Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/388

352 island, because I am of a rugged soil, and, having overturned it with his feet, spurn it into the billows of the deep, where me, indeed, the mighty wave will ever wash over the head; but he will go to another land, which may please him to build a temple and foliaged grove. But in me the polypuses and black sea-calves will make their unpleasing abodes, through lack of people. But if, O goddess, thou wouldst endure to swear unto me a mighty oath, that he will here first erect a beauteous temple, to be a place of oracles for men, but afterwards among all men, since he is of many names.

Thus she spoke; and Latona swore the mighty oath of the gods [thus]: "Now may the earth and wide heaven above be witness to these things, and the down-flowing water of the Styx, (which is the mightiest and most dreadful oath to the blessed gods,) truly here shall there always be an incense-altar and enclosure of Phœbus, and he shall honour thee above all." But when indeed she had sworn, and had ended the oath, Delos rejoiced much at the birth of the far-darting king. But Latona for nine days and nine nights was pierced with unexpected throes, and all the goddesses were within [with her], as many as were best, both Dione, and Rhea, and Ichnæan Themis, and loud-resounding Amphitrite, and the other immortals save only white-armed Juno; for she sat in the palace of cloud-compelling Jove, and birth-presiding Ilythia alone had not known [of her labour]. For she was sitting