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earthquake had turned the fortune of war。 Ajax son of Telamon was
first to wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius； captain of the staunch Mysians。
Antilochus killed Phalces and Mermerus； while Meriones slew Morys
and Hippotion； Teucer also killed Prothoon and Periphetes。 The son
of Atreus then wounded Hyperenor shepherd of his people； in the flank；
and the bronze point made his entrails gush out as it tore in among
them； on this his life came hurrying out of him at the place where
he had been wounded； and his eyes were closed in darkness。 Ajax son of
Oileus killed more than any other； for there was no man so fleet as he
to pursue flying foes when Jove had spread panic among them。
BOOK XV
BUT when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set
stakes； and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans； the Trojans
made a halt on reaching their chariots； routed and pale with fear。
Jove now woke on the crests of Ida； where he was lying with
golden…throned Juno by his side； and starting to his feet he saw the
Trojans and Achaeans； the one thrown into confusion； and the others
driving them pell…mell before them with King Neptune in their midst。
He saw Hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round
him； gasping for breath； wandering in mind and vomiting blood； for
it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who struck him。
The sire of gods and men had pity on him； and looked fiercely on
Juno。 〃I see； Juno；〃 said he； 〃you mischief… making trickster； that
your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused the rout
of his host。 I am in half a mind to thrash you； in which case you will
be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery。 Do you not
remember how once upon a time I had you hanged？ I fastened two
anvils on to your feet； and bound your hands in a chain of gold
which none might break； and you hung in mid…air among the clouds。
All the gods in Olympus were in a fury； but they could not reach you
to set you free； when I caught any one of them I gripped him and
hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to
earth； yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant
anxiety which I felt about noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had
spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos； after suborning the
tempests； but I rescued him； and notwithstanding all his mighty
labours I brought him back again to Argos。 I would remind you of
this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful； and
discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of
which you have come here to trick me。〃
Juno trembled as he spoke； and said； 〃May heaven above and earth
below be my witnesses； with the waters of the river Styx… and this
is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take… nay； I swear also
by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed… things over which I
could never possibly perjure myself… that Neptune is not punishing
Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of
mine； it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the
Achaeans hard pressed at their ships： if I were advising him； I should
tell him to do as you bid him。〃
The sire of gods and men smiled and answered； 〃If you； Juno； were
always to support me when we sit in council of the gods； Neptune； like
it or no； would soon come round to your and my way of thinking。 If；
then； you are speaking the truth and mean what you say； go among the
rank and file of the gods； and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow；
that I want them… Iris； that she may go to the Achaean host and tell
Neptune to leave off fighting and go home； and Apollo； that he may
send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength； he will
thus forget his present sufferings； and drive the Achaeans back in
confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus。
Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle； and
Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many
warriors； and among them my own noble son Sarpedon。 Achilles will kill
Hector to avenge Patroclus； and from that time I will bring it about
that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till
they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius。 But I will not
stay my anger； nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have
accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus； according to the promise
I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my knees and
besought me to give him honour。〃
Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great
Olympus。 Swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over vast
continents； and he says to himself； 〃Now I will be here； or there；〃
and he would have all manner of things… even so swiftly did Juno
wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in among the
gods who were gathered in the house of Jove。 When they saw her they
all of them came up to her； and held out their cups to her by way of
greeting。 She let the others be； but took the cup offered her by
lovely Themis； who was first to come running up to her。 〃Juno；〃 said
she； 〃why are you here？ And you seem troubled… has your husband the
son of Saturn been frightening you？〃
And Juno answered； 〃Themis； do not ask me about it。 You know what
a proud and cruel disposition my husband has。 Lead the gods to
table； where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs
which he has avowed。 Many a one； mortal and immortal； will be
angered by them； however peaceably he may be feasting now。〃
On this Juno sat down； and the gods were troubled throughout the
house of Jove。 Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed with
care； and she spoke up in a rage。 〃Fools that we are；〃 she cried；
〃to be thus madly angry with Jove； we keep on wanting to go up to
him and stay him by force or by persuasion； but he sits aloof and
cares for nobody； for he knows that he is much stronger than any other
of the immortals。 Make the best； therefore； of whatever ills he may
choose to send each one of you； Mars； I take it； has had a taste of
them already； for his son Ascalaphus has fallen in battle… the man
whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he owns
himself to be。〃
When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat of
his hands； and said in anger； 〃Do not blame me； you gods that dwell in
heaven； if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the death of
my son； even though it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning
and lying in blood and dust among the corpses。〃
As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout；
while he put on his armour。 On this； Jove would have been roused to
still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other immortals；
had not Minerva； ararmed for the safety of the gods； sprung from her
seat and hurried outside。 She tore the helmet from his head and the
shield from his shoulders； and she took the bronze spear from his
strong hand and set it on one side； then she said to Mars； 〃Madman；
you are undone； you have ears that hear not； or you have lost all
judgement and understanding； have you not heard what Juno has said