THE MELAMPODIA
him a robe as a reward, he asked of him whether he had noticed stolen cattle being driven past. And Battus took the robe and told him about the cattle. But Hermes was angry because he was double-tongued, and struck him with his staff and changed him into a rock. And either frost or heat never leaves him.[1]
THE MELAMPODIA
1.
It is said that Calchas the seer returned from Troy with Amphilochus the son of Amphiaraus and came on foot to this place.[2] But happening to find near Clarus a seer greater than himself, Mopsus, the son of Manto, Teiresias' daughter, he died of vexation, Hesiod, indeed, works up the story in some such form as this: Calchas set Mopsus the following problem:
"I am filled with wonder at the quantity of figs this wild fig-tree bears though it is so small. Can you tell their number?"
And Mopsus answered: "Ten thousand is their number, and their measure is a bushel: one fig is left over, which you would not be able to put into the measure."
So said he; and they found the reckoning of the measure true. Then did the end of death shroud Calchas.
- ↑ In the Homeric Hymn to Hermes Battus almost disappears from the story, and a somewhat different account of the stealing of the cattle is given.
- ↑ sc. Colophon. Proclus in his abstract of the Returns (sc. of the heroes from Troy) says Calchas and his party were present at the death of Teiresias at Colophon, perhaps indicating another version of this story.
