hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to
earth； yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant
anxiety which I felt about noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had
spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos； after suborning the
tempests； but I rescued him； and notwithstanding all his mighty
labours I brought him back again to Argos。 I would remind you of
this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful； and
discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of
which you have come here to trick me。〃
Juno trembled as he spoke； and said； 〃May heaven above and earth
below be my witnesses； with the waters of the river Styx… and this
is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take… nay； I swear also
by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed… things over which I
could never possibly perjure myself… that Neptune is not punishing
Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of
mine； it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the
Achaeans hard pressed at their ships： if I were advising him； I should
tell him to do as you bid him。〃
The sire of gods and men smiled and answered； 〃If you； Juno； were
always to support me when we sit in council of the gods； Neptune； like
it or no； would soon come round to your and my way of thinking。 If；
then； you are speaking the truth and mean what you say； go among the
rank and file of the gods； and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow；
that I want them… Iris； that she may go to the Achaean host and tell
Neptune to leave off fighting and go home； and Apollo； that he may
send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength； he will
thus forget his present sufferings； and drive the Achaeans back in
confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus。
Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle； and
Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many
warriors； and among them my own noble son Sarpedon。 Achilles will kill
Hector to avenge Patroclus； and from that time I will bring it about
that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till
they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius。 But I will not
stay my anger； nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have
accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus； according to the promise
I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my knees and
besought me to give him honour。〃
Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great
Olympus。 Swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over vast
continents； and he says to himself； 〃Now I will be here； or there；〃
and he would have all manner of things… even so swiftly did Juno
wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in among the
gods who were gathered in the house of Jove。 When they saw her they
all of them came up to her； and held out their cups to her by way of
greeting。 She let the others be； but took the cup offered her by
lovely Themis； who was first to come running up to her。 〃Juno；〃 said
she； 〃why are you here？ And you seem troubled… has your husband the
son of Saturn been frightening you？〃
And Juno answered； 〃Themis； do not ask me about it。 You know what
a proud and cruel disposition my husband has。 Lead the gods to
table； where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs
which he has avowed。 Many a one； mortal and immortal； will be
angered by them； however peaceably he may be feasting now。〃
On this Juno sat down； and the gods were troubled throughout the
house of Jove。 Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed with
care； and she spoke up in a rage。 〃Fools that we are；〃 she cried；
〃to be thus madly angry with Jove； we keep on wanting to go up to
him and stay him by force or by persuasion； but he sits aloof and
cares for nobody； for he knows that he is much stronger than any other
of the immortals。 Make the best； therefore； of whatever ills he may
choose to send each one of you； Mars； I take it； has had a taste of
them already； for his son Ascalaphus has fallen in battle… the man
whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he owns
himself to be。〃
When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat of
his hands； and said in anger； 〃Do not blame me； you gods that dwell in
heaven； if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the death of
my son； even though it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning
and lying in blood and dust among the corpses。〃
As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout；
while he put on his armour。 On this； Jove would have been roused to
still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other immortals；
had not Minerva； ararmed for the safety of the gods； sprung from her
seat and hurried outside。 She tore the helmet from his head and the
shield from his shoulders； and she took the bronze spear from his
strong hand and set it on one side； then she said to Mars； 〃Madman；
you are undone； you have ears that hear not； or you have lost all
judgement and understanding； have you not heard what Juno has said
on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove？ Do you wish
to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back
sick and sorry to Olympus； after having caused infinite mischief to
all us others？ Jove would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans
to themselves； he would come to Olympus to punish us； and would grip
us up one after another； guilty or not guilty。 Therefore lay aside
your anger for the death of your son； better men than he have either
been killed already or will fall hereafter； and one cannot protect
every one's whole family。〃
With these words she took Mars back to his seat。 Meanwhile Juno
called Apollo outside； with Iris the messenger of the gods。 〃Jove；〃
she said to them； 〃desires you to go to him at once on Mt。 Ida； when
you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid you。〃
Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside； while Iris and
Apollo made all haste on their way。 When they reached
many…fountained Ida； mother of wild beasts； they found Jove seated
on topmost Gargarus with a fragrant cloud encircling his head as
with a diadem。 They stood before his presence； and he was pleased with
them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his wife had given
them。
He spoke to Iris first。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； tell King
Neptune what I now bid you… and tell him true。 Bid him leave off
fighting； and either join the company of the gods； or go down into the
sea。 If he takes no heed and disobeys me； let him consider well
whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if I attack
him。 I am older and much stronger than he is； yet he is not afraid
to set himself up as on a level with myself； of whom all the other
gods stand in awe。〃
Iris； fleet as the wind； obeyed him； and as the cold hail or
snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of Boreas；
even so did she wing her way till she came close up to the great
shaker of the earth。 Then she said； 〃I have come； O dark…haired king
that holds the world in his embrace； to bring you a message from Jove。
He bids you leave off fighting； and either join the company of the
gods or go down into the sea； if； however； you take no heed and
disobey him； he says he will come down here and fight you。 He would
have you keep out of his reach； for he is older and much stronger than
you are； and yet you are not afraid to set yourself up as on a level
with himself； of whom all the other gods stand in awe。〃
Neptune was very angry and said； 〃Great heavens！ strong as Jove
may be； he has said more than he can do if he has threatened
violence against me； who am of like honour with himself。 We were three
brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn… Jove； myself； and Hades who rules
the world below。 Heaven and earth were divided into three parts； and
each of us was to have an equal share。 When we cast lots； it fell to
me to have my dwelling in the sea for evermore； Hades took the
darkness of the realms under the earth； while air and sky and clouds
were the portion that fell to Jove； but earth and great Olympus are
the common property of all。 Therefore I will not walk as Jove would
have me。 For all his strength； let him keep to his own third share and
be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were
nobody。 Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters；
who must perforce obey him。
Iris fleet as the wind then answered； 〃Am I really； Neptune； to take
this daring and unyielding message to Jove； or will you reconsider
your answer？ Sensible people are open to argument； and you know that
the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of the older person。〃
Neptune answered； 〃Goddess Iris； your words have been spoken in
season。 It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion。
Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should rebuke
so angrily another who is his own peer； and of like empire with
himself。 Now； however； I will give way in spite of my displeasure；
furthermore let me tell you； and I mean what I say… if contrary to the
desire of myself； Minerva d