Page 155 - the-iliad

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 si-
lent without a word, for she was in a furious passion and
bitterly incensed against her father; but Juno could not con-
tain herself and said, ‘What, dread son of Saturn, are you
talking about? We know how great your power is, neverthe-
less 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 Tar-
tarus 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

1 The Iliad