EPISODE 98

IN WHICH AUTOLYCUS PROVES THAT HE DESERVES TO BE HIS FATHER’S SON

Previously: Following Chione’s death, Hermes has come to meet his son Autolycus and has decided to undertake his care.

Many years had gone by. Hermes had kept his promise. A promise made to Apollo, a promise made to himself as well: he had kept an eye on Autolycus. But, for a father, he had a strange way indeed of undertaking his son’s care: instead of preventing him from stealing, he had on the contrary offered his son an additional way to succeed in his thieving! This is how it had all happened. On the day that Hermes had shown himself to Autolycus for the first time, the latter had not jumped for joy. As soon as he had seen the winged sandals and hat, Autolycus had immediately recognized his father, but he had pretended not to see him. He had even turned his back to him! Embarrassed, Hermes had had to tap him on the shoulder:

“Er, ahem, good morning, my son…”

Without turning round, Autolycus had said: “So you remember you have a son now, do you?”

“This youngster is certainly full of character!” thought Hermes. Then he replied: “I ask you to forgive me. What if we tried to make amends?”

At that, Autolycus had flung himself into his arms. He was as full of pride and as impulsive as his father.

Hermes then said: “I saw you steal your brother’s ring. And from what Apollo has reported back to me, this is not your first theft?”

Autolycus lifted up his chin defiantly. “And what about you, what were you doing at my age? I am not the son of the god of Thieves for nothing…”

Hermes did not know how to reply—and this was something that never happened to him! This son was clearly not to be trifled with. As he watched the petulant expression on his face, Hermes burst into laughter.

“Very well, you win. In fact, I shall make you a gift: I grant you the power to steal any herd that takes your fancy. From now on, any animals you steal shall change their appearance: they will no longer be recognizable to their rightful owners.”

Autolycus’ smile stirred Hermes’ heart.

From time to time, Hermes came to see what his son was up to on earth. This is how he saw him sneak one night among his neighbour’s herds and make away with some of his animals. Nothing could be easier for him, since he only needed to change a black cow into a white cow, a bull with long, curvy horns into one with short, straight ones, for the theft to remain undetected. Several times, and full of suspicion, his neighbour had come to Autolycus’ stable to verify whether his beasts were there. His herd diminished in number, whereas that of Autolycus increased. But of course he never recognized any of his beasts, and could therefore prove nothing.

One night, Autolycus had gone surreptitiously to his neighbour’s property and stolen some cows. The following day, his neighbour knocked on his door, accompanied by several of his friends.

“Autolycus, you are a villainous thief,” he was shouting.

Feeling sure of his ground, Autolycus replied: “But dear friend, please, do come and check my herd, you will not find any of your beasts there.”

“It shan’t be necessary. We have proof this time,” snorted his neighbour. “I engraved on the underside of my cows’ hooves the words ‘stolen by Autolycus’. Look, all of you!”

And he pointed to hoof prints on the ground. Tracks of hooves with the words “stolen by Autolycus” at every step could be seen clearly on the muddy path. And these traces led straight to Autolycus’ stable! For the first time in his life, Autolycus had been caught red-handed. Hermes laughed and did not intervene on his son’s behalf. Because even though he was the god of Thieves, he also believed it was fair that once in a while theft should be punished as well.

 

To be continued…