(ll. 190-200) `Old man, weeder (20) of grassy Onchestus, I am come here from Pieria seeking cattle, cows all of them, all with curving horns, from my herd.  The black bull was grazing alone away from the rest, but fierce-eyed hounds followed the cows, four of them, all of one mind, like men.  These were left behind, the dogs and the bull —­ which is great marvel; but the cows strayed out of the soft meadow, away from the pasture when the sun was just going down.  Now tell me this, old man born long ago:  have you seen one passing along behind those cows?’

(ll. 201-211) Then the old man answered him and said:  `My son, it is hard to tell all that one’s eyes see; for many wayfarers pass to and fro this way, some bent on much evil, and some on good:  it is difficult to know each one.  However, I was digging about my plot of vineyard all day long until the sun went down, and I thought, good sir, but I do not know for certain, that I marked a child, whoever the child was, that followed long-horned cattle —­ an infant who had a staff and kept walking from side to side:  he was driving them backwards way, with their heads toward him.’

(ll. 212-218) So said the old man.  And when Apollo heard this report, he went yet more quickly on his way, and presently, seeing a long-winged bird, he knew at once by that omen that thief was the child of Zeus the son of Cronos.  So the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, hurried on to goodly Pylos seeking his shambling oxen, and he had his broad shoulders covered with a dark cloud.  But when the Far-Shooter perceived the tracks, he cried: 

(ll. 219-226) `Oh, oh!  Truly this is a great marvel that my eyes behold!  These are indeed the tracks of straight-horned oxen, but they are turned backwards towards the flowery meadow.  But these others are not the footprints of man or woman or grey wolves or bears or lions, nor do I think they are the tracks of a rough-maned Centaur —­ whoever it be that with swift feet makes such monstrous footprints; wonderful are the tracks on this side of the way, but yet more wonderfully are those on that.’

(ll. 227-234) When he had so said, the lord Apollo, the Son of Zeus hastened on and came to the forest-clad mountain of Cyllene and the deep-shadowed cave in the rock where the divine nymph brought forth the child of Zeus who is the son of Cronos.  A sweet odour spread over the lovely hill, and many thin-shanked sheep were grazing on the grass.  Then far-shooting Apollo himself stepped down in haste over the stone threshold into the dusky cave.

(ll. 235-253) Now when the Son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo in a rage about his cattle, he snuggled down in his fragrant swaddling-clothes; and as wood-ash covers over the deep embers of tree-stumps, so Hermes cuddled himself up when he saw the Far-Shooter.  He squeezed head and hands and feet together in a small space, like a new born child seeking sweet sleep, though in truth he was wide awake, and he kept his