade, women of your age and others younger will welcome you with kindness, in word and in deed.

They spoke thus, and the venerable Goddess answered them:

— Dear children, whoever you are among the weak women, greeting! I will speak to you, for it is right to tell you the truth to you who question me. Deo is my name, and my venerable mother gave it to me. I come now from Krete, on the broad back of the sea, not voluntarily, for pirates have taken me away from there by violence. Then they brought their swift ship to Thorikos, where all the women went ashore in crowds, and they themselves prepared their meal by the cables of the ship. But I had no desire for the sweet meal, and, rushing stealthily across the black dry land, I fled from these insolent masters, for fear that, not having bought me, they would sell me and have a price for me. And I came here wandering, and I do not know what this land is or who are those who inhabit it. As for you, may the Gods who have Olympian dwellings grant you young husbands and children such as parents desire! But have pity on me, young Virgins! dear daughters, be kind to me, until I arrive at the dwelling of a man or woman for whom I will willingly work, as an old woman can do. I would carry in my arms and nourish well a new-born child, or I would guard the dwelling, or I would prepare the masters' bed in the depths of the bridal chamber, or I would teach their work to the women.

The Goddess spoke thus, and immediately the virgin Kallidike, the most beautiful of the daughters of Keleos, answered her:

—Mother, we endure, however painful, the gifts of the gods, for these are by far the most powerful. But I will instruct you fully and name the men who have the greatest power here, and who rule among the people, and who guard the walls of the city by their wisdom and fair judgments: the prudent Triptolemus, Diokles, Polyxeinos, the blameless Eumolpus, Dolikhos, and our brave father; and the wives of all these heroes take care of their dwellings. Not one of them, when she sees you, will despise your beauty and drive you from her dwelling; but all will welcome you, for you are like a goddess. But, if you prefer, stay, while we go to our father's dwelling. And we will tell everything to our mother Metaneire of the broad belt, and she will perhaps order that you come to our dwelling, without seeking another. A son begotten in their old age, born late, much desired and much loved, is nourished in the solid inner dwelling. If you nourished him and he could reach puberty, all women would envy you, so many presents would he give to his nurse.

So she spoke, and Demeter nodded her head. And the maidens proudly carried away the shining vessels full of water. And they came quickly to their father's great house and told their mother at once what they had seen and heard. And she ordered them to return and hire her for a great wage.

And the young girls, like does or heifers who, in spring, leap in the meadows, satiated with pasture, lifting the folds of their beautiful dresses, hastened towards the path dug by the chariots, and their hair, like saffron in flower, floated around their shoulders.

And they found the illustrious Goddess by the roadside, where they had left her, and they led her to the dear dwellings of their father. And Demeter, grieved to the depths of her heart, walked behind, her head veiled; and the blue peplos fluttered around the light feet of the Goddess.

And they soon came to the dwellings of Keleus, the infant of Zeus, and they passed through the portico where their venerable mother sat by the door of the well-built hall, having her little new-born child at her breast, and the maidens ran to her.

But the Goddess crossed the threshold, and behold her head reached the beam of the roof, and she filled the doors with a divine splendor. And reverent terror and admiration seized Metaneire, and she gave her her seat and bade her sit down. But Demeter, the dispenser of seasons and splendid gifts, would not sit down on the shining seat, and she remained silent, lowering her beautiful eyes, until the wise Iambè had brought for her a solid seat and covered it with a white skin.

Demeter, having sat down, drew back with her hands the veil of her hair and remained thus mute with grief without saying a word, without gesture, without smiling, neither eating nor drinking; but she remained seated, full of regret for her daughter with the beautiful belt, until the wise Iambè, who, later, pleased her with her gaiety, having excited the venerable Goddess with many jokes, had brought her to laugh softly and to rejoice her soul.

And Metaneire offered her a cup full of sweet wine; but she refused it, saying that it was not lawful for her to drink red wine, and she asked that she might be given water mixed with flour and crushed pennyroyal. And Metaneire, having made this mixture, offered it to the Goddess, as she had requested; and the venerable Demeter, having accepted it, performed the sacred libation. And then Metaneire of the beautiful belt said to her:

— Hail, woman! I do not think, indeed, that you are descended from vile parents, and doubtless they are excellent, for modesty and grace shine in your eyes, such as in those of Kings who guard justice; but we must undergo the gifts of the Gods, however painful they may be, for their yoke is on our neck. Now, since you have come here, you will have the same gifts that were given to me. Nourish this child begotten late and unexpectedly. The Gods gave him to me, and he was much desired by me. If you would nourish him, and he could reach puberty, all women would love you, so many gifts would he give to his nurse.

And Demeter with the beautiful crown answered him:

—And you, woman, I salute you also; may the Gods fill you with blessings! I will gladly take your son, as you command me, and I will nurse him, and I hope that, by the care of his nurse, he will be preserved from incantations and magic herbs. I know, indeed, a very powerful remedy for magic herbs, and I also know an excellent remedy for fatal incantations.

Having thus spoken, she took the child, with her immortal hands, to her perfumed breast, and the mother was joyful in her heart.

And thus Demeter nourished in the halls the illustrious son of wise Keleus, Demophoon, whom Metaneire of the fair girdle had borne; and he grew up like a god, neither eating bread nor being suckled. And Demeter anointed him with ambrosia, and, carrying him in her bosom, she breathed softly upon him as upon the child of a god. At night she enveloped him in the power of fire like a torch, unknown to his dear parents, and it seemed wonderful to them to see him grow so vigorously, having the appearance of a god. And the goddess would have protected him from old age and made him immortal had it not been for the imprudence of Metaneire of the fair girdle, who, watching one night, saw from her perfumed bridal chamber. And she cried out, striking her two thighs and fearing for her son. And a great fault troubled her spirit, and, lamenting, she said these winged words:

— My child Demophoon, the Stranger envelops you in a great fire, and she prepares for me pain and bitter sorrows!

So she spoke, groaning, and the noble Goddess heard her. And Demeter of the fair crown, angry with her, having taken from the fire, with her immortal hands, the dear son whom Metaneire had brought forth, unexpected, in her dwellings, laid him on the ground far from her, and, inflamed with a most violent anger, she said to Metaneire of the fair girdle:

— Ignorant and foolish men! powerless to foresee good or evil! You have committed a great fault by your folly, for I testify, and this constrains the Gods, I testify the inexorable Water of Styx! I would have sheltered your dear son from old age, and I would have made him immortal, and I would have loaded him with endless honors. But now he is no longer permitted to escape death and the terrible Keres. However, he will always be honored, for he was received on my knees, and he slept in my arms. But, in the course of time, after the years are over, and after him, the sons of the Eleusinians will forever be at war with each other. And I am Demeter most honored, joy and great wealth for the Immortals and mortals. But come! Let all the people build me a great temple, and an altar in the temple, under the high wall of the city, on the Kallikhoros and the high hill. And I myself will teach you my Orgies, so that in the future you may sacrifice to me according to the rite and appease my spirit.

Having thus spoken, the Goddess changed her stature and form, and she cast off old age, and beauty breathed around her, and a sweet odour arose from her perfumed peplos, and light burst forth from the immortal body of the Goddess, and her red hair flowed over her shoulders, and the solid dwelling was filled with splendour as if by lightning, and Demeter came forth from the dwellings.

But Metaneire's knees were broken, and she lay long mute, not remembering to lift her late-begotten son from the pavement. And her sisters, hearing her lamentable voice, sprang from their well-made beds. One lifted the child with her hands and laid it on her bosom, and another kindled the fire, and another ran with her delicate feet, in order to wake his mother in the bridal chamber. And all, gathered together, washed the palpitating child, embracing him tenderly; but his heart was not appeased, for nurses inferior to Demeter held him in their arms. And all night long, stricken with terror, they appeased the venerable Goddess. Then, at the first light of Eos, they told the truth to mighty Keleos and told him the things that the goddess Demeter of the fair crown had commanded. And Keleos, summoning the diverse multitude of the people to the agora, commanded that a magnificent temple and an altar should be built for Demeter of the fair hair on the high hill. And all of them immediately obeyed his orders and built, as he had commanded, the temple which rose quickly by divine will. And when it was finished, they ceased their work, and each returned to his dwelling.

And fair Demeter withdrew there from all the Blessed, consumed with regret for her richly girded daughter. And she inflicted on men, on the nourishing earth, a very bitter and cruel year; and the earth yielded no seed, for Demeter of the fair crown had hidden them all. And the oxen dragged many vain crooked ploughs in the fields, and much white barley fell to no purpose on the earth. Surely then the whole race of men who speak would have perished by cruel hunger, depriving those who have Olympian dwellings of the honour of gifts and sacrifices, had not Zeus thought of it and deliberated in his mind. And he first sent golden-winged Iris to call Demeter of the fair hair and perfect beauty. He spoke, and Iris obeyed Zeus Kroniôn who gathers the clouds, and with her feet she quickly traversed the space. And she arrived in the perfumed city of Eleusis, and she found in the temple Demeter in the blue peplos; and, calling her, she spoke to her these winged words:

— Demeter, Father Zeus who knows the things that will be accomplished calls you that you may come to the tribes of the Gods who live forever. Therefore come, and let not the command of Zeus, which I bring you, be in vain.

So she spake in supplication, but Demeter's heart was not moved. And Zeus sent her again all the happy gods who live for ever, and they called her one after another, and they gave her many and illustrious gifts, and they offered her all the honours that she would have among the immortal gods; but none could move the heart and will of the very angry Demeter, and she stubbornly rejected their offers, and she refused ever to ascend again to perfumed Olympus and make the earth produce, until she had seen with her own eyes her daughter with the fair eyes.

And when the mighty Zeus who looks far away had heard these words, he sent to Erebos the Argive Slayer with the golden rod, to exhort Aidés with flattering words, and that he might let chaste Persephoneia return to the light, to the gods, from the depths of black darkness, that her mother, having seen her with her own eyes, might lay down her anger.

Hermes did not refuse to obey, and leaving Olympus he sank swiftly into the depths of the earth. And he found the King in his halls, seated on a bed with his venerable wife, saddened by the regret of her mother who, because of the intolerable actions of the happy Gods, persisted in her firm will. And the mighty Slayer of Argos, standing near them, spoke to them thus:

—Helped by the blue-haired one, who rules the Shadows, Father Zeus has ordered me to bring back the illustrious Persephoneia of Erebos to the Gods, so that her mother, seeing her with her own eyes, may put an end to her anger and vengeance against the Immortals, for she meditates a terrible design, and she wishes to destroy the miserable race of men born of the earth, by stealing all the seeds and thus destroying the honors of the Immortals. She feels a terrible anger, and she does not mingle with the Gods; but she sits apart, in a perfumed temple, in the steep city of Eleusis.

He spoke thus, and the King of the Dead, Aidoneus, smiled, moving his eyebrows, and he did not neglect the order of King Zeus, and, immediately, he commanded thus the prudent Persephoneia:

—Go, Persephone, to your mother in the blue peplos, carrying in your breast a kind heart, and do not grieve above all other women. I will not be an unworthy husband to you among the Immortals, being the brother of Father Zeus. But when you return here, you will rule over all that lives and moves, and you will enjoy the greatest honors among the Immortals; and the punishment of unjust men will be eternal, if they do not appease your spirit with victims, by sacrificing you according to the rite and by making you lawful presents.

So he spoke, and prudent Persephoneia rejoiced, and immediately she leaped for joy. And he gave her, by herself, pomegranate seeds, sweet food which he made her eat by stealth, that she might not remain always with Demeter in the blue peplos. Then Aidoneus, who rules over many, bound his immortal horses to a golden chariot. And Persephoneia mounted the chariot, and beside her the mighty Argive Slayer, seizing the reins and the whip in his hands, urged the horses through the dwellings, and they did not fly slowly. And they accomplished the long journey quickly, and neither the sea, nor the water of the rivers, nor the valleys full of grass, nor the peaks hindered the impetuosity of the immortal horses, for they flew above, cleaving the thick cloud.

And the driver stopped the chariot where Demeter of the fair crown was, before the perfumed temple. And as soon as she saw it, she leapt like a Mainas through the thick forest of the mountain.

And Persephoneia, on her side… (gap)

in front of his mother… (gap)

leaps, in order to run… (gap)

but to her… (gap)

a… (gap)

— Child, have you nothing…(gap)

of food? Speak…(gap)

Indeed, returning like this…(gap)

and you will dwell with me and with Father Kroniôn who gathers the clouds, honored by all the Immortals. But if you have tasted this, you will return beneath the depths of the earth and you will remain there the third part of the year, and, the other two parts, with me and the Immortals. And when the earth is adorned with all the fragrant flowers of spring, then you will rise again from the thick darkness, as a great wonder for the Gods and mortal men. But by what trick has the powerful Aidôneus deceived you?

And the very beautiful Persephone answered him:

—Certainly, my mother, I will tell you the whole truth. When Hermes, very useful and swift messenger, came sent by Father Kronides and the other Uranians, so that I might leave Erebos, and that, having seen me with your own eyes, you might put an end to your anger and your terrible vengeance against the Immortals, at once I leapt for joy. But Aidoneus made me eat by stealth pomegranate seeds, sweet food, and he forced me to taste them. And I will tell you, and I will relate to you in full, as you ask, how Aidoneus, having abducted me, carried me away into the depths of the earth, by the will of my father Kronides. All of us, in a soft meadow, Leukippe, Phaino, Elektre, Ianthe, Melite, Iakhe, Rhodeia, Kalliroe, Melobosis, Tykhe, Okyroe with the rosy skin, Khryseis, Ianeira, Akaste, Admete, Rhodope, Plouto, the charming Calypso, Styx, Ourania, Galaxaure, Pallas who excites to battle, and Artemis who rejoices in her arrows, we played and gathered with our hands charming flowers, mingling saffron, gladioli, hyacinth, rosebuds and lilies. And the vast earth produced there, like a saffron, a wonderful thing, a narcissus. And I was rejoicing as I gathered it, when the earth opened, and the mighty Aidoneus sprang forth and carried me underground in his golden chariot, in spite of my efforts and my loud cries. And, although sad, I tell you the truth in all these things.

So during the day, united by the same thoughts, they charmed each other's soul and heart by turns, embracing each other with tenderness. And their grief was appeased, and they gave each other joyful presents. And Hekatè with the bright gauntlets approached them, and she gave many caresses to the chaste daughter of Demeter, because the Queen had accompanied and followed her.

But the far-sighted Zeus sent Rhea of ​​fair hair, that she might bring back Demeter in the blue peplos among the tribes of the gods. And he promised to grant her all the honours she desired among the immortal gods, and he promised her also, with a nod, that her daughter, remaining only the third part of the year under the thick darkness, should remain, the other two parts, with her mother and the other immortals.

When Zeus had spoken thus, the goddess did not disobey his commands; and immediately, springing from the heights of Olympus, she came to Rarios, formerly the fruitful breast of the earth, but now barren, mute, leafless, and stealing the white barley by the will of Demeter with the fair heels. But soon it was to blossom with long ears, in the return of spring, and bristle the fat furrows of harvests that were to be bound in sheaves. The goddess descended there, first, from the endless Aither. And they two looked at each other with kindness and were joyful in their hearts. And Rhei of the bright ribbons spoke to her thus:

— Come, child! The resounding Zeus who looks far away calls you to come to the tribes of the Gods, and he has promised that he will grant you all the honors you wish among the immortal Gods, and he has promised also, with a nod, that your daughter, remaining only the third part of the year under thick darkness, should remain the other two parts with you and the other Gods. Therefore come, my child, and obey, and do not be immoderately angry with the Kroniôn who gathers the clouds; but, at once, multiply the fruits that give life to men.

So she spoke, and Demeter of the fair crown did not refuse, and immediately she brought forth the fruits of the fertile fields. And all the wide earth bristled with leaves and flowers; and Demeter, as she departed, instructed the kings who administer justice: Triptolemus, and Diokles the tamer of horses, and the strength of Eumolpus, and the leader of the peoples Keleos. And she instructed them in the sacred ministry, and she initiated them all, Triptolemus, Polyxeinos, and especially Diokles, into her sacred orgies which it is not permitted either to neglect, or to fathom, or to reveal, for the great reverence of the Gods suppresses the voice. Happy is he who is instructed in these things among earthly men! He who is not initiated into sacred things and does not participate in them never enjoys a similar destiny, even when dead, under thick darkness.

After the noble Goddess had taught all, they both hastened to Olympus and the assembly of the other Gods. There they dwell with Zeus who rejoices in thunderbolts, sacred and venerable. And he is very happy among earthly men whom they love! For immediately they send to him, so that he may always be present in his great dwelling, Ploutos who dispenses riches to mortal men.

And you who possess the land of perfumed Eleusis, and Paros surrounded by the waves, and rocky Antron, venerable, richly gifted, who brings the seasons, Queen Demeter! you and your daughter, the most beautiful Persephoneia, grant me, for the sake of this song, a happy life! And I, I will remember you and the other songs.

I will sing first of Ceres of fair hair, venerable goddess, and her daughter light in the race, once carried off by Pluto. Jupiter, king of thunder, granted it to her when, far from her mother with the golden sword, goddess of yellow harvests, playing with the maidens of the Ocean, dressed in flowing tunics, she was looking for flowers in a soft meadow and gathered the rose, the saffron, the sweet violets, the iris, the hyacinth and the narcissus. By Jupiter's advice, to seduce this lovely virgin, the earth, favorable to the miserly Pluto, gave birth to the narcissus, this charming plant admired equally by men and the Immortals: from its root rise a hundred flowers; the vast sky, the fertile earth and the waves of the sea smile at its sweet perfumes. The enchanted goddess tears off this precious ornament with both her hands; Immediately the earth opened in the Nysian field, and Saturn's son, King Pluto, rushed forth, borne by his immortal horses. The god seized the young virgin in spite of her groans and carried her away in a chariot glittering with gold. Meanwhile she cried aloud, imploring her father, Jupiter, the first and most powerful of the gods: no immortal, no man, none of her companions heard her voice. But the prudent daughter of Perseus, Hecate with the long veil, heard her from the depths of her cave, and the Sun, brilliant son of Hyperion, also heard the young girl imploring her father Jupiter: at that moment, the Sun, far from all the gods, received in his temple the sumptuous sacrifices of the weak mortals.

Thus, with the consent of Jupiter, Pluto, who subdues all, renowned son of Saturn, borne by his immortal steeds, dragged this young girl despite her resistance and although he was her paternal uncle. As long as she still saw the earth, the starry sky, the vast sea and a few rays of the sun, she hoped that her venerable mother or one of the immortal gods might catch a glimpse of her. This hope inspired calm in her great soul, although overwhelmed with sadness. The mountains to their summits, the sea to its depths, resounded with the bursts of her divine voice. Her august mother heard her. A sharp pain immediately descended into her soul, with both her hands she tore the bandages around her divine hair; she clothed her shoulders with an azure mantle, and, like the bird, rose impatiently over the earth and the seas. But no god, no man would tell her the truth; The flight of no bird could guide her with a certain omen. For nine days the venerable Ceres traveled the earth, carrying in her hands lighted torches: absorbed in sorrow, she tasted neither ambrosia nor nectar during this time, nor did she immerse her body in the bath. But when the tenth dawn shone, Hecate, a torch in her hands, appeared before her and spoke these words:

"August Ceres, goddess of the seasons and harvests, which of the gods or mortals has abducted Proserpine and thus filled your soul with sorrows? I have just heard her voice; but I could not perceive who the abductor was."

Thus said Hecate. Ceres, the daughter of Rhea, made no reply to this speech, but she went away with the goddess, holding in her hands the lighted torches. Both went to the Sun, the observer of gods and men. Arriving before his steeds, they stopped, and Ceres questioned him with these words:

"Sun! if ever my actions or my words have been able to rejoice you, treat me as a goddess, take pity on my pain. I heard in the air the voice and the complaints of the girl I gave birth to, tender flower, admirably beautiful: it seemed to me that some audacious one was doing violence to her, and my eyes could not discover her; but you who from the height of the heavens illuminate with your rays both the earth and the seas, tell me with sincerity, dear divinity, if you have discovered anything and which of the gods or men seized my daughter with violence and took her far from me."

She said. The son of Hyperion then answered her in these words:

"Daughter of Rhea of ​​fair hair, mighty Ceres, you shall know the truth: I honour you and pity the pains you feel at the loss of your beloved daughter. None of the Immortals has caused your misfortune, except Jupiter, god of the clouds, who permitted Pluto to name your daughter his tender wife, although her paternal uncle. This god carried off the young virgin and in spite of her cries led her with his steeds into the bosom of eternal darkness. O goddess! calm your great grief; do not uselessly deliver your soul to indomitable anger. Pluto, king powerful among all the gods, is not unworthy to be your son-in-law: paternal uncle of your daughter, he is of the same blood as you; a great honour fell to him when, in the beginning, the three parts were made; now he dwells with those over whom it was granted to him to reign."

Having finished speaking, he stirred up his steeds. They, springing at his voice, bore away the light chariot with ease, like swift birds with outstretched wings. Meanwhile Ceres gave herself up to a keener and deeper grief. Angered at the son of Saturn, she departed for a long time from the assembly of the gods and from the vast Olympus; then, having changed her form, she roamed the cities and the fertile fields of mortals. No man or woman in broad tunics recognized her when she saw her, until she had come to the house of valiant Celeus, who then reigned in the perfumed city of Eleusis.

With a heart full of sorrow, she sat down by the roadside, near the Parthenian well, where the citizens came to quench their thirst. She stood in the shade of a thick olive tree, in the guise of a frozen woman, deprived of the favors of Venus, like the nurses of the children of kings who administer justice and the stewards of palaces with echoing vaults. The daughters of Celeus, coming to draw the gushing water to carry it in bronze vessels to their father's palace, saw her sitting there. There were four of them, beautiful as divinities and dazzling with youth: Callidice, Disidice, the lovely Demo and Callithoë, the eldest of all. They did not recognize Ceres: it is difficult for mortals to recognize the gods; they approached the goddess and made these words heard:

"Good woman, what ancient people have you just left? Why do you go away from the city and not come to our homes? There, in our shady palaces, are women of your age; there are also younger ones: they would welcome you with friendship; their speeches and their words would be full of benevolence for you."

They spoke thus. The august goddess answered in these words:

"My children, whatever rank you occupy among women, be happy; I will answer you: we must speak sincerely to those who question us. My name is Deo; I received it from my venerable mother. Now I come, in spite of myself, from Crete carried on the vast back of the sea. Pirates carried me off with violence; then their ship landed at Thorice, where several captives disembarked on the beach, while the sailors prepared the evening meal near the moored ship. As for me, who had no desire to take the sweet food, I escaped furtively along the shore, I fled from these insolent masters who wanted to sell me at a great price although they had obtained me without ransom. My wanderings have brought me to these places. I do not know what this country is, or what men are there who inhabit it. As for you, may the gods who reign in Olympus grant you to be soon united to young husbands and to give birth to children according to your desires! However, have pity on me, young girls; have kindness to me, dear children, until I arrive in the house of a man or a woman where I will gladly fulfill all the duties that are appropriate to an old woman: I will carry in my arms a newborn child, I will raise it with care and I will have the guard of the house; or else, inside the room, I will prepare the masters' bed, and I will teach their tasks to the women.

This is what Ceres said. Then one of these young virgins, Calladice, the most beautiful daughter of Celeus, answered her in these terms:

"O my mother! all our troubles, however great, must be borne, since the gods send them to us: their power is greater than ours. I will point out to you all the men who hold the first rank in power here, who are great among the people and whose prudence and justice protect the walls of the city. Here is the dwelling of the wise Triptolemus, that of Dioclea, that of Polyxena, that of the blameless Eumolpus, that of Dolichus and that of our generous father. The wives of these heroes watch carefully in their houses: scarcely will they have seen you than they will all welcome you; not one will despise your appearance; not one will drive you away from her home, for you resemble a divinity. But if you wish, wait here, we will go to my father's palace, we will faithfully relate this adventure to our mother, the venerable Metanira; and if the queen orders us to take you to our house, you will no longer have to seek another asylum. This palace contains a son that my parents had in their old age, a young child that they desired with all the ardor of their soul and that they cherish with tenderness: if you raise him and he happily reaches his adolescence, you will be rewarded for the care given to his childhood so richly that all the women seeing you will envy your fate."

These were the words of the daughter of Celeus. Ceres nodded in approval of the plan. The young girls immediately took away the shining vessels which they had filled with water; they came to their father's house and told their mother all that they had seen and heard. Metanirus immediately ordered them to call this woman and promise her rich wages from her. Like young deer, or rather like heifers satiated with pasture, which leap over the meadow in the season of spring, the young girls rushed forward, holding back the folds of their robes, on the road furrowed by the chariots; their hair, like the saffron flower, flowed in long curls over their shoulders.

They found the goddess still seated at the edge of the road where a short time before they had left her; they served as her guides to lead her to their father's house. Ceres followed them, her heart flooded with sorrow and her head covered; her blue veil descended to her feet. They thus arrived at the palace of Celeus. Their venerable mother was seated very close to the solid door, holding her young child, a tender flower which rested on her breast: her daughters, eager, ran around her. Meanwhile the goddess crossed the threshold; her head touched the beams of the hall and made a divine radiance shine through the doors. Then surprise and pale fear seized the queen; she offered her her seat, she urged her to sit down; but Ceres, goddess of the seasons and harvests, would not rest on this dazzling throne, she remained silent and kept her beautiful eyes lowered until the wise Iambe offered her a seat which she covered with a white sheepskin. There she sat down and with her hands she held her veil. Sad, she remained a long time on her seat, saying nothing, questioning neither with voice nor gesture, but motionless in her grief, taking neither drink nor food, and her heart consumed with sadness by the desire she had to see again her daughter in the floating tunic.

At last the wise Iambe, abandoning herself to a thousand joyful words, succeeded in distracting the august goddess, made her smile gently and spread calm in her soul. The amiable sallies of this young girl made her ever more dear to him in the aftermath. Then Metaneira presented her with a cup filled with a delicious wine. She refused it, saying that it was not permitted for her to drink wine; but she asked that she be given to drink water mixed with flour in which a little mint would be ground. Metaneira then prepared this beverage and presented it to her as she desired. The august Deo accepted out of grace, and Metaneira began the conversation in these terms:

"Greetings, stranger. I cannot believe that you are descended from obscure parents: you were certainly born of illustrious heroes; your eyes are resplendent with grace and modesty like those of kings who dispense justice. Whatever our sorrows, we must know how to bear them because they come to us from the gods: it is the yoke that weighs on our heads. Since you have arrived in these places, you will take part in all the goods that I possess. Take care of this son that the Immortals granted me in my old age at the moment when I no longer hoped for him; this son, the object of all my wishes and all my desires, if you raise him with care and he arrives happily in the days of youth, all the women who see you will envy your fate, so much will you be rewarded for the care lavished on my child."

- And you too, great queen, I salute you, Ceres replied, and may the gods fill you with joy! Yes, I will receive your son as you command and I will surround him with such care that never dangerous curse, never bad plant, will be able to trouble him. Besides, I know a remedy more powerful than all the plants cut in the forests, I know an infallible preservative against spells."

No sooner had Ceres spoken these words than she took the child in her immortal hands and hung him on her perfumed breast. The mother was glad at this. Thus she brought up in the palace the son of Celeus, Demophon, whom the beautiful Metanira bore. He grew up, handsome as a god, not eating bread, not eating milk. Ceres rubbed him with ambrosia, like the son of an Immortal, animated him with her breath and carried him in her bosom. During the night, unknown to his parents, she laid him, like a firebrand, in a burning hearth. All were astonished to see him thus grow in vigor and develop like the gods. Without doubt the goddess would have succeeded in freeing him from old age and death had it not been for the imprudence of Metanira. During the night she watched Ceres and saw her from her perfumed chamber. She immediately cried out loudly, she struck her two thighs, and her soul, trembling for the child, was agitated by great anger. Then in her pain she let these words escape:

"O my son, Demophon, thus the stranger throws you into the fire, delivering me to mourning, to the most bitter sorrows!"

Metanira spoke thus, weeping. The august goddess heard her. Then Ceres, angry, took from the home this beloved child whom the queen had conceived against all hope; with her divine hands she laid him on the ground, a violent anger animated her heart; she addressed these words to the beautiful Metanira:

"How blind and foolish are men! They know neither the good nor the evil that fate has in store for them: thus your imprudence is today your own misfortune. Yes, I swear by the inexorable wave of the Styx, oath of the gods, I would have freed your son from old age and death, I would have endowed him with eternal glory. Now he will not be able to escape death and destiny, but he will always enjoy great honor because he has rested on my knees and fallen asleep in my arms. However, when his youth comes, the children of Eleusis will see the fatal discords of war rise up among them without ceasing. I am Ceres, full of glory; I am the joy and happiness of gods and men. Come, let all the people build me a temple near the city and its high walls with a great altar on the high hill Callichore! I will give you I will teach the mysteries, you will celebrate them with piety and thus you will appease my soul."

The great goddess, speaking thus, changes her form and shakes off her old age: beauty breathes around her, a pleasant odor escapes from her perfumed veils, the light of her divine body shines around the goddess, her blond hair floats on her shoulders; the whole palace is filled with a splendor similar to the flash of lightning. The goddess then disappears from these dwellings. At this moment, Metaneira feels her knees bend, she remains for a long time speechless, she even forgets to lift up her son lying on the ground. Meanwhile the plaintive cries of Demophon reach the ears of his sisters: immediately they rush from their beds; one of them takes the child in her arms and presses him to her breast, another lights a fire, the third runs to warn the mother; then, grouped around their brother, they wash his palpitating body and fill him with caresses; but nothing can soothe his soul: his nurses and governesses are far inferior to Ceres.

All night long, in the grip of the greatest fear, they appease the illustrious goddess. As soon as dawn breaks on the horizon, they tell the mighty Celeus the whole truth, as the goddess, Ceres with the resplendent crown, has ordered them. Then the king gathers his numerous people, gives them the order to raise to the goddess a temple and an altar on the top of a hill. All hasten to carry out his orders: a temple is built as Celeus commands and advances rapidly by the will of the goddess. As soon as it is finished, the people ceased work, each one returning to his home.

Then the fair Ceres came and sat there, far from all the gods; and her heart gnawed with sadness by the desire to see her daughter in the ample tunic again, she sent a terrible and fatal year to mortals: the earth produced no seeds; Ceres with the beautiful crown held them in the furrows. It was in vain that the oxen dragged the curved plowshare in the fields; it was in vain that the purest wheat was spread in the fallow fields: the race of mortals was going to perish by the horrors of hunger, sacrifices and offerings were going to be forever lacking to the divinities of Olympus if Jupiter, at the sight of these evils, had not conceived in his soul a wise resolution. He sent Iris with the golden wings to call Ceres with the fair hair and shining with an amiable beauty. Iris, according to Jupiter's orders, crossed the space in a rapid flight. Arriving at the city of Eleusis, she found Ceres in the temple covered with an azure veil; she immediately addressed these words to her:

"Ceres, the great Jupiter of the immutable will commands you to come to the assembly of the immortal gods. Hasten, so that Jupiter's order may not remain unfulfilled."

Iris's words were suppliant, but Ceres did not obey. Jupiter addressed all the immortal gods to her: they begged her in turn to come to Olympus; they offered her many presents and promised her in the assembly of the gods all the honors she could desire. But no one could soften the heart of the irritated goddess. She rejected their wishes: finally she announced that she would not go to Olympus until she had seen her daughter with the sweet gaze again.

As soon as Jupiter learned of this resolution, he sent Mercury with the golden wand to Erebus. He charged him to persuade Pluto, by insinuating words, to permit the chaste Proserpine to depart from the dark empire and enjoy the light in the assembly of the gods, so that Ceres might be appeased at the sight of her daughter. Mercury obeyed this order, he left the dwellings of Olympus and rushed into the abysses of the earth. He found the king of shadows in his palace, seated on his couch beside his venerable wife, who was overwhelmed with sadness by the desire to see her mother again. The murderer of Argus approached Pluto and spoke to him in this way:

"Dark-haired Pluto, king of shadows, Jupiter commands me to lead the chaste Proserpine out of Erebus, into our midst, so that Ceres, seeing her daughter, will abandon her anger towards the Immortals. This goddess has the terrible design of annihilating the race of mortals by hiding the seed in the depths of the earth and thus destroying the honors of the divinities. She harbors a terrible anger; she does not unite with the other gods: alone apart in her perfumed temple, she has fixed her abode in the strong citadel of Eleusis."

At this speech, Pluto, king of the dead, smiled. Obeying Jupiter's order, he spoke in these words to the prudent Proserpine:

"Return, Proserpine, to your azure-veiled mother. Keep a sweet thought in your soul and do not abandon yourself to useless sorrows. Certainly, among the Immortals, I am not an unworthy husband for you, I, brother of Jupiter. When you return to these places, you will reign over all the shades that inhabit them, and you will enjoy the great honors reserved for the divinities, and punishment will strike the impious who would neglect to offer you piously sacrifices and to perform the sacred gifts."

He says. Prudent Proserpine, full of joy, rushes forward with glee. Then Pluto, approaching her in secret, makes her eat a sweet pomegranate seed, so that she may not always remain with her venerable mother, Ceres with the azure veil. Then this god who subdues all things harnesses his immortal steeds to his chariot glittering with gold. Proserpine mounts; Mercury takes in hand the whip and the reins; they leave the dark kingdom; the horses fly with joy, and the two divinities quickly cross immense spaces: neither the sea, nor the rapid rivers, nor the green valleys, nor the hills stop the impetuous flight of the immortal steeds; higher than the hills, they cleave with their rapid course the immensity of the air. At last the chariot stops before the temple where the fair Ceres dwelt. She, at the sight of her daughter, rushes like a maenad who rushes from the mountain into the dark forest. Proserpine, leaping from the chariot, runs, swift as a bird, to meet her mother, kisses her head, takes her hands. Ceres, as she embraces her daughter, feels sweet tears moisten her cheeks, her voice expires on her lips; then, after a short silence, she questions Proserpine and says these words to her:

"Dear child, have you tasted no food near the king of the dead? Speak, hide nothing from me, that I may know the truth, for if it were so, you could henceforth always dwell near me, near your father, the dread Jupiter, and you would be honored by all the gods. But if you have tasted any food, then returning again to the bosom of the earth, you will devote a third of the year to your husband, and the other two thirds you will spend with me and the immortal gods. At the time when the earth brought forth the fragrant and varied flowers of spring, you will return from the dark darkness, to the great astonishment of gods and men. But tell me by what trick the terrible Pluto has deceived you.

- Mother, answered Proserpina, I will tell you all with sincerity. When Mercury, swift messenger of Jupiter and the other gods, came to bring me out of Erebus and to bring me to you to calm your anger, I rushed with joy; but Pluto secretly gave me a pomegranate seed, delicious food, and forced me to eat it. I will now tell you how the son of Saturn abducted me by the secret will of my father and carried me off into the abysses of the earth; I will tell you all as you wish. There were several of us young girls in a smiling meadow: Leucippus, Pheno, Melite, Ianthus, Electra, Iache, Rhodia, Callirhoe, Melobosis, Tyche, the beautiful Ocyrhoe, Chryseis, Janira, Acasta, Admetus, Rhodope, Plouto, the tender Calypso, Styx, Urania, the amiable Glaxaure, Pallas, valiant in battle, and Diana, happy with her arrows; we played together, picking a thousand varied flowers; we gathered in bouquets the perfumed saffron, the iris, the hyacinth, the roses with the fragrant calyx, the lily of a dazzling whiteness and the narcissus similar to the saffron that the fertile earth had just given birth to. Joyfully, I pull up this superb plant: at that moment the earth opens, the formidable Pluto leaps forth, and, despite my resistance, carries me into the darkness on his chariot sparkling with gold. In my flight, I let out pitiful cries. Oh my mother! that's all. Although sad, I have told you everything with sincerity."

Thus, all day long, the goddesses rejoiced in their hearts with mutual caresses. Their souls ceased to grieve. They exchanged together the testimonies of the sweetest joy. At this moment near these divinities arrives Hecate with the shining veil; she tenderly embraces the chaste daughter of Ceres. From then on she was always the companion and friend of Proserpine. Jupiter, master of thunder, orders Rhea to bring Ceres with the azure veil to the assembly of the Immortals and to promise her the divine honors she desired. He allows Proserpine to spend a third of the year in the dark dwellings and the rest of the time with her mother and the other gods. Thus wills Jupiter. The goddess hastens to accomplish her message: she rushes quickly from the heights of Olympus and arrives at Rhadius, once a fertile countryside, today struck with sterility, arid, stripped of foliage. By the will of Ceres, the wheat remains buried without fertility: yet the goddess will later allow these fields to be covered with long ears of corn at the return of spring, and that abundant harvests destined to be gathered in sheaves will still yellow the fallow fields. The goddess, having crossed the plains of the air, stops in these places.

The two deities are happy to see each other again, their hearts rejoice. Rhea then addresses these words to Ceres:

"My daughter, Jupiter, master of lightning, commands you to come and take your place among the Immortals and promises to have you given the honors you desire among the divinities. He has decided that your daughter will remain the third part of the year in the dark dwellings and the rest with you and the other gods. He has promised it with a nod of his head: come then, my child, let yourself be moved by these promises, do not be angry any longer with Jupiter; promptly return the nourishing fruits of the earth to mortals."

Ceres with the beautiful crown does not resist these words; she restores fertility to the countryside: the earth is covered with foliage and flowers; the goddess teaches the kings, leaders of justice, to Triptolemus, to Diocles, labile squire, to the courageous Eumolpus, to Celeus, shepherd of the peoples, the sacred ministry of her altars; she entrusts to Triptolemus, to Polyxena, to Dorle the sacred mysteries that it is permitted neither to penetrate nor to reveal: the fear of the gods must restrain our voice. Happy is he among mortals who witnessed these mysteries; but he who is not initiated, who does not take part in the sacred rites, will not enjoy such a beautiful destiny, even after his death, in the kingdom of darkness.

Ceres having accomplished her designs, the two divinities returned to Olympus and mingled with the assembly of the Immortals. There, surrounded by holy veneration, they dwell near the formidable Jupiter. Happy among all mortals is he whom they cherish: they send to visit him in his dwellings the god Plutus, who distributes wealth to weak humans.

August goddess of the seasons, powerful Ceres, who fills us with gifts, you who reign in the city of Eleusis, in Paros and on the stony Antrone; and you, her daughter, beautiful Proserpine, be favorable to my voice, deign to grant me a happy life! I will not forget you and I will sing another song.

To Demeter

I begin by singing of Demeter with the beautiful hair, venerable Goddess, she and her daughter, the very beautiful Persephoneia.

Hail, Goddess! Preserve this city and preside over my song.

I will begin by singing of Ceres with the beautiful hair, venerable goddess, she and her daughter Proserpine.

Hail, O goddess, save our city, listen to our songs with a propitious ear.

To Hephaestus

Sing of the most skillful Hephaestus, harmonious Muse, who, with clear-eyed Athenai, taught, on earth, the illustrious works to men who, before, dwelt in the caves of the mountains, like wild beasts.

Now, instructed by the illustrious worker Hephaestus, they easily pass all the years and their entire life, tranquil, in their dwellings.

Be propitious, O Hephaestus! Grant virtue and happiness!

To Vulcan

Melodious Muse, sings the ingenious Vulcan. In concert with Minerva, he taught the most beautiful works on earth to mortals; formerly they dwelt in the caves of the mountains, like wild beasts, but now, instructed in the arts by the industrious Vulcan, they see the years flow by in a happy life, they live tranquilly in the house.

Be favorable to us, O Vulcan, grant me happiness and virtue.

To Hercules the Lionheart

I will sing of Heracles, son of Zeus, the bravest of earthly men, whom Alkmene bore in Thebes of beautiful choirs, having united with Kroniôn who gathers the clouds.

At first he wandered, by the orders of King Eurystheus, over the vast land and the sea. He did many terrible works, and he suffered many evils. And now he rejoices, dwelling in the beautiful dwelling of snowy Olympus, and he possesses Hebe with the beautiful heels.

Hail, King, son of Zeus! Give me virtue and happiness.

Hercules the Lionheart

I will celebrate the son of Jupiter, Hercules, the most valiant of mortals. Alcmene, who had united herself in love with Jupiter, gave birth to him in the charming city of Thebes. This hero, at first by the orders of the powerful Eurystheus, traveled the seas and the immense earth, accomplishing the greatest enterprises, enduring the most painful labors; now full of joy, he dwells in the superb dwellings of Olympus covered with snow and possesses the brilliant Hebe.

Hail, mighty king, son of Jupiter, grant me happiness and virtue.

To Asklepios

I begin by singing of the Healer of diseases, Asklepios, son of Apollo, whom the divine Koronis, daughter of King Phlegios, gave birth to in the plain of Dotius, to be a great joy to men and the alleviation of evil pains.

And I salute you thus, O King, and I pray to you with my song.

To Aesculapius

Let us celebrate the one who heals our ills, the son of Apollo, Aesculapius, who gave birth to the divine Coronis, daughter of King Phlegus, to be the joy of men and to alleviate their most bitter pains.

Hail, O king, I implore you in my songs.

To Pan

Sing to me, Muse, the dear son of Hermeias, goat-footed, two-horned, friend of noise, who walks through the wooded valleys with the Nymphs accustomed to dances, and who treads the summits of the high rocks, invoking Pan, God of shepherds, with splendid unkempt hair, who has received as his share the snowy mountains, and the peaks of the mountains, and the stony paths.

He goes here and there among the thickets, sometimes charmed by a quiet stream; or else he returns to the steep rocks, and, climbing the highest peak, he looks at his sheep.

Often he roams the great mountains covered with white stones, and often he runs along the hills, killing the wild beasts he has seen from afar.

Sometimes, alone, in the evening, on returning from hunting, he draws a sweet song from his reeds, and the bird which, in the foliage of the flowering spring spreading its complaint, makes the sweetest song heard, would not prevail over him.

Then the harmonious Nymphs Orestiades, accompanying him in crowds to the deep spring, sing, and the echo resounds on the summit of the mountain and in the soft meadow where the saffron and the hyacinth, flowery and fragrant, mingle with the grass. And the God, waving his feet, leaps here and there in the choir, having on his back the bloody skin of a lynx, and charming his soul with these sweet songs.

And the Nymphs praise the happy Gods, and broad Olympus, and most benevolent Hermes, whom they say is superior to all others; and how he is the swift messenger of all the Gods, they also tell.

And he came to spring-watered Arkadia, mother of sheep, where is her sacred Kyllenian grove; and there, though a God, he tended, like a mortal man, his curly-wooled sheep, for a tender desire blossomed in him to unite in love with the fair-haired Nymph Dryops.

And he accomplished this charming union, and the Nymph gave birth in her dwellings to the dear son of Hermes, prodigious, with goat's feet, with two horns, rejoicing at the tumultuous noise and laughing softly. And the nurse fled leaping away and left the child, for she was afraid, as soon as she saw his fierce and bearded face.

But immediately the most benevolent Hermes took him in his hands, and the God rejoiced greatly in his soul. And he went quickly to the dwellings of the Immortals, having wrapped the child in the thick fur of a mountain hare.

And he sat down with Zeus and the other immortals, and he showed them his son. And all the immortals rejoiced in their hearts, and Bakkhos Dionysus was especially charmed. And they named him Pan, because he had charmed them all.

And I salute you thus, O King! And I pray to you with this song. And I will remember you and the other songs.

To Pan

Muse, celebrates the beloved son of Mercury, Pan with goat's feet, with a forehead armed with two horns, with resounding sounds, and who, under the cool of the grove, mingles with the choirs of the Nymphs: these, crossing the high mountains, address their prayers to Pan, rural god with superb but neglected hair. He received as his share the snow-covered mountains and the rocky paths; he walks on all sides through the thick undergrowth; sometimes he climbs the steep rocks, and from their slender peaks he delights in contemplating the herds. Often he leaps on the mountains crowned with white vapors; often, in the valleys, he pursues and sacrifices the wild beasts which cannot hide from his piercing gaze; other times, when night approaches, alone, returning from the hunt, he sighs on his pipes a melodious air. The bird which, beneath the foliage of the flowering spring, repeats its sweet song in a plaintive voice, does not prevail over this divinity.

Then the mountain nymphs, with their loud voices, gather with him at a hurry, near a deep fountain. Echo makes the summits of the mountains resound; the god joins at random in the chorus of dances, and without breaking them enters them with a light step; his shoulders are covered with a lynx skin, his soul is gladdened by the melodious accents. They dance thus in a soft meadow where the thick grass is perfumed with saffron and the fragrant hyacinth. In their hymns the nymphs celebrate both the fortunate gods and vast Olympus, but they sing above all of benevolent Mercury, swift messenger of the gods.

It was he who came to Arcadia, the source of abundant springs and fertile in flocks: there stands the sacred field of Cyllene; there he, a powerful god, guarded the white sheep of a simple mortal, for he had conceived the most ardent desire to unite with a beautiful nymph, daughter of Dryops. Their sweet marriage at last was accomplished: this young nymph gave birth to the son of Mercury, a child strange to behold, a child with goat's feet, a forehead armed with two horns, with resounding sounds, a kind smile. At this sight the nurse abandoned the child and immediately fled; his horrible look and his thick beard terrified her: but the benevolent Mercury receiving him immediately took him in his hands, and his soul felt great joy. He thus arrived at the abode of the Immortals, carefully hiding his son in the hairy skin of a mountain hare: placing himself before Jupiter and the other divinities he showed them the young child. All the Immortals rejoiced at this sight, especially Bacchus. They named him Pan, because for all he was a subject of joy.

Hail, O king, I implore you in these verses; I will always remember you, and I will say another song.

To Dionysus

I will remember Dionysus, son of the illustrious Semele, when he appeared on the shore of the barren sea, on a jutting promontory, like a youth in early adolescence. His beautiful blue hair flowed, and he had a purple mantle around his sturdy shoulders.

Now, in their ships with strong rowing benches, Tyrrhenian pirates arrived quickly on the black sea, and an evil destiny brought them.

When they saw Dionysus, they made signs to one another, and, leaping down, they seized him and laid him in the ship, rejoicing in their hearts. They thought that he was a son of Kings, infants of Zeus, and they wanted to load him with heavy bonds. But the bonds did not hold him, and the osier branches fell from his feet and hands, and he sat down, smiling with his blue eyes. And as soon as the pilot saw him, he immediately commanded his companions and said to them:

— Fools! What is this mighty God whom you have seized and bound? The well-built ship cannot bear him. For he is Zeus, or Apollo with the silver bow, or Poseidon; for he is not like mortal men, but like the Gods who have Olympian dwellings. Come! Let us set him down at once on the black dry land, and do not lay hands on him, lest he raise up the overwhelming winds and a vast whirlwind.

He spoke thus, and the chief reprimanded him with these harsh words:

— Unhappy man! Pay attention to the favourable wind and use the sail and all the rigging of the ship at once. Our men will then take care of this one. I hope that he will arrive in Aegypt, or at Kypros, or among the Hyperboreans, or still further, and that he will finally tell us who are his friends and his riches and his relations, since a God has sent him to us.

Having thus spoken, he raised the mast and stretched the sail of the ship, and the wind filled the sail in the middle, and they made ready all the rigging. But immediately wonders appeared to them.

And behold, first a sweet wine, spreading a divine odor, flowed through the black and swift ship, and the sailors, having seen it, were seized with amazement.

And immediately afterward, up to the top of the sail, a vine spread here and there, and many clusters hung from it. And a black ivy twined around the mast, and it was covered with flowers, and beautiful fruits were born there. And all the oar-pins had crowns. And the sailors, having seen this, ordered the pilot Medeide to return to land.

But Dionysus appeared to them as a terrible lion on the ship; and he roared violently. Then Dionysus, manifesting his signs, created a she-bear with a bristling neck which rose up furiously, while the lion, at the end of the deck, cast horrible glances. Then the sailors fled to the stern, around the wise pilot, and they stopped there terrified. And the lion leapt and seized the leader; and all, to avoid the black destiny, jumped together into the divine sea, where they became dolphins. But Dionysus took pity on the pilot, and he made him very happy, and he said to him:

— Rest assured, divine pilot, dear to my heart. I am the noisy Dionysus whom a Kadméide mother, Semele, gave birth to, having united herself in love with Zeus.

Hail, son of Semele with beautiful eyes! It would not be permissible for anyone to forget you to adorn her sweet song.

To Bacchus

I will sing of Bacchus, Semele's illustrious son: I will tell how on the shore of the barren sea, on a high promontory, he appeared like a young hero in the flower of life. His beautiful black hair flowed over his neck; his broad shoulders were covered with a purple mantle. Suddenly a ship with larvae on its sides loaded with Tyrrhenian pirates advances through the waves: a contrary destiny brought these pirates to these places. As soon as they see Bacchus, they make signs to each other and rush forward; with hearts transported with joy, they hasten to take him into their ship; they believed that he was the son of the kings descended from Jupiter and wanted to chain him with heavy bonds. But nothing can hold him; the wicker falls from his feet and hands: he, looking at the sailors with a sweet smile, sits down beside them. At this sight, the frightened pilot calls his companions and says to them:

"Ah! wretch, who is this powerful god that you claim to chain? Your strong ship cannot suffice. It is Jupiter,

Neptune or Apollo with the silver bow. He does not resemble weak humans, but the immortal inhabitants of Olympus. Let us quickly put him back on the ground, take care not to insult him, lest in his wrath he unleash against us furious winds and roaring tempests."

He said, but the master of the ship, approaching the pilot, addressed these harsh reproaches to him:

"You fool, see, the wind is favorable; hurry to set the sails, to prepare the ship's rigging; as for him, the sailors will take care of him, and he will bring us great advantages. We will take him to Egypt, or to the island of Cyprus, or to the Hyperboreans, or even further, until he has decided to make known to us his parents, his friends, his riches: it is a god who has placed him in our hands."

He spoke and raised the masts and all the ropes. The wind blew in the sails and the sailors prepared the ship's rigging. But soon dazzling wonders shone before their eyes: a fragrant wine flowed in the heart of the ship and delicious perfumes were exhaled in the air. Surprise seized all the sailors who were contemplating these wonders. At the end of the sail a vine snaked on all sides from which many bunches hung, a greenish ivy laden with flowers entwined itself on the mast and covered it with its delicious verdure, crowns adorned all the rowers' benches. At this sight the sailors ordered the pilot to steer the ship ashore; but at the point of the ship the god appeared to them in the form of a terrible lion and let out long roars. In the middle of the ship, by another wonder, a bear bristling with hair appeared; The bear, inflamed with fury, stands on his feet, while at the end of the deck, the lion looks at him with his menacing eyes. The frightened sailors, near the stern, gather around the pilot, a man of wise mind, and stop in the anguish of fear. Suddenly, the lion rushing forward carries off the master of the ship. At this sight the sailors, to avoid a terrible fate, rush into the sea and are changed into dolphins. But Bacchus, having pity on the pilot, stops him and promises him a happy life in these words:

"Rest assured, noble pilot, dear to my heart, you see in me the tumultuous Bacchus whom the Cadmean Semele gave birth to, after having united in love with Jupiter."

Hail, glorious son of Semele; I must not forget you in composing my sweet songs.

To Dionysus

I begin by singing of Dionysus crowned with ivy, noisy, glorious son of Zeus and illustrious Semele, and whom the fair-haired Nymphs nursed, having received him from the Father-King, in their bosom. And they nourished him with tenderness in the valleys of Nysè, and he grew up, by his father's will, in a fragrant cave, and he was numbered among the Immortals.

But the Goddesses having raised him up to be highly praised, then he went through the wooded solitudes, crowned with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs accompanied him, and he led them, and the sound of their feet enveloped the immense forest.

And thus I salute you, O Dionysus, rich in grapes! Grant that we may begin the Hours again, full of joy, and through them arrive at many years!

To Bacchus

I will first celebrate the boisterous Bacchus, with his hair entwined with ivy, illustrious son of Jupiter and Semele. The Nymphs having received him from his father, raised him and placed him in their bosom and nourished him with care in the valleys of Nysa. By the will of Jupiter, he grew up in the depths of a perfumed cave, to take his place among the ranks of the Immortals. When the Nymphs raised this illustrious child, crowned with ivy and laurel, he roamed the wild woods: the Nymphs followed him; he walked before them; the immensities of the forest resounded with a great noise.

Hail, O Bacchus! who hast fertilized our vines; grant that we may always reach the end of the season with joy, and that after this season we may still arrive at many years.

The same.

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For some say that Semele conceived thee in Drakanos, of Zeus who rejoices in thunder, O offspring of Zeus, sewn into his thigh! Others, in wind-beaten Ikaros; others, in Naxos; others, on the banks of whirling Alpheios; and others, O King, say that thou wast born in Thebes; and all lie.

The Father of men and Gods begot you far from men, and hiding from white-armed Here.

There is a high mountain, Nysè, covered with forests, far from Phoinike, near the river Aigyptos.

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And they shall set up many images for him in the temples. And as these things are three, every three years men shall sacrifice to you complete hecatombs.

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So he spoke, and the Kroniôn promised, moving his blue eyebrows; and the ambrosial hair of the King stirred on his immortal head, and he made vast Olympos tremble.

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Having thus spoken, the all-wise Zeus nodded.

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Be propitious, O sewn in the thigh, who loves women with fury; we, the Aoides, will sing to you at the beginning and at the end, for it is not permitted to those who forget you to remember the sacred song.

And I greet you thus, Dionysus sewn into the thigh, you and your mother Semele, who is called Thyone.

To the same (Fragments)

It is said that Semele, having united herself in love with Jupiter, king of lightning, she gave birth to you, some say in Dracane, others in vast Icarus, others in Naxos. O Bacchus! divine child, others say that you were born near the Alpheus, with its deep chasms; still others say that it was in Thebes. They are all in error. It was the father of gods and men who engendered you far from all mortals, by stealing from the beautiful Juno. There is a high mountain called Nysa; it is crowned with green forests, and far from Phoenicia it rises near the banks of the river Egyptus…

Many statues will rise in your temples. Every three years, to celebrate your festivals, men will sacrifice illustrious hecatombs in your honor…

At these words the son of Saturn lowers his black eyebrows, the hair of the king of the gods stirs on his immortal head; vast Olympus is shaken.

… Jupiter, speaking thus, nodded his head in approval.

…Be favorable to us, O Bacchus! who love women; it is always with you that we will begin and end our songs; it is not possible to forget you and remember another hymn.

Hail, O Bacchus! Hail, O Semele his mother, you who also bear the name of Thyone.

To Helios.

Begin, Muse, child of Zeus, Kalliope, to sing again a hymn to Helios, sparkling, whom ox-eyed Euryphaessa bore for the son of Gaia and starry Ouranos.

Hyperion married, in fact, his sister, the illustrious Euryphaessa, who bore him beautiful children, Eos with rosy arms, and Selene with beautiful hair, and the tireless Helios, like the immortal Gods, who, drawn by his horses, enlightens mortal men and the immortal Gods.

Terrible he looks with his eyes, under a helmet of gold, and bright rays spring from himself, and on his temples the shining cheeks of the helmet enclose his fair shining face. Around his fair body light garments shine resplendent in the breath of the winds, and stallions are subjected to the yoke; and, where he stops, in the evening, his chariot with the golden yoke and his horses, he sends them from Ouranos into Okeanos.

Hail, King! Give me, benevolent one, sweet food. Having begun with you, I will sing of the race of men who have an articulate voice, of the demigod men whose works the Immortals have manifested to men.

Under the sun

Muse Calliope, daughter of Jupiter, first sings of the radiant Sun, whom fair Euryphaessa conceived from the son of the earth and the starry sky. Hyperion married the famous Euryphaessa, his sister, who gave birth to the most beautiful children: the rosy-fingered Aurora, the fair-haired Moon, and the tireless Sun, like the Immortals, who, drawn in a swift chariot, enlightens both gods and men; through his golden helmet his eyes cast formidable glances; sparkling rays dart from his breast; his shining helmet darts a dazzling splendor and casts far the light of his radiant face; around his body shines a light drapery that the breath of the wind lifts and makes fly; under his hand vigorous steeds…

It is there, after having traveled the heavens and having thrown himself into the Ocean, that he stops his horses and his chariot with its axle sparkling with gold.

Hail, O great king! Please, in your benevolence towards me, grant me a happy life; I began with you, now I will sing of that race of demigod men, whose glorious deeds the Immortals revealed to the earth.

To Selene.

Teach me to sing the praises of the outstretched Selene, Muses, harmonious daughters of Kroniôn Zeus, skilled in song!

His splendor, which comes from an immortal head, spreads in Ouranos and envelops the earth. Everything is adorned by his dazzling splendor, and the dark air is illuminated by his golden crown.

Her rays are shed in the air, when, having washed her fair body in the Okeanos, and dressed in her shining garments, the divine Selene binds to the yoke her horses with high heads and quickly drives her luminous horses with beautiful manes, in the evening, in the middle of the month, when her orb is full, and when her most dazzling rays have increased in the Ouranos, as a sign and omen for mortals.

Formerly, the Kroniôn united himself in love with her, and, having become pregnant, she bore a daughter, Pandie, admirable for her beauty among the immortal Gods.

Hail, Queen! White-armed goddess, divine Selene, benevolent, with beautiful hair! Having begun with you, I will sing the praises of the demigod men whose works the Aoides, servants of the Muses, celebrate with lovely songs.

At the moon

Melodious Muses, daughters of Jupiter, skilled in the art of song, celebrate the Moon with swift wings; the light that bursts around her immortal head comes to flood the earth; a soft radiance embellishes it and the brightness of her golden crown dissipates the darkness of the air. Your rays shine, when having bathed your beautiful body you come out of the Ocean, and when, having wrapped yourself in your luminous garments, you bend under the yoke your sparkling horses, with proud heads, when you make them spread their floating manes and take up their brisk course. In the middle of the month, in the evening, when your immense orb is filled, the heavens pour out bright lights; a memorable sign appears to humans. Formerly the Moon united herself in love with Jupiter: from this union was born Pandée, beautiful among all the Immortals.

Hail, powerful goddess with arms of alabaster, divine and benevolent Moon, adorned with beautiful hair: I first sang your praises, now I will tell you the glory of these demigod men, whose actions the favorites of the Muses celebrate with a melodious voice.

At the Dioskoures

Sing of Kastor and Polydeukes, harmonious Muse, the Tyndarides born of Olympian Zeus, and whom, under the peaks of Teygetos, the venerable Leda gave birth to, secretly tamed by the Kroniôn who gathers the clouds.

Hail, Tyndarides, riders of swift horses!

To the Dioscuri

Melodious Muse, sing of the Tyndarides, Castor and Pollux, descended from Olympian Jupiter. They received the day of the august Leda, who, having united herself in love with the fearsome son of Latona, bore them on the summit of Taygetus.

Hail, Tyndarides, skilled in taming steeds.

At the Dioskoures.

Muses with rounded eyelids, tell me about the Dioskoures Tyndarides, illustrious children of Leda with beautiful heels, Kastôr the horse tamer and the irreproachable Polydeukes.

Under the peaks of Teygetos, the great mountain, after having united in love with the Kroniôn who gathers the clouds, she gave birth to sons who save earthly men and to swift ships, when the storms of winter upset the implacable sea.

Then the supplicant sailors invoke the sons of the great Zeus by sacrificing white lambs to them on the top of the stern.

And the violence of the wind and the water of the sea already overwhelm them, when the Dioskoures appear immediately, hastening across the Aither, on orange wings. And they quickly appease the whirlwinds of the terrible winds, and they calm by leveling them the waves of the white sea, a sign of rest for the sailors who, having seen them, rejoice and cease their overwhelming work.

Hail, Tyndarides, borne on swift horses! I will remember you and the other songs.

To the Dioscuri

Black-eyed Muses, celebrate the Dioscuri, descendants of Tyndareus, beautiful children of the bright Leda, Castor the skilled squire, and the noble Pollux. On the peaks of the high mountain Taygetus, Leda having united herself in love with the formidable Jupiter gave birth to sons destined to be the saviors of the weak humans and to protect the ships, when the furious storms rush upon the implacable sea. The sailors implore the sons of the great Jupiter and sacrifice lambs to them on the stern; the furious winds and the heaped waves of the sea threaten to engulf the ship: then, borne on their swift wings, the Dioscuri appear in the air, calming the raging winds and the storms, they calm the waves of the sea before the sailors and make favorable signs shine for them. Joy descends into the hearts of the sailors; they stop their hard work.

Hail, O Tyndarides! Drivers of swift steeds, I will never forget you, and I will say another song.