Dialogues of the Gods (8.1-9.2)

Poseidon, there’s a girl who comes to Lerna for water every day—ever such a pretty little thing. I don’t know that I ever saw a prettier girl.

Free, do you say, Triton, or a serving water-girl?

No servant, but a daughter of that Egyptian. She’s another of those fifty sisters, and is called Amymone. I asked after her name and family. Danaus brings up his daughters the hard way, and teaches them to fend for themselves, sending them for water and training them not to shirk hard work.

Does she come all that long way from Argos to Lerna alone?

Indeed she does, and Argos is a pretty thirsty [*] place, as you know, so that she must for ever be carrying water.

My dear fellow, I’m really excited at what you’ve told me about her. Let’s go and find her.

Let’s do that. It’s just the time for her to be getting her water. She must be about halfway to Lerna by now.

Then get the horses into my chariot, or rather, since it takes too long harnessing the horses and getting the chariot ready, fetch me a quick dolphin. Riding on that, I’ll be able to get away most quickly.

Look, here’s the fastest dolphin you have.

Capital. Let’s be on our way; you can swim alongside, my good fellow. . . . Well, now that we’re at Lerna, I’ll lie in wait here somewhere, and you’ll have to keep a look-out, and when you see her coming—

Here she is now, not far off.

She is pretty, my dear fellow, a real beauty. We must get hold of her.

Where are you carrying me off to, fellow? You’re a kidnapper, that’s what you are. I’ve an idea Uncle Egyptus sent you. I’m going to scream for my father.

Silence, Amymone, it’s Poseidon.

Why do you say Poseidon? Why this force, fellow? Why are you dragging me into the sea? Oh, dear me, I’ll drown if I go under.

Don’t worry, you’re in no danger. I’ll give the rock a tap with my trident near the beach, and start

That wandering island, [*] Poseidon, which was broken off from Sicily, and is still propelling itself about under water—Zeus says you are to make it stop now, and bring it into view. You are to fix it quite securely, and make it stand firm, clearly visible [*] from now on in the middle of the Aegean. He wants it for something.

It will be done, Iris. But what use will it be to him by coming to light and ceasing its seafaring?

Leto must be delivered upon it. She’s already in distress from her birth pangs.

What of it? Hasn’t heaven room enough for bearing children? If not heaven, couldn’t all the earth accommodate her for the birth?

No, Poseidon. Hera has laid the earth under strict oath not to give Leto anywhere for her travail; thus this island is not bound by the oath, for it was not visible.

I see. Stop still, island. Come up again from the deep, and drift below the surface no more. Remain in a fixed position, and receive, most lucky of islands, my brother’s two children, the most beautiful of all the gods. And you, Tritons, give Leto passage to the island, and let all be calm. And the moment the babes are born, they’ll pursue the serpent that’s now maddening Leto with fright, and exact vengeance for their mother. And you, Iris, go and tell Zeus that all is ready. Delos is stationary. Let Leto come now and have her children.