The man. By night, by morning, no more crawl—
You hear?—and charm his sadness till it sleeps.
You think to cure his longing with some lessons,
Monger, in your art. But my own art
Is ultimate. Remember, and refrain.”
Hephaestus shifted crabwise on his ankles,
Refusing every glance until the rite
Was finished, and the people in the room
Departed. Then he ducked and disappeared,
Eluding even Hermes, even the sea-grey