“She has fourteen children,” wailed Leto, “so I suppose, compared to her, I am inadequate . . .” “Enough!” said Artemis. “Come, brother. She has made our mother weep. It is time this woman knew the meaning of tears.” Artemis and Apollo went straight to Thebes, where they hunted down every one of Amphion’s and Niobe’s fourteen children. Artemis shot the seven daughters dead with her silver arrows; Apollo shot the seven sons dead with his golden ones. When Amphion was brought news of the slaughter he took his own life by falling on his sword. Niobe’s grief was also insupportable. She fled to her
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