"Where did you find that wonderful thing?" asked Apollo.
"O, I made it," said Hermes.
"Let me see it!" cried Apollo. "Show me how to play upon it."
Hermes showed him, and Apollo sat down and played until it grew dark.
"O, give me this thing! I must have it," said Apollo.
So Hermes gave it to him, and Apollo played upon it, gently at first, and then louder. He made such wild, sweet music as had never before been heard.
To pay for the lyre, Apollo gave Hermes a magic stick which would bring sleep to men and would stop all quarreling.
One day Hermes saw two snakes fighting. He touched them with the magic stick, and they stopped at once and wound themselves around it, and stayed there ever after.
In the pictures of Hermes you will see this magic stick with the snakes around it. You will see, too, the cap and the shoes, with the wings upon them.
When Hermes and Apollo had made these gifts to each other, Apollo said: