“Thus he spoke, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria; then he swooped down through the firmament till he reached the level of the sea, whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing every hole and corner of the ocean, and drenching its thick plumage in the spray. He flew and flew over many a weary wave, but when at last he got to the island which was his journey’s end, he left the sea and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso lived.”
·Direct
Mercury went inside Calypso’s cave.
See evidence text
“He found her at home. There was a large fire burning on the hearth, and one could smell from far the fragrant reek of burning cedar and sandal wood. As for herself, she was busy at her loom, shooting her golden shuttle through the warp and singing beautifully. Round her cave there was a thick wood of alder, poplar, and sweet smelling cypress trees, wherein all kinds of great birds had built their nests—owls, hawks, and chattering sea-crows that occupy their business in the waters. A vine loaded with grapes was trained and grew luxuriantly about the mouth of the cave; there were also four running rills of water in channels cut pretty close together, and turned hither and thither so as to irrigate the beds of violets and luscious herbage over which they flowed. {51} Even a god could not help being charmed with such a lovely spot, so Mercury stood still and looked at it; but when he had admired it sufficiently he went inside the cave.”
·Direct
Mercury remained inside Calypso’s cave.
See evidence text
“Calypso knew him at once—for the gods all know each other, no matter how far they live from one another—but Ulysses was not within; he was on the sea-shore as usual, looking out upon the barren ocean with tears in his eyes, groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow. Calypso gave Mercury a seat and said: ‘Why have you come to see me, Mercury—honoured, and ever welcome—for you do not visit me often? Say what you want; I will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done at all; but come inside, and let me set refreshment before you.’”
“Thus he spoke, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria; then he swooped down through the firmament till he reached the level of the sea, whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing every hole and corner of the ocean, and drenching its thick plumage in the spray. He flew and flew over many a weary wave, but when at last he got to the island which was his journey’s end, he left the sea and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso lived.”
“Thus he spoke, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria; then he swooped down through the firmament till he reached the level of the sea, whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing every hole and corner of the ocean, and drenching its thick plumage in the spray. He flew and flew over many a weary wave, but when at last he got to the island which was his journey’s end, he left the sea and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso lived.”
“On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan. Earth-encircling Neptune came, and Mercury the bringer of luck, and King Apollo, but the goddesses staid at home all of them for shame. Then the givers of all good things stood in the doorway, and the blessed gods roared with inextinguishable laughter, as they saw how cunning Vulcan had been, whereon one would turn towards his neighbour saying:”
“On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan. Earth-encircling Neptune came, and Mercury the bringer of luck, and King Apollo, but the goddesses staid at home all of them for shame. Then the givers of all good things stood in the doorway, and the blessed gods roared with inextinguishable laughter, as they saw how cunning Vulcan had been, whereon one would turn towards his neighbour saying:”
Mercury met Ulysses on the mountain top in a young man’s disguise.
See evidence text
“‘With this I left the ship and went up inland. When I got through the charmed grove, and was near the great house of the enchantress Circe, I met Mercury with his golden wand, disguised as a young man in the hey-day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face. He came up to me and took my hand within his own, saying, ‘My poor unhappy man, whither are you going over this mountain top, alone and without knowing the way? Your men are shut up in Circe’s pigstyes, like so many wild boars in their lairs. You surely do not fancy that you can set them free? I can tell you that you will never get back and will have to stay there with the rest of them. But never mind, I will protect you and get you out of your difficulty. Take this herb, which is one of great virtue, and keep it about you when you go to Circe’s house, it will be a talisman to you against every kind of mischief.
”
Mercury passed over the wooded Aeaean island on his return to Olympus.
See evidence text
“‘Then Mercury went back to high Olympus passing over the wooded island; but I fared onward to the house of Circe, and my heart was clouded with care as I walked along. When I got to the gates I stood there and called the goddess, and as soon as she heard me she came down, opened the door, and asked me to come in; so I followed her—much troubled in my mind. She set me on a richly decorated seat inlaid with silver, there was a footstool also under my feet, and she mixed a mess in a golden goblet for me to drink; but she drugged it, for she meant me mischief. When she had given it me, and I had drunk it without its charming me, she struck me with her wand. ‘There now,’ she cried, ‘be off to the pigstye, and make your lair with the rest of them.’
”
“‘Then Mercury went back to high Olympus passing over the wooded island; but I fared onward to the house of Circe, and my heart was clouded with care as I walked along. When I got to the gates I stood there and called the goddess, and as soon as she heard me she came down, opened the door, and asked me to come in; so I followed her—much troubled in my mind. She set me on a richly decorated seat inlaid with silver, there was a footstool also under my feet, and she mixed a mess in a golden goblet for me to drink; but she drugged it, for she meant me mischief. When she had given it me, and I had drunk it without its charming me, she struck me with her wand. ‘There now,’ she cried, ‘be off to the pigstye, and make your lair with the rest of them.’
”
Mercury led the suitor ghosts down into the dark abode of death.
See evidence text
“Then Mercury of Cyllene summoned the ghosts of the suitors, and in his hand he held the fair golden wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases; with this he roused the ghosts and led them, while they followed whining and gibbering behind him. As bats fly squealing in the hollow of some great cave, when one of them has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang, even so did the ghosts whine and squeal as Mercury the healer of sorrow led them down into the dark abode of death. When they had passed the waters of Oceanus and the rock Leucas, they came to the gates of the sun and the land of dreams, whereon they reached the meadow of asphodel where dwell the souls and shadows of them that can labour no more.
”
Mercury, sent by Jove in good will, warned Aegisthus against courting Agamemnon’s wife or killing him and foretold Orestes’ revenge, but Aegisthus ignored him.
See evidence text
“I sent Mercury to warn him not to do either of these things, inasmuch as Orestes would be sure to take his revenge when he grew up and wanted to return home. Mercury told him this in all good will but he would not listen”
·Reported
Mercury serves as the gods’ messenger and is ordered to carry their decree to Calypso.
See evidence text
“Mercury, you are our messenger, go therefore and tell Calypso”
·Direct
Mercury, guide, guardian, and slayer of Argus, flies over land and sea with golden sandals and a sleep-waking wand.
See evidence text
“Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria”
·Direct
Mercury pauses to admire the lovely surroundings of Calypso’s cave.
See evidence text
“Even a god could not help being charmed with such a lovely spot, so Mercury stood still and looked at it; but when he had admired it sufficiently”
·Hypothetical
Mercury warns Calypso that Jove will become angry and punish her unless she sends Ulysses away.
See evidence text
“Then send him away,’ said Mercury, ‘or Jove will be angry with you and punish you”
·Direct
Mercury receives the Phaeacian chiefs’ customary final drink offering of the night.
See evidence text
“making their drink offerings to Mercury, which they always did the last thing before going away for the night”
·Reported
Mercury, bringer of luck, comes to Vulcan’s house with Neptune and Apollo.
See evidence text
“On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan. Earth-encircling Neptune came, and Mercury the bringer of luck, and King Apollo”
·Hypothetical
Mercury says even three times as many chains and an audience of gods would not deter him from sleeping with Venus.
See evidence text
“‘King Apollo,’ answered Mercury, ‘I only wish I might get the chance, though there were three times as many chains—and you might look on, all of you, gods and god desses, but I would sleep with her if I could.’”
·Disguised
Mercury appears disguised as a young man at the height of youthful beauty, with the down just coming upon his face.
See evidence text
“Mercury with his golden wand, disguised as a young man in the hey-day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face”
·Reported
Mercury foretells Circe’s witchcraft and instructs Ulysses how to threaten her, secure his companions, and demand an oath.
See evidence text
“I will tell you of all the wicked witchcraft that Circe will try to practice upon you. She will mix a mess for you to drink, and she will drug the meal with which she makes it, but she will not be able to charm you, for the virtue of the herb that I shall give you will prevent her spells from working. I will tell you all about it. When Circe strikes you with her wand, draw your sword and spring upon her as though you were going to kill her. She will then be frightened, and will desire you to go to bed with her; on this you must not point blank refuse her, for you want her to set your companions free, and to take good care also of yourself, but you must make her swear solemnly by all the blessed gods that she will plot no further mischief against you, or else when she has got you naked she will unman you and make you fit for nothing”
·Remembered
Mercury passes over wooded Aeaea on his return to high Olympus.
See evidence text
“Mercury went back to high Olympus passing over the wooded island”
·Reported
Mercury helps Hercules bring the hell-hound out of Hades.
See evidence text
“I got the hound out of Hades and brought him to him, for Mercury and Minerva helped me”
·Reported
Mercury is Calypso’s stated source for the exchange between Hyperion and Jove.
See evidence text
“she had heard it from the mouth of Mercury”
·Direct
Mercury, son of Maia, receives one of the seven portions set apart with prayer by Eumaeus.
See evidence text
“one of these he set apart for Mercury the son of Maia and the nymphs, praying to them as he did so”
·Disguised
Within Ulysses’s disguised appeal, Mercury is said to give grace and good reputation to human work.
See evidence text
“Mercury who gives grace and good name to the works of all men”
·Remembered
Mercury grants Autolycus his thieving and perjuring gift and favors him for sacrificial devotion.
See evidence text
“Mercury himself had endowed him with this gift, for he used to burn the thigh bones of goats and kids to him, so he took pleasure in his companionship.”
·Direct
Mercury summons and rouses the suitors’ ghosts with his wand, then leads their whining procession into the dark abode of death.
See evidence text
“Then Mercury of Cyllene summoned the ghosts of the suitors, and in his hand he held the fair golden wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases; with this he roused the ghosts and led them, while they followed whining and gibbering behind him. As bats fly squealing in the hollow of some great cave, when one of them has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang, even so did the ghosts whine and squeal as Mercury the healer of sorrow led them down into the dark abode of death”
·Direct
Mercury brings the slain suitors’ ghosts to Agamemnon and Achilles, who approach them in astonishment.
See evidence text
“Mercury came up to them with the ghosts of the suitors who had been killed by Ulysses. The ghosts of Agamemnon and Achilles were astonished at seeing them, and went up to them at once”