Page 428 - the-iliad

ers are who have been helping the Trojans. I will leave off,
since you so desire it, and let son leave off also. Furthermore
I swear never again will I do anything to save the Trojans
from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the
flames which the Achaeans will kindle.’
As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan,
‘Son Vulcan, hold now your flames; we ought not to use
such violence against a god for the sake of mortals.’
When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames,
and the river went back once more into his own fair bed.
Xanthus was now beaten, so these two left off fighting,
for Juno stayed them though she was still angry; but a furi-
ous quarrel broke out among the other gods, for they were
of divided counsels. They fell on one another with a mighty
uproar—earth groaned, and the spacious firmament rang
out as with a blare of trumpets. Jove heard as he was sit-
ting on Olympus, and laughed for joy when he saw the gods
coming to blows among themselves. They were not long
about beginning, and Mars piercer of shields opened the
battle. Sword in hand he sprang at once upon Minerva and
reviled her. ‘Why, vixen,’ said he, ‘have you again set the
gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart?
Have you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on
to wound me, and yourself took visible spear and drove it
into me to the hurt of my fair body? You shall now suffer for
what you then did to me.’
As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis—
so terrible that not even can Jove’s lightning pierce it. Here
did murderous Mars strike her with his great spear. She