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Trojans from destruction； not even when all Troy is burning in
the flames which the Achaeans will kindle。〃
As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan； 〃Son
Vulcan； hold now your flames； we ought not to use such violence
against a god for the sake of mortals。〃
When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames； and the
river went back once more into his own fair bed。
Xanthus was now beaten； so these two left off fighting； for Juno
stayed them though she was still angry； but a furious quarrel
broke out among the other gods； for they were of divided
counsels。 They fell on one another with a mighty uproarearth
groaned； and the spacious firmament rang out as with a blare of
trumpets。 Jove heard as he was sitting on Olympus； and laughed
for joy when he saw the gods ing to blows among themselves。
They were not long about beginning； and Mars piercer of shields
opened the battle。 Sword in hand he sprang at once upon Minerva
and reviled her。 〃Why； vixen；〃 said he； 〃have you again set the
gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart？ Have
you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on to wound me；
and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt
of my fair body？ You shall now suffer for what you then did to
me。〃
As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegisso
terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce it。 Here did
murderous Mars strike her with his great spear。 She drew back and
with her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain
great and rugged and blackwhich men of old had set for the
boundary of a field。 With this she struck Mars on the neck； and
brought him down。 Nine roods did he cover in his fall； and his
hair was all soiled in the dust； while his armour rang rattling
round him。 But Minerva laughed and vaunted over him saying；
〃Idiot； have you not learned how far stronger I am than you； but
you must still match yourself against me？ Thus do your mother's
curses now roost upon you； for she is angry and would do you
mischief because you have deserted the Achaeans and are helping
the Trojans。〃
She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere； whereon Jove's
daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and led him away groaning
all the time； for it was only with great difficulty that he had
e to himself again。 When Queen Juno saw her； she said to
Minerva； 〃Look； daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； that
vixen Venus is again taking Mars through the crowd out of the
battle； go after her at once。〃
Thus she spoke。 Minerva sped after Venus with a will； and made at
her； striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she
fell fainting to the ground； and there they both lay stretched at
full length。 Then Minerva vaunted over her saying； 〃May all who
help the Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable
and stalwart as Venus did when she came across me while she was
helping Mars。 Had this been so； we should long since have ended
the war by sacking the strong city of Ilius。〃
Juno smiled as she listened。 Meanwhile King Neptune turned to
Apollo saying； 〃Phoebus； why should we keep each other at arm's
length？ it is not well； now that the others have begun fighting；
it will be disgraceful to us if we return to Jove's
bronze…floored mansion on Olympus without having fought each
other； therefore e on； you are the younger of the two； and I
ought not to attack you； for I am older and have had more
experience。 Idiot； you have no sense； and forget how we two alone
of all the gods fared hardly round about Ilius when we came from
Jove's house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at a stated
wage and he gave us his orders。 I built the Trojans the wall
about their city； so wide and fair that it might be impregnable；
while you； Phoebus； herded cattle for him in the dales of many
valleyed Ida。 When； however； the glad hours brought round the
time of payment； mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and
sent us off with nothing but abuse。 He threatened to bind us hand
and foot and sell us over into some distant island。 He tried；
moreover； to cut off the ears of both of us； so we went away in a
rage； furious about the payment he had promised us； and yet
withheld； in spite of all this； you are now showing favour to his
people； and will not join us in passing the utter ruin of the
proud Trojans with their wives and children。〃
And King Apollo answered； 〃Lord of the earthquake； you would have
no respect for me if I were to fight you about a pack of
miserable mortals； who e out like leaves in summer and eat the
fruit of the field； and presently fall lifeless to the ground。
Let us stay this fighting at once and let them settle it among
themselves。〃
He turned away as he spoke； for he would lay no hand on the
brother of his own father。 But his sister the huntress Diana；
patroness of wild beasts； was very angry with him and said； 〃So
you would fly； Far…Darter； and hand victory over to Neptune with
a cheap vaunt to boot。 Baby； why keep your bow thus idle？ Never
let me again hear you bragging in my father's house； as you have
often done in the presence of the immortals； that you would stand
up and fight with Neptune。〃
Apollo made her no answer； but Jove's august queen was angry and
upbraided her bitterly。 〃Bold vixen；〃 she cried； 〃how dare you
cross me thus？ For all your bow you will find it hard to hold
your own against me。 Jove made you as a lion among women； and
lets you kill them whenever you choose。 You will find it better
to chase wild beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight
those who are stronger than you are。 If you would try war； do so；
and find out by pitting yourself against me； how far stronger I
am than you are。〃
She caught both Diana's wrists with her left hand as she spoke；
and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders； and
laughed as she beat her with it about the ears while Diana
wriggled and writhed under her blows。 Her swift arrows were shed
upon the ground； and she fled weeping from under Juno's hand as a
dove that flies before a falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock；
when it is her good fortune to escape。 Even so did she fly
weeping away； leaving her bow and arrows behind her。
Then the slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； said to Leto；
〃Leto； I shall not fight you； it is ill to e to blows with any
of Jove's wives。 Therefore boast as you will among the immortals
that you worsted me in fair fight。〃
Leto then gathered up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen
about amid the whirling dust； and when she had got them she made
all haste after her daughter。 Diana had now reached Jove's
bronze…floored mansion on Olympus； and sat herself down with many
tears on the knees of her father； while her ambrosial raiment was
quivering all about her。 The son of Saturn drew her towards him；
and laughing pleasantly the while began to question her saying；
〃Which of the heavenly beings； my dear child； has been treating
you in this cruel manner； as though you had been misconducting
yourself in the face of everybody？〃 and the fair…crowned goddess
of the chase answered； 〃It was your wife Juno； father； who has
been beating me； it