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mooring…stones a little way out； against the fall of nightif
even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting； we may then
draw down the rest of the fleet。 There is nothing wrong in flying
ruin even by night。 It is better for a man that he should fly and
be saved than be caught and killed。〃
Ulysses looked fiercely at him and said； 〃Son of Atreus； what are
you talking about？ Wretch； you should have manded some other
and baser army； and not been ruler over us to whom Jove has
allotted a life of hard fighting from youth to old age； till we
every one of us perish。 Is it thus that you would quit the city
of Troy； to win which we have suffered so much hardship？ Hold
your peace； lest some other of the Achaeans hear you say what no
man who knows how to give good counsel； no king over so great a
host as that of the Argives should ever have let fall from his
lips。 I despise your judgement utterly for what you have been
saying。 Would you； then； have us draw down our ships into the
water while the battle is raging； and thus play further into the
hands of the conquering Trojans？ It would be ruin； the Achaeans
will not go on fighting when they see the ships being drawn into
the water； but will cease attacking and keep turning their eyes
towards them； your counsel； therefore； sir captain； would be our
destruction。〃
Agamemnon answered； 〃Ulysses； your rebuke has stung me to the
heart。 I am not； however； ordering the Achaeans to draw their
ships into the sea whether they will or no。 Someone； it may be；
old or young； can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice
to hear。〃
Then said Diomed； 〃Such an one is at hand； he is not far to seek；
if 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。 Oeneus 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 remorsemay he e 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 bee
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
herselfif 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 e 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 you 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 wroughtlove； desire；
and that sweet flattery which steals the jud