th the sacred flames
Their pious prayers ascend. Lo! 'midst a crowd
Of nymphs attendant, far conspicuous seen;
Comes Niobe, in gorgeous Phrygian robe,
Inwrought with gold, attir'd. Beauteous her form,
Beauteous, as rage permitted. Angry shook
Her graceful head; and angry shook the locks
That o'er each shoulder wav'd. Proudly she tower'd.
Her haughty eyes, round from her lofty stand
Wide darting, cry'd;--"What madness this to place
"Reported gods above the gods you see!
"Why to Latona's altars bend ye low,
"Nor incense burn before my power divine?
"My sire, was Tantalus: of mortals sole,
"Celestial feasts he shar'd. A Pleiaed nymph
"Me bore. My grandsire is the mighty king,
"Whose shoulders all the load of heaven sustain.
"Jove is my father's parent: him I boast
"As sire-in-law too. All the Phrygian towns
"Bend to my sway. The hall of Cadmus owns
"Me sovereign mistress. Thebes' high towering walls,
"Rais'd by my consort's lute; and all the crowd
"Who dwell inclos'd, his rule and mine obey.
"Where'er within my palace turn mine eyes,
"Treasures immense I view. Brightness divine
"I boast: to all seven blooming daughters add,
"And seven fair sons; through whom I soon expect,
"If Hymen favors, seven more sons to see,
"And seven more daughters. Need ye further seek
"Whence I have cause for boasting. Dare ye still
"Latona, from Titanian Caeus sprung,--
"The unknown Caeus,--she to whom all earth
"In bearing pangs the smallest space deny'd:--
"This wretch to my divinity prefer?
"Not heaven your goddess would receive; not earth;
"Not ocean: exil'd from the world, she weep'd,
"Till Delos sorrowing,--wanderer like herself,
"Exclaim'd;--thou dreary wanderest o'er the earth,
"I, o'er the main;--and sympathizing thus,
"A resting spot afforded. There become
"Of two the mother, only--can she vie
"With one whose womb, has sevenfold hers surpass'd?
"Blest am I. Who can slightly e'er arraign
"To happiness my claim? Blest will I still
"Continue. Who my bliss can ever doubt?
"Abundance guards its surety. Far beyond
"The power of fortune is my lot uprais'd:
"Snatch them in numbers from me, crowds more great
"Must still remain. My happy state contemns
"Even now, the threats of danger. Grant the power
"Of fate this nation of my womb to thin,--
"Of part depriv'd, impossible I shrink
"To poor Latona's two. How scant remov'd
"Fr