Odyssey 5.145 · Book 5, lines 145–147
Hermes: obey, and fear Zeus's wrath
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τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·
Hermes — οὕτω νῦν ἀπόπεμπε, Διὸς δʼ ἐποπίζεο μῆνιν, μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.
And the guide, the Argus-slayer, addressed her in turn: So send him off now, and dread the wrath of Zeus, lest somehow hereafter, conceiving a grudge, he grow harsh with you.
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The setting
Hermes replies to Calypso's long protest. He does not soften the message: he tells her to release Odysseus at once and to fear the anger of Zeus, lest it fall on her later.
A note on this passage
Hermes answers, and it is all business. He does not argue with her grievance or console her; he confirms the order and sharpens it with a threat. Send the man off, and be afraid of Zeus's anger, or that anger will one day turn on you.
The word for that anger is μῆνις — not a passing temper but the heavy, sanctioned wrath of a god, the same word that opens the Iliad. Hermes names it to end the conversation: against μῆνις there is no appeal, only appeasement. Calypso's two goddesses, her rescue, her love — none of it weighs against the single fact that Zeus can be roused. The messenger says his line and turns to go.
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