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brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast； by the nipple； as he was
driving furiously into the fight。 The horses swerved aside as he
fell headlong from the chariot； and there was no life left in him。
Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer； but for
all his sorrow he let him lie where he fell； and bade his brother
Cebriones； who was hard by； take the reins。 Cebriones did as he had
said。 Hector thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the
ground； and seizing a great stone made straight for Teucer with intent
kill him。 Teucer had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had
laid it upon the bow…string； but Hector struck him with the jagged
stone as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder；
he hit him just where the collar…bone divides the neck from the chest；
a very deadly place； and broke the sinew of his arm so that his
wrist was less； and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell forward
on his knees。 Ajax saw that his brother had fallen； and running
towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his shield。
Meanwhile his two trusty squires； Mecisteus son of Echius； and
Alastor； came up and bore him to the ships groaning in his great pain。
glad when he saw
Jove now again put heart into the Trojans； and they drove the
Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at their
head。 As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when he
gives him chase； and watches warily for his wheeling； even so did
Hector follow close upon the Achaeans； ever killing the hindmost as
they rushed panic…stricken onwards。 When they had fled through the set
stakes and trench and many Achaeans had been laid low at the hands
of the Trojans； they halted at their ships； calling upon one another
and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the
gods； but Hector wheeled his horses this way and that； his eyes
glaring like those of Gorgo or murderous Mars。
Juno when she saw them had pity upon them； and at once said to
Minerva； 〃Alas； child of aegis…bearing Jove； shall you and I take no
more thought for the dying Danaans； though it be the last time we ever
do so？ See how they perish and come to a bad end before the onset of
but a single man。 Hector the son of Priam rages with intolerable fury；
and has already done great mischief。〃
Minerva answered； 〃Would； indeed； this fellow might die in his own
land； and fall by the hands of the Achaeans； but my father Jove is mad
with spleen； ever foiling me； ever headstrong and unjust。 He forgets
how often I saved his son when he was worn out by the labours
Eurystheus had laid on him。 He would weep till his cry came up to
heaven； and then Jove would send me down to help him； if I had had the
sense to foresee all this； when Eurystheus sent him to the house of
Hades； to fetch the hell…hound from Erebus； he would never have come
back alive out of the deep waters of the river Styx。 And now Jove
hates me； while he lets Thetis have her way because she kissed his
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