（ll。　307…312）　‘Where　are　you　carrying　me；　Far…Worker；　hastiest　of　all　the　gods？　　Is　it　because　of　your　cattle　that　you　are　so　angry　and　harass　me？　　O　dear；　would　that　all　the　sort　of　oxen　might　perish；　for　it　is　not　I　who　stole　your　cows；　nor　did　I　see　another　steal　them　　whatever　cows　may　be；　and　of　that　I　have　only　heard　report。　　Nay；　give　right　and　take　it　before　Zeus；　the　Son　of　Cronos。'
  （ll。　313…326）　So　Hermes　the　shepherd　and　Leto's　glorious　son　kept　stubbornly　disputing　each　article　of　their　quarrel：　Apollo；　speaking　truly。。。。　（（LACUNA））　。。。。not　fairly　sought　to　seize　glorious　Hermes　because　of　the　cows；　but　he；　the　Cyllenian；　tried　to　deceive　the　God　of　the　Silver　Bow　with　tricks　and　cunning　words。　　But　when；　though　he　had　many　wiles；　he　found　the　other　had　as　many　shifts；　he　began　to　walk　across　the　sand；　himself　in　front；　while　the　Son　of　Zeus　and　Leto　came　behind。　　Soon　they　came；　these　lovely　children　of　Zeus；　to　the　top　of　fragrant　Olympus；　to　their　father；　the　Son　of　Cronos；　for　there　were　the　scales　of　judgement　set　for　them　both。
  There　was　an　assembly　on　snowy　Olympus；　and　the　immortals　who　perish　not　were　gathering　after　the　hour　of　gold…throned　Dawn。
  （ll。　327…329）　Then　Hermes　and　Apollo　of　the　Silver　Bow　stood　at　the　knees　of　Zeus：　and　Zeus　who　thunders　on　high　spoke　to　his　glorious　son　and　asked　him：
  （ll。　330…332）　‘Phoebus；　whence　come　you　driving　this　great　spoil；　a　child　new　born　that　has　the　look　of　a　herald？　　This　is　a　weighty　matter　that　is　come　before　the　council　of　the　gods。'
  （ll。　333…364）　Then　the　lord；　far…working　Apollo；　answered　him：　‘O　my　father；　you　shall　soon　hear　no　triffling　tale　though　you　reproach　me　that　I　alone　am　fond　of　spoil。　　Here　is　a　child；　a　burgling　robber；　whom　I　found　after　a　long　journey　in　the　hills　of　Cyllene：　for　my　part　I　have　never　seen　one　so　pert　either　among　the　gods　or　all　men　that　catch　folk　unawares　throughout　the　world。　　He　strole　away　my　cows　from　their　meadow　and　drove　them　off　in　the　evening　along　the　shore　of　the　loud…roaring　sea；　making　straight　for　Pylos。　　There　were　double　tracks；　and　wonderful　they　were；　such　as　one　might　marvel　at；　the　doing　of　a　clever　sprite；　for　as　for　the　cows；　the　dark　dust　kept　and　showed　their　footprints　leading　towards　the　flowery　meadow；　but　he　himself　　bewildering　creature　　crossed　the　sandy　ground　outside　the　path；　not　on　his　feet　nor　yet　on　his　hands；　but；　furnished　with　some　other　means　he　trudged　his　way　　wonder　of　wonders！　　as　though　one　walked　on　slender　oak…trees。　　Now　while　he　followed　the　cattle　across　sandy　ground；　all　the　tracks　showed　quite　clearly　in　the　dust；　but　when　he　had　finished　the　long　way　across　the　sand；　presently　the　cows'　track　and　his　own　could　not　be　traced　over　the　hard　ground。　　But　a　mortal　man　noticed　him　as　he　drove　the　wide…browed　kine　straight　towards　Pylos。　　And　as　soon　as　he　had　shut　them　up　quietly；　and　had　gone　home　by　crafty　turns　and　twists；　he　lay　down　in　his　cradle　in　the　gloom　of　a　dim　cave；　as　still　as　dark　night；　so　that　not　even　an　eagle　keenly　gazing　would　have　spied　him。　　Much　he　rubbed　his　eyes　with　his　hands　as　he　prepared　falsehood；　and　himself　straightway　said　roundly：　〃I　have　not　seen　them：　I　have　not　heard　of　them：　no　man　has　told　me　of　them。　　I　could　not　tell　you　of　them；　nor　win　the　reward　of　telling。〃'
  （ll。　365…367）　When　he　had　so　spoken；　Phoebus　Apollo　sat　down。　　But　Hermes　on　his　part　answered　and　said；　pointing　at　the　Son　of　Cronos；　the　lord　of　all　the　gods：
  （ll。　368…386）　‘Zeus；　my　father；　indeed　I　will　speak　truth　to　you；　for　I　am　truthful　and　I　cannot　tell　a　lie。　　He　came　to　our　house　to…day　looking　for　his　shambling　cows；　as　the　sun　was　newly　rising。　　He　brought　no　witnesses　with　him　nor　any　of　the　blessed　gods　who　had　seen　the　theft；　but　with　great　violence　ordered　me　to　confess；　threatening　much　to　throw　me　into　wide　Tartarus。　　For　he　has　the　rich　bloom　of　glorious　youth；　while　I　was　born　but　yesterday　　as　he　too　knows　　nor　am　I　like　a　cattle…lifter；　a　sturdy　fellow。　　Believe　my　tale　（for　you　claim　to　be　my　own　father）；　that　I　did　not　drive　his　cows　to　my　house　　so　may　I　prosper　　nor　crossed　the　threshold：　this　I　say　truly。　　I　reverence　Helios　greatly　and　the　other　gods；　and　you　I　love　and　him　I　dread。　　You　yourself　know　that　I　am　not　guilty：　and　I　will　swear　a　great　oath　upon　it：　　No！　by　these　rich…decked　porticoes　of　the　gods。　　And　some　day　I　will　punish　him；　strong　as　he　is；　for　this　pitiless　inquisition；　but　now　do　you　help　the　younger。'
  （ll。　387…396）　So　spake　the　Cyllenian；　the　Slayer　of　Argus；　while　he　kept　shooting　sidelong　glances　and　kept　his　swaddling…clothes　upon　his　arm；　and　did　not　cast　them　away。　　But　Zeus　laughed　out　loud　to　see　his　evil…plotting　child　well　and　cunningly　denying　guilt　about　the　cattle。　　And　he　bade　them　both　to　be　of　one　mind　and　search　for　the　cattle；　and　guiding　Hermes　to　lead　the　way　and；　without　mischievousness　of　heart；　to　show　the　place　where　now　he　had　hidden　the　strong　cattle。　　Then　the　Son　of　Cronos　bowed　his　head：　and　goodly　Hermes　obeyed　him；　for　the　will　of　Zeus　who　holds　the　aegis　easily　prevailed　with　him。
  （ll。　397…404）　Then　the　two　all…glorious　children　of　Zeus　hastened　both　to　sandy　Pylos；　and　reached　the　ford　of　Alpheus；　and　came　to　the　fields　and　the　high…roofed　byre　where　the　beasts　were　cherished　at　night…time。　　Now　while　Hermes　went　to　the　cave　in　the　rock　and　began　to　drive　out　the　strong　cattle；　the　son　of　Leto；　looking　aside；　saw　the　cowhides　on　the　sheer　rock。　　And　he　asked　glorious　Hermes　at　once：
  （ll。　405…408）　‘How　were　you　able；　you　crafty　rogue；　to　flay　two　cows；　new…born　and　babyish　as　you　are？　　For　my　part；　I　dread　the　strength　that　will　be　yours：　there　is　no　need　you　should　keep　growing　long；　Cyllenian；　son　of　Maia！'
  （ll。　409…414）　So　saying；　Apollo　twisted　strong　withes　with　his　hands　meaning　to　bind　Hermes　with　firm　bands；　but　the　bands　would　not　hold　him；　and　the　withes　of　osier　fell　far　from　him　and　began　to　grow　at　once　from　the　ground　beneath　their　feet　in　that　very　place。　　And　intertwining　with　one　another；　they　quickly　grew　and　covered　all　the　wild…roving　cattle　by　the　will　of　thievish　Hermes；　so　that　Apollo　was　astonished　as　he　gazed。
  （ll。　414…435）　Then　the　strong　slayer　of　Argus　looked　furtively　upon　the　ground　with　eyes　flashing　fire。。。。　desiring　to　hide。。。。　（（LACUNA））　。。。。Very　easily　he　softened　the　son　of　all…glorious　Leto　as　he　would；　stern　though　the　Far…shooter　was。　　He　took　the　lyre　upon　his　left　arm　and　tried　each　string　in　turn　with　the　key；　so　that　it　sounded　awesomely　at　his　touch。　　And　Phoebus　Apollo　laughed　for　joy；　for　the　sweet　throb　of　the　marvellous　music　went　to　his　heart；　and　a　soft　longing　took　hold　on　his　soul　as　he　listened。　　Then　the　son　of　Maia；　harping　sweetly　upon　his　lyre；　took　courage　and　stood　at　the　left　hand　of　Phoebus　Apollo；　and　soon；　while　he　played　shrilly　on　his　lyre；　he　lifted　up　his　voice　and　sang；　and　lovely　was　the　sound　of　his　voice　that　followed。　　He　sang　the　story　of　the　deathless　gods　and　of　the　dark　earth；　how　at　the　first　they　came　to　be；　and　how　each　one　received　his　portion。　　First　among　the　gods　he　honoured　Mnemosyne；　mother　of　the　Muses；　in　his　song；　for　the　son　of　Maia　was　of　her　following。　　And　next　the　goodly　son　of　Zeus　hymned　the　rest　of　the　immortals　according　to　their　order　in　age；　and　told　how　each　was　born；　mentioning　all　in　order　as　he　struck　the　lyre　upon　his　arm。　　But　Apollo　was　seized　with　a　longing　not　to　be　allayed；　and　he　opened　his　mouth　and　spoke　winged　words　to　Hermes：
  （ll。　436…462）　‘Slayer　of　oxen；　trickster；　busy　one；　comrade　of　the　feast；　this　song　of　yours　is　worth　fifty　cows；　and　I　believe　that　presently　we　shall　settle　our　quarrel　peacefully。　　But　come　now；　tell　me　this；　resourceful　son　of　Maia：　has　this　marvellous　thing　been　with　you　from　your　birth；　or　did　some　god　or　mortal　man　give　it　you　　a　noble　gift　　and　teach　you　heavenly　song？　　For　wonderful　is　this　new…uttered　sound　I　hear；　the　like　of　which　I　vow　that　no　man　nor　god　dwelling　on　Olympus　ever　yet　has　known　but　you；　O　thievish　son　of　Maia。　　What　skill　is　this？　　What　song　for　desperate　cares？　　What　way　of　song？　　For　verily　here　are　three　things　to　hand　all　at　once　from　which　to　choose；　　mirth；　and　love；　and　sweet　sleep。　　And　though　I　am　a　follower　of　the　Olympian　Muses　who　love　dances　and　the　bright　path　of　song　　the　full…toned　chant　and　ravishing　thrill　of　flutes　　yet　I　never　cared　for　any　of　those　feats　of　skill　at　young　men's　revels；　as　I　do　now　for　this：　I　am　filled　with　wonder；　O　son　of　Zeus；　at　your　sweet　playing。　　But　now；　since　you；　though　little；　have　such　glorious　skill；　sit　down；　dear　boy；　and　respect　the　words　of　your　elders。　　For　now　you　shall　have　renown　among　the　deathless　gods；　you　and　your　mother　also。　　This　I　will　declare　to　you　exactly：　by　this　shaft　of　cornel　wood　I　will　surely　make　you　a　leader　renowned　among　the　deathless　gods；　and　fortunate；　and　will　give　you　glorious　gifts　and　will　not　deceive　you　from　first　to　last。'
  （ll。　463…495）　Then　Hermes　answered　him　with　artful　words：　‘You　question　me　carefully；　O　Far…worker；　yet　I　am　not　jealous　that　you　should　enter　upon　my　art：　this　day　you　shall　know　it。　　For　I　seek　to　be　friendly　with　you　both　in　thought　and　word。　　Now　you　well　know　all　things　in　your　heart；　since