27 Reconciliation: Negotiation (434-)

Negotiation

Apollo’s Request

He finally managed to make a request

 —words which flew straight to the heart–    435

“With what adequate title can I now address you:

Mighty-cattle-slayer?

Scheme-Weaver?

Industrious-Labourer?

Or would you prefer your newest accolade?

Escort-to-the-Feast?

All fifty of my cattle together

are worth

nothing

compared to these… pleasures beyond-words

which you have nurtured to maturity.

And hearing you play this,

[Has transformed my opinion.]

I now finally see a way

that our disagreement can end

peacefully,

[in mutually beneficial exchange.]

So, please tell me,

tricky son-of-Maia,

of-quickly-turning-plans:

Are these miraculous arts

something innate–an attribute that you were born with?  440

Or are they something that developed later?

[And if it was developed later,

From what source?]

Did  someone else —

immortal? Or

mortal?–

bestow upon you

this brilliant, kingly gift?

or instruct you in the art of

this sound beyond-the-power-of-words?

[In truth I do not even know what to call it]

For indeed what I heard

I lack the words to describe…

…

I can only call it:

art  ‘beyond-the-power-of-words.’

Perhaps…

Is it because…

this sound is

something new-born into the world?

Yes. Indeed…

I am confident that this is a knowledge

which has never before been imagined

by anyone

mortal  or

immortal —

even among the highest gods

those-who-hold-palaces-on-Olympus— 445

except you,

Littlest-thief,

heir of Zeus and

son of Maia.

I must know:

How might this craft be mastered?

How is this strain of music

able to rouse all-consuming emotions?

How might it be practiced?

For this music

 how somehow invoked

three moods –all at once– :

cheer and merriment  [as in a festival]

yearning desire [as for a lover] and

relaxation [as if asleep snug in your blankets].

Even I —

eternal attendant, [never leaving the side]

of the Olympian Muses: 450

who possess all the arts of-the-songs-within-the-dance,

those [flowers which adorn the crown of life]  —

chorus-dances,

journeys through the path of song-stories, and

sweet desire summoned by the hum of the flute —

have never before found

any type of music which is more matched to my soul

than what you played;

it is so like the rivalrous deeds of young men

drinking at the symposium,

competing in friendship and wit

as they pass the song from left to right.

I can confirm that your lyre playing

has left me…

awestruck,

Son of Zeus

[For you have truly earned this title.]

And as you played,

desire … to possess it

swelled and still swells

within me.                      455

But even though you already know devices of such glory,

consider that you are still young and

[have limited status on Olympus].

So unless you have gone a bit ripe in the head, and

[intend to rebel against the established order,]

it would be customary to display proper deference to me:

giving some visible show of respect

to your elders and patrons [who can support you].

If you were to give me…

—this—

[which I desire more than anything]

by which I mean,

deference and some show of respect, of course.

[what else could I be asking for?]

Then

glory and rank among the immortal gods

from that point on, would be yours

And your mother’s.

I promise, with strictest accuracy,

that [as your elder and patron], you can trust that I

would advance and defend your claims.

I swear this by my sacred cherry-wood spear:    460

I will seat you

amongst the other immortals

on a glorious throne; and

amongst the fortunate,

you will be

first and foremost.

I will add this in addition–

[As your patron,]

I will see that you share

in all the honours I possess; and

in many other gifts of glory.

I swear that, even till the end,

I will not cheat you in this.”

Hermes’ Request

Hermes answered

with a carefully phrased oration:

“[I am impressed!]

That was a very sly and circumspect way

to ask for what you really want,

king-who-works-from-a-distance

[you certainly deserve that title now.]

To answer your real question:

I would never refuse your request to learn and follow

my craft.

…

or perhaps I should call it by a more accurate title:

“our craft”   465

.since you will learn it too, on this very day, .

[And I must commend you]

I much prefer

this subtle and gentle approach

which you have taken

both in words and

(finally) in actions.

[You will find that I am happy to reply in the same spirit.]

In exchange though…

Regarding this craft which you will soon know and hold

[and will add to your mighty haul.]

I  only hope that it does not [overburden you]:

your mind knows and holds

so many things already and

so many honours are already in your possession

[which might, for instance, be shared with a protégé].

For you,

heir-of-Zeus,

[a title which you certainly merit]

are seated first and stand foremost

[in rank] among all the immortals…

so strong… and mighty… and

…generous…

Zeus the Mindful-counselor

respects and loves you

–as is right and proper, since you are his son–

[a title you share with me, of course]; And

has already bestowed a father’s inheritance made up of

so many glorious gifts   470

and even more honours.

All given to you,

king-whose-worth-and-glories-are-far-known.

Just to mention one honour in particular —

You

already know and hold (for instance)

the prophetic Word of god himself and

— or so they say, at least —

the fated decrees of Zeus.

Seeing this particular gift,

[as part of your inheritance as Zeus’ son]

I am made envious

of your wealth

[of the abundance that you already possess.]

[It would seem an inconvenience to add even more more thing]

to a hoard already so impressively stacked high.

–Though, of course–

If your heart desires to possess yet more…

it is, of course, perfectly within your power and rights

–as someone so mighty–

to learn and hold an even greater abundance.

So, since your heart longs to play the lyre,  475

I approve — add it to the pile:

dance, sing, and play!

Turn your attention to feasts and festivities!

I will give this gift to you without cost or proviso.

All I ask in return

is that you

–my friend, my patron–

might one day consider

gifting me

some…

share

of the abundance of glories which you already possess