151to give way to the gods and to use humbler words. 152Many things gave her pride: but neither her husband's arts nor the lineage of them both and the power of a great kingdom pleased her so much, though all of these did please her, as her own offspring; 155and Niobe would have been called the happiest of mothers, had she not seemed so to herself. 157For Manto, daughter of Tiresias, foreknowing what was to come, roused by a divine impulse, had prophesied through the middle of the streets: 'Women of Ismenus, go in crowds and give incense with holy prayer to Latona and Latona's two children, and twine your hair with laurel.
162Latona commands it through my mouth.' 162They obey, and all the Theban women adorn their temples with leaves as ordered, and give incense and words of prayer to the holy flames. 165Look, Niobe comes, thronged by a great crowd of attendants, conspicuous in Phrygian robes woven with gold, and beautiful, as far as anger allows: and tossing with her graceful head the hair let loose over both her shoulders, she stopped; 169and when, standing tall, she had cast her proud eyes around, 'What madness is this,' she said, 'to prefer gods you have heard of to those you see? 171or why is Latona worshipped at altars, while my godhead is still without incense?
172My father is Tantalus, who alone was allowed to touch the tables of the gods; my mother is a sister of the Pleiades; my grandfather is mightiest Atlas, who bears the heavenly axis on his neck; 176Jupiter is my other grandfather; I boast of him as my father-in-law too. 177The Phrygian peoples fear me, Cadmus' palace is under me as its mistress, and the walls joined together by my husband's lyre, together with their peoples, are ruled by me and my husband. 180To whatever part of the house I have turned my eyes, immense wealth is seen. 181Add to this a face worthy of a goddess. 182To this add seven daughters and as many young men, and soon sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.
184Ask now what cause our pride has, and dare to prefer to me Latona, the Titaness born of some Coeus or other, to whom once, when she was about to give birth, the great earth refused a tiny resting place. 188Neither by sky nor by land nor by waters was your goddess received: she was an exile from the world, until Delos, pitying the wanderer, said, "You roam the lands a stranger, I the waves," and gave her an unstable place. 191She became the mother of two: that is the seventh part of what my womb has borne. 193I am fortunate: for who would deny this? 193and fortunate I shall remain: who would doubt this too?
194Abundance has made me safe. I am greater than one whom Fortune could harm, and though she should snatch away much, she will leave me far more. 197My blessings have now passed beyond fear. 197Suppose something could be taken from this host of my children: yet, despoiled, I shall not be reduced to the number of two, Latona's crowd: how far is she, with that, from childless? 201Go, enough of the rite, go quickly, and take the laurel from your hair.' 202They take it off and leave the rites unfinished, and venerate the godhead, as far as they may, with a silent murmur. 204The goddess was indignant, and on the topmost peak of Cynthus spoke with these words to her twin offspring: 'See, I, your mother, proud to have borne you, and ready to yield to none of the goddesses but Juno, am doubted whether I am a goddess, and I am barred, O children, unless you come to my aid, from altars worshipped through all the ages.
210Nor is this my only grief: Tantalus' daughter has added insults to her dreadful deed, and dared to rank you below her own children, and called me childless (may it fall back on her own head!), and, wicked woman, has displayed her father's tongue.' 214Latona was about to add prayers to this account: 'Stop!' 215says Phoebus: 'a long complaint only delays the punishment.' 216Phoebe said the same: and with a swift glide through the air, hidden in clouds, they had reached the citadel of Cadmus' city.