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not be for us only； but some of you too shall fall here as well
as ourselves。 See how Promachus now sleeps； vanquished by my
spear； payment for my brother's blood has not been long delayed；
a man； therefore； may well be thankful if he leaves a kinsman in
his house behind him to avenge his fall。〃
His taunts infuriated the Argives； and Peneleos was more enraged
than any of them。 He sprang towards Acamas； but Acamas did not
stand his ground； and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich
flock…master Phorbas； whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with
greater wealth than any other of the Trojans。 Ilioneus was his
only son； and Peneleos now wounded him in the eye under his
eyebrows； tearing the eye…ball from its socket： the spear went
right through the eye into the nape of the neck； and he fell；
stretching out both hands before him。 Peneleos then drew his
sword and smote him on the neck； so that both head and helmet
came tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in
the eye； he then held up the head； as though it had been a
poppy…head； and showed it to the Trojans； vaunting over them as
he did so。 〃Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃bid the father and mother of
noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house； for the wife
also of Promachus son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the
ing of her dear husbandwhen we Argives return with our ships
from Troy。〃
As he spoke fear fell upon them； and every man looked round about
to see whither he might fly for safety。
Tell me now； O Muses that dwell on Olympus； who was the first of
the Argives to bear away blood…stained spoils after Neptune lord
of the 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
Jove awakes； tells Apollo to heal Hector； and the Trojans
again bee victorious。
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
rades 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 e 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 Styxand
this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can takenay； I
swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed
things over which I could never possibly perjure myselfthat
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 e 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 themIris； 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 rade 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
acplished 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 thingseven 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 e running
up to her。 〃Juno；〃 said she； 〃why are you here？ And you seem
troubledhas 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