Juno! what region seeking hast thou left355
The Olympian summit, and hast here arrived
With neither steed nor chariot in thy train?
To whom majestic Juno thus replied
Dissembling. To the green earth’s end I go,
To visit there the parent of the Gods360
Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,
Mother of all. They kindly from the hands
Of Rhea took, and with parental care
Sustain’d and cherish’d me;[9] to them I haste
Their feuds innumerable to compose,365
Who disunited by intestine strife
Long time, from conjugal embrace abstain.
My steeds, that lightly over dank and dry
Shall bear me, at the rooted base I left
Of Ida river-vein’d. But for thy sake370
From the Olympian summit I arrive,
Lest journeying remote to the abode
Of Ocean, and with no consent of thine
Entreated first, I should, perchance, offend.
To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.375
Juno! thy journey thither may be made
Hereafter. Let us turn to dalliance now.
For never Goddess pour’d, nor woman yet
So full a tide of love into my breast;
I never loved Ixion’s consort thus380
Who bore Pirithoüs, wise as we in heaven;
Nor sweet Acrisian Danäe, from whom
Sprang Perseus, noblest of the race of man;
Nor Phœnix’ daughter fair,[10] of whom were born
Minos unmatch’d but by the powers above,385
And Rhadamanthus; nor yet Semele,
Nor yet Alcmena, who in Thebes produced
The valiant Hercules; and though my son
By Semele were Bacchus, joy of man;
Nor Ceres golden-hair’d, nor high-enthroned390
Latona in the skies, no—nor thyself
As now I love thee, and my soul perceive
O’erwhelm’d with sweetness of intense desire.
Then thus majestic Juno her reply
Framed artful. Oh unreasonable haste!395
What speaks the Thunderer? If on Ida’s heights.
Where all is open and to view exposed
Thou wilt that we embrace, what must betide,
Should any of the everlasting Gods
Observe us, and declare it to the rest?400
Never could I, arising, seek again,
Thy mansion, so unseemly were the deed.
But if thy inclinations that way tend,
Thou hast a chamber; it is Vulcan’s work,
Our son’s; he framed and fitted to its posts405
The solid portal; thither let us his,
And there repose, since such thy pleasure seems.
To whom the cloud-assembler Deity.
Fear thou not, Juno, lest the eye of man
Or of a God discern us; at my word410
A golden cloud shall fold us so around,
That not the Sun himself shall through that veil
Discover aught, though keenest-eyed of all.
So spake the son of Saturn, and his spouse
Fast lock’d within his arms. Beneath them earth415
With sudden herbage teem’d; at once upsprang
The crocus soft, the lotus bathed in dew,
And the crisp hyacinth with clustering bells;
Thick was their growth, and high above the ground
Upbore them. On that flowery couch they lay,420
Invested with a golden cloud that shed
Bright dew-drops all around.[11] His heart at ease,
There lay the Sire of all, by Sleep and Love
Vanquish’d on lofty Gargarus, his spouse
Constraining still with amorous embrace.425
Then, gentle Sleep to the Achaian camp
Sped swift away, with tidings for the ear
Of earth-encircler Neptune charged; him soon
He found, and in wing’d accents thus began.
Now Neptune, yield the Greeks effectual aid,430
And, while the moment lasts of Jove’s repose,
Make victory theirs; for him in slumbers soft
I have involved, while Juno by deceit
Prevailing, lured him with the bait of love.
He said, and swift departed to his task435
Among the nations; but his tidings urged
Neptune with still more ardor to assist
The Danaï; he leap’d into the van
Afar, and thus exhorted them aloud.
Oh Argives! yield we yet again the day440
To Priameian Hector? Shall he seize
Our ships, and make the glory all his own?
Such is his expectation, so he vaunts,
For that Achilles leaves not yet his camp,
Resentful; but of him small need, I judge,445
Should here be felt, could once the rest be roused
To mutual aid. Act, then, as I advise.
The best and broadest bucklers of the host,
And brightest helmets put we on, and arm’d
With longest spears, advance; myself will lead;450
And trust me, furious though he be, the son
Of Priam flies. Ye then who feel your hearts
Undaunted, but are arm’d with smaller shields,
Them give to those who fear, and in exchange
Their stronger shields and broader take yourselves.455
So he, whom, unreluctant, all obey’d.
Then, wounded as they were, themselves the Kings,
Tydides, Agamemnon and Ulysses
Marshall’d the warriors, and from rank to rank
Made just exchange of arms, giving the best460
To the best warriors, to the worse, the worst.
And now in brazen armor all array’d
Refulgent on they moved, by Neptune led
With firm hand grasping his long-bladed sword
Keen as Jove’s bolt; with him may none contend465
In dreadful fight; but fear chains every arm.