Dialogi Marini

Posidon A charming child; the dawn of loveliness. We must carry her off.

Amymone Villain! where are you taking me to? You area kidnapper. I know who sent you—my uncle Aegyptus. I shall call my father.

Triton Hush, Amymone; it is Posidon.

Amymone Posidon? What do you mean? Unhand me, villain! would you drag me into the sea? Help, help, I shall sink and be drowned.

Posidon Don’t be frightened; no harm shall be done to you. Come, you shall have a fountain called after you; it shall spring up in this very place, near the waves; I will strike the rock with my trident.—Think how nice it will be being dead, and not having to carry water any more, like all your sisters.

South Wind Zephyr, is it true about Zeus and the heifer that Hermes is convoying across the sea to Egypt?—that he fell in love with it?

West Wind Certainly. She was not a heifer then, though, but a daughter of the river Inachus. Hera made her what she is now; Zeus was so deep in love that Hera was jealous.

South Wind And is he still in love, now that she is a cow?

West Wind Oh, yes; that is why he has sent her to Egypt, and told us not to stir up the sea till she has swum across; she is to be delivered there of her child, and both of them are to be Gods.