From Jove's head with impetuous start,
With long-continued warlike clang:
While heaven's high dome and mother earth 70
Shuddering beheld the wondrous birth. 70
Then too the god whose splendour bright
Glads mortals with his radiant light,
Bade his loved sons the high behest obey.
Them first he urged to rear the splendid shrine, 75
And to the goddess every rite divine
With prompt submissive reverence pay.
This their immortal sire with joy would cheer,
And please the maid who wields her sounding spear.
Yet oft oblivion's shadowy veil 80
O'erclouds the well-intending mind;
Then wise Prometheus' counsels fail,
And reason's path is left behind.
So they, obedient to their heavenly sire,
Bade in th' acropolis an altar rise, 85
But carried to the shrine no spark of fire
To waft from earth the pious sacrifice.
On them the supplicated power
Rain'd from his yellow cloud a golden shower. [1]
- ↑ This was a clear manifestation of the divine presence. The same portent attended the birth of Apollo, according to Callimachus, (in. Del. 260:)—
Χρυσεα τοι τοτε παντα θεμειλια γεινετο Δηλε,
Χρυσῳ δε τροχοεσσα πανημερος εῤῥεε, κ. τ. λ.Thus, too, at the birth of Hercules, Bromia relates to the astonished Amphitryo, (Act. V., sc. i. 44:)—
"Ædes totæ confulgebant tuæ, quasi essent aureæ."
So Theocritus, (Idyl. 24:)—
"And see what light o'er all the chamber falls!
Though yet not morn, how visible the walls!
Some strange event!"—Polwhele's version.
