The Homeric Hymns
Translation by J. Edgar, 1891
The Homeric Hymns are a collection of original preludes
and Epic lays recited by the Homeric Rhapsodists.
They are not the work of any one author or age.
It is improbable that any one of them was composed
earlier than the first Olympiad—B.C. 776.
The great majority belong to the period between B.C. 700
and B.C. 450.

TO PAN
Tell me, O Muse, of the dear son of Hermes, the Goatfooted,
The Twinhorned,
the Musical.
He haunteth the wooded leas with the dancing nymphs that tread
the crowns of steep rock, calling upon Pan, the Pastoral God, longhaired
and squalid, who is Lord of every snowy ridge, of the mountain
peaks and the rocky paths.
Hither and thither he fareth through the thick underwoods,
now sitting by quiet streams, now wandering among the steep crags,
climbing the loftiest height that overlook the flocks.
Oft he courseth over the long white hills, and oft with keen glance
he chargeth over the uplands, slaying the wild beast.
And anon he pipeth alone as he returns from the chase,
playing blithe sweet strains on the reeds.
In melody, not even that bird would surpass him, which among
the leaves of blossoming spring pours forth its lament in gush
of honeyed song.
And again, the clearvoiced mountain nymphs with nimble feet escort him
and sing by the dark water springs. And echo sighs over the
mountain top.
The god glides now to right, now to left, in the dance, and now to the center,
and foots it in many a step.
On his shoulders, he weareth a tawny lynx’s skin, and he delighteth
his heart with strains of music in the lush meadow, where crocus and fragrant
hyacinth bloom in blended confusion with the grass.
The Nymphs chant of the blessed Gods and lofty Olympus.
And above all do they sing of Hermes, the Luckbringer,
how he is the swift messenger of all the Gods, and how he came
to manystreamed Arcadia, mother of flocks, where he hath
a shrine as Lord of Cyllene’.
Here, god as he was, he shepherded roughfleeced flocks
in the service of a mortal man. For a longing desire had stolen
him to enjoy the love of the fairhaired daughter of Dryops.
He brought to accomplishment love's nuptials and the
nymph bore to Hermes in the halls a dear son, from the
first a marvel to the eyes, goatfooted, twinhorned,
musical, and seetly laughing.
And the mother springing up, fled and left her child;
for when she saw his uncouth bearded face she was afraid.
But straightway, Luckbringing Hermes received him to his arms,
and the God rejoiced exceedingly in heart.
Speedily he hied to the homes of the immortals, covering the boy
with the thick skins of the mountain hare.
Beside Zeus and the other immortals he sat him down,
and showed his son.

And all the Gods were delighted in heart
none more than Bacchan Dionysus.
They called him Pan, because he had made merry all
their minds.
Hail, O Prince!
To thee, I pray in song.
I shall remember thee and another lay.