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Cymindis。 Juno then went to Gargarus； the topmost peak of Ida；
and Jove； driver of the clouds； set eyes upon her。 As soon as he
did so he became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her
that he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other's
embraces； and slept with one another without their dear parents
knowing anything about it。 He went up to her and said； 〃What do
you want that you have e hither from Olympusand that too
with neither chariot nor horses to convey you？〃
Then Juno told him a lying tale and said； 〃I am going to the
world's end； to visit Oceanus； from whom all we gods proceed； and
mother Tethys； they received me into their house； took care of
me； and brought me up。 I must go and see them that I may make
peace between them： they have been quarrelling； and are so angry
that they have not slept with one another this long time。 The
horses that will take me over land and sea are stationed on the
lowermost spurs of many…fountained Ida； and I have e here from
Olympus on purpose to consult you。 I was afraid you might be
angry with me later on； if I went to the house of Oceanus without
letting you know。〃
And Jove said； 〃Juno； you can choose some other time for paying
your visit to Oceanusfor the present let us devote ourselves to
love and to the enjoyment of one another。 Never yet have I been
so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as
I am at this moment for yourselfnot even when I was in love
with the wife of Ixion who bore me Pirithous； peer of gods in
counsel； nor yet with Danae the daintily…ancled daughter of
Acrisius； who bore me the famed hero Perseus。 Then there was the
daughter of Phoenix； who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus： there
was Semele； and Alcmena in Thebes by whom I begot my lion…hearted
son Hercules； while Semele became mother to Bacchus the forter
of mankind。 There was queen Ceres again； and lovely Leto； and
yourselfbut with none of these was I ever so much enamoured as
I now am with you。〃
Juno again answered him with a lying tale。 〃Most dread son of
Saturn；〃 she exclaimed； 〃what are you talking about？ Would you
have us enjoy one another here on the top of Mount Ida； where
everything can be seen？ What if one of the ever…living gods
should see us sleeping together； and tell the others？ It would be
such a scandal that when I had risen from your embraces I could
never show myself inside your house again； but if you are so
minded； there is a room which your son Vulcan has made me； and he
has given it good strong doors； if you would so have it； let us
go thither and lie down。〃
And Jove answered； 〃Juno； you need not be afraid that either god
or man will see you； for I will enshroud both of us in such a
dense golden cloud； that the very sun for all his bright piercing
beams shall not see through it。〃
With this the son of Saturn caught his wife in his embrace；
whereon the earth sprouted them a cushion of young grass； with
dew…bespangled lotus； crocus； and hyacinth； so soft and thick
that it raised them well above the ground。 Here they laid
themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of
gold； from which there fell glittering dew…drops。
Thus； then； did the sire of all things repose peacefully on the
crest of Ida； overe at once by sleep and love； and he held his
spouse in his arms。 Meanwhile Sleep made off to the ships of the
Achaeans； to tell earth…encircling Neptune； lord of the
earthquake。 When he had found him he said； 〃Now； Neptune； you can
help the Danaans with a will； and give them victory though it be
only for a short time while Jove is still sleeping。 I have sent
him into a sweet slumber； and Juno has beguiled him into going to
bed with her。〃
Sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among mankind；
leaving Neptune more eager than ever to help the Danaans。 He
darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying；
〃Argives； shall we let Hector son of Priam have the triumph of
taking our ships and covering himself with glory？ This is what he
says that he shall now do； seeing that Achilles is still in
dudgeon at his ship； we shall get on very well without him if we
keep each other in heart and stand by one another。 Now；
therefore； let us all do as I say。 Let us each take the best and
largest shield we can lay hold of； put on our helmets； and sally
forth with our longest spears in our hands； I will lead you on；
and Hector son of Priam； rage as he may； will not dare to hold
out against us。 If any good staunch soldier has only a small
shield； let him hand it over to a worse man； and take a larger
one for himself。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 The son of
Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon； wounded though they were； set the
others in array； and went about everywhere effecting the
exchanges of armour； the most valiant took the best armour； and
gave the worse to the worse man。 When they had donned their
bronze armour they marched on with Neptune at their head。 In his
strong hand he grasped his terrible sword； keen of edge and
flashing like lightning； woe to him who es across it in the
day of battle； all men quake for fear and keep away from it。
Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array。 Thereon
Neptune and Hector waged fierce war on one anotherHector on the
Trojan and Neptune on the Argive side。 Mighty was the uproar as
the two forces met； the sea came rolling in towards the ships and
tents of the Achaeans； but waves do not thunder on the shore more
loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas； nor do the flames
of a forest fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon
the mountains； nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it
tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest； than
the terrible shout which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they
sprang upon one another。
Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax； who was turned full towards
him； nor did he miss his aim。 The spear struck him where two
bands passed over his chestthe band of his shield and that of
his silver…studded swordand these protected his body。 Hector
was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain； and
withdrew under