helixai]
[Greek: Ressomenoi]----

O! ever crown'd with altars, ever blest,
Lovely Asteria, in how high repute
Stands thy fair temple 'mid the various tribes
Who ply the AEgean. Though their business claims
Dispatch immediate; though the inviting gales
Ill brook the lingering mariners' delay:
Soon as they reach thy soundings, down at once
Drop the slack sails, and all the naval gear.
The ship is moor'd: nor do the crew presume
To quit thy sacred limits, 'till they have pass'd
A painful penance; with the galling whip
Lash'd thrice around thine altar.

This island was greatly esteemed for its sanctity, and there used to be a
wonderful concourse of people from all nations continually resorting to its
temple. The priests, in consequence of it, had hymns composed in almost all
languages. It is moreover said of the female attendants, that they could
imitate the speech of various people; and were well versed in the histories
of foreign parts, and of antient times. Homer speaks of these extraordinary
qualifications as if he had been an eye-witness:

[801][Greek: Pros de tode mega thauma, hotou kleos oupot' oleitai.]
[Greek: Kourai Deliades, Hekatebeleteo therapainai,]
[Greek: Hait' epei an proton men Apollon' humnesosin,]
[Greek: Autis d' au Leto te, kai Artemin iocheairen,]
[Greek: Mnesamenai andron te palaion, ede gunaikon,]
[Greek: Humnon aeidousin, thelgousi de phul' anthropon.]
[Greek: Panton d' anthropon phonas, kai Krombaliastun]
[Greek: Mimeisthai isasi; phaies de ken autos hekaston]
[Greek: Phthengesthai, houto sphi kale sunareren aoide.]

The Delian nymphs, who tend Apollo's shrine,
When they begin their tuneful hymns, first praise
The mighty God of day: to his they join
Latona's name, and Artemis, far fam'd
For her fleet arrows and unerring bow.
Of heroes next, and heroines, they sing,
And deeds of antient prowess. Crowds around,
Of every region, every language, stand
In mute applause, sooth'd with the pleasing lay.
Vers'd in each art and every power of speech,
The Delians mimick all who come: to them
All language is familiar: you would think
The natives spoke of every different clime.
Such are their winning ways: so sweet their song.

The offerings made at these places used to be of various kinds, but
particularly of liba, or cakes, which were generally denominated from the
temple where they were presented. A curious inscription to