Daughter of Atlas, Maia bore to Jove
[243]The glorious Hermes, herald of the gods;
The sacred couch ascending. [244]Semele,
Daughter of Cadmus, melting in embrace
With Jove, gave jocund Bacchus to the light:
A mortal an immortal: now alike
Immortal deities. Alcmena bare
Strong Hercules: dissolving in embrace
With the cloud-gatherer Jove. The crippled god,
In arts illustrious, Vulcan, as his bride