[Illustration]
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 {35} 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 Phoebus and Apollo to be
different deities, there can be no doubt that the worship which is offered
to Phoebus, as the sun, is due also to Apollo; and indeed, under both
titles is he addressed by ancients, as well as moderns.
"Giver of glowing light!
Though but a God of other days,
The kings and sages,
Of wiser ages,
Still live and gladden in thy genial rays!
"King of the tuneful lyre!
Still poets hymns to thee belong,
Though lips are cold,
Whereon of old,
Thy beams all turned to worshipping and song!
"Lord of the dreadful bow!
None triumph now for Python's death
But thou dost save
From hungry grave,
The life that hangs upon a summer's breath!
"Father of rosy day!
No more thy clouds of incense rise;
But waking flowers,
At morning hours,
Give out their sweets to meet thee in the skies!
"God of the Delphic fane!
No more thou listenest to hymns sublime;
But they will leave,
On winds at eve,
A solemn echo to the end of time!"