{
 "id": "phillis-wheatley/niobe-in-distress-for-her-children-slain-by-apollo-from-ovids-metamorp",
 "title": "Niobe in Distress for Her Children Slain by Apollo, from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book VI and from a View of the Painting of Mr. Richard Wilson",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Phillis Wheatley",
 "poet_slug": "phillis-wheatley",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral",
 "book_slug": "poems-on-various-subjects-religious-and-moral",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 34,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1773,
  "venue": "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://github.com/standardebooks/phillis-wheatley_poems-on-various-subjects-religious-and-moral"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/phillis-wheatley_poems-on-various-subjects-religious-and-moral",
  "file": "poems-on-various-subjects-religious-and-moral.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/409",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsonvarioussu273whea",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofphilliswh00whea_1"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-14"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 224,
  "n_stanzas": 20,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 57,
  "max_indent": 1
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Apollo’s wrath to man the dreadful spring",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of ills innum’rous, tuneful goddess, sing!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou who did’st first th’ ideal pencil give,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And taught’st the painter in his works to live,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Inspire with glowing energy of thought,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What Wilson painted, and what Ovid wrote.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Muse! lend thy aid, nor let me sue in vain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though last and meanest of the rhyming train!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O guide my pen in lofty strains to show",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Phrygian queen, all beautiful in woe.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "’Twas where Maeonia spreads her wide domain",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Niobe dwelt, and held her potent reign:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "See in her hand the regal sceptre shine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The wealthy heir of Tantalus divine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He most distinguish’d by Dodonean Jove,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To approach the tables of the gods above:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Her grandsire Atlas, who with mighty pains",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Th’ ethereal axis on his neck sustains:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Her other grandsire on the throne on high",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rolls the loud-pealing thunder thro’ the sky.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Her spouse, Amphion, who from Jove too springs,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Divinely taught to sweep the sounding strings.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Seven sprightly sons the royal bed adorn,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Seven daughters beauteous as the op’ning morn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As when Aurora fills the ravish’d sight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And decks the orient realms with rosy light",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From their bright eyes the living splendors play,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nor can beholders bear the flashing ray.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Wherever, Niobe, thou turn’st thine eyes,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "New beauties kindle, and new joys arise!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But thou had’st far the happier mother prov’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If this fair offspring had been less belov’d:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What if their charms exceed Aurora’s teint.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No words could tell them, and no pencil paint,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy love too vehement hastens to destroy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Each blooming maid, and each celestial boy.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Now Manto comes, endu’d with mighty skill,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The past to explore, the future to reveal.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thro’ Thebes’ wide streets Tiresia’s daughter came,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Divine Latona’s mandate to proclaim:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Theban maids to hear the orders ran,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When thus Maeonia’s prophetess began:",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Go, Thebans! great Latona’s will obey,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "“And pious tribute at her altars pay:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“With rights divine, the goddess be implor’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Nor be her sacred offspring unador’d.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus Manto spoke. The Theban maids obey,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pious tribute to the goddess pay.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The rich perfumes ascend in waving spires,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And altars blaze with consecrated fires;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fair assembly moves with graceful air,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And leaves of laurel bind the flowing hair.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Niobe comes with all her royal race,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With charms unnumber’d, and superior grace:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Her Phrygian garments of delightful hue,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Inwove with gold, refulgent to the view,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beyond description beautiful she moves",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like heav’nly Venus, ’midst her smiles and loves:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She views around the supplicating train,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And shakes her graceful head with stern disdain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Proudly she turns around her lofty eyes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And thus reviles celestial deities:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What madness drives the Theban ladies fair",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“To give their incense to surrounding air?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Say why this new sprung deity preferr’d?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why vainly fancy your petitions heard?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Or say why Caeus’ offspring is obey’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“While to my goddesship no tribute’s paid?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“For me no altars blaze with living fires,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“No bullock bleeds, no frankincense transpires,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Though Cadmus’ palace, not unknown to fame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And Phrygian nations all revere my name.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Where’er I turn my eyes vast wealth I find.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Lo! here an empress with a goddess join’d.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What, shall a Titaness be deify’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“To whom the spacious earth a couch deny’d!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Nor heav’n, nor earth, nor sea receiv’d your queen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“ ’Till pitying Delos took the wand’rer in.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Round me what a large progeny is spread!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“No frowns of fortune has my soul to dread.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What if indignant she decrease my train",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“More than Latona’s number will remain?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Then hence, ye Theban dames, hence haste away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Nor longer off’rings to Latona pay?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Regard the orders of Amphion’s spouse,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And take the leaves of laurel from your brows.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Niobe spoke. The Theban maids obey’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their brows unbound, and left the rights unpaid.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The angry goddess heard, then silence broke",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "On Cynthus’ summit, and indignant spoke;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Phoebus! behold, thy mother in disgrace,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Who to no goddess yields the prior place",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Except to Juno’s self, who reigns above,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“The spouse and sister of the thund’ring Jove.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Niobe, sprung from Tantalus, inspires",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Each Theban bosom with rebellious fires;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“No reason her imperious temper quells,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“But all her father in her tongue rebels;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Wrap her own sons for her blaspheming breath,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Apollo! wrap them in the shades of death.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Latona ceas’d, and ardent thus replies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The God, whose glory decks th’ expanded skies.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Cease thy complaints, mine be the task assign’d",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "“To punish pride, and scourge the rebel mind.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This Phoebe join’d.⁠—They wing their instant flight;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thebes trembled as th’ immortal pow’rs alight.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "With clouds incompass’d glorious Phoebus stands;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The feather’d vengeance quiv’ring in his hands.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Near Cadmus’ walls a plain extended lay,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Where Thebes’ young princes pass’d in sport the day:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There the bold coursers bounded o’er the plains,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While their great masters held the golden reins.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ismenus first the racing pastime led,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And rul’d the fury of his flying steed.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ah me,” he sudden cries, with shrieking breath,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While in his breast he feels the shaft of death;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He drops the bridle on his courser’s mane,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Before his eyes in shadows swims the plain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He, the first-born of great Amphion’s bed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was struck the first, first mingled with the dead.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then didst thou, Sipylus, the language hear",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of fate portentous whistling in the air:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As when th’ impending storm the sailor sees",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He spreads his canvas to the fav’ring breeze,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So to thine horse thou gav’st the golden reins,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gav’st him to rush impetuous o’er the plains:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But ah! a fatal shaft from Phoebus’ hand",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Smites thro’ thy neck, and sinks thee on the sand.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Two other brothers were at wrestling found,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And in their pastime claspt each other round:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A shaft that instant from Apollo’s hand",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Transfixt them both, and stretcht them on the sand:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Together they their cruel fate bemoan’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Together languish’d, and together groan’d:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Together too th’ unbodied spirits fled,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sought the gloomy mansions of the dead.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Alphenor saw, and trembling at the view,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Beat his torn breast, that chang’d its snowy hue.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He flies to raise them in a kind embrace;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A brother’s fondness triumphs in his face:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Alphenor fails in this fraternal deed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A dart dispatch’d him (so the fates decreed):",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Soon as the arrow left the deadly wound,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His issuing entrails smoak’d upon the ground.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "What woes on blooming Damasichon wait!",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "His sighs portend his near impending fate.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Just where the well-made leg begins to be,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the soft sinews form the supple knee,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The youth sore wounded by the Delian god",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Attempts t’ extract the crime-avenging rod,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But, whilst he strives the will of fate t’ avert,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Divine Apollo sends a second dart;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Swift thro’ his throat the feather’d mischief flies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bereft of sense, he drops his head, and dies.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Young Ilioneus, the last, directs his pray’r,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And cries, “My life, ye gods celestial! spare.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Apollo heard, and pity touch’d his heart,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But ah! too late, for he had sent the dart:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou too, O Ilioneus, are doom’d to fall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fates refuse that arrow to recal.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "On the swift wings of ever flying Fame",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To Cadmus’ palace soon the tidings came:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Niobe heard, and with indignant eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She thus express’d her anger and surprise:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why is such privilege to them allow’d?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why thus insulted by the Delian god?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Dwells there such mischief in the pow’rs above?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why sleeps the vengeance of immortal Jove?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For now Amphion too, with grief oppress’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Had plung’d the deadly dagger in his breast.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Niobe now, less haughty than before,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With lofty head directs her steps no more.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She, who late told her pedigree divine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And drove the Thebans from Latona’s shrine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "How strangely chang’d!⁠—yet beautiful in woe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She weeps, nor weeps unpity’d by the foe.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On each pale corse the wretched mother spread",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lay overwhelm’d with grief, and kiss’d her dead,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then rais’d her arms, and thus, in accents slow,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Be sated cruel Goddess! with my woe;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“If I’ve offended, let these streaming eyes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And let this sev’nfold funeral suffice:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ah! take this wretched life you deign’d to save,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“With them I too am carried to the grave.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Rejoice triumphant, my victorious foe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“But show the cause from whence your triumphs flow?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Though I unhappy mourn these children slain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Yet greater numbers to my lot remain.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She ceas’d, the bow string twang’d with awful sound,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which struck with terror all th’ assembly round,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Except the queen, who stood unmov’d alone,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By her distresses more presumptuous grown.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Near the pale corses stood their sisters fair",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In sable vestures and dishevell’d hair;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One, while she draws the fatal shaft away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Faints, falls, and sickens at the light of day.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To sooth her mother, lo! another flies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And blames the fury of inclement skies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And, while her words a filial pity show,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Struck dumb⁠—indignant seeks the shades below.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Now from the fatal place another flies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Falls in her flight, and languishes, and dies.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Another on her sister drops in death;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A fifth in trembling terrors yields her breath;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While the sixth seeks some gloomy cave in vain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Struck with the rest, and mingled with the slain.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "One only daughter lives, and she the least;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The queen close clasp’d the daughter to her breast:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ye heav’nly pow’rs, ah spare me one,” she cry’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ah! spare me one,” the vocal hills reply’d:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In vain she begs, the Fates her suit deny,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In her embrace she sees her daughter die.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“The queen of all her family bereft,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "“Without or husband, son, or daughter left,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Grew stupid at the shock. The passing air",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Made no impression on her stiff’ning hair.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“The blood forsook her face: amidst the flood",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Pour’d from her cheeks, quite fix’d her eye-balls stood.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Her tongue, her palate both obdurate grew,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Her curdled veins no longer motion knew;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“The use of neck, and arms, and feet was gone,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And ev’n her bowels hard’ned into stone:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“A marble statue now the queen appears,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“But from the marble steal the silent tears.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}