The Odyssey Page 0,60

its posts on every side he dropped his nets; and many too hung drooping from the rafter, like delicate spiderwebs which nobody could see, not even the blessed gods, so shrewdly were they fashioned. Then after he had spread the snare all round the bed, he made a show of going off to Lemnos, that stately citadel which in his sight is far the dearest of all spots on earth. Now Ares of the golden rein had kept no careless watch, and so espied craftsman Hephaestus setting forth. He hastened to the house of famed Hephaestus, keen for the love of fair-crowned Cytherea. She, just come home from visiting her sire, the powerful son of Kronos, was sitting down. He came within the door, and holding her by the hand he spoke and thus addressed her:

“Come, dear, to bed, and let us take our pleasure; for Hephaestus is no longer here at home, but gone at last to Lemnos, to the harsh-tongued Sintians.”

He spoke, and pleasant it seemed to her to lie beside him. So the pair went and lay down in bed, and all about them dropped the nets fashioned by shrewd Hephaestus; it was not in their power to move or raise a limb. This they saw only then when there was no escape. But on them came the famous strong-armed god, who had turned back before he reached the land of Lemnos; for in his stead the Sun kept watch and told him all. He hastened to the house, with heavy heart, stood at the porch, wild rage upon him, and raised a fearful cry, calling to all the gods:

“O Father Zeus, and all you other blessed gods that live forever, come see a sight for laughter, deeds not to be endured! For I being lame, this Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, ever dishonors me and gives her love to deadly Ares, since he is handsome and is sound of limb, while I was born a cripple. Yet nobody is to blame for that but my two parents,—would they had never given me birth! But you shall see where lie the loving pair who stole into my bed. I smart to see them! And yet I think they will not lie much longer thus, however great their love. Shortly they will not wish to sleep together; but still my snare and mesh shall hold them, till her father pays me back the many wedding gifts I gave to get the shameless girl, seeing his child was fair, though not true-hearted.”

He spoke, and the gods gathered at the bronze threshold of his house. Poseidon came, who girds the land, the fortune-bringer Hermes came, and the far-working king Apollo. The goddesses for shame all stayed at home. So at the portal stood the gods, the givers of good things, and uncontrollable laughter broke from the blessed gods as they beheld the arts of shrewd Hephaestus; and glancing at his neighbor one would say:

“Wrong-doing brings no gain. Slow catches swift; as here Hephaestus, who is slow, caught Ares, who is swiftest of the gods that hold Olympus,—catching him by his craft, though lame himself. Now Ares owes the adulterer’s fine.”

So they conversed together. And now to Hermes spoke the king, the son of Zeus, Apollo: “O Hermes, son of Zeus, guide, giver of good things, would you not like, though loaded down with heavy bonds, to lie in bed by golden Aphrodite?”

Then answered him the guide, the killer of Argus: “Would it might be, far-shooting king Apollo, though thrice as many bonds, bonds numberless, should hold me fast, and all you gods and goddesses should come and see, I wish I might lie by golden Aphrodite!”

He spoke, and laughter rose among the immortal gods. But Poseidon did not laugh; he earnestly entreated Hephaestus, the great craftsman, to loosen Ares. And speaking in winged words he said:

“Loose him, and I engage, as you desire, that he shall pay all dues before the immortal gods.”

Then said to him the famous strong-armed god: “Poseidon, en circler of the land, ask not for this. From triflers, even pledges in the hand are trifles. How could I hold you bound before the immortal gods, if Ares should evade both debt and bond and flee?”

Then said to him the earth-shaker, Poseidon: “Hephaestus, even if Ares does evade the debt and flee, still I myself will pay.”

Then answered him the famous strong-armed god: “I cannot and I must not tell you no.”

So saying, mighty Hephaestus raised the net,