Speak first, then, Hermes, and see that you accuse me as eloquently as you can and that you don’t neglect any of your father’s claims. Hephaestus, I make you judge.

No, by Heaven; you will find me an accuser instead of a judge, I promise you, for you abstracted my fire and left my forge cold.

Well, then, divide the accusation; you can accuse me of the theft now, and then Hermes will criticize the serving of the meat and the making of men. You both belong to trades-unions and are likely to be good at speaking.

Hermes shall speak for me too, for I am no hand at court specches but stick by my forge for the most part, while he is an orator and has taken uncommon interest in such matters.

I should never have thought that Hermes would care to speak about the theft or to reproach me with anything like that, when I follow his own trade! However, if you agree to this, son of Maea, it is high time you were getting on with your accusation.