Page 487 - the-iliad

them weeping for her noble son who was to fall far from his
own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went up to her and
said, ‘Rise Thetis; Jove, whose counsels fail not, bids you
come to him.’ And Thetis answered, ‘Why does the mighty
god so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in
and out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word
that he may speak shall not be spoken in vain.’
The goddess took her dark veil, than which there can be
no robe more sombre, and went forth with fleet Iris lead-
ing the way before her. The waves of the sea opened them a
path, and when they reached the shore they flew up into the
heavens, where they found the all-seeing son of Saturn with
the blessed gods that live for ever assembled near him. Mi-
nerva gave up her seat to her, and she sat down by the side of
father Jove. Juno then placed a fair golden cup in her hand,
and spoke to her in words of comfort, whereon Thetis drank
and gave her back the cup; and the sire of gods and men was
the first to speak.
‘So, goddess,’ said he, ‘for all your sorrow, and the grief
that I well know reigns ever in your heart, you have come
hither to Olympus, and I will tell you why I have sent for
you. This nine days past the immortals have been quarrel-
ling about Achilles waster of cities and the body of Hector.
The gods would have Mercury slayer of Argus steal the body,
but in furtherance of our peace and amity henceforward, I
will concede such honour to your son as I will now tell you.
Go, then, to the host and lay these commands upon him;
say that the gods are angry with him, and that I am myself
more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hector at the

The Iliad