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?