HYMNS OF HOMER. HYMN TO MERCURY. I. SING, Muse, the son of Maia and of Jove, And all its pastoral hills, whom in sweet love II. Now, when the joy of Jove had its fulfilling, A shepherd of thin dreams, a cow-stealing, A night-watching, and door-waylaying thief, Who 'mongst the Gods was soon about to thieve, And other glorious actions to achieve. III. The babe was born at the first peep of day; And the same evening did he steal away Apollo's herds;—the fourth day of the moon, On which him bore the venerable May, From her immortal limbs he leaped full soon, Nor long could in the sacred cradle keep, But out to seek Apollo's herds would creep. IV. Out of the lofty cavern wandering He found a tortoise, and cried out-"A treasure!" (For Mercury first made the tortoise sing) The beast before the portal at his leisure The flowery herbage was depasturing, Moving his feet in a deliberate measure Over the turf. Jove's profitable son Eyeing him laughed, and laughing thus begun : V. "A useful godsend are you to me now, Got you that speckled shell? Thus much I know, VI. "Better to be at home than out of door; So come with me, and though it has been said That alive defend from magic power, you I know you will sing sweetly when you're dead." Thus having spoken, the quaint infant bore, Lifting it from the grass on which it fed, And grasping it in his delighted hold, His treasured prize into the cavern old. VII. Then scooping with a chisel of gray steel, Darts through the tumult of a human breast Which thronging cares annoy-not swifter wheel The flashes of its torture and unrest Out of the dizzy eyes-than Maia's son VIII. And through the tortoise's hard strong skin The open space and fixed the cubits in, IX. When he had wrought the lovely instrument, He tried the chords, and made division meet Preluding with the plectrum, and there went Up from beneath his hand a tumult sweet |