"Verily, a great marvel mine eyes behold! These be the tracks of high-
horned kine, but all are turned back to the meadow of asphodel. But
these are not the footsteps of a man, nay, nor of a woman, nor of grey
wolves, nor bears, nor lions, nor, methinks, of a shaggy-maned Centaur,
whosoever with fleet feet makes such mighty strides! Dread to see they
are that backwards go, more dread they that go forwards."

So speaking, the Prince sped on, Apollo, son of Zeus. To the Cyllenian
hill he came, that is clad in forests, to the deep shadow of the hollow
rock, where the deathless nymph brought forth the child of Zeus Cronion.
A fragrance sweet was spread about the goodly hill, and many tall sheep
were grazing the grass. Thence he went fleetly over the stone threshold
into the dusky cave, even Apollo, the Far-darter.

Now when the son of Zeus and Maia beheld Apollo thus in wrath for his
kine, he sank down within his fragrant swaddling bands, being covered as
piled embers of burnt tree-roots are covered by thick ashes, so Hermes
coiled himself up, when he saw the Far-darter; and curled himself, feet,
head, and hands, into small space [summoning sweet sleep], though of a
verity wide awake, and his tortoise-shell he kept beneath his armpit. But
the son of Zeus and Leto marked them well, the lovely mountain nymph and
her dear son, a little babe, all wrapped in cunning wiles. Gazing round
all the chamber of the vasty dwelling, Apollo opened three aumbries with
the shining key; full were they of nectar and glad ambrosia, and much
gold and silver lay within, and much raiment of the Nymph, purple and
glistering, such as are within the dwellings of the mighty Gods. Anon,
when he had searched out the chambers of the great hall, the son of Leto
spake to renowned Hermes:

"Child, in the cradle lying, tell me straightway of my kine: or speedily