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judgement and understanding； have you not heard what Juno has said
on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove？ Do you wish
to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back
sick and sorry to Olympus； after having caused infinite mischief to
all us others？ Jove would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans
to themselves； he would come to Olympus to punish us； and would grip
us up one after another； guilty or not guilty。 Therefore lay aside
your anger for the death of your son； better men than he have either
been killed already or will fall hereafter； and one cannot protect
every one's whole family。〃
With these words she took Mars back to his seat。 Meanwhile Juno
called Apollo outside； with Iris the messenger of the gods。 〃Jove；〃
she said to them； 〃desires you to go to him at once on Mt。 Ida； when
you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid you。〃
Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside； while Iris and
Apollo made all haste on their way。 When they reached
many…fountained Ida； mother of wild beasts； they found Jove seated
on topmost Gargarus with a fragrant cloud encircling his head as
with a diadem。 They stood before his presence； and he was pleased with
them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his wife had given
them。
He spoke to Iris first。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； tell King
Neptune what I now bid you… and tell him true。 Bid him leave off
fighting； and either join the company of the gods； or go down into the
sea。 If he takes no heed and disobeys me； let him consider well
whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if I attack
him。 I am older and much stronger than he is； yet he is not afraid
to set himself up as on a level with myself； of whom all the other
gods stand in awe。〃
Iris； fleet as the wind； obeyed him； and as the cold hail or
snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of Boreas；
even so did she wing her way till she came close up to the great
shaker of the earth。 Then she said； 〃I have come； O dark…haired king
that holds the world in his embrace； to bring you a message from Jove。
He bids you leave off fighting； and either join the company of the
gods or go down into the sea； if； however； you take no heed and
disobey him； he says he will come down here and fight you。 He would
have you keep out of his reach； for he is older and much stronger than
you are； and yet you are not afraid to set yourself up as on a level
with himself； of whom all the other gods stand in awe。〃
Neptune was very angry and said； 〃Great heavens！ strong as Jove
may be； he has said more than he can do if he has threatened
violence against me； who am of like honour with himself。 We were three
brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn… Jove； myself； and Hades who rules
the world below。 Heaven and earth were divided into three parts； and
each of us was to have an equal share。 When we cast lots； it fell to
me to have my dwelling in the sea for evermore； Hades took the
darkness of the realms under the earth； while air and sky and clouds
were the portion that fell to Jove； but earth and great Olympus are
the common property of all。 Therefore I will not walk as Jove would
have me。 For all his strength； let him keep to his own third share and
be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were
nobody。 Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters；
who must perforce obey him。
Iris fleet as the wind then answered； 〃Am I really； Neptune； to take
this daring and unyielding message to Jove； or will you reconsider
your answer？ Sensible people are open to argument； and you know that
the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of the older person。〃
Neptune answered； 〃Goddess Iris； your words have been spoken in
season。 It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion。
Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should rebuke
so angrily another who is his own peer； and of like empire with
himself。 Now； however； I will give way in spite of my displeasure；
furthermore let me tell you； and I mean what I say… if contrary to the
desire of myself； Minerva driver of the spoil； Juno； Mercury； and King
Vulcan； Jove spares steep Ilius； and will not let the Achaeans have
the great triumph of sacking it； let him understand that he will incur
our implacable resentment。〃
Neptune now left the field to go down under the sea； and sorely
did the Achaeans miss him。 Then Jove said to Apollo； 〃Go； dear
Phoebus； to Hector； for Neptune who holds the earth in his embrace has
now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure。
Had he not done so those gods who are below with Saturn would have
come to hear of the fight between us。 It is better for both of us that
he should have curbed his anger and kept out of my reach； for I should
have had much trouble with him。 Take； then； your tasselled aegis；
and shake it furiously； so as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic；
take； moreover； brave Hector； O Far…Darter； into your own care； and
rouse him to deeds of daring； till the Achaeans are sent flying back
to their ships and to the Hellespont。 From that point I will think
it well over； how the Achaeans may have a respite from their
troubles。〃
Apollo obeyed his father's saying； and left the crests of Ida；
flying like a falcon； bane of doves and swiftest of all birds。 He
found Hector no longer lying upon the ground； but sitting up； for he
had just come to himself again。 He knew those who were about him；
and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment when the
will of aegis…bearing Jove had revived him。 Apollo stood beside him
and said； 〃Hector； son of Priam； why are you so faint； and why are you
here away from the others？ Has any mishap befallen you？〃
Hector in a weak voice answered； 〃And which； kind sir； of the gods
are you； who now ask me thus？ Do you not know that Ajax struck me on
the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of
the Achaeans； and compelled me to leave off fighting？ I made sure that
this very day I should breathe my last and go down into the house of
Hades。〃
Then King Apollo said to him； 〃Take heart； the son of Saturn has
sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you； even
me； Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword； who have been guardian
hitherto not only of yourself but of your city。 Now； therefore；
order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in great
multitudes。 I will go before your horses to smooth the way for them；
and will turn the Achaeans in flight。〃
As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his
people。 And as a horse； stabled and full…fed； breaks loose and gallops
gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to take his
bath in the river… he tosses his head； and his mane streams over his
shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to
the pastures where the mares are feeding… even so Hector； when he
heard what the god said； urged his horsemen on； and sped forward as
fast as his limbs could take him。 As country peasants set their hounds
on to a homed stag or wild goat… he has taken shelter u