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Ἑρμῆν ἀείδω Κυλλήνιον, Ἀργειφόντην,
Κυλλήνης μεδέοντα καὶ Ἀρκαδίης πολυμήλου,
ἄγγελον ἀθανάτων ἐριούνιον, ὃν τέκε Μαῖα,
Ατλαντος θυγάτηρ, Διὸς ἐν φιλότητι μιγεῖσα,
αἰδοίη: μακάρων δὲ θεῶν ἀλέεινεν ὅμιλον, 5
ἄντρῳ ναιετάουσα παλισκίῳ: ἔνθα Κρονίων
νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ μισγέσκετο νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ,
εὖτε κατὰ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἔχοι λευκώλενον Ἥρην:
λάνθανε δ᾽ ἀθανάτους τε θεοὺς θνητούς τ᾽ ἀνθρώπους.
καὶ σὺ μὲν οὕτω χαῖρε, Διὸς καὶ Μαιάδος υἱέ: 10
σεῦ δ᾽ ἐγὼ ἀρξάμενος μεταβήσομαι ἄλλον ἐς ὕμνον.
[χαῖρ᾽. Ἑρμῆ χαριδῶτα, διάκτορε, δῶτορ ἐάων.]
sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus,
lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks,
luck-bringing messenger of the deathless gods.
He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, when she had mated with Zeus, —
a shy goddess she. Ever she avoided the throng of the blessed gods [5]
and lived in a shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos
used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph at dead of night,
while white-armed Hera lay bound in sweet sleep:
and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it.
And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun: [10]
now I will turn to another song!
Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things!
Anonymous. The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914.