(ll. 138-154) And when the god had duly finished all, he threw his sandals into deep-eddying Alpheus, and quenched the embers, covering the black ashes with sand, and so spent the night while Selene’s soft light shone down.  Then the god went straight back again at dawn to the bright crests of Cyllene, and no one met him on the long journey either of the blessed gods or mortal men, nor did any dog bark.  And luck-bringing Hermes, the son of Zeus, passed edgeways through the key-hole of the hall like the autumn breeze, even as mist:  straight through the cave he went and came to the rich inner chamber, walking softly, and making no noise as one might upon the floor.  Then glorious Hermes went hurriedly to his cradle, wrapping his swaddling clothes about his shoulders as though he were a feeble babe, and lay playing with the covering about his knees; but at his left hand he kept close his sweet lyre.

(ll. 155-161) But the god did not pass unseen by the goddess his mother; but she said to him:  `How now, you rogue!  Whence come you back so at night-time, you that wear shamelessness as a garment?  And now I surely believe the son of Leto will soon have you forth out of doors with unbreakable cords about your ribs, or you will live a rogue’s life in the glens robbing by whiles.  Go to, then; your father got you to be a great worry to mortal men and deathless gods.’

(ll. 162-181) Then Hermes answered her with crafty words:  `Mother, why do you seek to frighten me like a feeble child whose heart knows few words of blame, a fearful babe that fears its mother’s scolding?  Nay, but I will try whatever plan is best, and so feed myself and you continually.  We will not be content to remain here, as you bid, alone of all the gods unfee’d with offerings and prayers.  Better to live in fellowship with the deathless gods continually, rich, wealthy, and enjoying stories of grain, than to sit always in a gloomy cave:  and, as regards honour, I too will enter upon the rite that Apollo has.  If my father will not give it to me, I will seek —­ and I am able —­ to be a prince of robbers.  And if Leto’s most glorious son shall seek me out, I think another and a greater loss will befall him.  For I will go to Pytho to break into his great house, and will plunder therefrom splendid tripods, and cauldrons, and gold, and plenty of bright iron, and much apparel; and you shall see it if you will.’

(ll. 182-189) With such words they spoke together, the son of Zeus who holds the aegis, and the lady Maia.  Now Eros the early born was rising from deep-flowing Ocean, bringing light to men, when Apollo, as he went, came to Onchestus, the lovely grove and sacred place of the loud-roaring Holder of the Earth.  There he found an old man grazing his beast along the pathway from his court-yard fence, and the all-glorious Son of Leto began and said to him.