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saving of the Danaans and the glory of your father Telamon； who
brought you up and took care of you in his own house when you
were a child； bastard though you were。 Cover him with glory
though he is far off； I will promise and I will assuredly
perform； if aegis…bearing Jove and Minerva grant me to sack the
city of Ilius； you shall have the next best meed of honour after
my owna tripod； or two horses with their chariot； or a woman
who shall go up into your bed。〃
And Teucer answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； you need not urge
me； from the moment we began to drive them back to Ilius； I have
never ceased so far as in me lies to look out for men whom I can
shoot and kill； I have shot eight barbed shafts； and all of them
have been buried in the flesh of warlike youths； but this mad dog
I cannot hit。〃
As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at Hector； for he was
bent on hitting him； nevertheless he missed him； and the arrow
hit Priam's brave son Gorgythion in the breast。 His mother； fair
Castianeira； lovely as a goddess； had been married from Aesyme；
and now he bowed his head as a garden poppy in full bloom when it
is weighed down by showers in springeven thus heavy bowed his
head beneath the weight of his helmet。
Again he aimed at Hector； for he was longing to hit him； and
again his arrow missed； for Apollo turned it aside； but he hit
Hector's brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast； by the
nipple； as he was driving furiously into the fight。 The horses
swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot； and there was
no life left in him。 Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of
his charioteer； but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he
fell； and bade his brother Cebriones； who was hard by； take the
reins。 Cebriones did as he had said。 Hector thereon with a loud
cry sprang from his chariot to the ground； and seizing a great
stone made straight for Teucer with intent kill him。 Teucer had
just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the
bow…string； but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was
taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder； he hit him
just where the collar…bone divides the neck from the chest； a
very deadly place； and broke the sinew of his arm so that his
wrist was less； and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell
forward on his knees。 Ajax saw that his brother had fallen； and
running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his
shield。 Meanwhile his two trusty squires； Mecisteus son of
Echius； and Alastor； came up and bore him to the ships groaning
in his great pain。
Jove now again put heart into the Trojans； and they drove the
Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at
their head。 As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or
buttock when he gives him chase； and watches warily for his
wheeling； even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans； ever
killing the hindmost as they rushed panic…stricken onwards。 When
they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans
had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans； they halted at
their ships； calling upon one another and praying every man
instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods； but Hector
wheeled his horses this way and that； his eyes glaring like those
of Gorgo or murderous Mars。
Juno when she saw them had pity upon them； and at once said to
Minerva； 〃Alas； child of aegis…bearing Jove； shall you and I take
no more thought for the dying Danaans； though it be the last time
we ever do so？ See how they perish and e to a bad end before
the onset of but a single man。 Hector the son of Priam rages with
intolerable fury； and has already done great mischief。〃
Minerva answered； 〃Would； indeed； this fellow might die in his
own land； and fall by the hands of the Achaeans； but my father
Jove is mad with spleen； ever foiling me； ever headstrong and
unjust。 He forgets how often I saved his son when he was worn out
by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him。 He would weep till his
cry came up to heaven； and then Jove would send me down to help
him； if I had had the sense to foresee all this； when Eurystheus
sent him to the house of Hades； to fetch the hell…hound from
Erebus； he would never have e back alive out of the deep
waters of the river Styx。 And now Jove hates me； while he lets
Thetis have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of
his beard； when she was begging him to do honour to Achilles。 I
shall know what to do next time he begins calling me his
grey…eyed darling。 Get our horses ready； while I go within the
house of aegis…bearing Jove and put on my armour； we shall then
find out whether Priam's son Hector will be glad to meet us in
the highways of battle； or whether the Trojans will glut hounds
and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the
ships of the Achaeans。〃
Thus did she speak and white…armed Juno； daughter of great
Saturn； obeyed her words； she set about harnessing her
gold…bedizened steeds； while Minerva daughter of aegis…bearing
Jove flung her richly vesture； made with her own hands； on to the
threshold of her father； and donned the shirt of Jove； arming
herself for battle。 Then she stepped into her flaming chariot；
and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which
she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her。 Juno
lashed her horses； and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew
open of their own accordgates over which the Hours preside； in
whose hands are heaven and Olympus； either to open the dense
cloud that hides them or to close it。 Through these the goddesses
drove their obedient steeds。
But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was very angry； and
sent winged Iris with a message to them。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet
Iris； turn them back； and see that they do not e near me； for
if we e to fighting there will be mischief。 This is what I
say； and this is what I mean to do。 I will lame their horses for
them； I will hurl them from their chariot； and will break it in
pieces。 It will take them all ten years to heal the wounds my
lightning shall inflict upon them； my grey…eyed daughter will
then learn what quarrelling with her father means。 I am less
surprised and angry with Juno； for whatever I say she always
contradicts me。〃
With this Iris went her way； fleet as the wind； from the heights
of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus。 She met the goddesses at
the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message。
〃What；〃 said she； 〃are you about？ Are you mad？ The son of Saturn
forbids going。 This is what he says； and this is he means to do；
he will lame your horses for you； he will hurl you from your
chariot； and will break it in pieces。 It will take you all ten
years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you；
that you may learn； grey…eyed goddess； what quarrelling with your
father means。 He is less hurt and angry with Juno； for whatever
he says she always contradicts him but you； bold hussy； will you
really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance of Jove？〃
With this she left them； and Juno said to Minerva； 〃Of a truth；
child of aegis…bearing Jove； I am not for fighting men's batt