knees and took hold of his beard； when she was begging him to do
honour to Achilles。 I shall know what to do next time he begins
calling me his grey…eyed darling。 Get our horses ready； while I go
within the house of aegis…bearing Jove and put on my armour； we
shall then find out whether Priam's son Hector will be glad to meet us
in the highways of battle； or whether the Trojans will glut hounds and
vultures with the fat of their flesh as they he dead by the ships of
the Achaeans。〃
Thus did she speak and white…armed Juno； daughter of great Saturn；
obeyed her words； she set about harnessing her gold…bedizened
steeds； while Minerva daughter of aegis…bearing Jove flung her
richly vesture； made with her own hands； on to the threshold of her
father； and donned the shirt of Jove； arming herself for battle。
Then she stepped into her flaming chariot； and grasped the spear so
stout and sturdy and strong with which she quells the ranks of
heroes who have displeased her。 Juno lashed her horses； and the
gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord…
gates over which the Hours preside； in whose hands are heaven and
Olympus； either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close
it。 Through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds。
But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was very angry； and sent
winged Iris with a message to them。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； turn
them back； and see that they do not come near me； for if we come to
fighting there will be mischief。 This is what I say； and this is
what I mean to do。 I will lame their horses for them； I will hurl them
from their chariot； and will break it in pieces。 It will take them all
ten years to heal the wounds my lightning shall inflict upon them；
my grey…eyed daughter will then learn what quarrelling with her father
means。 I am less surprised and angry with Juno； for whatever I say she
always contradicts me。〃
With this Iris went her way； fleet as the wind； from the heights
of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus。 She met the goddesses at the
outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message。 〃What；〃
said she； 〃are you about？ Are you mad？ The son of Saturn forbids
going。 This is what he says； and this is he means to do； he will
lame your horses for you； he will hurl you from your chariot； and will
break it in pieces。 It will take you all ten years to heal the
wounds his lightning will inflict upon you； that you may learn；
grey…eyed goddess； what quarrelling with your father means。 He is less
hurt and angry with Juno； for whatever he says she always
contradicts him but you； bold bold hussy； will you really dare to
raise your huge spear in defiance of Jove？〃
With this she left them； and Juno said to Minerva； 〃Of a truth；
child of aegis…bearing Jove； I am not for fighting men's battles
further in defiance of Jove。 Let them live or die as luck will have
it； and let Jove mete out his judgements upon the Trojans and
Danaans according to his own pleasure。〃
She turned her steeds； the Hours presently unyoked them； made them
fast to their ambrosial mangers； and leaned the chariot against the
end wall of the courtyard。 The two goddesses then sat down upon
their golden thrones； amid the company of the other gods； but they
were very angry。
Presently father Jove drove his chariot to Olympus； and entered
the assembly of gods。 The mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked his
horses for him； set the car upon its stand； and threw a cloth over it。
Jove then sat down upon his golden throne and Olympus reeled beneath
him。 Minerva and Juno sat alone； apart from Jove； and neither spoke
nor asked him questions； but Jove knew what they meant； and said；
〃Minerva and Juno； why are you so angry？ Are you fatigued with killing
so many of your dear friends the Trojans？ Be this as it may； such is
the might of my hands that all the gods in Olympus cannot turn me； you
were both of you trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its
terrible doings。 I tell you therefore…and it would have surely been… I
should have struck you with lighting； and your chariots would never
have brought you back again to Olympus。〃
Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and
brooded mischief for the Trojans。 Minerva sat silent without a word；
for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed against her
father； but Juno could not contain herself and said； 〃What； dread
son of Saturn； are you talking about？ We know how great your power is；
nevertheless we have compassion upon the Danaan warriors who are
perishing and coming to a bad end。 We will； however； since you so
bid us； refrain from actual fighting； but we will make serviceable
suggestions to the Argives； that they may not all of them perish in
your displeasure。〃
And Jove answered； 〃To…morrow morning； Juno； if you choose to do so；
you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of the
Argives； for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he has roused
the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire straits at their
ships' sterns about the body of Patroclus。 Like it or no； this is
how it is decreed； for aught I care； you may go to the lowest depths
beneath earth and sea； where Iapetus and Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus
with neither ray of light nor breath of wind to cheer them。 You may go
on and on till you get there； and I shall not care one whit for your
displeasure； you are the greatest vixen living。〃
Juno made him no answer。 The sun's glorious orb now sank into
Oceanus and drew down night over the land。 Sorry indeed were the
Trojans when light failed them； but welcome and thrice prayed for
did darkness fall upon the Achaeans。
Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships； and held a
council on the open space near the river； where there was a spot ear
corpses。 They left their chariots and sat down on the ground to hear
the speech he made them。 He grasped a spear eleven cubits long； the
bronze point of which gleamed in front of it； while the ring round the
spear…head was of gold Spear in hand he spoke。 〃Hear me；〃 said he；
〃Trojans； Dardanians； and allies。 I deemed but now that I should
destroy the ships and all the Achaeans with them ere I went back to
Ilius； but darkness came on too soon。 It was this alone that saved
them and their ships upon the seashore。 Now； therefore； let us obey
the behests of night； and prepare our suppers。 Take your horses out of
their chariots and give them their feeds of corn； then make speed to
bring sheep and cattle from the city； bring wine also and corn for
your horses and gather much wood； that from dark till dawn we may burn
watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven。 For the Achaeans may try
to fly beyond the sea by night； and they must not embark scatheless
and unmolested； many a man among them must take a dart with him to
nurse at home； hit with spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his
ship； that others may fear to bring war and weeping upon the
Trojans。 Moreover let the heralds tell it about the city that the
growing youths and grey…bearded men are to camp upon its
heaven…built walls。 Let the women each of them light a great fire in
her house； and let watch be safely kept lest the town be entered by
surprise while the host is outside。 See to it； brave Trojans； as I
have said； and let this suffice for the moment； at daybreak I will
instruct you further。 I pray in hope to Jove and to the gods that we
may then drive those fate…sped hounds from our land； for 'tis the
fates that have borne them and their ships hither。 This night；
therefore； let us keep watch； but with early morning let us put on our
armour and rouse fierce war at the ships of the Achaeans； I shall then
know whether brave Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from
the ships to the wall； or whether I shall myself slay him and carry
off his bloodstained spoils。 To…morrow let him show his mettle；
abide my spear if he dare。 I ween that at break of day； he shall be
among the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him。
Would that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing old； and
of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo； as I am that this day
will bring evil to the Argives。〃
Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause。 They took
their sweating steeds from under the yoke； and made them fast each
by his own chariot。 They made haste to bring sheep and cattle from the
city； they brought wine also and corn from their houses and gathered
much wood。 They then offered unblemished hecatombs to the immortals；
and the wind carried the sweet savour of sacrifice to heaven… but
the blessed gods partook not thereof； for they bitterly hated Ilius
with Priam and Priam's people。 Thus high in hope they sat through
the livelong night by the highways of war； and many a watchfire did
they kindle。 As when the stars shine clear； and the moon is bright…
there is not a breath of air； not a peak nor glade nor jutting
headland but it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks
from the serene of heaven； the stars can all of them be told and the
heart of the shepherd is glad… even thus shone the watchfires of the
Trojans before Ilius midway between the ships