按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though I am younger
than any of you。 I am by lineage son to a noble sire； Tydeus； who lies
buried at Thebes。 For Portheus had three noble sons； two of whom；
Agrius and Melas； abode in Pleuron and rocky Calydon。 The third was
the knight Oeneus； my father's father； and he was the most valiant
of them all。 Oeeneus remained in his own country； but my father （as
Jove and the other gods ordained it） migrated to Argos。 He married
into the family of Adrastus； and his house was one of great abundance；
for he had large estates of rich corn…growing land； with much
orchard ground as well； and he had many sheep； moreover he excelled
all the Argives in the use of the spear。 You must yourselves have
heard whether these things are true or no； therefore when I say well
despise not my words as though I were a coward or of ignoble birth。
I say； then； let us go to the fight as we needs must； wounded though
we be。 When there； we may keep out of the battle and beyond the
range of the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we
have already； but we can spur on others； who have been indulging their
spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto。〃
Thus did he speak； whereon they did even as he had said and set out；
King Agamemnon leading the way。
Meanwhile Neptune had kept no blind look…out； and came up to them in
the semblance of an old man。 He took Agamemnon's right hand in his own
and said； 〃Son of Atreus； I take it Achilles is glad now that he
sees the Achaeans routed and slain； for he is utterly without remorse…
may he come to a bad end and heaven confound him。 As for yourself； the
blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the
princes and counsellors of the Trojans shall again raise the dust upon
the plain； and you shall see them flying from the ships and tents
towards their city。〃
With this he raised a mighty cry of battle； and sped forward to
the plain。 The voice that came from his deep chest was as that of nine
or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a fight；
and it put fresh courage into the hearts of the Achaeans to wage war
and do battle without ceasing。
Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of
Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was at
once her brother and her brother…in…law； hurrying hither and thither
amid the fighting。 Then she turned her eyes to Jove as he sat on the
topmost crests of many…fountained Ida； and loathed him。 She set
herself to think how she might hoodwink him； and in the end she deemed
that it would be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich
attire； in the hope that Jove might become enamoured of her； and
wish to embrace her。 While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless
sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses。
She went； therefore； to the room which her son Vulcan had made
her； and the doors of which he had cunningly fastened by means of a
secret key so that no other god could open them。 Here she entered
and closed the doors behind her。 She cleansed all the dirt from her
fair body with ambrosia； then she anointed herself with olive oil；
ambrosial； very soft； and scented specially for herself… if it were so
much as shaken in the bronze…floored house of Jove； the scent pervaded
the universe of heaven and earth。 With this she anointed her
delicate skin； and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that
flowed in a stream of golden tresses from her immortal head。 She put
on the wondrous robe which Minerva had worked for her with
consummate art； and had embroidered with manifold devices； she
fastened it about her bosom with golden clasps； and she girded herself
with a girdle that had a hundred tassels： then she fastened her
earrings； three brilliant pendants that glistened most beautifully；
through the pierced lobes of her ears； and threw a lovely new veil
over her head。 She bound her sandals on to her feet； and when she
had arrayed herself perfectly to her satisfaction； she left her room
and called Venus to come aside and speak to her。 〃My dear child；〃 said
she； 〃will you do what I am going to ask of you； or will refuse me
because you are angry at my being on the Danaan side； while you are on
the Trojan？〃
Jove's daughter Venus answered； 〃Juno； august queen of goddesses；
daughter of mighty Saturn； say what you want； and I will do it for
at once； if I can； and if it can be done at all。〃
Then Juno told her a lying tale and said； 〃I want you to endow me
with some of those fascinating charms； the spells of which bring all
things mortal and immortal to your feet。 I am going to the world's end
to visit Oceanus （from whom all we gods proceed） and mother Tethys：
they received me in their house； took care of me； and brought me up；
having taken me over from Rhaea when Jove imprisoned great Saturn in
the depths that are under earth and sea。 I must go and see them that I
may make peace between them； they have been quarrelling； and are so
angry that they have not slept with one another this long while； if
I can bring them round and restore them to one another's embraces；
they will be grateful to me and love me for ever afterwards。〃
Thereon laughter…loving Venus said； 〃I cannot and must not refuse
you； for you sleep in the arms of Jove who is our king。〃
As she spoke she loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered
girdle into which all her charms had been wrought… love； desire； and
that sweet flattery which steals the judgement even of the most
prudent。 She gave the girdle to Juno and said； 〃Take this girdle
wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom。 If you will
wear it I promise you that your errand； be it what it may； will not be
bootless。〃
When she heard this Juno smiled； and still smiling she laid the
girdle in her bosom。
Venus now went back into the house of Jove； while Juno darted down
from the summits of Olympus。 She passed over Pieria and fair
Emathia； and went on and on till she came to the snowy ranges of the
Thracian horsemen； over whose topmost crests she sped without ever
setting foot to ground。 When she came to Athos she went on over the；
waves of the sea till she reached Lemnos； the city of noble Thoas。
There she met Sleep； own brother to Death； and caught him by the hand；
saying； 〃Sleep； you who lord it alike over mortals and immortals； if
you ever did me a service in times past； do one for me now； and I
shall be grateful to you ever after。 Close Jove's keen eyes for me
in slumber while I hold him clasped in my embrace； and I will give you
a beautiful golden seat； that can never fall to pieces； my
clubfooted son Vulcan shall make it for you； and he shall give it a
footstool for you to rest your fair feet upon when you are at table。〃
Then Sleep answered； 〃Juno； great queen of goddesses； daughter of
mighty Saturn； I would lull any other of the gods to sleep without
compunction； not even excepting the waters of Oceanus from whom all of
them proceed； but I dare not go near Jove； nor send him to sleep
unless he bids me。 I have had one lesson already through doing what
you asked me； on the day when Jove's mighty son H