daughter of king Phlegyas, a great joy to men, an appeaser of evil pangs. And do thou thus hail, O king! but I implore thee in song.
XV. TO CASTOR AND POLLUX.[1]
Sing, O sweet Muse, Castor and Pollux, the sons of Tyndarus, who were sprung from Olympian Jove, whom hallowed Leda brought forth beneath the height of Taygetus, being stealthily overcome by the dark-clouded son of Saturn. Hail! ye sons of Tyndarus, mounters of fleet steeds.
XVI. TO MERCURY.
I sing Cyllenian Mercury, the slayer of Argus, who rules over Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the beneficial messenger of the immortals, whom hallowed Maia, the daughter of Atlas, brought forth, mingling in the embrace of Jove. But she shunned the company of the blessed gods, dwelling in a shady cave, where the son of Saturn mingled with the fair-haired nymph in the depth of night, when sweet sleep possessed white-armed Juno.[2] And she escaped the notice both of the immortal gods and mortal men. And do thou thus hail, son of Jove and Maia. But commencing from thee, I will pass on to another hymn. Hail! Mercury, thou giver of joys, messenger, giver of good things.
XVII. TO PAN.
Sing to me, O Muse, concerning the dear son of Mercury, goat-footed, two-horned, lover of the dance,[3] who goes through woody Pisa in company with the nymphs who are accustomed to the dance, who also step along the tracks[4] of
