Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/418

382 his mind as he heard it. And the son of Maia, playing pleasantly on the lyre, stood boldly at the the left hand of Phœbus Apollo. And soon after, playing clearly on the lyre, he sang with uplifted voice, (for a pleasing voice accompanied him,) celebrating the immortal gods, and the murky earth, how they were first born, and how each obtained his share by lot. Mnemosyne indeed, the mother of the Muses, he honoured first of the goddesses in song, for she had obtained the son of Maia, and the glorious son of Jove honoured the other immortal gods according to age, and as each had been born, speaking all things in order, striking the lyre in his arms. But insatiable sweetness possessed the mind in his breast, and having addressed him, he spoke winged words:

"Cow-slayer, crafty-plotter, labouring comrade of the feast, thou hast devised these things worth fifty cows. I think that our strife will now be easily settled. But come now, tell me this, O cunning son of Maia; did these marvellous works accompany thee from thy birth, or did some one of the immortals, or of mortal man, bestow the glorious gift, and teach divine song. For I hear this wondrous new voice, which I say that no one ever learnt, neither of men, nor of the immortals who possess the Olympian dwellings, save thee, O thief, son of Jove and Maia. What art, what muse, what study [is there which assuages] difficult cares? for truly all these three are present at once, so that one may take joy, and love, and sweet sleep. And truly I am a follower of the Olympian Muses, to whom the quire and the glorious path of song are a care, and flourishing song, and the pleasant noise of pipes. But never yet was any other thing thus a care in my mind, such performances as are suited to the banquet of youths. I marvel at these, O son of Jove, so pleasantly dost thou play. But now since, although being little, thou knowest glorious arts, sit down, dear one, and praise the discourse