Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica
of Parnassus. These men were sailing in their black ship for traffic
and for profit to sandy Pylos and to the men of Pylos. But Phoebus
Apollo met them: in the open sea he sprang upon their swift ship, like
a dolphin in shape, and lay there, a great and awesome monster, and
none of them gave heed so as to understand 2511; but they sought to
cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the black ship every
way and make the timbers quiver. So they sat silent in their craft for
fear, and did not loose the sheets throughout the black, hollow ship,
nor lowered the sail of their dark-prowed vessel, but as they had set
it first of all with oxhide ropes, so they kept sailing on; for a
rushing south wind hurried on the swift ship from behind. First they
passed by Malea, and then along the Laconian coast they came to
Taenarum, sea-garlanded town and country of Helios who gladdens men,
where the thick-fleeced sheep of the lord Helios feed continually and
occupy a glad-some country. There they wished to put their ship to
shore, and land and comprehend the great marvel and see with their eyes
whether the monster would remain upon the deck of the hollow ship, or
spring back into the briny deep where fishes shoal. But the well-built
ship would not obey the helm, but went on its way all along
Peloponnesus: and the lord, far-working Apollo, guided it easily with
the breath of the breeze. So the ship ran on its course and came to
Arena and lovely Argyphea and Thryon, the ford of Alpheus, and
well-placed Aepy and sandy Pylos and the men of Pylos; past Cruni it
went and Chalcis and past Dyme and fair Elis, where the Epei rule. And
at the time when she was making for Pherae, exulting in the breeze from
Zeus, there appeared to them below the clouds the steep mountain of
Ithaca, and Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. But when they were
passed by all the coast of Peloponnesus, then, towards Crisa, that vast
gulf began to heave in sight which through all its length cuts off the
rich isle of Pelops. There came on them a strong, clear west-wind by
ordinance of Zeus and blew from heaven vehemently, that with all speed
the ship might finish coursing over the briny water of the sea. So they
began again to voyage back towards the dawn and the sun: and the lord
Apollo, son of Zeus, led them on until they reached far-seen Crisa,
land of vines, and into haven: there the sea-coursing ship grounded on
the sands.
(ll. 440-451) Then, like a star at noonday, the lord, far-working
Apollo, leaped from the ship: flashes of fire flew from him thick and
their brightness reached to heaven. He entered into his shrine between
priceless tripods, and there made a flame to flare up bright, showing
forth the splendour of his shafts, so that their radiance filled all
Crisa, and the wives and well-girded daughters of the Crisaeans raised
a cry at that outburst of Phoebus; for he cast great fear upon them
all. From his shrine he sprang forth again, swift as a thought, to
speed again to the ship, bearing the form of a man, brisk and sturdy,
in the prime of his youth, while his broad shoulders were covered with
his hair: and he spoke to the Cretans, uttering winged words:
(ll. 452-461) ‘Strangers, who are you? Whence come you sailing along
the paths of the sea? Are you for traffic, or do you wander at random
over the sea as pirates do who put their own lives to hazard and bring
mischief to men of foreign parts as they roam? Why rest you so and are
afraid, and do not go ashore nor stow the gear of your black ship? For
that is the custom of men who live by bread, whenever they come to land
in their dark ships from the main, spent with toil; at once desire for
sweet food catches them about the heart.’
(ll. 462-473) So speaking, he put courage in their hearts, and the
master of the Cretans answered him and said: ‘Stranger—though you are
nothing like mortal men in shape or stature, but are as the deathless
gods—hail and all happiness to you, and may the gods give you good. Now
tell me truly that I may surely know it: what country is this, and what
land, and what men live herein? As for us, with thoughts set
otherwards, we were sailing over the great sea to Pylos from Crete (for
from there we declare that we are sprung), but now are come on
shipboard to this place by no means willingly—another way and other
paths—and gladly would we return. But one of the deathless gods brought
us here against our will.’
(ll. 474-501) Then far-working Apollo answered then and said:
‘Strangers who once dwelt about wooded Cnossos but now shall return no
more each to his loved city and fair house and dear wife; here shall
you keep my rich temple that is honoured by many men. I am the son of
Zeus; Apollo is my name: but you I brought here over the wide gulf of
the sea, meaning you no hurt; nay, here you shall keep my rich temple
that is greatly honoured among men, and you shall know the plans of the
deathless gods, and by their will you shall be honoured continually for
all time. And now come, make haste and do as I say. First loose the
sheets and lower the sail, and then draw the swift ship up upon the
land. Take out your goods and the gear of the straight ship, and make
an altar upon the beach of the sea: light fire upon it and make an
offering of white meal. Next, stand side by side around the altar and
pray: and in as much as at the first on the hazy sea I sprang upon the
swift ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me as Apollo Delphinius;
also the altar itself shall be called Delphinius and overlooking 2512
for ever. Afterwards, sup beside your dark ship and pour an offering to
the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. But when you have put away
craving for sweet food, come with me singing the hymn Ie Paean (Hail,
Healer!), until you come to the place where you shall keep my rich
temple.’
(ll. 502-523) So said Apollo. And they readily harkened to him and
obeyed him. First they unfastened the sheets and let down the sail and
lowered the mast by the forestays upon the mast-rest. Then, landing
upon the beach of the sea, they hauled up the ship from the water to
dry land and fixed long stays under it. Also they made an altar upon
the beach of the sea, and when they had lit a fire, made an offering of
white meal, and prayed standing around the altar as Apollo had bidden
them. Then they took their meal by the swift, black ship, and poured an
offering to the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. And when they had
put away craving for drink and food, they started out with the lord
Apollo, the son of Zeus, to lead them, holding a lyre in his hands, and
playing sweetly as he stepped high and featly. So the Cretans followed
him to Pytho, marching in time as they chanted the Ie Paean after the
manner of the Cretan paean-singers and of those in whose hearts the
heavenly Muse has put sweet-voiced song. With tireless feet they
approached the ridge and straightway came to Parnassus and the lovely
place where they were to dwell honoured by many men. There Apollo
brought them and showed them his most holy sanctuary and rich temple.
(ll. 524-525) But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts, and
the master of the Cretans asked him, saying:
(ll. 526-530) ‘Lord, since you have brought us here far from our dear
ones and our fatherland,—for so it seemed good to your heart,—tell us
now how we shall live. That we would know of you. This land is not to
be desired either for vineyards or for pastures so that we can live
well thereon and also minister to men.’
(ll. 531-544) Then Apollo, the son of Zeus, smiled upon them and said:
‘Foolish mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek cares and hard
toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word and set it in your
hearts. Though each one of you with knife in hand should slaughter
sheep continually, yet would you always have abundant store, even all
that the glorious tribes of men bring here for me. But guard you my
temple and receive the tribes of men that gather to this place, and
especially show mortal men my will, and do you keep righteousness in
your heart. But if any shall be disobedient and pay no heed to my
warning, or if there shall be any idle word or deed and outrage as is
common among mortal men, then other men shall be your masters and with
a strong hand shall make you subject for ever. All has been told you:
do you keep it in your heart.’
(ll. 545-546) And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will
remember you and another hymn also.
IV. TO HERMES
(ll. 1-29) Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord of
Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the luck-bringing messenger of the
immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed nymph, when she was joined
in love with Zeus,—a shy goddess, for she avoided the company of the
blessed gods, and lived within a deep, shady cave. There the son of
Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph, unseen by deathless
gods and mortal men, at dead of night while sweet sleep should hold
white-armed Hera fast. And when the purpose of great Zeus was fixed in
heaven, she was delivered and a notable thing was come to pass. For
then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a
cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the
gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the
deathless gods. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the
lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo on
the fourth day of the month; for on that day queenly Maia bare him. So
soon as he had leaped from his mother’s heavenly womb, he lay not long
waiting in his holy cradle, but he sprang up and sought the oxen of
Apollo. But as he stepped over the threshold of the high-roofed cave,
he found a tortoise there and gained endless delight. For it was Hermes
who first made the tortoise a singer. The creature fell in his way at
the courtyard gate, where it was feeding on the rich grass before the
dwelling, waddling along. When he saw it, the luck-bringing son of Zeus
laughed and said:
(ll. 30-38) ‘An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight it.
Hail, comrade of the feast, lovely in shape, sounding at the dance!
With joy I meet you! Where got you that rich gaud for covering, that
spangled shell—a tortoise living in the mountains? But I will take and
carry you within: you shall help me and I will do you no disgrace,
though first of all you must profit me. It is better to be at home:
harm may come out of doors. Living, you shall be a spell against
mischievous witchcraft 2513; but if you die, then you shall make
sweetest song.
(ll. 39-61) Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both hands and
went back into the house carrying his charming toy. Then he cut off its
limbs and scooped out the marrow of the mountain-tortoise with a scoop
of grey iron. As a swift thought darts through the heart of a man when
thronging cares haunt him, or as bright glances flash from the eye, so
glorious Hermes planned both thought and deed at once. He cut stalks of
reed to measure and fixed them, fastening their ends across the back
and through the shell of the tortoise, and then stretched ox hide all
over it by his skill. Also he put in the horns and fitted a cross-piece
upon the two of them, and stretched seven strings of sheep-gut. But
when he had made it he proved each string in turn with the key, as he
held the lovely thing. At the touch of his hand it sounded
marvellously; and, as he tried it, the god sang sweet random snatches,
even as youths bandy taunts at festivals. He sang of Zeus the son of
Cronos and neat-shod Maia, the converse which they had before in the
comradeship of love, telling all the glorious tale of his own
begetting. He celebrated, too, the handmaids of the nymph, and her