1
Posidon
Very good. And when I have got it up, and anchored it, what is he going to do with it?
Iris
Leto is to lie in there; her time is near.
Posidon
And is there no room in Heaven? Or is Earth too small to hold her children?
Iris
Ah, you see, Hera has bound the Earth by a great oath not to give shelter to Leto in her travail. This island, however, being out of sight, has not committed itself.
5
Posidon
I see.—Island, be still! Rise once more from the depths; and this time there must be no sinking. Henceforth you are terra firma; it will be your happiness to receive my brother’s twin children, fairest of the Gods.—Tritons, you will have to convey Leto across. Let all be calm.—As to that serpent who is frightening her out of her senses, wait till these children are born; they will soon avenge their mother.—You can tell Zeus that all is ready. Delos stands firm: Leto has only to come.
Xanthus
O Sea, take me to you; see how horribly I have been treated; cool my wounds for me.
Sea
What is this, Xanthus? who has burned you?
Xanthus
Hephaestus. Oh, I am burned to cinders! oh, oh, oh, I boil!
Sea
What made him use his fire upon you?
Xanthus
Why, it was all that son of your Thetis. He was slaughtering the Phrygians; I tried entreaties, but he went raging on, damming my stream with their bodies; I was so sorry for the poor wretches, I poured down to see if I could make a flood and frighten him off them.
5
