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A HYMNE TO APOLLO.
To farr-shot Phœbus birth the famous home. Latona then, nine daies and nights did fallIn hopeles labor: at whose birth were allHeauens most supreame, and worthie Goddesses.Dione, Rhæa; and th'Exploratresse(Themis;) and Amphitrite, that will bePursu'd with sighs still. Euery DeitieExcept the snowie-wristed wife of Ioue:Who held her moodes aloft; and would not moue.Onely Lucina, (to whose virtue vowesEach Child-birth patient) heard not of her throwes;But sat (by Iuno's counsaile) on the browesOf broad Olympus, wrapt in clouds of gold.Whom Ioues proud wife, in enuie did with-hold;Because bright-lockt Latona, was to beareA sonne so faultles; and in force so cleare.The rest (Thaumantia) sent before to bringLucina to release the enuied King:Assuring her, that they would strait conferA Carquenet, nine cubits long, on her,All wouen with wires of Gold. But chargd her then,To call apart from th'Iuorie-wristed QueeneThe child-birth-guiding Goddesse; for iust feareLest, her charge vtter'd, in Saturnia's eare;She, after, might disswade her from descent. When winde-swift-footed Iris, knew th'intent,Of th'other Goddesses; away she went;And instantly she past, the infinite space
