and Philommedes“Member-loving”: the title is perhaps
only a perversion of the regularfilomeidh/s(laughter-loving).
because she sprang from the members. And with her went Eros, and
comely Desire followed her at her birth at the first and as she went
into the assembly of the gods. This honor she has from the beginning,
and this is the portion allotted to her amongst men and undying
gods,—the
whisperings of maidens and smiles and deceits with sweet delight and
love and graciousness.
But these sons whom he begot himself great Heaven used to call Titans
(Strainers) in reproach, for he said that they strained and
did presumptuouslya fearful
deed, and that vengeance for it would come afterwards. And Night bore
hateful Doom and black Fate and Death, and she bore Sleep and the
tribe of Dreams.And again the
goddess murky Night, though she lay with none,bare Blame and painful Woe,and the Hesperides who guard the rich, golden
apples and the trees bearing fruit beyond glorious Ocean. Also she
bore the Destinies and ruthless avenging Fates, Clotho and Lachesis
and Atropos,Clotho (the
Spinner) is she who spins the thread of man's life; Lachesis
(the Disposer of Lots) assigns to each man his destiny;
Atropos (She who cannot be turned) is the “Fury
with the abhorre\d shears.”who give men at their
birth both evil and good to have,and they pursue the transgressions of men and of gods: and these
goddesses never cease from their dread anger until they punish the
sinner with a sore penalty. Also deadly Night bore Nemesis
(Indignation) to afflict mortal men, and after her, Deceit
and Friendshipand hateful Age
and hard-hearted Strife. But abhorred Strife bore painful Toil and
Forgetfulness and Famine and tearful Sorrows, Fightings also, Battles,
Murders, Manslaughters, Quarrels, Lying Words, Disputes,