Met. 2.676Flēbat opemque tuam frūstrā Philyrēius hērōs,
Delphice, poscēbat.The hero, son of Philyra, wept, and called in vain for your help, Delphic god. Met. 2.677Nam nec rescindere magnī
iussa Iovis poterās, nec, sī rescindere possēs,
tunc aderās: Ēlin Messēniaque arva colēbās.For 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. Met. 2.680Illud erat tempus, quō tē pāstōria pellis
tēxit onusque fuit baculum silvestre sinistrae,
alterīus dispār septēnīs fistula cannīs.That 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. Met. 2.683Dumque amor est cūrae, dum tē tua fistula mulcet,
incustōdītae Pyliōs memorantur in agrōs
685prōcessisse bovēs.And while love is your concern, while your pipe soothes you, your cows, unguarded, are said to have strayed into the fields of Pylos. Met. 2.685Videt hās Atlantide Māiā
nātus et arte suā silvīs occultat abāctās.The son of Maia, Atlas' daughter, sees them, and by his own art drives them off and hides them in the woods.
Met. 2.687Sēnserat hoc fūrtum nēmō nisi notus in illō
rūre senex;No one had perceived this theft except an old man well known in that countryside; Met. 2.688Battum vīcīnia tōta vocābant.the whole neighbourhood called him Battus. Met. 2.689Dīvitis hic saltūs herbōsaque pāscua Nēleī
690nōbiliumque gregēs custōs servābat equārum.He served as keeper of the glades and grassy pastures of rich Neleus and of his herds of thoroughbred mares. Met. 2.691Hunc timuit blandāque manū sēdūxit et illī
"quisquis es, hospes" ait, "sī forte armenta requīret
haec aliquis, vīdisse negā;The 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; Met. 2.693neu grātia factō
nūlla rependātur, nitidam cape praemia vaccam" —
695et dedit.and so that the deed may not go without reward, take a sleek cow as your prize' — and he gave it. Met. 2.695Acceptā vōcēs hās reddidit hospes:
"Tūtus eās: lapis iste prius tua fūrta loquētur",
et lapidem ostendit.Having 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.
Met. 2.697Simulat Iove nātus abīre,
mox redit, et versā pariter cum vōce figūrā
"rūstice, vīdistī sīquās hōc līmite" dīxit
700"īre bovēs, fer opem fūrtōque silentia dēme:
iūncta suō pariter dabitur tibi fēmina taurō."Jupiter'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.' Met. 2.702At senior, postquam est mercēs gemināta, "sub illīs
montibus" inquit "erunt": et erant sub montibus illīs.But the old man, once the reward was doubled, said, 'They will be under those mountains': and they were under those mountains. Met. 2.704Rīsit Atlantiadēs et "mē mihi, perfide, prōdis?Atlas' grandson laughed and said, 'Do you betray me to myself, traitor? Met. 2.705mē mihi prōdis?"Do you betray me to myself?' Met. 2.705ait, periūraque pectora vertit
in dūrum silicem, quī nunc quoque dīcitur index,
inque nihil meritō vetus est īnfāmia saxō.he 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.