Thus having said, imperial Juno took Her place, and all the gods within the halls Of Jupiter were grieved. The goddess smiled, But only with the lips; her forehead wore Above the jetty brows no sign of joy, While thus she spake in anger to the rest:—
“Vainly, and in our madness, do we strive With Father Jove. We come and seek by craft Or force to move his stubborn will; he sits Apart, unyielding, unregarding, proud Of the vast strength and power in which he stands Above all other of the deathless gods. Bear therefore patiently whatever ill He sends to each. Already, as I learn, Hath Mars his share of sorrow. In the war Ascalaphus hath perished, whom he loved Dearly, beyond all other men, and whom The fiery god acknowledged as his son.”
As thus she spake, Mars smote his sinewy thighs With his dropped hands, and sorrowfully said:—
“Be not offended with me, ye who make Your dwelling on Olympus, if I go Down to the Achaian fleet, and there avenge The slaughter of my son, though I be doomed To fall before the thunderbolt of Jove, And lie in blood and dust among the dead.”
He spake, and summoned Fear and Flight to yoke His steeds, and put his glorious armor on. Then greater and more terrible had been The avenging wrath of Jupiter inflamed Against the gods, if Pallas in her fear For all the heavenly dwellers had not left Her throne, and, rushing through the portals, snatched The helmet from his head, and from his arm The shield, and from his brawny hand the spear, And laid the brazen weapon by, and thus Rebuked the fiery temper of the god:—
“Thou madman, thou art frantic, thou art lost! Hast thou not ears to hear, nor any shame Nor reason left? Hast thou not heard the words Of