Page:History of Greece Vol I.djvu/92

 60 HISTORY OF GREECE. theft, and even to conciliate besides the friendship of Accordingly a bargain is struck between the two gods and sanc- tioned by Zeus. Hermes surrenders to Apollo the lyre, invent- ing for his own use the syrinx or panspipe, and receiving from Apollo in exchange the golden rod of wealth, with empire over flocks and herds as well as over horses and oxen and the wild animals of the woods. He presses to obtain the gift of prophecy, but Apollo is under a special vow not to impart that privilege to any god whatever : he instructs Hermes however how to draw information, to a certain extent, from the Moerje or Fates them- selves ; and assigns to him, over and above, the function of mes- senger of the gods to Hades. Although Apollo has acquired the lyre, the particular object of his wishes, he is still under apprehension that Hermes will steal it away from him again, together with his bow, and he exacts a formal oath by Styx as security. Hermes promises solemnly that he will steal none of the acquisitions, nor ever invade the sanctuary of Apollo ; while the latter on his part pledges himself to recognize Hermes as his chosen friend and companion, amongst all the other sons of Zeus, human or divine. 2 So came to pass, under the sanction of Zeus, the marked favor shown by Apollo to Hermes. But Hermes (concludes the hymnographer, with frankness unusual in speaking of a god) u does very little good : he avails himself of the darkness of night to cheat without measure the tribes of mortal men."3 1 Homer. Hymn. Merc. 442-454. ' Homer. Hymn. Merc. 504-520. Kal rb [lev 'Ep/^f A.r)Tol&r)v i2.7jae 6ia/j.7repf, uf ETI nai vvv, etc. Kal TOTE MaiaSof vlbf {nroff^6fj.evof KaTevevue M?/ TTOT' a7ro/c/ln/>eij>, 6V 'E/oy M^cJe Tror' EfiTTE^aariv TTVKIVU tio/uy ' avTap ' ArjTotdrjf KOTevEVGev iir' up&jj. KOI M.TJ Tiva i%,Ttp;v u7i~A.ov ev uftavuToiai MTJTE debv, ufjT 1 uvdpa Aiof yovov, etc. Tlavpa [ilv ov*> bvi*rvi, rb 6' uK NVKTO 6C bp$tai7)v Qvha dv^ruv uv&puiruv.
 * Homer. Hymn. Merc. 574.