hind in front, and himself fared down again. Straightway he wove sandals
on the sea-sand (things undreamed he wrought, works wonderful,
unspeakable) mingling myrtle twigs and tamarisk, then binding together a
bundle of the fresh young wood, he shrewdly fastened it for light sandals
beneath his feet, leaves and all, {138}--brushwood that the renowned
slayer of Argos had plucked on his way from Pieria [being, as he was, in
haste, down the long way].

Then an old man that was labouring a fruitful vineyard, marked the God
faring down to the plain through grassy Onchestus, and to him spoke first
the son of renowned Maia:

"Old man that bowest thy shoulders over thy hoeing, verily thou shalt
have wine enough when all these vines are bearing. . . . See thou, and
see not; hear thou, and hear not; be silent, so long as naught of thine
is harmed."

Therewith he drave on together the sturdy heads of cattle. And over many
a shadowy hill, and through echoing corries and flowering plains drave
renowned Hermes. Then stayed for the more part his darkling ally, the
sacred Night, and swiftly came morning when men can work, and sacred
Selene, daughter of Pallas, mighty prince, clomb to a new place of
outlook, and then the strong son of Zeus drave the broad-browed kine of
Phoebus Apollo to the river Alpheius. Unwearied they came to the high-
roofed stall and the watering-places in front of the fair meadow. There,
when he had foddered the deep-voiced kine, he herded them huddled
together into the byre, munching lotus and dewy marsh marigold; next
brought he much wood, and set himself to the craft of fire-kindling.
Taking a goodly shoot of the daphne, he peeled it with the knife, fitting
it to his hand, {140} and the hot vapour of smoke arose. [Lo, it was