TRITON

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.

POSEIDON

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

TRITON

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.

POSEIDON

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

TRITON

Indeed she does, and Argos is a pretty thirsty cf. Iliad, IV, 171 etc. place, as you know, so that she must for ever be carrying water.

POSEIDON

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

TRITON

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.

POSEIDON

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.

TRITON

Look, here’s the fastest dolphin you have.

POSEIDON

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—

TRITON

Here she is now, not far off.

POSEIDON

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

AMYMONE

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.

TRITON

Silence, Amymone, it’s Poseidon.

AMYMONE

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.

POSEIDON

Don’t worry, you’re in no danger. I’ll give the rock a tap with my trident near the beach, and start a fountain that will have your name. You’ll be happy, and, unlike any of your sisters, you won’t have to carry water after death.

Iris and Poseidon
IRIS

That wandering island, Pindar, Fr. 58 (followed by Callimachus, Hymns, IV, 35 ff.) tells how the island of Delos floated in the sea, till the time when it was moored by pillars to the sea-bed to enable Leto to bear Apollo and Artemis. The story may have originated from a doubtful interpretation of the Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo, 1. 73. 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 For the etymology cf. Callimachus, Hymns, IV, 53. from now on in the middle of the Aegean. He wants it for something.

POSEIDON

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

IRIS

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

POSEIDON

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

IRIS

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.

POSEIDON

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.