EPISODE 49

IN WHICH HERMES IS PROPERLY PUNISHED

Previously: By helping to save mankind from the deluge, Hermes has made himself two enemies without knowing it: Poseidon and Hera. And now he has just stolen the trident of Poseidon and Hera’s chariot.

Carried away by the great gallop of Hera’s horses, Hermes had lost all sense of the passage of time. He was drunk with speed. The chariot took him far away from Olympus and the landscapes through which he travelled were stunningly beautiful. The people he met along the way looked at him admiringly for driving such a superb team. Hermes felt proud. From time to time, he would let go of the horses’ reins and he would place one hand on Poseidon’s magnificent trident by his side. Hermes had never felt himself so powerful before.

Suddenly, as he turned a corner, someone appeared unexpectedly in front of his chariot. His horses reared up and neighed noisily, yet Hermes managed to calm them down. It was Ares himself who stood in the middle of the road, the son of Zeus and Hera.

“What do you want with me, god of War?” shouted Hermes.

With arms crossed over his chest and a deprecating smirk on his face, Ares replied: “You are nothing but a pathetic little thief, Hermes and our father Zeus sends me to escort you back to Olympus.”

Ares’ gloating got on Hermes’ nerves. Yet he kept his rage inside him and tried to keep calm. He had to obey his father’s orders. And Zeus’ anger was likely to be terrible.

They were already expecting him in the council hall of the gods by the time Hermes reached Olympus. He entered with his head sunk low, already regretting what he had done. All the gods were gathered around his father and he felt as though he were back on the day of his arrival at the palace. His father’s face was stern. No one was smiling at him, not even his beloved sister Artemis. Not even the gentle Hestia, who was looking at him disapprovingly. Hermes bowed his head again. He understood that by stealing from the other gods in this way, he had committed an unpardonable act. And this time he would have to muster all his eloquence to get out of his tight corner.

Zeus said first of all: “Thank you, Ares, for having caught this little thief.” At that, Ares went haughtily back to his seat. “And you, miserable son, what have you to say to justify your conduct?” enquired Zeus drily.

“O god of gods, I know that I must appear inexcusable,” Hermes began, “and yet I thought I was doing the right thing by acting in this way. Poseidon’s trident had been abandoned on a deserted little island when I discovered it. I only took it in order to bring it back to its owner. And the chariot was abandoned too, just left there on a road when I discovered it. I mounted it in order to bring it back to its owner. I never had any intention of stealing either of these things.”

Hermes watched the effect his words had produced on his father’s face. He saw a twinkle of amusement cross his eyes and he thought that once again he would win the round. Hera too, however, had sensed that Zeus was softening. She did not allow the master of Olympus time to speak; she sprang to her feet and said:

“That’s enough! You’ll do well to keep your fine talk to yourself, Hermes. I have been robbed and humiliated and I demand reparation. I want him banished from Olympus!” She resumed her seat, and Poseidon rose directly:

“I too demand justice. This godling has no place among us!” growled the god of the Seas.

Zeus let out a sigh of exasperation. He had to give due satisfaction to his wife and to his brother, yet he did not wish to be separated for ever from Hermes. Once more, he was trying to displease no one; then, suddenly, he had an idea: “Hermes, my son, you will go and spend three months in the Underworld with your uncle Hades before you may return to the palace.” Hermes’ smile vanished. Tears welled up in his eyes. He was going to have to stay away from his father’s palace for three long months! Hermes looked at Hera and the conniving smiles she was exchanging with Poseidon suddenly made it all clear for him: he had fallen into a trap! The truth was that Hera and Poseidon had prearranged everything in order to separate him from Zeus. They had not been napping when Hermes had come across them, they had only been pretending. And he, poor simpleton that he was, had not been able to resist the temptation to take what did not belong to him. Yet there was no more time for talk. Zeus had risen to his feet. Hermes left the council hall, shuddering at the thought of the kingdom of the Underworld which awaited him.

 

To be continued…