787. Mercurius et Tiresias. Mercurius, scire volens an Tiresiae vaticinandi ars vera esset, ruri boves eius furatus, et urbem, formam hominis gerens, ingressus, apud illum hospitii causa divertit. Cum interim amissos fuisse boves Tiresiae nuntiatum esset, ipse statim, aliquod de fure augurium capturus, Mercurio comite, domo egreditur eumque simul rogat ut, si quam avem praetervolantem videret, admoneat. Mercurius igitur aquilam primum a sinistra ad dexteram devolantem observasse se ait, sed Tiresias nihil eam sua interesse respondit. Deinde Mercurius cornicem in arbore insidentem adspexit quae oculos modo in caelum elevabat, modo humi vertebat; idque simul vati indicavit. Qui, statim respondens, “Mehercle, ista cornix,” ait, “per caelum terramque iurans, affirmat quod, si tu velis, amissos boves recepero.”
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M0787 = Perry089. Source: De Furia 244. This is Perry 89. Tiresias, although blind, was famed as one of the great seers of antiquity. He was famous in life and even in death, as he gave guidance to Odysseus in the land of the dead.
