The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 153

20.

And on the earth upon their backs he threw _150 The panting beasts, and rolled them o'er and o'er, And bored their lives out. Without more ado He cut up fat and flesh, and down before The fire, on spits of wood he placed the two, Toasting their flesh and ribs, and all the gore _155 Pursed in the bowels; and while this was done He stretched their hides over a craggy stone.

21.

We mortals let an ox grow old, and then Cut it up after long consideration,-- But joyous-minded Hermes from the glen _160 Drew the fat spoils to the more open station Of a flat smooth s.p.a.ce, and portioned them; and when He had by lot a.s.signed to each a ration Of the twelve G.o.ds, his mind became aware Of all the joys which in religion are. _165

22.

For the sweet savour of the roasted meat Tempted him though immortal. Natheless He checked his haughty will and did not eat, Though what it cost him words can scarce express, And every wish to put such morsels sweet _170 Down his most sacred throat, he did repress; But soon within the lofty portalled stall He placed the fat and flesh and bones and all.

23.

And every trace of the fresh butchery And cooking, the G.o.d soon made disappear, _175 As if it all had vanished through the sky; He burned the hoofs and horns and head and hair,-- The insatiate fire devoured them hungrily;-- And when he saw that everything was clear, He quenched the coal, and trampled the black dust, _180 And in the stream his b.l.o.o.d.y sandals tossed.

24.

All night he worked in the serene moonshine-- But when the light of day was spread abroad He sought his natal mountain-peaks divine.

On his long wandering, neither Man nor G.o.d _185 Had met him, since he killed Apollo's kine, Nor house-dog had barked at him on his road; Now he obliquely through the keyhole pa.s.sed, Like a thin mist, or an autumnal blast.

25.

Right through the temple of the s.p.a.cious cave _190 He went with soft light feet--as if his tread Fell not on earth; no sound their falling gave; Then to his cradle he crept quick, and spread The swaddling-clothes about him; and the knave Lay playing with the covering of the bed _195 With his left hand about his knees--the right Held his beloved tortoise-lyre tight.

26.

There he lay innocent as a new-born child, As gossips say; but though he was a G.o.d, The G.o.ddess, his fair mother, unbeguiled, _200 Knew all that he had done being abroad: 'Whence come you, and from what adventure wild, You cunning rogue, and where have you abode All the long night, clothed in your impudence?

What have you done since you departed hence? _205

27.

'Apollo soon will pa.s.s within this gate And bind your tender body in a chain Inextricably tight, and fast as fate, Unless you can delude the G.o.d again, Even when within his arms--ah, runagate! _210 A pretty torment both for G.o.ds and Men Your father made when he made you!'--'Dear mother,'

Replied sly Hermes, 'wherefore scold and bother?

28.

'As if I were like other babes as old, And understood nothing of what is what; _215 And cared at all to hear my mother scold.

I in my subtle brain a scheme have got, Which whilst the sacred stars round Heaven are rolled Will profit you and me--nor shall our lot Be as you counsel, without gifts or food, _220 To spend our lives in this obscure abode.

29 'But we will leave this shadow-peopled cave And live among the G.o.ds, and pa.s.s each day In high communion, sharing what they have Of profuse wealth and unexhausted prey; _225 And from the portion which my father gave To Phoebus, I will s.n.a.t.c.h my share away, Which if my father will not--natheless I, Who am the king of robbers, can but try.

30.

'And, if Latona's son should find me out, _230 I'll countermine him by a deeper plan; I'll pierce the Pythian temple-walls, though stout, And sack the fane of everything I can-- Caldrons and tripods of great worth no doubt, Each golden cup and polished brazen pan, _235 All the wrought tapestries and garments gay.'-- So they together talked;--meanwhile the Day

31.

Aethereal born arose out of the flood Of flowing Ocean, bearing light to men.

Apollo pa.s.sed toward the sacred wood, _240 Which from the inmost depths of its green glen Echoes the voice of Neptune,--and there stood On the same spot in green Onchestus then That same old animal, the vine-dresser, Who was employed hedging his vineyard there. _245

32.

Latona's glorious Son began:--'I pray Tell, ancient hedger of Onchestus green, Whether a drove of kine has pa.s.sed this way, All heifers with crooked horns? for they have been Stolen from the herd in high Pieria, _250 Where a black bull was fed apart, between Two woody mountains in a neighbouring glen, And four fierce dogs watched there, unanimous as men.

33.

'And what is strange, the author of this theft Has stolen the fatted heifers every one, _255 But the four dogs and the black bull are left:-- Stolen they were last night at set of sun, Of their soft beds and their sweet food bereft.-- Now tell me, man born ere the world begun, Have you seen any one pa.s.s with the cows?'-- _260 To whom the man of overhanging brows:

34.

'My friend, it would require no common skill Justly to speak of everything I see: On various purposes of good or ill Many pa.s.s by my vineyard,--and to me _265 'Tis difficult to know the invisible Thoughts, which in all those many minds may be:-- Thus much alone I certainly can say, I tilled these vines till the decline of day,

35.

'And then I thought I saw, but dare not speak _270 With certainty of such a wondrous thing, A child, who could not have been born a week, Those fair-horned cattle closely following, And in his hand he held a polished stick: And, as on purpose, he walked wavering _275 From one side to the other of the road, And with his face opposed the steps he trod.'

36.

Apollo hearing this, pa.s.sed quickly on-- No winged omen could have shown more clear That the deceiver was his father's son. _280 So the G.o.d wraps a purple atmosphere Around his shoulders, and like fire is gone To famous Pylos, seeking his kine there, And found their track and his, yet hardly cold, And cried--'What wonder do mine eyes behold! _285

37.

'Here are the footsteps of the horned herd Turned back towards their fields of asphodel;-- But THESE are not the tracks of beast or bird, Gray wolf, or bear, or lion of the dell, Or maned Centaur--sand was never stirred _290 By man or woman thus! Inexplicable!

Who with unwearied feet could e'er impress The sand with such enormous vestiges?

38.

'That was most strange--but this is stranger still!'

Thus having said, Phoebus impetuously _295 Sought high Cyllene's forest-cinctured hill, And the deep cavern where dark shadows lie, And where the ambrosial nymph with happy will Bore the Saturnian's love-child, Mercury-- And a delightful odour from the dew _300 Of the hill pastures, at his coming, flew.

39.

And Phoebus stooped under the craggy roof Arched over the dark cavern:--Maia's child Perceived that he came angry, far aloof, About the cows of which he had been beguiled; _305 And over him the fine and fragrant woof Of his ambrosial swaddling-clothes he piled-- As among fire-brands lies a burning spark Covered, beneath the ashes cold and dark.

40.

There, like an infant who had sucked his fill _310 And now was newly washed and put to bed, Awake, but courting sleep with weary will, And gathered in a lump, hands, feet, and head, He lay, and his beloved tortoise still He grasped and held under his shoulder-blade. _315 Phoebus the lovely mountain-G.o.ddess knew, Not less her subtle, swindling baby, who

41.

Lay swathed in his sly wiles. Round every crook Of the ample cavern, for his kine, Apollo Looked sharp; and when he saw them not, he took _320 The glittering key, and opened three great hollow Recesses in the rock--where many a nook Was filled with the sweet food immortals swallow, And mighty heaps of silver and of gold Were piled within--a wonder to behold! _325

42.

And white and silver robes, all overwrought With cunning workmanship of tracery sweet-- Except among the G.o.ds there can be nought In the wide world to be compared with it.

Latona's offspring, after having sought _330 His herds in every corner, thus did greet Great Hermes:--'Little cradled rogue, declare Of my ill.u.s.trious heifers, where they are!

43.

'Speak quickly! or a quarrel between us Must rise, and the event will be, that I _335 Shall hurl you into dismal Tartarus, In fiery gloom to dwell eternally; Nor shall your father nor your mother loose The bars of that black dungeon--utterly You shall be cast out from the light of day, _340 To rule the ghosts of men, unblessed as they.

44.

To whom thus Hermes slily answered:--'Son Of great Latona, what a speech is this!

Why come you here to ask me what is done With the wild oxen which it seems you miss? _345 I have not seen them, nor from any one Have heard 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 G.o.ds 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 appet.i.te, _380 Met with their cattle, comrade of the night!

49.

'And this among the G.o.ds 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 ill.u.s.trious Argiphont.