33
ZEUS
But who is this coming up in hot haste, the one of bronze, with the fine tooling and the fine contours, with his hair tied up in the old-fashioned way? Oh yes, it is your brother, Hermes, the one of the public square, beside the Painted Porch."As you go toward the portico that is called Poikile because of its paintings, there is a bronze Hermes, called Agoraios (of the square), and a gate close by” (Pausan. 1, 15,1). Playing upon "Hermes Agoraios,” Zeus dubs him Hermagoras, after a well-known rhetorician. At any rate he is all covered with pitch from being cast every day by the sculptors. My lad, what brings you here at a run? Do you bring us news from earth, by any chance?
HERMAGORAS
Important news, Zeus, that requires unlimited attention.
ZEUS
Tell me whether we have overlooked anything else in the way of conspiracy.
HERMAGORAS
It fell just now that they who work in bronze Had smeared me o’er with pitch on breast and back; A funny corslet round my body hung, Conformed by imitative cleverness To take the full impression of the bronze. I saw a crowd advancing with a pair Of sallow bawlers, warriors with words, Hight Damis, one—A parody on Euripides; compare Orest. 866, 871, 880.
ZEUS
Leave off your bombast, my good Hermagoras; I know the men you mean. But tell me whether they have been in action long.
5
HERMAGORAS
Not very; they were still skirmishing, slinging abuse at each other at long range.
