Hermes of the nether world, whose watchful power executes
the paternal bidding.
the paternal bidding.
Aristophanes
DIONYSUS. If you will take my advice.
EURIPIDES. He begins with a fearful blunder. Do you see the stupid thing?
DIONYSUS. Faith! I don't care if I don't.
AESCHYLUS. A blunder? In what way?
EURIPIDES. Repeat the first verse.
AESCHYLUS. "Oh!
Hermes of the nether world, whose watchful power executes
the paternal bidding. "
EURIPIDES. Is not Orestes speaking in this fashion before his father's
tomb?
AESCHYLUS. Agreed.
EURIPIDES. Does he mean to say that Hermes had watched, only that
Agamemnon should perish at the hands of a woman and be the victim of a
criminal intrigue?
AESCHYLUS. 'Tis not to the god of trickery, but to Hermes the benevolent,
that he gives the name of god of the nether world, and this he proves by
adding that Hermes is accomplishing the mission given him by his father.
EURIPIDES. The blunder is even worse than I had thought to make it out;
for if he holds his office in the nether world from his father. . . .
DIONYSUS. It means his father has made him a grave-digger.
