So spake he; and lo, the gods gathered together to the house of the brazen floor.  Poseidon came, the girdler of the earth, and Hermes came, the bringer of luck, and prince Apollo came, the archer.  But the lady goddesses abode each within her house for shame.  So the gods, the givers of good things, stood in the porch:  and laughter unquenchable arose among the blessed gods, as they beheld the sleight of cunning Hephaestus.  And thus would one speak, looking to his neighbour: 

’Ill deed, ill speed!  The slow catcheth the swift!  Lo, how Hephaestus, slow as he is, hath overtaken Ares, albeit he is the swiftest of the gods that hold Olympus, by his craft hath he taken him despite his lameness; wherefore surely Ares oweth the fine of the adulterer.’  Thus they spake one to the other.  But the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spake to Hermes: 

’Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger and giver of good things, wouldst thou be fain, aye, pressed by strong bonds though it might be, to lie on the couch by golden Aphrodite?’

Then the messenger, the slayer of Argos, answered him:  ’I would that this might be, Apollo, my prince of archery!  So might thrice as many bonds innumerable encompass me about, and all ye gods be looking on and all the goddesses, yet would I lie by golden Aphrodite.’

So spake he, and laughter rose among the deathless gods.  Howbeit, Poseidon laughed not, but was instant with Hephaestus, the renowned artificer, to loose the bonds of Ares:  and he uttered his voice, and spake to him winged words: 

’Loose him, I pray thee, and I promise even as thou biddest me, that he shall himself pay all fair forfeit in the presence of the deathless gods.’

Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:  ’Require not this of me, Poseidon, girdler of the earth.  Evil are evil folk’s pledges to hold.  How could I keep thee bound among the deathless gods, if Ares were to depart, avoiding the debt and the bond?’

Then Poseidon answered him, shaker of the earth:  ’Hephaestus, even if Ares avoid the debt and flee away, I myself will pay thee all.’

Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:  ’It may not be that I should say thee nay, neither is it meet.’

Therewith the mighty Hephaestus loosed the bonds, and the twain, when they were freed from that strong bond, sprang up straightway, and departed, he to Thrace, but laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Paphos of Cyprus, where is her precinct and fragrant altar.  There the Graces bathed and anointed her with oil imperishable, such as is laid upon the everlasting gods.  And they clad her in lovely raiment, a wonder to see.

This was the song the famous minstrel sang; and Odysseus listened and was glad at heart, and likewise did the Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned.