She spake, but cloud-compelling Jupiter Answered her not; in silence long he sat. But Thetis, who had clasped his knees at first, Clung to them still, and prayed him yet again:—
“O promise me, and grant my suit; or else Deny it—for thou need’st not fear—and I Shall know how far below the other gods Thou holdest me in honor.” As she spake, The Cloud-compeller, sighing heavily, Answered her thus: “Hard things dost thou require, And thou wilt force me into new disputes With Juno, who will anger me again With contumelious words; forever thus, In presence of the immortals, doth she seek Cause of contention, charging that I aid The Trojans in their battles. Now depart, And let her not perceive thee. Leave the rest To be by me accomplished; and that thou Mayst be assured, behold, I give the nod; For this, with me, the immortals know, portends The highest certainty: no word of mine Which once my nod confirms can be revoked, Or prove untrue, or fail to be fulfilled.”
As thus he spake, the son of Saturn gave The nod with his dark brows. The ambrosial curls Upon the Sovereign One’s immortal head Were shaken, and with them the mighty mount Olympus trembled. Then they parted, she Plunging from bright Olympus to the deep, And Jove returning to his palace home; Where all the gods, uprising from their thrones, At sight of the Great Father, waited not For his approach, but met him as he came.
And now upon his throne the Godhead took His seat, but Juno knew—for she had seen— That Thetis of the silver feet, and child Of the gray Ancient of the Deep, had held Close council with her consort. Therefore she Bespake the son of Saturn harshly, thus:—
“O crafty one, with whom, among the gods, Plottest thou now? Thus hath it ever been Thy pleasure to devise, apart from me, Thy plans in secret; never willingly Dost thou reveal to me thy purposes.”