na, thus to her commenc'd her tale.--

"May thee, at least, the favoring gods indulge;
"And all delay diminish, when matur'd,
"Thou to Ilithyiae shalt have need to call,
"Who o'er travailing mothers bears the rule;
"Whom Juno's influence made so hard to me.
"Of Hercules toil-bearing, now the birth,
"Approach'd, and in the tenth sign rul'd the sun.
"A mighty bulk swell'd out my womb, so huge,
"Well might you know that Jove the load had caus'd:
"Nor could I longer bear my throes (my limbs
"Cold rigors seize, while now I speak; my pains
"Part ev'n in memory now I seem to feel)
"Through seven long nights, and seven long days with pangs
"Incessant was I rack'd: my arms to heaven
"Stretching, I call'd Lucina, and the powers,
"With outcries mighty. True Lucina came,
"But came by Juno prepossest, and bent
"My life to sacrifice to Juno's rage.
"Soon as my groans she hearken'd, down she sate
"Upon the altar, plac'd without the gates:
"'Neath her right ham, her left knee pressing; join'd
"Fingers with fingers cross'd upon her breast
"My labor stay'd; and spellful words she spoke
"In whispering tone; the spellful words delay'd
"Th' approaching birth. I strain, and madly rave
"With vain upbraidings to ungrateful Jove,
"And crave for death; in such expressions 'plain
"As hardest flints might move. The Theban dames
"Around me throng; assist me with their prayers;
"And me my trying pains exhort to bear.
"Galanthis, one who tended me, of race
"Plebeian; yellow-hair'd; and sedulous
"What order'd to perform; and much esteem'd
"For courteous deeds;--she first suspected, (what,
"I know not) somewhat, form'd by Juno's pique:
"And while she constant pass'd; now to, now fro,
"She saw the goddess on the altar sit,
"Girding her arms, with close-knit fingers o'er
"Her knees, and said;--O dame, whoe'er thou art,
"Our mistress gratulate. Alcmena now
"Argolican, is lighten'd. Now the prayers
"Of the child-bearer meet her hopes.--The dame
"Who rules the womb, straight from her station leap'd,
"And all astounded, her clench'd fingers loos'd:
"I in that moment felt my bonds undone.
"Galanthis, they report, the goddess mock'd
"Thus cheated, by her laughter. Savage, she
"Dragg'd her so laughing, by the tresses seiz'd,
"And forc'd her down to earth, as up she strove
"Erect to rise; and to forefeet her arms
"Transform'd. The same agility r