The Complete Poetical Works, vol 3 | Page 5

a word of the whole business;?If you should promise an immense reward,?I could not tell more than you now have heard.
45.?'An ox-stealer should be both tall and strong, _350 And I am but a little new-born thing,?Who, yet at least, can think of nothing wrong:--?My business is to suck, and sleep, and fling?The cradle-clothes about me all day long,--?Or half asleep, hear my sweet mother sing, _355 And to be washed in water clean and warm,?And hushed and kissed and kept secure from harm.
46.?'O, let not e'er this quarrel be averred!?The astounded Gods would laugh at you, if e'er?You should allege a story so absurd _360 As that a new-born infant forth could fare?Out of his home after a savage herd.?I was born yesterday--my small feet are?Too tender for the roads so hard and rough:--?And if you think that this is not enough, _365
47.?I swear a great oath, by my father's head,?That I stole not your cows, and that I know?Of no one else, who might, or could, or did.--?Whatever things cows are, I do not know,?For I have only heard the name.'--This said _370 He winked as fast as could be, and his brow?Was wrinkled, and a whistle loud gave he,?Like one who hears some strange absurdity.
48.?Apollo gently smiled and said:--'Ay, ay,--?You cunning little rascal, you will bore _375 Many a rich man's house, and your array?Of thieves will lay their siege before his door,?Silent as night, in night; and many a day?In the wild glens rough shepherds will deplore?That you or yours, having an appetite, _380 Met with their cattle, comrade of the night!
49.?'And this among the Gods shall be your gift,?To be considered as the lord of those?Who swindle, house-break, sheep-steal, and shop-lift;--?But now if you would not your last sleep doze; _385 Crawl out!'--Thus saying, Phoebus did uplift?The subtle infant in his swaddling clothes,?And in his arms, according to his wont,?A scheme devised the illustrious Argiphont.
50.
...
And sneezed and shuddered--Phoebus on the grass _390 Him threw, and whilst all that he had designed
He did perform--eager although to pass,
Apollo darted from his mighty mind
Towards the subtle babe the following scoff:--
'Do not imagine this will get you off, _395
51.?'You little swaddled child of Jove and May!?And seized him:--'By this omen I shall trace?My noble herds, and you shall lead the way.'--?Cyllenian Hermes from the grassy place,?Like one in earnest haste to get away, _400 Rose, and with hands lifted towards his face?Round both his ears up from his shoulders drew?His swaddling clothes, and--'What mean you to do
52.?'With me, you unkind God?'--said Mercury:?'Is it about these cows you tease me so? _405 I wish the race of cows were perished!--I?Stole not your cows--I do not even know?What things cows are. Alas! I well may sigh?That since I came into this world of woe,?I should have ever heard the name of one-- _410 But I appeal to the Saturnian's throne.'
53.?Thus Phoebus and the vagrant Mercury?Talked without coming to an explanation,?With adverse purpose. As for Phoebus, he?Sought not revenge, but only information, _415 And Hermes tried with lies and roguery?To cheat Apollo.--But when no evasion?Served--for the cunning one his match had found--?He paced on first over the sandy ground.
54.
He of the Silver Bow the child of Jove _420 Followed behind, till to their heavenly Sire
Came both his children, beautiful as Love,
And from his equal balance did require
A judgement in the cause wherein they strove.
O'er odorous Olympus and its snows _425 A murmuring tumult as they came arose,--
55.?And from the folded depths of the great Hill,?While Hermes and Apollo reverent stood?Before Jove's throne, the indestructible?Immortals rushed in mighty multitude; _430 And whilst their seats in order due they fill,?The lofty Thunderer in a careless mood?To Phoebus said:--'Whence drive you this sweet prey,?This herald-baby, born but yesterday?--
56.?'A most important subject, trifler, this _435 To lay before the Gods!'--'Nay, Father, nay,?When you have understood the business,?Say not that I alone am fond of prey.?I found this little boy in a recess?Under Cyllene's mountains far away-- _440 A manifest and most apparent thief,?A scandalmonger beyond all belief.
57.?'I never saw his like either in Heaven?Or upon earth for knavery or craft:--?Out of the field my cattle yester-even, _445 By the low shore on which the loud sea laughed,?He right down to the river-ford had driven;?And mere astonishment would make you daft?To see the double kind of footsteps strange?He has impressed wherever he did range. _450
58.?'The cattle's track on the black dust, full well?Is evident, as if they went towards?The place from which they came--that asphodel?Meadow, in which I feed my many herds,--?HIS steps were most incomprehensible-- _455 I know not how I can describe in words?Those tracks--he could have gone along the sands?Neither upon his feet nor on his hands;--
59.?'He must have had some other stranger mode?Of moving on: those vestiges immense, _460 Far as I traced