white-armed Juno, who so lately left Olympian Jupiter? Wouldst thou return In pain and sorrow to the Olympian heights, Driven back ingloriously, and made the cause Of many miseries to all the gods?— For Jove would leave the Trojans and their foes, The gallant Greeks, and turn on us, and bring Ruin upon Olympus. He would seize Guilty and guiltless in his rage alike. Wherefore I counsel thee to lay aside Resentment for the slaughter of thy son, Since braver men and stronger have been slain, And will be slain hereafter. Vain it were To seek from death to save the race of man.”
She said, and, leading back the fiery Mars, Seated him on his throne, while Juno called Apollo forth, with Iris, messenger Of heaven, and thus in wingèd accents spake:—
“Jove calls you both to Ida. When ye reach Its heights, and look upon his countenance, Receive his sovereign mandate and obey.”
So spake imperial Juno, and withdrew And took her seat again, while they in haste Flew toward the mount of Ida, seamed with rills And nurse of savage beasts. Upon the top Of Gargarus they found the Thunderer, The son of Saturn, sitting. In a cloud Of fragrant haze he sat concealed; the twain Entered and stood before the God of Storms, Who saw them not displeased, so speedily Had they obeyed his consort. First he turned To Iris, and in wingèd accents said:—
“Haste thee, swift Iris, and report my words To royal Neptune, and report them right. Bid him, withdrawing from the battle-field, Repair to the assembly of the gods, Or the great ocean. If he disobey, Contemning my command, then bid him think Maturely, whether, mighty though he be, He can withstand when I put forth my power Against him. Greater is my strength than his, And elder-born am I. Yet in his pride Of heart he dares to call himself my peer, Though all the others look on me with awe.”