The Second Battle
A council of the gods—Jupiter forbids them to take part with either side—Minerva permitted to advise the Greeks—Beginning of the second battle—The fate of the two armies weighed in the scales by Jupiter—Nestor rescued by Diomed—Exploits of Diomed and of Hector—Neptune denies the request of Juno to aid the Greeks—Teucer wounded by Hector—Juno and Minerva restrained by Jupiter from going to the aid of the Greeks, who are driven within their entrenchments—The Trojans pass the night before the Greek camp, and kindle fires around it.
Now morn in saffron robes had shed her light O’er all the earth, when Jove the Thunderer Summoned the gods to council on the heights Of many-peaked Olympus. He addressed The assembly, and all listened as he spake:—
“Hear, all ye gods and all ye goddesses! While I declare the thought within my breast. Let none of either sex presume to break The law I give, but cheerfully obey, That my design may sooner be fulfilled. Whoever, stealing from the rest, shall seek To aid the Grecian cause, or that of Troy, Back to Olympus, scourged and in disgrace, Shall he be brought, or I will seize and hurl The offender down to rayless Tartarus, Deep, deep in the great gulf below the earth, With iron gates and threshold forged of brass, As far beneath the shades as earth from heaven. Then shall he learn how greatly I surpass All other gods in power. Try if ye will, Ye gods, that all may know: suspend from heaven A golden chain; let all the immortal host Cling to it from below: ye could not draw, Strive as ye might, the all-disposing Jove From heaven to earth. And yet, if I should choose To draw it upward to me, I should lift, With it and you, the earth itself and