Dialogues of the Gods

1ZEUSCome now, Ganymede. We’ve got there, so you can give me a kiss right away, and you’ll know I’ve no crooked beak now, or sharp claws or wings, as you thought when you took me for a bird. GANYMEDEMister man, weren’t you an eagle just now? Didn’t you swoop down, and carry me away from the middle of my flock? How, then, have your feathers moulted? You look quite different now. ZEUSIt’s no man you see here, my lad, nor eagle either. No, I’m the king of all the gods, but I’ve changed my shape for the moment. GANYMEDEWhat’s that? Are you Pan himself? How is it, then, you’ve no pipe or horns or shaggy legs? ZEUSIs he your only god? GANYMEDEYes, and we sacrifice one of our best billies to him, taking it to the cave where he has his statue. But you’re just a kidnapper, if you ask me.

2ZEUSTell me, have you never heard the name of Zeus? Never seen his altar on Gargaron†—the one who sends rain, thunder and lightning? GANYMEDEOh, sir, do you mean you’re the one that poured down that tremendous hailstorm on us the other day, the one they say lives up top and makes all the noise, the one my father sacrificed the ram to? What harm have I done you, mister king of the gods, that you’ve carried me off up here? Perhaps the wolves will fall on my sheep now that they’re unprotected, and tear them to pieces. ZEUSWhat? Still worrying about your sheep? You’re an immortal now and will be living up here with us. GANYMEDEWhat’s that? Won’t you be taking me back to Ida today? ZEUSOf course not. That would mean I’d changed from god to eagle all for nothing. GANYMEDEThen my daddy will be looking everywhere for me and getting cross if he doesn’t find me, and I’ll get a thrashing by and by for leaving my flock. ZEUSHow so? Where will he see you? GANYMEDEPlease don’t go on with it, for I miss him already. If only you take me back, I promise you you’ll get another ram from him, sacrificed as my ransom. We have the three-year-old one, the big one that leads the way to the pasture.

3ZEUSHow simple the child is, how innocent he is! Still just a child, that’s what he is. Look here, Ganymede, you can say good-bye to all those things and forget all about them—about your flock and about Ida. You’re one of heaven’s company now, and can do a lot of good to your father and country from here. Instead of your cheese and milk, you’ll have ambrosia to eat and nectar to drink, only you’ll have to serve the nectar to the rest of us too with your own fair hand. And most important of all, you won’t be human any more, but immortal, and I’ll make your own star—the prettiest one shining in the sky—and you’ll enjoy perfect happiness. GANYMEDEBut what if I want to play? Who will play with me? There were a lot of us who were of my age on Ida. ZEUSYou have someone to play with here too—there’s Eros over there—and lots and lots of knucklebones†as well. Only you must cheer up and be a bit more pleased with life, and stop longing for things below.

4GANYMEDEBut how could I possibly be any use to you? Will I have to look after a flock here too? ZEUSNo, you’ll pour wine, and be in charge of the nectar, looking after us at table. GANYMEDEThat’s quite simple. I know how to pour milk, and hand round the milk bowl. ZEUSThere he goes again. Keeps harping on his milk! Think’s he’ll be waiting on men! This is heaven, let me tell you, and, as I said just now, our drink is nectar. GANYMEDEIs that nicer than milk, Zeus? ZEUSYou’ll know very soon, and once you’ve tasted it, you won’t miss your milk any more. GANYMEDEWhere shall I sleep at night? With Eros, my playmate? ZEUSNo, that’s why I carried you off up here; I wanted us to sleep together. GANYMEDECan’t you sleep alone? Will you prefer sleeping with me? ZEUSYes, when it’s with a beautiful boy like you.

5GANYMEDEBut how will you sleep better because of my beauty? ZEUSIt’s sweet and soothing, and brings softer sleep. GANYMEDEBut Daddy would get annoyed with me when I slept with him, and kept telling us first thing in the morning how he couldn’t sleep for me tossing and turning, kicking out and talking in my sleep; so he usually sent me to sleep with mummy. So, if that’s why you brought me up here, as you say it is, the sooner you put me back down on earth again, the better, or you’ll have a terrible time with sleepless nights. For I’ll be an awful nuisance to you, tossing and turning all night long. ZEUSThat’s just what I’ll like best—staying awake with you, kissing and hugging you again and again. GANYMEDEYou can find out by yourself. I’ll go to sleep and leave the kissing to you. ZEUSWe’ll find out how to manage, when the time comes. Take him off now, Hermes, and let him have a draught of immortality, and when you’ve shown him how to offer the cup, bring him back to serve our wine.