mother of sheep, where there is a temple of Cyllenius[1] in his honour. Here he, although a god, tended shabby-fleeced sheep with[2] a mortal man. For soft desire, which had come upon him, flourished, that he should mingle in love with the fair-haired nymph Dryope. And he accomplished joyful nuptials,[3] and in her dwelling she bore a dear son to Mercury, a marvel to behold forthwith,[4] goat-footed, two-horned, fond of the dance, sweetly laughing. And she fled, leaping up, and the nurse left the child; for she was smitten with dread[5] as she beheld his unpleasant, hairy visage. But him, beneficial Mercury, having received, took in his arms, and the god rejoiced greatly in his mind. And swiftly he went to the dwellings of the immortals, having covered the boy in the thick skins of a mountain hare. And he seated him with Jove and the other immortals, and showed his son. But all the immortals were delighted in mind, and above others Bacchus Dionysus. And they called him Pan, because he delighted the minds of all.[6] And do thou thus hail, O king, and I will beseech thee in song. But I will be mindful of thee and of another song.
XVIII. TO VULCAN.
Sing, sweet Muse, Mercury the renowned artificer, who with dark-eyed Minerva taught glorious works to men upon the earth, who before dwelt in caves[7] in the mountains, like wild beasts, but now being instructed in works by Vulcan the renowned artificer, they easily in security pass through life, the
- ↑ Κυλληνίου is the elegant reading of three Paris MSS. Cf. in Cer. 37, and Herm. on Orph. p. 801.
- ↑ Παρὰ rather means, "in the service of a mortal man."
- ↑ A customary euphemism where the gallantries of the gods are described.
- ↑ i. e. from his very birth. πρόσθεν is used in nearly the same manner in Hymn xxiv. 7, of the birth of Minerva.
- ↑ Probably as much terrified as the mother of Mother Shipton is traditionally reported to have been on a similar occasion.
- ↑ This etymology is, if possible, nearly as bad as any to be found in Plato's Cratylus. It is, at all events, quite as frigid.
- ↑ See my notes on Æsch. Prom.
