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had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans； they halted at
their ships； calling upon one another and praying every man
instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods； but Hector
wheeled his horses this way and that； his eyes glaring like those
of Gorgo or murderous Mars。
Juno when she saw them had pity upon them； and at once said to
Minerva； 〃Alas； child of aegis…bearing Jove； shall you and I take
no more thought for the dying Danaans； though it be the last time
we ever do so？ See how they perish and e to a bad end before
the onset of but a single man。 Hector the son of Priam rages with
intolerable fury； and has already done great mischief。〃
Minerva answered； 〃Would； indeed； this fellow might die in his
own land； and fall by the hands of the Achaeans； but my father
Jove is mad with spleen； ever foiling me； ever headstrong and
unjust。 He forgets how often I saved his son when he was worn out
by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him。 He would weep till his
cry came up to heaven； and then Jove would send me down to help
him； if I had had the sense to foresee all this； when Eurystheus
sent him to the house of Hades； to fetch the hell…hound from
Erebus； he would never have e back alive out of the deep
waters of the river Styx。 And now Jove hates me； while he lets
Thetis have her way because she kissed his 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 be 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 accordgates 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 e near me； for
if we e 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 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 pany 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 beenI
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 passion upon the
Danaan warriors who are perishing and ing 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