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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 and the river Xanthus。 A
thousand camp…fires gleamed upon the plain； and in the glow of each
there sat fifty men； while the horses； champing oats and corn beside
their chariots； waited till dawn should come。
BOOK IX
THUS did the Trojans watch。 But Panic； comrade of blood…stained
Rout； had taken fast hold of the Achaeans and their princes were all
of them in despair。 As when the two winds that blow from Thrace… the
north and the northwest… spring up of a sudden and rouse the fury of
the main… in a moment the dark waves uprear their heads and scatter
their sea…wrack in all directions… even thus troubled were the
hearts of the Achaeans。
The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a
council man by man； but not to cry the matter aloud； he made haste
also himself to call them； and they sat sorry at heart in their
assembly。 Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream or cataract
on the side of some sheer cliff； and thus； with many a heavy sigh he
spoke to the Achaeans。 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃princes and councillors
Of the Argives； the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me。
Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of
Troy before returning； but he has played me false； and is now
bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people。
Such is the will of Jove； who has laid many a proud city in the dust
as he will yet lay others； for his power is above all。 Now； therefore；
let us all do as I say and sail back to our own country； for we
shall not take Troy。〃
Thus he spoke； and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat
sorrowful there； but they all held their peace； till at last Diomed of
the loud battle…cry made answer saying； 〃Son of Atreus； I will chide
your folly； as is my right in council。 Be not then aggrieved that I
should do so。 In the first place you attacked me before all the
Danaans and said that I was a coward and no soldier。 The Argives young
and old know that you di