Beheld them in the furious combat thus Wasting the Grecian host, she left the peaks Of high Olympus, and came down in haste To sacred Ilium. Straight Apollo flew To meet her, for he marked from Pergamus Her coming, and he greatly longed to give The victory to the Trojans. As they met Beside the beechen tree, the son of Jove, The king Apollo, spake to Pallas thus:⁠—

“Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove, Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste? Seek’st thou to turn in favor of the Greeks War’s wavering chances?⁠—for I know too well Thou hast no pity when the men of Troy Are perishing. But, if thou wilt give ear To me, I shall propose a better way. Cause we the conflict for this day to cease, And be it afterward renewed until An end be made of Troy, since it hath pleased You, goddesses, to lay the city waste.”