朱庇特钟情于塞墨勒
Not only with immortals but with mortals were Jupiter"s relations sometimes of a dubious(dubious adj.可疑的，不确定的)character.His devotion to the beautiful daughters of men involved him in frequent altercationsaltercation n.争论，口角with his justly jealous spouse spouse n.配偶（指夫或妻）.Love passage concerning Europa has been narrated (narrate v.叙述，讲述，作解说，讲故事).Here is a story about his fondness for Semele.
朱庇特不仅跟神祗有私情，和凡人也常常有着暧昧的关系。他倾心爱慕过一些凡人的才貌出众的女儿，这理所当然地引起夫人的猜忌，两人经常为此争吵。前文已经谈到他与欧罗巴的恋爱经过。这里讲一段关于朱庇特钟情于塞墨勒的故事。
Semele was the daughter of Cadmus，founder of Thebes.She was descended，through both parents，from the gods；for her mother Harmonia was daughter to Mars and the laughterloving Venus.To Semele Jupiter had appeared，and had paid court in unostentatious(unostentatious adj.不夸耀的，不傲慢的，不虚饰的，朴素的)manner and simple guise(guise n.外观，姿态，装束，伪装v.伪装).But Juno，to gratify her resentment against this new rival for her lord"s affections，contrived a plan for her destruction.Assuming the form of Beroe，the aged nurse of Semele，she insinuated doubts whether it was indeed Jove himself who came as a lover.
塞墨勒是底比斯的缔造者卡德摩斯的女儿。不论是从父系或是从母系来说她都是神的后裔，她的母亲哈耳摩尼亚是马尔斯和性格开朗的维纳斯的女儿。朱庇特现身于塞墨勒面前以至他向她求爱时，都是打扮朴素，举止谨敛的。朱诺对夺走丈夫的恩爱的新情敌恨之入骨，想出一个计谋，打算置塞墨勒于死地。朱诺变形成塞墨勒的老奶奶波罗厄，暗示间挑引起塞墨勒对情郎的身份产生怀疑。
Heaving a sigh，she said，“I hope it will turn out so，but I can"t help being afraid.People are not always what they pretend to be.If he is indeed Jove，make him give some proof of it.Ask him to come arrayed(array n.排列，编队，军队，衣服，大批vt.部署，穿着，排列)in all his splendors，such as he wears in Heaven.That will put the matter beyond a doubt.”
她长叹一声道：“我真希望他就是朱庇特，可是我心里总有些嘀咕。人总不能说没有乔装冒认的。他要真是朱庇特的话，就该拿出点证据来。叫他来的时候穿上天宫里的全套华美礼服。这就能使我们深信不疑了。”
Semele was persuaded to try the experiment.She asks a favor，without naming what it is.Jove gives his promise，and confirms it with the irrevocable oath，attesting the river Styx，terrible to the gods themselves.Then she made known her request.The god would have stopped her as she spoke，but she was too quick for him.The words escaped，and he could neither unsay his promise nor her request.In deep distress(distress n.悲痛，穷困，不幸，危难，忧伤v.使悲痛，使穷困，使忧伤)he returned to the upper regions.There he clothed himself in his splendors，not putting on all his terrors，as when he overthrew the giants，but what is known among the gods as his lesser panoply(panoply n.全套甲胄，华丽服饰).With thunders and lightning he entered the chamber of Semele.Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance.She was consumed to ashes.Her son was the god Bacchus.
塞墨勒的心怦然而动，决心要作这样的一个试探。她要求朱庇特答应为她做件事，但并不把这件事说明。朱庇特应允了，还发誓绝不食言，且指定冥河斯提克斯——众神听了都要发抖的名字——做他的监誓人。于是，塞墨勒说明她的要求的具体内容。主神恨不得马上堵住她的嘴，但没有来得及，她已经说完了。现在话已出口，朱庇特既不能算她没提要求，又不能收回自己的誓言。他在深感懊恼下回到上界。在天宫里他穿上璀璨的衣装，这所穿的还不是他战垮巨人时的那副英气逼人的全套披挂，而是众神认作为他的轻型铠甲那一款。他一阵闪电雷鸣冲进了塞墨勒的闺房。她那世人的肉身抵挡不住炽烈的神光，顿时焚成一堆灰烬。她留下一个儿子，就是巴克斯神。