273Atlas felt the weight. — Nor yet had Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, laid aside his anger, and fiercely he pursued against the son the hatred he had felt for the father. 275But Argive Alcmena, troubled by long cares, has Iole to whom to bring an old woman's complaints, to whom to tell of her son's labours, witnessed by the world, or of her own misfortunes. 278Her Hyllus, at Hercules' command, had received into his bed and his heart, and had filled her womb with noble seed, when Alcmena begins thus: 'May the gods at least favour you and cut short delays when, your time come, you call on Ilithyia, who presides over fearful women in labour, whom Juno's favour made hard for me.
285For when the birthday of toil-bearing Hercules was already at hand, and the tenth sign was pressed by the sun, the weight stretched my womb, and what I carried was so great that you could tell that Jove was the author of the hidden burden. 289And I could no longer bear my labour: indeed even now, as I speak, a cold shudder holds my limbs, and remembering is part of the pain. 292For seven nights, tortured for as many days, worn out with suffering and stretching my arms to the sky, I called with a great cry on Lucina and the twin Birth-gods. 295She came indeed, but bribed beforehand, and wishing to give my life to unjust Juno.
297And when she hears my groans, she sat down on that altar before the doors, and, with her left knee pressed upon her right leg, and her fingers joined together like a comb, she held back the birth. 300She said spells too in a silent voice, and the spells held back the birth once begun. 302I strain, and, out of my mind, hurl vain reproaches at ungrateful Jove, and long to die, and utter complaints that would move hard flints. 304The Cadmean matrons are at hand, take up vows and encourage me in my pain. 306One of my maids, of the common folk, Galanthis, golden-haired, was there, energetic in carrying out orders, loved for her services.
308She sensed that something was being done by unjust Juno, and while she went out and in through the doors again and again, she saw the goddess sitting on the altar, holding her arms on her knees with fingers linked, and said, "Whoever you are, congratulate my mistress: Argive Alcmena is relieved, and as a mother has her wish." 314The goddess who rules the womb leapt up in alarm and let go her joined hands: with the bonds released, I myself am relieved. 316The story is that Galanthis laughed at the deceived goddess: as she laughed, the cruel goddess seized her by her very hair and dragged her, and as she tried to lift her body from the ground, held her down and changed her arms into forefeet.
320Her old energy remains, nor has her back lost its colour: her form is different from before. 322Because she had helped a woman in labour with a lying mouth, she gives birth through her mouth, and haunts our houses as before.'