met and slew him, and set the maiden free. As for the boastful queen,
the gods forgave her, and at her death she was set among the stars.
That story ended well.

But there was once a queen of Thebes, Niobe, fortunate above all women,
and yet arrogant in the face of the gods. Very beautiful she was, and
nobly born, but above all things she boasted of her children, for she
had seven sons and seven daughters.

Now there came the day when the people were wont to celebrate the feast
of Latona, mother of Apollo and Diana; and Niobe, as she stood looking
upon the worshippers on their way to the temple, was filled with
overweening pride.

"Why do you worship Latona before me?" she cried out. "What does she
possess that I have not in greater abundance? She has but two children,
while I have seven sons and as many daughters. Nay, if she robbed me
out of envy, I should still be rich. Go back to your houses; you have
not eyes to know the rightful goddess."

Such impiety was enough to frighten any one, and her subjects returned
to their daily work, awestruck and silent.

But Apollo and Diana were filled with wrath at this insult to their
divine mother. Not only was she a great goddess and a power in the
heavens, but during her life on earth she had suffered many hardships
for their sake. The serpent Python had been sent to torment her; and,
driven from land to land, under an evil spell, beset with dangers, she
had found no resting-place but the island of Delos, held sacred ever
after to her and her children. Once she had even been refused water by