Homeric Hymns

So saying, Apollo twisted strong withes with his hands meaning to bind Hermes with firm bands; but the bands would not hold him, and the withes of osier fell far from him and began to grow at once from the ground beneath their feet in that very place. And intertwining with one another, they quickly grew and covered all the wild-roving cattle by the will of thievish Hermes, so that Apollo was astonished as he gazed.

Homeric HymnsHymn 4, Line 409Hugh G. Evelyn-WhiteEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Hymn 4

Homeric traditionProseID homeric-hymns-evelyn-white-en-prose-4-409