676The hero, son of Philyra, wept, and called in vain for your help, Delphic god. 677For you could not undo the orders of great Jupiter, nor, had you been able to undo them, were you present then: you were dwelling in Elis and the fields of Messenia. 680That was the time when a shepherd's skin covered you, and your left hand's burden was a staff from the woods, your other's a pipe of seven unequal reeds. 683And while love is your concern, while your pipe soothes you, your cows, unguarded, are said to have strayed into the fields of Pylos. 685The son of Maia, Atlas' daughter, sees them, and by his own art drives them off and hides them in the woods.
687No one had perceived this theft except an old man well known in that countryside; 688the whole neighbourhood called him Battus. 689He served as keeper of the glades and grassy pastures of rich Neleus and of his herds of thoroughbred mares. 691The god feared him, and drew him aside with a coaxing hand, and said to him, 'Whoever you are, stranger, if anyone should happen to look for these cattle, deny you have seen them; 693and so that the deed may not go without reward, take a sleek cow as your prize' — and he gave it. 695Having taken it, the stranger returned these words: 'Go safely: that stone will speak of your thefts before I do,' and he pointed to a stone.
697Jupiter's son pretends to go away, soon returns, and with his shape and his voice changed alike, said, 'Countryman, if you have seen any cows go along this track, give me help and take the silence from the theft: a female will be given you, together with her bull.' 702But the old man, once the reward was doubled, said, 'They will be under those mountains': and they were under those mountains. 704Atlas' grandson laughed and said, 'Do you betray me to myself, traitor? 705Do you betray me to myself?' 705he says, and turns the perjured breast into hard flint, which even now is called the informer, and the old disgrace rests on the stone, which in no way deserved it.