Читать книгу Heathen mythology, Illustrated by extracts from the most celebrated writers, both ancient and modern - Various - Страница 24

Table of Contents

This Deity, whose name still lives with us, as the presiding divinity of the art of song, was the son of Jupiter, by the beautiful Latona, daughter of the Titan, Cœus. Asteria, her sister, disdaining the embraces of the God, threw herself into the sea, and was changed into the isle which bears the name of Delos; where Latona afterwards sought refuge from the fury of Juno, when about to overwhelm her, for her frailty with her husband. The irritated Goddess, to punish Latona for her crime, excited against her the serpent Python, who pursued her wheresoever she went; until at last, in the Isle of Delos, alone and unfriended, bearing in her bosom the fruit of her weakness, she gave birth to Apollo and Diana. Weary of her confinement, and wishing to return to her father Cœus, she arrived near his dominions, where, fatigued with her journey, she begged a drop of water from the peasants, whose cruel refusal to aid her she punished by changing them into frogs.

"The Goddess came, and kneeling on the brink,

Stooped at the fresh repast, prepared to drink:

Then thus, being hindered by the rabble race,

In accents mild expostulates the case:

'Water I only ask, and sure 'tis hard

From Nature's common rights to be debarred.

This, as the genial sun, and vital air,

Should flow alike to every creature's share;

One draught, as dear as life I should esteem,

And water, now I thirst, would nectar seem:

Oh! let my little babes your pity move,

And melt your hearts to charitable love:

They (as by chance they did) extend to you

Their little hands, and my request pursue!'

Yet they the goddess's request refuse,

And, with rude words, reproachfully abuse.

Her thirst by indignation was suppressed;

Bent on revenge, the Goddess stood confessed!

'And may you live,' she passionately cried,

'Doomed in that pool for ever to abide!'

The Goddess has her wish——"

Ovid.

During her residence at her father's court, Niobe, daughter of Tantalus, had the insolence to prefer herself to Latona, who had but two children, while Niobe possessed seven sons and seven daughters. She even ridiculed the worship which was paid to Latona, observing, that she had a better claim to altars and sacrifices than the mother of Apollo. This insolence provoked Latona, and she entreated her children to punish the arrogant Niobe. Her prayers were granted, and immediately all the sons of Niobe expired by the darts of Apollo, and all the daughters, except one, who was married, were equally destroyed by Diana; while Niobe, stricken by the greatness of the misfortune which had overwhelmed her, was changed into stone.

The bodies of Niobe's children were left unburied in the plains for nine successive days, because Jupiter changed into stones all such as attempted to inter them. On the tenth, they were honoured with a funeral by the Gods.

While Apollo resided at the court of Jupiter, he retained the title of the God of Light; and though many writers consider Phœbus and Apollo to be different deities, there can be no doubt that the worship which is offered to Phœbus, as the sun, is due also to Apollo; and indeed, under both titles is he addressed by ancients, as well as moderns.