Dialogues of the Gods

1HERMESZeus says you’re not to go out driving today, Mr. Sun-god, or tomorrow or the next day. You’ve to stay at home, and all that time’s to be one long night; so the Hours†can unyoke your horses, and you can put out your fire and have a nice long rest. HELIOSA strange message you’ve brought, Hermes. Why, I’ve never heard the like of it! He doesn’t think I’ve been going off my course and breaking bounds, does he? He’s not annoyed with me, that he’s decided to make the night three times as long as the day? HERMESNot a bit of it. This won’t go on for ever; but for this once, it’s his personal wish that he should get a longer night at this time. HELIOSWhere is he? Where were you sent from with this message? HERMESFrom Boeotia, Mr. Sun, from Amphitryon’s wife.†He’s been keeping company with her. He’s in love with her. HELIOSIsn’t one night enough, then? HERMESNot at all. From this romance must come one who is mighty and fit for many labours; so they can’t do justice to him in a single night.

2HELIOSWell, I hope he makes a success of the job, though I must say, Hermes, this sort of thing didn’t happen in Cronos’ day. (It’s all right, we’re alone.) He would never sleep away from Rhea,†or leave heaven for a bed in Thebes, but day was day, and night night, varying only within their proper limits with the seasons of the year, with none of these strange upheavals. No, Cronos would never have had anything to do with a mortal woman. Now, however, for some poor miserable woman, everything must be turned topsy-turvy, my horses become stiff for want of exercise, the road grows difficult, left untrodden for three days on end, and men must spend a miserable time in the dark. That’s what they’ll get from Zeus’ love-affairs. Why, they’ll have to sit waiting in darkness for hours, till he finishes his job on the labouring fellow you’ve been telling me about. HERMESQuiet, Mr. Sun, or your words may get you into trouble. I’ll be off now to the Moon and to Sleep, and pass on Zeus’ instructions to them too, telling her to take her time, and Sleep not to leave men, so that they may not know the night’s been so long.