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The Annotated Edition

HYMN TO MERCURY. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF HOMER. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Shelley's translation of the Homeric Hymn to Mercury narrates the tale of the god Mercury (Hermes), covering everything from his birth to his creation of the lyre and his cheeky theft of Apollo's cattle—all before he’s even a day old.

Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes
art, freedom, identity
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The PoemFull text

HYMN TO MERCURY. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF HOMER.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

HOMER’S HYMN TO CASTOR AND POLLUX. HOMER’S HYMN TO THE MOON. HOMER’S HYMN TO THE SUN. HOMER’S HYMN TO THE EARTH: MOTHER OF ALL. HOMER’S HYMN TO MINERVA. HOMER’S HYMN TO VENUS. THE CYCLOPS: A SATYRIC DRAMA. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF EURIPIDES. EPIGRAMS:

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Shelley's translation of the Homeric Hymn to Mercury narrates the tale of the god Mercury (Hermes), covering everything from his birth to his creation of the lyre and his cheeky theft of Apollo's cattle—all before he’s even a day old. It’s a lively, engaging poem that champions wit, cleverness, and the boldness of a newborn god who won’t stay in his crib. Consider it the original trickster origin story, presented in Shelley's vivid Romantic English.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. I sing the son of Jove and Maia fair...

    Editor's note

    Shelley begins with the traditional invocation formula, presenting the hymn's subject. Mercury is introduced as the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and the nymph Maia, which immediately positions him within the divine hierarchy while also suggesting his dual nature: part Olympian royalty and part offspring of a concealed, mysterious mother.

  2. In a deep cave she bore him...

    Editor's note

    Maia resides separately from the other gods, while Mercury is secretly born in a dim cave on Mount Cyllene. This cave establishes the atmosphere: Mercury is a god linked to concealed aspects, thresholds, and the liminal spaces of the world.

  3. The babe was born at the first peep of day...

    Editor's note

    Mercury is quick to act. Born at dawn, he’s already plotting and restless by midday. His rapid development is both humorous and remarkable — Shelley plays up the ridiculousness of an infant god with the cunning of an adult, which fuels much of the poem's energy.

  4. He found a tortoise...

    Editor's note

    Mercury's first major invention comes when he kills a tortoise and stretches its shell to make the first lyre. This moment is filled with genuine wonder. The change from a living creature to an artistic instrument is both violent and beautiful, reminding us that creation often requires destruction.

  5. Then Mercury the cattle drove...

    Editor's note

    The theft of Apollo's cattle is the main comedic adventure in the poem. Mercury cleverly drives the herd backwards to throw off the trackers, highlighting his cunning and practical intelligence. This entire episode reads like an enjoyable heist story.

  6. He sacrificed two of the cows...

    Editor's note

    Even as a newborn, Mercury makes a unique sacrifice—carving out his own rituals as he goes along. This section mixes the sacred with the absurd: a baby god holding religious ceremonies in the dead of night, then quietly returning to his cradle.

  7. Meanwhile Apollo sought his cattle...

    Editor's note

    Apollo uncovers the theft and challenges the infant Mercury, who responds with astonishing confidence. The clash between the sun god and the baby trickster forms the poem's dramatic core, and Shelley portrays Mercury's audacious denials with evident delight.

  8. Then Mercury played upon the lyre...

    Editor's note

    The poem reaches its conclusion when Mercury performs on the lyre for Apollo. Captivated by the music, Apollo forgives Mercury for stealing his cattle and agrees to trade them for the instrument. This moment shows that music serves as the ultimate currency, surpassing both anger and divine power. The hymn wraps up with Mercury recognized as the god of thieves, heralds, and music, securing his position in the Olympian hierarchy through charm instead of might.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is playful, quick, and clearly thrilled with its topic. Shelley doesn’t approach this as serious religious poetry — instead, he embraces the humor of a clever baby outsmarting the gods, and his language flows with a lightness and speed that reflects Mercury’s character. There are genuine moments of lyrical beauty, particularly in the invention of the lyre, but the overall vibe is one of cheeky enjoyment. It feels less like a hymn and more like a whimsical story shared by someone struggling to maintain a straight face.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Lyre
The lyre that Mercury creates from a tortoise shell represents the transformative power of art. It changes a theft into a gift and turns Apollo's anger into admiration. This lyre also symbolizes Mercury's creative intelligence — he doesn't merely steal; he *creates*.
The Cave
Maia's cave symbolizes secrecy, concealed beginnings, and the edges of divine society. Mercury is born in shadows, a fitting origin for a god associated with thresholds, nighttime journeys, and the things that blur the lines between categories.
The Cattle
Apollo's cattle symbolize the established order, wealth, and the dignity of the older Olympian gods. Mercury's theft of them challenges that order—it's a newcomer making his presence known by shaking up the status quo.
Dawn
Mercury comes to life with the first light of dawn, a transitional moment when night meets day. His arrival during this twilight hour marks him as a god of the in-betweens: the realms of life and death, sleep and wakefulness, and the mortal and the divine.
The Tortoise
The tortoise that Mercury meets and kills to create his lyre represents transformation. A slow, earthbound creature with a hard shell turns into a source of music and flight. This act also highlights Mercury as a god who recognizes potential in surprising places.

§06Historical context

Historical context

The Homeric Hymns are a set of ancient Greek poems dedicated to individual gods, written roughly between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE. Although they were attributed to Homer in ancient times, most modern scholars believe they were created by different poets within the Homeric tradition. Around 1820, while living in Italy and immersing himself in Greek literature and mythology, Shelley translated the Hymn to Mercury. His version is praised for maintaining the original's comic energy instead of turning it into stiff Victorian formality. Shelley was particularly drawn to Mercury; the god's cleverness, sense of freedom, and disregard for convention mirrored Shelley's own rebellious nature. The translation was published after Shelley's death and is regarded as one of the best English versions of any Homeric Hymn, striking a balance between scholarly accuracy and vibrant poetic expression.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Shelley translated it from ancient Greek. The original Homeric Hymn to Hermes (known as Mercury in Roman mythology) was composed by an unknown Greek poet, likely between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. Shelley's addition is the English verse — and it truly matters, as his choices regarding rhythm, tone, and emphasis lend the translation its unique character. It's reasonable to view this as a collaboration spanning two and a half millennia.

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