HEPHAESTUS Have you seen how bonny Maia’s newborn baby Hermes. For the subject-matter, cf. Homeric Hymn to Hermes and Sophocles’ Ichneutae . is, Apollo, and what a nice smile it has for everyone? You can see already it’ll be a real treasure. APOLLO That baby a real treasure, Hephaestus? Why, it’s already older than Iapetus Cf. Hesiod, Theogony , 134, and note on p. 263. when it comes to mischief. HEPHAESTUS What harm could it do? It was born only the other day. APOLLO Ask Poseidon—it stole his trident—or Ares—it filched his sword out of his scabbard—not to mention myself—it disarmed me of my bow and arrows. HEPHAESTUS What? That newborn infant, which can hardly stand up, and is still in its baby-clothes? APOLLO You’ll see for yourself, my dear fellow, if he gets near you. HEPHAESTUS But he’s already been near me. APOLLO And what happened? Still got all your tools? None gone? HEPHAESTUS All present and correct, Apollo. APOLLO All the same, have a really good look. HEPHAESTUS Good heavens, I can’t see my tongs. APOLLO No, you’ll see them in his baby-clothes. HEPHAESTUS Can he have been practising stealing in his mother’s womb, that he’s so light-fingered?