"
Zeus became silent and thoughtful.
"Then this woman," said he finally, "remained deaf to your music, to
your songs, and she repudiated you with disdain?"
"She poured on my head a pot of dough, O Thunderer!"
Zeus frowned, and at his frown Ida trembled, pieces of rock began to
roll with a great noise toward the sea, and the trees bent like ears
of wheat.
Both gods awaited with beating hearts his decision.
"Hermes," said Zeus, "you may cheat the people as much as you
like--the people like to be cheated. But leave the gods alone, for if
I become angry I will throw you into the ether, then you will sink so
deep into the depths of the ocean that even my brother Poseidon will
not be able to dig you out with his trident."
Divine fear seized Hermes by his smooth knees; Zeus spoke further,
with stronger voice:
"A virtuous woman, especially if she loves another man, can resist
Apollo. But surely and always a stupid woman will resist him.
"Eryfile is stupid, not virtuous; that's the reason she resisted.
Therefore you cheated the Radiant, and you shall not have Lampecja.
Now go in peace."
The gods departed.
Zeus remained in his joyful glory. For a while he looked after Apollo,
muttering:
"Oh, yes! A stupid woman is able to resist him."
After that, as he had not slept well the previous night, he called
Sleep, who, sitting on a tree in the form of a hawk, was awaiting the
orders of the Father of gods and people.
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