#peneios

"“Thessalian nymphs, race of the river, tell your father (110) to calm his great flood. Entwine yourselves in his beard, praying that the children of Zeus be born in his waters. Phthiotian Peneius, why do you now contend with the winds? O father, you are not mounted on a racehorse. Indeed are your feet always this swift, or (115) are they only nimble in my case and suddenly today you made them fly? But he does not hear. O my burden, where shall I carry you? My unhappy ankles refuse. Pelion, O bridal chamber of Philyra, but you, stay, stay, since in your mountains even wild beasts, lionesses, in labor often (120) drop the raw fruits of their labor.” Then Peneius answered her pouring forth his tears: “Leto, Necessity is a mighty goddess. For it is not I, mistress, who refuse your birth pangs. (I know that others, too, have washed the afterbirth in my waters.) But Hera has (125) threatened me abundantly. Look who keeps watch, seated on the mountaintop, who would easily drag me down from the depths. What shall I do? Or is Peneius being destroyed a pleasant thing for you? Let my day of destiny come; I shall risk it for your sake, even if I shouldwander for eternity, (130) ebbing and thirsty, and alone among the rivers should be called the least honorable. Here I am. What more can I say? Only call upon Eileithyia.” He spoke and halted his great flood. But Ares, having lifted the peaks of Pangaeum from their base, was going (135) to hurl them into his eddies and cover up his streams. On high he crashed and struck his shield with the point of his spear, and made it quiver with a warlike beat. The mountains of Ossa trembled and the plain of Crannon and the windswept heights of the Pindus, and all of Thessaly danced in fear. (140) Such a noise rang from his shield. Just as, when the whole interior of Mt. Etna, smoldering with fire, is shaken because the Giant Briareos under the earth moves onto his other shoulder, the furnaces roar under Hephaestus’ tongs (145) and likewise his implements; the fire-wrought basins and tripods ring out as they fall upon each other. Just as loud as this then was the clash of his well-rounded shield. Peneius did not draw back, but remained steadfast as before, and stopped his rapid eddies, (150) until the daughter of Coeus called to him: “Farewell, save yourself, save yourself. Do not suffer evil for my sake as a recompense for your pity. Your favor will be rewarded.” She spoke and after much effort came to the islands of the sea."