Cox, George - Aryan Mythology Vol 2.pdf

226 MYTHOLOGY OF THE ARYAN NATIONS.
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BOOK
IL
Pylos, and there stood amazed at the confused tracks which
, the beasts had left behind them. Hurrying onwards to
Kyllene, Apollon caught the
him with the theft.
child in his cradle, and taxed
6 How can it be that I have stolen the
cows ? ' said the babe, ' I who can but sleep and suck and
play with the clothes of my cradle. I was born but yester-
day, and my feet are tender, and the ground is hard. I have
not taken your cattle, and I know nothing of cows but their
name.' But as he spoke he winked slily with his eyes, and
a long low whistle came from his lips. Smiling in spite of
his anger, Phoibos saw that the craft of Hermes would set
many a herdsman grieving, and that he had won the right
to be called the prince of robbers and the Master Thief for
ever. Then seizing the child he was bearing him away when
a loud noise made him let go his hold ; but at length both
appeared before the judgment- seat of Zeus, and the babe,
who spoke of himself as a most truthful person, said that he
must be guiltless, as he knew not even what sort of things
cows were. The plea was not admitted, and the nod of Zeus
warned Hermes that his command to restore the oxen was
not to be disobeyed. So on the banks of Alpheios he showed
the lost cattle to Phoibos, who, dismayed at the signs of
recent slaughter, again seized the babe in his anger. In
great fear Hermes bethought him of his lyre, and striking
its chords wakened sounds most soft and soothing as he sang
of the old time when the gods were born and the world was
young. As he listened to the beautiful harmony, Phoibos,
anory no more, longed only to learn whence the child had
this wondrous power, and to gain for himself this marvellous
gift of song. At once Hermes granted his prayer, ' Take my
lvre,' he said, ' which to those who can use it deftly will dis-
course of all sweet things, but will babble nonsense and
moan stranoely to all who know not how to draw forth its
speech.' So the strife between them was ended, and Phoibos
placed in the hand of Hermes his three-leafed rod of wealth
and happiness, and gave him charge over all his cattle. 1
well with his special object in relating German story the Little Farmer who
the myth viz. to account for the alliance cheats the greedy townsmen with the
between Phoibos and Jlrrmes. sight of his flocks in the water. 'There
1 Thus Hermes becomes in the happened to be a fine blue sky with