26 Reconciliation: Hermes returns the cattle and reveals the lyre (397-433)

The Final Conflict

Location:

Sandy Pylos

Together,

they went across

the ford of the river Alpheus,

through the fields,

up to the solidly-roofed stable

(aka. Hermes’ cave-hideout).

where his mooing wealth

had sheltered during the night. 400

Once there

They separated.

Hermes

began the slow task;

driving the mighty head of cattle

across the threshold,

back into the light.

The son of Leto

[wary of Hermes’ tricks]^[1]

waited at the entrance.

glancing to the side,

he happened to

notice…

stretched there on the wide boulder…

two drying cattle skins

taken from HIS herd!

[Evidence that the full herd would not be returned intact.]

[Evidence that Hermes intended to rival Apollo’s glory.]

He rounded angrily on

Hermes

famous-for-his-deeds.

“Wicked-minded trickster! 

I should have never trusted that you would return all of my cattle!

But how was such a thing even possible?

Are you truly strong enough

to slaughter two massive,  full-grown cows

even with a newborn baby’s arms?

I can’t help but be a bit…

impressed

Considering

the strength you will one day have.

You will be something extraordinary.

So someone has to stop you

now

before you grow too powerful:

Cyllene-born (still a baby!),

son-of-Maia

[rival-for-Zeus’-throne].”^[2]

As he was saying this,

he whipped around Hermes’ hands

a set of strong chains to bind him:

branches

braided together,

chaste-willow,

still green and strong

But

They

dropped

to

his

feet

-with a will of their own–   410

Animated now…

they burrowed

deep

into the

ground.

Suddenly.

All across the black soil

green branches

shot up,

growing

— as tall as Apollo now–

expanding

–another branch there and there and there–

twining,

twisting,

together.

…

[Where once

there had stood in a grassy field]

Now

there was a dense mass of vines

a thicket around all the

field-dwelling cattle:

they were completely enveloped

trapped, bound within the greenery.

All the while,

He had not even moved a muscle.

These events

–all of them, from beginning to end–

had happened according to

his will and

his plan:

Hermes

the-thief-of-minds..

Apollo stood…

…dumbfounded…

awestruck at the extraordinary miracle

he had witnessed.

[Doubting his own eyes]

[he was unsure if Hermes was finished.]

But he had just begun.

The powerful Watchdog-Slayer

kept his gaze shadowed and hidden.

This time.

Intending that Apollo

could not see his intentions —

whether or not he intended harm

could not see the fire of dangerous ambition

which blazed in Hermes’ eyes.  415

Witness now Hermes’ promised payback:

how the glorious son of Leto

gently softened towards him,

just as Hermes had intended all along.

how his heart was touched,

though the exceptionally powerful

think themselves untouchable.

The Secret Lyre

It was time. Finally.

Hermes

revealed

what had long been held back,

bringing out his secret weapon

laying it gently in his right hand.

and with his pick

tuned the strings,

one

after

the

other.

Then, with a strum of his hand,

they cried out–as one, –420

sharp notes,

shocking,

never-before-heard.

Hearing  this,

he couldn’t help but laugh:

the Purifying-light,

Phoebus Apollo.

A transformative laugh that changed everything

For  Phoebus…

Joy —

filled him

Pleasure–

truly divine

pierced his mind,

straight to his very core.

Desire —

sweet to the taste,

seized his heart,

aching for more of the heavenly sound

He was transformed

as he listened to

Hermes playing

even just a taste of seductive melody

on his lyre.

The son of Maia

felt his spirits soar at the sight and

moved to stand, proudly,

at the right hand of

Phoebus Apollo,

the Purifying-Light.

Hermes’ Hymn

Waiting no longer,

Hermes played a series of clear notes,                              425

breaking the tension with this prelude.

And truly,

every sound that followed

was pleasure incarnate.

He sung into existence–

the divine gods and fertile-black Gaia

— a theogony–

He told of

what had come about

in the Beginning

how each divinity

was allotted their honours and roles.

The song

dedicated to Memory,

mother of the Muses

placed first

out of of all the gods…

(since her share of honours included

a lineage fortunate enough to include Maia’s son),   430

before turning to the others.

He treated each,

according to their seniority,

hymning them as they came into being,

until he had honoured every immortal god.

It all led up to

him,

the glorious son of Zeus.

He celebrated all,

each in the proper place and way.

This was what the one son played,

with the lyre resting on his right arm.

For the other,

All-consuming desire

had stolen the very breath and soul

from his chest.