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