30 Hermes’ prophecy, honours, and proem revisited: 529-580

His offices, his timai–

[Apollo said to him]

“I present you the symbol of blessings and wealth: this beautiful wand,

golden with a three-leaf point, which will protect you, as inviolate as a herald                                      530

while you enact every sacred-law — both the words and the deeds

of the noble — all those that I announce have been ordained by the Word of god.

Concerning the prophetic knowledge which you have been asking for so obviously, my bold friend:

it is not permissible for you to know the Word of god —  nor indeed, for any other

of the immortals: this was decreed by Zeus’ own mind. Even I,                                                                     535

once I had been entrusted with this, had to swear and confirm a most solemn oath

that, apart from me, no other of the gods who-are-forever

would ever come to know the plans which crowd the mind of Zeus.

Even you, my beloved brother, bearer-of-the-golden-wand (my eternal pledge), could not drive me

to reveal the Word of god, those things which Zeus-of-vision-far-and-further-voice has planned. 540

Some who bring me gifts will find themselves deceived, robbed,

some will find luck and benefit —

doing so, I continue to overturn clear knowledge of the future, making it topsy-turvy

for the whole of unenviable mankind.

But still —

anyone who would consult my prophetic voice properly, following

the sure omens found in the flight and calls of birds;

anyone who would consult my prophetic voice properly, him I will not deceive.                                   545

But anyone who seeks meaning in the random chirps of birds,

and still seek to bring his questions despite this warning,

approaches my oracle, hoping to gain knowledge beyond the gods who-are-forever,

I proclaim that his journey will be pointless —

though I will still happily relieve him of his offerings.

Let me leave you with one last thing though –a riddle —

You son of unignorable Maia and                                              550

son of Zeus who-bears-the-aegis-of-kingship,

“Goods-Exchanger” of the gods,

in-the-space between-god-and-mortal,

Luck-bringer,

and friend-with-benefits.

Long ago were born twin-sisters — formidable goddesses,

ever-virgin, who take joy in the movement of swift wings,

three in total, their heads sprinkled with the white flour of barley,

dwelling in homes within the ridges of Mount Parnassos.                                                                               555

Who are they?

They are teachers of a second type of prophecy,

one which was under my care when I was still a child, herding cattle:

but is not connected with my father.

These sisters fly out from their home, flitting here and then there

feeding on honey-sweet nourishment and bringing about all things.

Here is how it works:

when they have fed on pale-liquid honey, they are inspired                                                                          560

and they come out favorably, to buzz the truth to all.

But if they have avoided the pleasant sweet food of the gods,

then they lie, buzzing only to one another.

With this I can still give the honour of some prophecy to you

— since this is, strictly speaking, what you asked for,

let your mind find joy in it.                                                                                                                                           565

If you teach the art to mortal men,

they will listen attentively to your prophetic voice, whenever they are fortunate enough to receive it.

All these things are now yours, son of Maia, along with field-dwelling cattle with curved horns,

plus the care of horses and hard-labouring mules (halfway between horse and donkey).”

So it was too for savage-eyed lions and white-tusked boars

and dogs and sheep — as many as the wide earth supports —                                                                        570

and all the many flocks. Their ruler will also be Hermes, famous for his deeds.

He alone has been formally appointed as messenger to Hades, the dark god,

who, although he exchanges gifts with no one, rewards Hermes with the greatest gifts of honour.

These then, were the ways that the son of Maia was honoured by Apollo, the king

and with even more tokens of his affection.

But it was for his deeds that he earned both favour and thanks from the son of Kronos himself.    575

Hermes —

He keeps company with everyone alike, mortal and immortal.

For a few, he brings benefits,

but for countless others, he will lead them astray

the whole mass of mortal men and women,

deceived in the dark of night.

Take joy in what has come before and farewell, Zeus’ and Maia’s son.

But I will continue to make your memory present and that of the song still to come.                            580