o　be　friendly　with　you　both　in　thought　and　word。　　Now　you　well　know　all　things　in　your　heart；　since　you　sit　foremost　among　the　deathless　gods；　O　son　of　Zeus；　and　are　goodly　and　strong。　　And　wise　Zeus　loves　you　as　all　right　is；　and　has　given　you　splendid　gifts。　　And　they　say　that　from　the　utterance　of　Zeus　you　have　learned　both　the　honours　due　to　the　gods；　O　Far…worker；　and　oracles　from　Zeus；　even　all　his　ordinances。　　Of　all　these　I　myself　have　already　learned　that　you　have　great　wealth。　　Now；　you　are　free　to　learn　whatever　you　please；　but　since；　as　it　seems；　your　heart　is　so　strongly　set　on　playing　the　lyre；　chant；　and　play　upon　it；　and　give　yourself　to　merriment；　taking　this　as　a　gift　from　me；　and　do　you；　my　friend；　bestow　glory　on　me。　　Sing　well　with　this　clear…voiced　companion　in　your　hands；　for　you　are　skilled　in　good；　well…ordered　utterance。　　From　now　on　bring　it　confidently　to　the　rich　feast　and　lovely　dance　and　glorious　revel；　a　joy　by　night　and　by　day。　　Whoso　with　wit　and　wisdom　enquires　of　it　cunningly；　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　on