2
ZEUS
Tell me, have you never heard the name of Zeus? Never seen his altar on Gargaron A peak on Mount Ida. Cf. Iliad, VIII, 48 and Judgement of the Goddesses, 1 and 5. —the one who sends rain, thunder and lightning?
GANYMEDE
Oh, sir, do you mean you’re the one that poured down that tremendous hailstorm on us the other day, the one they say lives up top and makes all the noise, the one my father sacrificed the ram to? What harm have I done you, mister king of the gods, that you’ve carried me off up here? Perhaps the wolves will fall on my sheep now that they’re unprotected, and tear them to pieces.
ZEUS
What? Still worrying about your sheep? You’re an immortal now and will be living up here with us.
GANYMEDE
What’s that? Won’t you be taking me back to Ida today?
ZEUS
Of course not. That would mean I’d changed from god to eagle all for nothing.
5
GANYMEDE
Then my daddy will be looking everywhere for me and getting cross if he doesn’t find me, and I’ll get a thrashing by and by for leaving my flock.
ZEUS
How so? Where will he see you?
GANYMEDE
Please don’t go on with it, for I miss him already. If only you take me back, I promise you you’ll get another ram from him, sacrificed as my ransom. We have the three-year-old one, the big one that leads the way to the pasture.