Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/390

354 in the fair water purely and holily, and swaddled thee in a white robe, fine, beautiful, and around they put on a golden roller. Nor in truth did his mother suckle gold-falchioned Apollo, but Themis with her immortal hands offered him nectar and pleasant ambrosia, and Latona rejoiced, because she had brought forth a bow-bearing and valiant son. But when, O Phœbus, thou hadst tasted the immortal food, no longer did the golden swaddling-clothes hold thee panting, nor did the bandage keep thee, but all the restraints were broken. And straightway Phœbus Apollo spake among the immortals: "May a lyre and bending bow be mine, and I will declare to men the unerring counsel of Jove."

Having spoken thus, Phœbus the far-darting, with unshorn locks, went from the wide-wayed earth, and all the immortal goddesses were terrified. But then all Delos became heavy with gold, beholding the offspring of Jove and Latona; rejoicing, because the god had chosen it out of the islands and the mainland, to settle [in it] his dwelling, and had loved it more from his heart. It flourished, as when the summit of a mountain [flourishes] with the blossoms of the wood. But thou thyself, O thou of the silver bow, far-darting king Apollo, sometimes indeed didst walk on rocky Cynthus, and sometimes thou wouldst flee to the islands and their inhabitants? Thine are full many temples and foliaged groves, and all the high rocks are dear [to thee], and the lofty summits of towering mountains, and the rivers that flow on into the sea. But thou, O Phœbus, art chiefly delighted in heart at Delos. There the long-trained Ionians are assembled in honour of thee, with their children and respected wives. But they, mindful, delight thee with boxing, and dancing, and song, when they be-