“But Cadmos tuned up the deceitful notes of his harmonious reeds, as he reclined under a neighbouring tree in the pasturing woodland ; wearing the country garb of a real herdsman, he sent the deluding tune to Typhaon’s cars, puffing his cheeks to blow the soft breath. The Giant loved music, and when he heard this delusive melody, he leapt up and dragged along his viperish feet; he left in a cave the flaming weapons of Zeus with Mother Earth to keep them, and followed the notes to seek the neighbouring tune of the pipes which delighted his soul. There he was seen by Cadmos near the bushes, who was sore afraid and hid in a cleft of the rock. But the monster Typhoeus with head high in air saw him trying to hide himself, and beckoned with voiceless signs, nor did he understand the trick in this beautiful music; then face to face with the shepherd, he held out one right hand, not seeing the net of destruction, and with his middle face, blood-red and human in shape, he laughed aloud and burst into empty boasts :
“Why do you fear me, goatherd Why do you cover your eyes with your hand? A fine feat should think it to pursue a mortal man, after Cronion ! A fine feat to carry off panspipes along with the lightning! What have reeds to do with flaming thunderbolts? Keep your pipes alone, since Typhoeus sesses another kind of organ, the Olympian, which lays by itself! There sits Zeus, without his clouds, unrumbling, none of his usual noise—he could do with your pipes. Let him have your handful of reeds to play. I don’t join worthless reeds to other reeds in a row and wave them about, but roll up clouds upon clouds into a lump, and discharge a bang all at once with rumblings all over the sky Let’s have a friendly match, if you like. Come on, you make music and sound your reedy tune, I will crash my thundery tune. You puff out your cheek all swollen with wind, and blow with your lips, but Boreas is my blower, and my thunderbolts boom when his breath flogs them. Drover, I will pay you for your pipes : for when I shall hold the sceptre instead ‘of Zeus, and drive the heavenly throne, you shall come with me; leave the earth and will bring you to heaven pipes and all, with your flock too if you like, you shall not be parted from your herd. I’ll settle your goats over the backbone of Aigoceros, one of the same breed ; or near the Charioteer, who pushes the shining Olenian She-goat in Olympos with his ling arm. I put your cattle beside the rainy Is broad shoulder and make them stars rising in Olympos, or near the dewy turning-point where Selene’s cattle send out a windy moo from their life- I warming throats. You will not want your little hut, Instead of your bushes, let your flock go flashing with the etherial Kids : I will make them another crib, to shine beside the Asses’ Crib and as good as theirs, Be a star yourself instead of a drover, where the Ox- driver is seen; wield a starry goad yourself, and drive the Bear’s Lycaonian wain. Happy shepherd, be heavenly Typhon’s guest at table: tune up on BY. earth to-day, to-morrow in heaven! You shall ha ample recompense for your song : I will establish - your face in the starlit circle of heaven, and join your tuneful pipes to the heavenly Harp. If you like, will give you Athena for your holy bride : if you do I not care for Grayeyes, take Leto, or Charis, or Cythereia, or Artemis, or Hebe to wife, Only don’t ask me for my Hera’s bed. If you have a horse-, master brother who can manage a team, let him I take Helios fiery fourdn-band. If you want to I wield the goatskin cape of Zeus, being a goatherd,) I will make you a present of that too. I mean to march into Olympos caring nothing for Zeus un-
He spoke, and Adrasteia took note of his words thus far. But when Cadmos understood that the son of Earth had been carried by Fate’s thread into his hunting-net, a willing captive, struck by the delightful sting of those soul-delighting reeds, unsmiling he uttered this artful speech :
Be You liked the little tune of my pipes, when you heard it; tell me, what would you do when I strike out a hymn of victory on the harp of seven strings, to honour your throne? Indeed, matched myself against Phoibos with his heavenly quill, and beat him with my own harp, but Cronides bamt to dust my a fine ringing strings with a thunderbolt, to please his beaten son! Bat if ever I find again the swelling sinews? I will strike up a tune with my quills to bewitch all the trees and the mountains and the temper of wild beasts, I will drag back Oceanos, that coronet self-wreathed about the earth and old as earth herself,’ I will make him hasten and bring his stream rolling back upon himself round the same road. I will stay the army of fixed stars, and the racing planets, and Phaethon and Selene’s carriage- pole. Bat when you strike Zeus and the gods with your thunderbolt, do leave only the Archer, that while Typhon feasts at his table, and Phoibos may) have a match, and see which will beat which in beating mighty Typhon! And do not kill the dancing Pierides, that they may weave the women’s lay harmonious with our manly song when Phoibos or your shepherd leads the merry dance!
He finished ; and Typhoeus bowed his flashing eyebrows and shook his locks : every hair belched viper-poison and drenched the hills Quick he returned to his cave, took up and brought out the sinews of Zeus, and gave them to crafty Cadmos as the guest’s gift ; they had fallen on the ground in the battle with Typhaon.
The deceitful thanked him for the immortal gift ; be handled the sinews carefully, as if they were to be strung on the harp, and hid them in a hole in the rock, kept safe for Zeus Giant-slayer. Then with pursed-up lips he let out a soft and gentle breath, pressing the reeds and steal- Ing the notes, and sounded a tune more dainty than ever. Typhoeus pricked up all his many ears and listened to the melody, and knew nothing. The Giant was bewitched, while the false shepherd whistled by his side, as if sounding the rout of the immortals with his pipes; but he was celebrating the soon-coming victory of Zeus, and singing the fate of Typhon to Typhon sitting by his side. So he excited him to frenzy even more; and as a lusty youth ens amoured is bewitched by delicious thrills by the side of a maiden his agemate, and gazes now at the silvery round of her charming face, now at a straying curl of her thick hair, now again at a rosy hand, or notes the circle of her blushing breast pressed by the bodice, and watches the bare neck, as he delights to let his eye run over and over her body never satisfied, and I never will leave his girl—so Typhoeus yielded his whole soul to Cadmos for the melody to charm, ill
Cite This Text