Whatever gods, the sons of heaven and earth, Shared honour at the hands of Jove, o’er all [191]Her wide allotment stands: nor whatsoe’er Of rank she held, midst the old Titan gods, Has Saturn’s son invaded or deprived; As was the ancient heritage of power So hers remains: e’en from the first of things. Nor is [192]her solitary birth reproach: Nor less, though singly born, her rank and power In heaven and earth and main, but higher meed Of glory, since her honour is from Jove. She, in the greatness of her power, is nigh With aid to whom she lists: whoe’er she wills O’er the great council of the people shines: And when the mailed men arise to wage Destroying battle, she to whom she lists Is present, yielding victory and fame; And on the judgment-seat with awful kings She sits; and when in the gymnastic strife Men struggle, the propitious goddess comes Present with aid: then easily the man, Conqueror in hardiment and strength, obtains The graceful wreath, and glad-triumphing sheds [193]A gleam of glory o’er his parents’ days. She, as she lists, is nigh to charioteers Who strive with steeds: and voyagers who cleave Through the blue watery vast th’ untractable way. They call upon the name of Hecaté With vows: and his, loud-sounding god of waves, Earth-shaker Neptune. Easily at will The glorious goddess yields the woodland prey Abundant: easily, while scarce they start On the mock’d vision, snatches them in flight. She too with Hermes is propitious found To herd and fold: and bids increase the droves Innumerable of goats and woolly flocks, And swells their numbers or their numbers thins. And thus, although her mother’s lonely child, She midst th’ immortals shares all attributes. Her Jove appointed nursing-mother bland Of babes, who after her to morn’s broad light Should lift the tender lid: so from the first The foster-nurse of babes: her honours these. Embraced by Saturn, Rhea gave to light Illustrious children. [194]Golden-sandal’d Juno, [195]Ceres, and Vesta: [196]Pluto strong, who dwells In mansions under earth: of ruthless heart; [197]Earth-shaker Neptune, loud with dashing waves: And [198]Jupiter th’ all-wise: the sire of gods And men; beneath whose crashing thunder-peal The wide earth rocks in elemental war. But them, as issuing from the sacred womb They touch’d the mother’s knees, did Saturn huge Devour: revolving in his troubled thought Lest other one of beings heavenly-born Usurp the kingly honours. For from earth And starry heaven the rumour met his ear, That it was doom’d by Fate, strong though he were, [199]To his own son he should bow down his strength. Jove’s wisdom this fulfill’d. No blind design He therefore cherish’d, and in crooked craft Devour’d his children. But on Rhea prey’d