Final answer:
Hermes, as a baby, cunningly stole Apollo's cattle. When confronted by Apollo, Hermes played the lyre, which he had invented, leading to Apollo exchanging the cattle for the lyre.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Greek mythology, Hermes, the messenger god, is known for his cunning and thievery even from a young age. One of the most famous tales involving Hermes involves his theft of Apollo's cattle. As a newborn, Hermes left his cradle to seek adventure and ended up stumbling upon Apollo's herd. Displaying his clever nature, he managed to reverse the hoof prints of the cattle to confuse anyone who followed. Hermes then sacrificed two of the herd to the Olympian gods and hid the rest.
When Apollo discovered the theft, he confronted Hermes. However, Hermes had already invented the lyre from a tortoise shell, and when Apollo heard the beautiful music, he was so enchanted that he offered to let Hermes keep the cattle in return for the lyre. This exchange marked the beginning of Hermes's role as a god of transitions and boundaries, and eventually, Apollo and Hermes became great friends, with Hermes often serving as Apollo's herald.