ly； him it teaches through its sound all manner of things that delight the mind； being easily played with gentle familiarities； for it abhors toilsome drudgery； but whoso in ignorance enquires of it violently； to him it chatters mere vanity and foolishness。 But you are able to learn whatever you please。 So then； I will give you this lyre； glorious son of Zeus； while I for my part will graze down with wild…roving cattle the pastures on hill and horse…feeding plain： so shall the cows covered by the bulls calve abundantly both males and females。 And now there is no need for you； bargainer though you are； to be furiously angry。'
（ll。 496…502） When Hermes had said this； he held out the lyre： and Phoebus Apollo took it； and readily put his shining whip in Hermes' hand； and ordained him keeper of herds。 The son of Maia received it joyfully； while the glorious son of Leto； the lord far…working Apollo； took the lyre upon his left arm and tried each string with the key。 Awesomely it sounded at the touch of the god； while he sang sweetly to its note。
（ll。 503…512） Afterwards they two； the all…glorious sons of Zeus turned the cows back towards the sacred meadow； but themselves hastened back to snowy Olympus； delighting in the lyre。 Then wise Zeus was glad and made them both friends。 And Hermes loved the son of Leto continually； even as he does now； when he had given the lyre as token to the Far…shooter； who played it skilfully； holding it upon his arm。 But for himself Hermes found out another cunning art and made himself the pipes whose sound is heard afar。
（ll。 513…520） Then the son of Leto said to Hermes： ‘Son of Maia； guide and cunning one； I fear you may steal form me the lyre and my curved bow together； for you have an office from Zeus； to establish deeds of barter amongst men throughout the fruitful earth。 Now if you would only swear me the great oath of the gods； either by nodding your head； or by the potent water of Styx； you would do all that can please and ease my heart。'
（ll。 521…549） Then Maia's son nodded his head and promised that he would never steal anything of all the Far…shooter possessed； and would never go near his strong house； but Apollo； son of Leto； swore to be fellow and friend to Hermes； vowing that he would love no other among the immortals； neither god nor man sprung from Zeus； better than Hermes： and the Father sent forth an eagle in confirmation。 And Apollo sware also： ‘Verily I will make you only to be an omen for the immortals and all alike； trusted and honoured by my heart。 Moreover； I will give you a splendid staff of riches and wealth： it is of gold； with three branches； and will keep you scatheless； accomplishing every task； whether of words or deeds that are good； which I claim to know through the utterance of Zeus。 But as for sooth…saying； noble； heaven…born child； of which you ask； it is not lawful for you to learn it； nor for any other of the deathless gods： only the mind of Zeus knows that。 I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a strong oath that no other of the eternal gods save I should know the wise…hearted counsel of Zeus。 And do not you； my brother； bearer of the golden wand； bid me tell those decrees which all… seeing Zeus intends。 As for men； I will harm one and profit another； sorely perplexing the tribes of unenviable men。 Whosoever shall come guided by the call and flight of birds of sure omen； that man shall have advantage through my voice； and I will not deceive him。 But whoso shall trust to idly…chattering birds and shall seek to invoke my prophetic art contrary to my will； and to understand more than the eternal gods； I declare that he shall come on an idle journey； yet his gifts I would take。
（ll。 550…568） ‘But I will tell you another thing； Son of all… glorious Maia and Zeus who holds the aegis； luck…bringing genius of the gods。 There are certain holy ones； sisters born three virgins （23） gifted with wings： their heads are besprinkled with white meal； and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus。 These are teachers of divination apart from me； the art which I practised while yet a boy following herds； though my father paid no heed to it。 From their home they fly now here； now there； feeding on honey…comb and bringing all things to pass。 And when they are inspired through eating yellow honey； they are willing to speak truth； but if they be deprived of the gods' sweet food； then they speak falsely； as they swarm in and out together。 These； then； I give you； enquire of them strictly and delight your heart： and if you should teach any mortal so to do； often will he hear your response if he have good fortune。 Take these； Son of Maia； and tend the wild roving； horned oxen and horses and patient mules。'
（ll。 568a…573） So he spake。 And from heaven father Zeus himself gave confirmation to his words； and commanded that glorious Hermes should be lord over all birds of omen and grim…eyed lions； and boars with gleaming tusks； and over dogs and all flocks that the wide earth nourishes； and over all sheep； also that he only should be the appointed messenger to Hades； who； though he takes no gift； shall give him no mean prize。
（ll。 574…578） Thus the lord Apollo showed his kindness for the Son of Maia by all manner of friendship： and the Son of Cronos gave him grace besides。 He consorts with all mortals and immortals： a little he profits； but continually throughout the dark night he cozens the tribes of mortal men。
（ll。 579…580） And so； farewell； Son of Zeus and Maia； but I will remember you and another song also。
V。 TO APHRODITE （293 lines）
（ll。 1…6） Muse； tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian； who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the dry land rears； and all the sea： all these love the deeds of rich…crowned Cytherea。
（ll。 7…32） Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor yet ensnare。 First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis； bright…eyed Athene； for she has no pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite； but delights in wars and in the work of Ares； in strifes and battles and in preparing famous crafts。 She first taught earthly craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars variously wrought with bronze； and she； too； teaches tender maidens in the house and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each one's mind。 Nor does laughter…loving Aphrodite ever tame in love Artemis； the huntress with shafts of gold； for she loves archery and the slaying of wild beasts in the mountains； the lyre also and dancing and thrilling cries and shady woods and the cities of upright men。 Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works。 She was the first…born child of wily Cronos and youngest too （24）； by will of Zeus who holds the aegis； a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed。 But she was wholly unwilling； nay； stubbornly refused； and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis； she； that fair goddess； sware a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled； that she would be a maiden all her days。 So Zeus the Father gave her an high honour instead of marriage； and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion。 In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honour； and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses。
（ll。 33…44） Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts。 But of all others there is nothing among the blessed gods or among mortal men that has escaped Aphrodite。 Even the heart of Zeus； who delights in thunder； is led astray by her； though he is greatest of all and has the lot of highest majesty； she beguiles even his wise heart whensoever she pleases； and mates him with mortal women； unknown to Hera； his sister and his wife； the grandest far in beauty among the deathless goddesses most glorious is she whom wily Cronos with her mother Rhea did beget： and Zeus； whose wisdom is everlasting； made her his chaste and careful wife。
（ll。 45…52） But upon Aphrodite herself Zeus cast sweet desire to be joined in love with a mortal man； to the end that； very soon； not even she should be innocent of a mortal's love； lest laughter…loving Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say mockingly among all the gods that she had joined the gods in love with mortal women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods； and had mated the goddesses with mortal men。
（ll。 53…74） And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises who was tending cattle at that time among the steep hills of many…fountained Ida； and in shape was like the immortal gods。 Therefore； when laughter…loving Aphrodite saw him； she loved him； and terribly desire seized her in her heart。 She went to Cyprus； to Paphos； where her precinct is and fragrant altar； and passed into her sweet…smelling temple。 There she went in and put to the glittering doors； and there the Graces bathed her with heavenly oil such as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods oil divinely sweet； which she had by her； filled with fragrance。 And laughter…loving Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes； and when she had decked herself with gold； she left sweet…smelling Cyprus and went in haste towards Troy； swiftly travelling high up among the clouds。 So she came to many…fountained Ida； the mother of wild creatures and went straight to the homestead across the mountains。 After her came grey wolves； fawning on her； and grim… eyed lions； and bears； and fleet leopards； ravenous for deer： and she was glad in heart to see them； and put desire in their breasts； so that they all mated； two together； about the shadowy coombes。
（ll。 75…88） （25） But she herself came to the neat…built shelters； and him she found left quite alone in the homestead the hero Anchises who was comely as the gods。 All the others were following the herds over the grassy pastures； and he； left quite alone in the homestead； was roaming hither and thither and playing thrillingly upon the lyre。 And Aphrodite； the daughter of Zeus stood before him； being like a pure maiden in height and mien； that he should not be frightened when he took heed of her with his eyes。 Now when Anchises saw her； he marked her well and wondered at her mien and height and shining gar