So much for Hera. But Cronides put off his bull-faced form, and in the shape of a young man ran round the innocent girl. He touched her limbs, loosed first the bodice about the maid’s bosom, pressed as if by chance the swelling circle of the firm breast, kissed the tip of her lip, then silently undid the holy girdle of unwedded virginity, so well guarded, and plucked the fruit of love hardly ripe.
Soon her womb swelled, quick with twin progeny ; and Zeus the husband passed over his bride with the divine offspring in her womb, to Asterion, a consort of rich fortune. Then rising beside the Charioteer’s ankle the bridegroom Bull of Olympos sparkled with stars, he who keeps his dewloving back for the Sun in the springtime, crouching upon his hams across the path as he rises half submerged in the sea, he shows himself holding out his right foot towards Orion, and at evening quickens his pace into the circle and passes the Charioteer who rises with him to run his course.
So he was established in the heavens,
But Typhoeus was no longer to hold the gear of Zeus. For now Zeus Cronides along with Archer Eros left the circling pole, and met roving Cadmos amid the mountains on his wandering search ; then he devised with him an ingenious plan, and entwined the deadly threads of Moira’s spindle for Typhon. And Goatherd Pan who went with him gave Zeus Almighty cattle and sheep and rows of horned goats, Then he built a hut with mats of wattled reeds and fixed it on the ground : he put on Cadmos a shepherd’s dress, so that no one could know him in disguise, when he had clad his sham herdsman in this make-believe costume ; he gave clever Cadmos the deceiving panspipes, part of the plot to pilot Typhaon to his death.
Now Zeus called the counterfeit herdsman and the winged controller of generation,” and disclosed this one common plan: Look alive, Cadmos, pipe away and there shall be fine weather in heaven! Delay, and Olympos is scourged for Typhoeus is armed with my heavenly weapons. Only he aegis-cape is left me ; but what will my aegis do fighting with Typhon’s thunderbolt fear old Cronos may laugh aloud, I am shy of the proud neck of my lordly adversary Iapetos I fear Hellas even more, that mother of romances—what if one of that nation call Typhon Lord of Rain, or Highest, and Ruling in the Heights defiling my name! Become a herdsman for one daydawn; make a tune on your mind-befooling shepherd’s pipes, and save the Shepherd of the Universe, that I may not hear the noise of Cloud-gatherer TyJiiceus, the thunders of a new impostor Zeus, that I may stop his battling with lightnings and volleying with thunderbolts ! If the blood of Zeus is in you, and the breed of Inachian, bewitch Typhon’s wits by the sovereign remedy of your guileful pipes and their tune! I will give you ample recompense for your service, two gifts : will make you saviour of the world’s harmony, and the husband of the lady Harmonia. You also, Love, primeval founder of fecund marriage, bend your bow, and the universe is no longer adrift. If all things come from you, friendly shepherd of life, draw one shot more and save all things. As fiery god, arm yourself against Typhon, and by your help let the fiery thunderbolts return to my hand. All-vanquisher, strike one with your fire, and may you charmed shot catch one whom Cronion did not defeat; and may he have madness from the mind-bewitching tune of Cadmos, as much as I had passion for Europa’s embrace!”
“With these words Zeus passed away in the shape of the horned Bull, from which the Tauros Mountain takes its name.
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