fair-tressed nymph in the deep of night, when sweet sleep held
white-armed Hera, the immortal Gods knowing it not, nor mortal men.

But when the mind of great Zeus was fulfilled, and over _her_ the tenth
moon stood in the sky, the babe was born to light, and all was made
manifest; yea, then she bore a child of many a wile and cunning counsel,
a robber, a driver of the kine, a captain of raiders, a watcher of the
night, a thief of the gates, who soon should show forth deeds renowned
among the deathless Gods. Born in the dawn, by midday well he harped,
and in the evening stole the cattle of Apollo the Far-darter, on that
fourth day of the month wherein lady Maia bore him. Who, when he leaped
from the immortal knees of his mother, lay not long in the sacred cradle,
but sped forth to seek the cattle of Apollo, crossing the threshold of
the high-roofed cave. There found he a tortoise, and won endless
delight, for lo, it was Hermes that first made of the tortoise a
minstrel. The creature met him at the outer door, as she fed on the rich
grass in front of the dwelling, waddling along, at sight whereof the luck-
bringing son of Zeus laughed, and straightway spoke, saying:

"Lo, a lucky omen for me, not by me to be mocked! Hail, darling and
dancer, friend of the feast, welcome art thou! whence gatst thou the gay
garment, a speckled shell, thou, a mountain-dwelling tortoise? Nay, I
will carry thee within, and a boon shalt thou be to me, not by me to be
scorned, nay, thou shalt first serve my turn. Best it is to bide at
home, since danger is abroad. Living shalt thou be a spell against ill
witchery, and dead, then a right sweet music-maker."

[Hermes making the lyre. Bronze relief in the British Museum (Fourth
Century B.C.): lang136.jpg]