Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/254

172 Her lovely Progeny, that far excell'd, The Mother's Heart with vain Ambition swell'd: The happiest Mother not unjustly styl'd, Had no conceited Thoughts her tow'ring Fancy fill'd. For once a Prophetess with Zeal inspir'd, Their slow Neglect to warm Devotion fir'd; Thro' ev'ry Street of Thebes who ran possess'd, And thus in Accents wild her Charge express'd: Haste, haste, ye Theban Matrons, and adore, With hallow'd Rites, Latona's mighty Pow'r; And, to the heav'nly Twins that from her spring, With Laurel crown'd, your smoaking Incense bring, Strait the great Summons ev'ry Dame obey'd, And due Submission to the Goddess paid; Graceful, with Laurel Chaplets dress'd they came, And offer'd Incense in the sacred Flame. Mean while, surrounded with a courtly Guard, The royal Niobè in State appear'd; Attir'd in Robes embroider'd o'er with Gold, And mad with Rage, yet lovely to behold: Her comely Tresses, trembling as she stood, Down her fine Neck with easy Motion flow'd; Then, darting round a proud disdainful Look, In haughty Tone her hasty Passion broke, And thus began; What Madness this, to court A Goddess founded meerly on Report? Dare ye a poor pretended Pow'r invoke, While yet no Altars to my Godhead smoke? Mine, whose immediate Lineage stands confess'd From Tantalus, the only mortal Guest That e'er the Gods admitted to their Feast. A Sister of the Pleiads gave me Birth; And Atlas, mightiest Mountain upon Earth, Who bears the Globe of all the Stars above, My Grandsire was, and Atlas sprung from Jove. The