Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/411

203—238. beheld with one's eyes; for many travellers make their way, of whom some having many evil designs, but others very good, go along; but it is difficult to learn each one. But throughout the whole day till sun-set I have been digging around the hill of the vineyard; but, O best one, I thought I saw—but I know not how to distinguish clearly—a boy, which infant boy was following with fair-horned cows. And he had a staff, and walked in a wavering manner, and urged them from behind, and kept their heads opposite to himself."

The old man spake, and Phœbus Apollo went quicker on his way. But he saw [the truth like as] a wing-stretching bird of augury, and forthwith perceived that the thief was the son of Saturnian Jove. But the son of Jove, Apollo, quickly entered divine Pylos, seeking the bent-footed heifers, having concealed his broad shoulders in a purple mist. And the Far-Darter perceived the footprints, and spake thus:

"O gods! surely I behold this a mighty marvel with mine eyes. These indeed are the footsteps of straight-horned heifers, but they are turned backwards towards the meadow of asphodel. And these are the steps neither of man nor woman, nor of hoary wolves, nor bears, nor lions, nor are they like [those] of a shaggy-necked centaur, whoever walks thus terribly with his swift feet, heavily on this side of the way, and heavier on that side of the way."

Thus having spoken, king Apollo, the son of Jove, went on, and came to the wood-clad mountain of Cyllene, into the heavy-shaded lair of the rock, where also the immortal nymph brought forth the son of Saturnian Jove. But a pleasant savour was scattered through the divine mountain, and many long-footed sheep were browsing on the grass. Here then hastening, far-darting holy Apollo descended the stony ground, into the murky cave. But when the son of Jove and Maia perceived him, far-darting Apollo, enraged about his heifers, he got within his incense-scented swaddling-clothes, like as the cinder of wood has enveloped much ash of boughs, so did