“O son of Atreus, the revengeful heart Of Peleus’ son must leap within his breast For joy, to see the slaughter and the rout Of the Achaians, since with him there dwells No touch of pity. May he perish too, Like us, and may some god o’erwhelm his name With infamy. With thee the blessed gods Are not so far incensed, and thou shalt see The Trojan chiefs and princes of their host Raising the dust-clouds on the spacious plain In fleeing from our ships and tents to Troy.”
He spake, and, shouting, strode across the field. As loud a cry as from nine thousand men, Or from ten thousand hurrying to engage In battle, such the cry that ocean’s king Uttered from his deep lungs. It woke anew Invincible resolve in every heart Among the Greeks to combat to the end.
Now, Juno of the golden throne beheld As, standing on the Olympian height, she cast Downward her eyes to where her brother moved, Bearing his part with glory in the fray; And inly she rejoiced. She also saw Jove on the peak of Ida, down whose side Glide many brooks, and greatly was displeased. Then the majestic goddess with large eyes Mused how to occupy the mind of him Who bears the aegis. This at length seemed best: To deck herself in fair array, and haste To Ida, that the God might haply yield To amorous desire, and in that hour Her hand might pour into his lids, and o’er His watchful mind, a soft and pleasant sleep. She went to her own chamber, which her son Vulcan had framed, with massive portals made Fast to the lintels by a secret bolt, Which none but she could draw. She entered in And closed the shining doors; and first she took Ambrosial water, washing every stain From her fair limbs, and smoothed them with rich oil, Ambrosial, soft, and fragrant, which, when touched Within Jove’s brazen halls, perfumed the air Of earth and heaven. When thus her shapely form Had been anointed, and her hands had combed Her tresses, she arranged the lustrous curls, Ambrosial, beautiful, that clustering hung Round her immortal brow. And next she threw Around her an ambrosial robe, the work Of Pallas, all its web embroidered o’er With forms of rare device. She fastened it Over the