31.3.23

Hephaistos and his robot-butleresses, from THE ILIAD OF HOMER; Book 18, lines 412-421; translated by Richmond Lattimore

He set the bellows away from the fire, and gathered and put away 
all the tools with which he worked in a silver strongbox. 
Then with a sponge he wiped clean his forehead, and both hands, 
and his massive neck and hairy chest, and put on a tunic, 
and took up a heavy stick in his hand, and went to the doorway 
limping. And in support of their master moved his attendants. 
These are golden, and in appearance like living young women. 
There is intelligence in their hearts, and there is speech in them 
and strength, and from the immortal gods they have learned how to do things. 
These stirred nimbly in support of their master . . .