Thus spake the god, and Iris, whose swift feet Are like the wind, obeyed, and downward plunged From Ida’s height to sacred Troy. As when Snow-flakes or icy hail are dropped to earth From clouds before the north wind when it sweeps The sky, so darted Iris to the ground, And stood by mighty Neptune’s side, and said:—
“O dark-haired shaker of the shores, I bring A message from the Aegis-bearer, Jove, That thou, withdrawing from the battle-field, Repair to the assembly of the gods, Or the great ocean. If thou disobey, Contemning his command, then hear his threat: He will come hither and put forth his power Against thee, and he warns thee not to tempt The strife; for greater is his power than thine, And he is elder-born, though in thy pride Of heart thou dost declare thyself the peer Of him whom all the rest regard with awe.”
Illustrious Neptune answered with disdain:— “In truth an arrogant speech; he seeks by force To bar me from my purpose, who can claim Rights equal to his own, though great his power. We are three brothers—Rhea brought us forth— The sons of Saturn—Jupiter, and I, And Pluto, regent of the realm below. Three parts were made of all existing things, And each of us received his heritage. The lots were shaken; and to me it fell To dwell forever in the hoary deep, And Pluto took the gloomy realm of night, And, lastly, Jupiter the ample heaven And air and clouds. Yet doth the earth remain, With high Olympus, common to us all. Therefore I yield me not to do his will, Great as he is; and let him be content With his third part. He cannot frighten me With gestures of his arm. Let him insult With menaces the daughters and the sons Of his own loves, and give them law, since they Perforce must hear, and patiently submit.”
Then the fleet-footed Iris spake again:— “O dark-haired Neptune, shall I bear from thee This harsh, defiant answer back to Jove, Or shall it yet be changed? The prudent mind Yields to the occasion, and thou knowest well The Furies wait upon the elder-born.”