；　nor　did　any　dog　bark。　　And　luck…bringing　Hermes；　the　son　of　Zeus；　passed　edgeways　through　the　key…hole　of　the　hall　like　the　autumn　breeze；　even　as　mist：　straight　through　the　cave　he　went　and　came　to　the　rich　inner　chamber；　walking　softly；　and　making　no　noise　as　one　might　upon　the　floor。　　Then　glorious　Hermes　went　hurriedly　to　his　cradle；　wrapping　his　swaddling　clothes　about　his　shoulders　as　though　he　were　a　feeble　babe；　and　lay　playing　with　the　covering　about　his　knees；　but　at　his　left　hand　he　kept　close　his　sweet　lyre。
  （ll。　155…161）　But　the　god　did　not　pass　unseen　by　the　goddess　his　mother；　but　she　said　to　him：　‘How　now；　you　rogue！　　Whence　come　you　back　so　at　night…time；　you　that　wear　shamelessness　as　a　garment？　　And　now　I　surely　believe　the　son　of　Leto　will　soon　have　you　forth　out　of　doors　with　unbreakable　cords　about　your　ribs；　or　you　will　live　a　rogue's　life　in　the　glens　robbing　by　whiles。　　Go　to；　then；　your　father　got　you　to　be　a　great　worry　to　mortal　men　and　deathless　gods。'
  （ll。　162…181）　Then　Hermes　answered　her　with　crafty　words：　‘Mother；　why　do　you　seek　to　frighten　me　like　a　feeble　child　whose　heart　knows　few　words　of　blame；　a　fearful　babe　that　fears　its　mother's　scolding？　　Nay；　but　I　will　try　whatever　plan　is　best；　and　so　feed　myself　and　you　continually。　　We　will　not　be　content　to　remain　here；　as　you　bid；　alone　of　all　the　gods　unfee'd　with　offerings　and　prayers。　　Better　to　live　in　fellowship　with　the　deathless　gods　continually；　rich；　wealthy；　and　enjoying　stories　of　grain；　than　to　sit　always　in　a　gloomy　cave：　and；　as　regards　honour；　I　too　will　enter　upon　the　rite　that　Apollo　has。　　If　my　father　will　not　give　it　to　me；　I　will　seek　　and　I　am　able　　to　be　a　prince　of　robbers。　　And　if　Leto's　most　glorious　son　shall　seek　me　out；　I　think　another　and　a　greater　loss　will　befall　him。　　For　I　will　go　to　Pytho　to　break　into　his　great　house；　and　will　plunder　therefrom　splendid　tripods；　and　cauldrons；　and　gold；　and　plenty　of　bright　iron；　and　much　apparel；　and　you　shall　see　it　if　you　will。'
  （ll。　182…189）　With　such　words　they　spoke　together；　the　son　of　Zeus　who　holds　the　aegis；　and　the　lady　Maia。　　Now　Eros　the　early　born　was　rising　from　deep…flowing　Ocean；　bringing　light　to　men；　when　Apollo；　as　he　went；　came　to　Onchestus；　the　lovely　grove　and　sacred　place　of　the　loud…roaring　Holder　of　the　Earth。　　There　he　found　an　old　man　grazing　his　beast　along　the　pathway　from　his　court…yard　fence；　and　the　all…glorious　Son　of　Leto　began　and　said　to　him。
  （ll。　190…200）　‘Old　man；　weeder　（20）　of　grassy　Onchestus；　I　am　come　here　from　Pieria　seeking　cattle；　cows　all　of　them；　all　with　curving　horns；　from　my　herd。　　The　black　bull　was　grazing　alone　away　from　the　rest；　but　fierce…eyed　hounds　followed　the　cows；　four　of　them；　all　of　one　mind；　like　men。　　These　were　left　behind；　the　dogs　and　the　bull　　which　is　great　marvel；　but　the　cows　strayed　out　of　the　soft　meadow；　away　from　the　pasture　when　the　sun　was　just　going　down。　　Now　tell　me　this；　old　man　born　long　ago：　have　you　seen　one　passing　along　behind　those　cows？'
  （ll。　201…211）　Then　the　old　man　answered　him　and　said：　‘My　son；　it　is　hard　to　tell　all　that　one's　eyes　see；　for　many　wayfarers　pass　to　and　fro　this　way；　some　bent　on　much　evil；　and　some　on　good：　it　is　difficult　to　know　each　one。　　However；　I　was　digging　about　my　plot　of　vineyard　all　day　long　until　the　sun　went　down；　and　I　thought；　good　sir；　but　I　do　not　know　for　certain；　that　I　marked　a　child；　whoever　the　child　was；　that　followed　long…horned　cattle　　an　infant　who　had　a　staff　and　kept　walking　from　side　to　side：　he　was　driving　them　backwards　way；　with　their　heads　toward　him。'
  （ll。　212…218）　So　said　the　old　man。　　And　when　Apollo　heard　this　report；　he　went　yet　more　quickly　on　his　way；　and　presently；　seeing　a　long…winged　bird；　he　knew　at　once　by　that　omen　that　thief　was　the　child　of　Zeus　the　son　of　Cronos。　　So　the　lord　Apollo；　son　of　Zeus；　hurried　on　to　goodly　Pylos　seeking　his　shambling　oxen；　and　he　had　his　broad　shoulders　covered　with　a　dark　cloud。　　But　when　the　Far…Shooter　perceived　the　tracks；　he　cried：
  （ll。　219…226）　‘Oh；　oh！　　Truly　this　is　a　great　marvel　that　my　eyes　behold！　　These　are　indeed　the　tracks　of　straight…horned　oxen；　but　they　are　turned　backwards　towards　the　flowery　meadow。　　But　these　others　are　not　the　footprints　of　man　or　woman　or　grey　wolves　or　bears　or　lions；　nor　do　I　think　they　are　the　tracks　of　a　rough…　maned　Centaur　　whoever　it　be　that　with　swift　feet　makes　such　monstrous　footprints；　wonderful　are　the　tracks　on　this　side　of　the　way；　but　yet　more　wonderfully　are　those　on　that。'
  （ll。　227…234）　When　he　had　so　said；　the　lord　Apollo；　the　Son　of　Zeus　hastened　on　and　came　to　the　forest…clad　mountain　of　Cyllene　and　the　deep…shadowed　cave　in　the　rock　where　the　divine　nymph　brought　forth　the　child　of　Zeus　who　is　the　son　of　Cronos。　　A　sweet　odour　spread　over　the　lovely　hill；　and　many　thin…shanked　sheep　were　grazing　on　the　grass。　　Then　far…shooting　Apollo　himself　stepped　down　in　haste　over　the　stone　threshold　into　the　dusky　cave。
  （ll。　235…253）　Now　when　the　Son　of　Zeus　and　Maia　saw　Apollo　in　a　rage　about　his　cattle；　he　snuggled　down　in　his　fragrant　swaddling…clothes；　and　as　wood…ash　covers　over　the　deep　embers　of　tree…stumps；　so　Hermes　cuddled　himself　up　when　he　saw　the　Far…　Shooter。　　He　squeezed　head　and　hands　and　feet　together　in　a　small　space；　like　a　new　born　child　seeking　sweet　sleep；　though　in　truth　he　was　wide　awake；　and　he　kept　his　lyre　under　his　armpit。　　But　the　Son　of　Leto　was　aware　and　failed　not　to　perceive　the　beautiful　mountain…nymph　and　her　dear　son；　albeit　a　little　child　and　swathed　so　craftily。　　He　peered　in　ever　corner　of　the　great　dwelling　and；　taking　a　bright　key；　he　opened　three　closets　full　of　nectar　and　lovely　ambrosia。　　And　much　gold　and　silver　was　stored　in　them；　and　many　garments　of　the　nymph；　some　purple　and　some　silvery　white；　such　as　are　kept　in　the　sacred　houses　of　the　blessed　gods。　　Then；　after　the　Son　of　Leto　had　searched　out　the　recesses　of　the　great　house；　he　spake　to　glorious　Hermes：
  （ll。　254…259）　‘Child；　lying　in　the　cradle；　make　haste　and　tell　me　of　my　cattle；　or　we　two　will　soon　fall　out　angrily。　　For　I　will　take　and　cast　you　into　dusty　Tartarus　and　awful　hopeless　darkness；　and　neither　your　mother　nor　your　father　shall　free　you　or　bring　you　up　again　to　the　light；　but　you　will　wander　under　the　earth　and　be　the　leader　amongst　little　folk。'　（21）
  （ll。　260…277）　Then　Hermes　answered　him　with　crafty　words：　‘Son　of　Leto；　what　harsh　words　are　these　you　have　spoken？　　And　is　it　cattle　of　the　field　you　are　come　here　to　seek？　　I　have　not　seen　them：　I　have　not　heard　of　them：　no　one　has　told　me　of　them。　　I　cannot　give　news　of　them；　nor　win　the　reward　for　news。　　Am　I　like　a　cattle…liter；　a　stalwart　person？　　This　is　no　task　for　me：　rather　I　care　for　other　things：　I　care　for　sleep；　and　milk　of　my　mother's　breast；　and　wrappings　round　my　shoulders；　and　warm　baths。　　Let　no　one　hear　the　cause　of　this　dispute；　for　this　would　be　a　great　marvel　indeed　among　the　deathless　gods；　that　a　child　newly　born　should　pass　in　through　the　forepart　of　the　house　with　cattle　of　the　field：　herein　you　speak　extravagantly。　　I　was　born　yesterday；　and　my　feet　are　soft　and　the　ground　beneath　is　rough；　nevertheless；　if　you　will　have　it　so；　I　will　swear　a　great　oath　by　my　father's　head　and　vow　that　neither　am　I　guilty　myself；　neither　have　I　seen　any　other　who　stole　your　cows　　whatever　cows　may　be；　for　I　know　them　only　by　hearsay。'
  （ll。　278…280）　So；　then；　said　Hermes；　shooting　quick　glances　from　his　eyes：　and　he　kept　raising　his　brows　and　looking　this　way　and　that；　whistling　long　and　listening　to　Apollo's　story　as　to　an　idle　tale。
  （ll。　281…292）　But　far…working　Apollo　laughed　softly　and　said　to　him：　‘O　rogue；　deceiver；　crafty　in　heart；　you　talk　so　innocently　that　I　most　surely　believe　that　you　have　broken　into　many　a　well…　built　house　and　stripped　more　than　one　poor　wretch　bare　this　night　（22）；　gathering　his　goods　together　all　over　the　house　without　noise。　　You　will　plague　many　a　lonely　herdsman　in　mountain　glades；　when　you　come　on　herds　and　thick…fleeced　sheep；　and　have　a　hankering　after　flesh。　　But　come　now；　if　you　would　not　sleep　your　last　and　latest　sleep；　get　out　of　your　cradle；　you　comrade　of　dark　night。　　Surely　hereafter　this　shall　be　your　title　amongst　the　deathless　gods；　to　be　called　the　prince　of　robbers　continually。'
  （ll。　293…300）　So　said　Phoebus　Apollo；　and　took　the　child　and　began　to　carry　him。　　But　at　that　moment　the　strong　Slayer　of　Argus　had　his　plan；　and；　while　Apollo　held　him　in　his　hands；　sent　forth　an　omen；　a　hard…worked　belly…serf；　a　rude　messenger；　and　sneezed　directly　after。　　And　when　Apollo　heard　it；　he　dropped　glorious　Hermes　out　of　his　hands　on　the　ground：　then　sitting　down　before　him；　though　he　was　eager　to　go　on　his　way；　he　spoke　mockingly　to　Hermes：
  （ll。　301…303）　‘Fear　not；　little　swaddling　baby；　son　of　Zeus　and　Maia。　　I　shall　find　the　strong　cattle　presently　by　these　omens；　and　you　shall　lead　the　way。'
  （ll。　304…306）　When　Apollo　had　so　said；　Cyllenian　Hermes　sprang　up　quickly；　starting　in　haste。　　With　both　hands　he　pushed　up　to　his　ears　the　covering　that　he　had　wrapped　about　his　shoulders；　and　said：
  （ll。　307…312）　‘Where　are　you　carrying　me；　Far…Worker；　hastiest　of　all　the　gods？　　Is　it　because　of