EPISODE 97

DURING WHICH AUTOLYCUS MANAGES TO GET HIMSELF ADOPTED BY HERMES

Previously: Hermes has had an amorous escapade with a young woman called Chione. She was also seduced by his brother Apollo. Of this affair two boys were born, Autolycus, son of Hermes, and Philammon, son of Apollo.

Autolycus realized very young that he possessed an extraordinary gift: he was able to steal anything that came within reach without ever getting caught! The first time he discovered this talent, he was barely able to walk. His mother, Chione, was lying on a comfortable couch and had a plate of fruit placed beside her. She was chattering gaily with her female friends, talking as always of her incomparable beauty, which she considered to be superior to that of Artemis. Little Philammon had approached, had stretched out his hand towards the fruit, but Chione had refused him: “No, no, darling, these fruits are for my friends. Go and play elsewhere…” Philammon had left the room disappointed. It was then that his brother Autolycus sneaked stealthily towards the plate of fruit. He took one; no one noticed him. He took a second. The women were not aware of anything at all. Emboldened, Autolycus emptied the entire fruit bowl in this way. His mother and her friends never saw anything whatsoever: it was as if he had become transparent! Having eaten to his heart’s content, Autolycus left the room. Only then did Chione discover that the plate was empty. She suspected it was the boys’ doing, but she was unable to find the culprit because she had not seen a thing. Since that day, Autolycus never stopped having the time of his life.

How different they were, Chione’s sons! Autolycus was a tempestuous little boy, quarrelsome and a prankster. He never stopped teasing his brother. Philammon, for his part, was a calm and gentle boy, always daydreaming. He had inherited from his father Apollo a great beauty and everyone longed to be close to him and listen to his poetry. Every evening he recited poems at the centre of an admiring audience. Autolycus was jealous of Philammon’s gracefulness. Why were all these people only interested in his brother? He decided to get even. All those who pressed around his brother would soon regret not having spared him a single glance… While they were in a circle around the young poet, Autolycus sneaked in among them and stole anything that caught his fancy: a gilt belt here, a pouch full of money there, or even a sheepskin cloak. He even succeeded in undoing the laces of sandals and in removing them without their owners ever being aware of anything. No one was able to catch the mystery thief.

The more time passed, the more Philammon was irritated to see his admirers being robbed like this. One day, he appealed to Apollo: “Father, father, I have never asked you for anything,” he cried, “but today I would like a favour from you: can you try to unmask the thief?” From the heights of Olympus Apollo heard his son’s plea and descended to see what was happening on earth. When he discovered young Autolycus, he was struck by the boy’s resemblance to his own brother Hermes when he had been little. The same air of innocence, the same bewitching smile… There could be no doubt; he had to be the culprit. He went to see Hermes straight away. “My brother,” said Apollo, “you need to do something about your son Autolycus. I fear that he may have inherited from you the same partiality to stealing! You need to sort this out.”

Hermes had not chosen to have this child and he had no desire to take care of him. All the same, he promised to Apollo that he would go and take a look as soon as he could spare a moment. Time went by, and Hermes forgot his promise. Until one day a drama occurred.

The beautiful Chione boasted everywhere that she was more beautiful than Artemis, and in the end the goddess of Hunting grew vexed. “What a conceited woman! This mortal who dares to compare herself to a goddess must be punished: such is the law of Olympus.” And she descended on earth. While Chione was out hunting, as she was accustomed to do, one of Artemis’ arrows pierced her straight through the heart.

The two sons of Chione wept for their mother’s death.

“We are orphans now,” said Autolycus to Philammon.

“Not at all, we have our fathers,” Philammon replied to him between sobs.

Autolycus answered: “Some hope! As far as my father Hermes is concerned, I have never even seen him. I do not exist for him.”

While he spoke, Autolycus could not resist stealing a ring that his brother wore on his little finger and which he liked very much. Philammon of course did not notice anything. But someone had seen and heard it all, and that was Hermes. Forewarned by Artemis about Chione’s death, he had finally decided to go and visit Autolycus. When he caught sight of him, he was really bowled over; this child resembled him so much: how could he not have recognized him as his own son? And, watching him in action, he suddenly smiled: there was no doubt—this little one was truly his own offspring. He decided to look after him from now on.

 

To be continued…