Achilles; he was born of one of us, A goddess whom I nurtured and brought up And gave to Peleus. Ye were present all, Ye gods, when they were wedded. Thou wert there To share the marriage banquet, harp in hand, Thou plotter with the vile, thou faithless one!”
Then answered cloud-compelling Jove, and said: “Let not thy anger rise against the gods, O Juno, for the honor of the chiefs Shall not be equal. Yet of all the race Of mortals dwelling in the city of Troy Was Hector dearest to the gods; to me He ever was; and never did he fail To offer welcome gifts. My altar ne’er Lacked fitting feast, libation, and the fume Of incense—hallowed rites which are our due. Yet seek we not to steal away the corse Of valiant Hector; that we could not do Without his slayer’s knowledge, who by night And day is ever near to him and keeps Watch o’er him like a mother. Let some god Call hither Thetis. I will counsel her Prudently, that Achilles may receive Ransom from Priam, and restore his son.”
He ceased, and with the swiftness of the storm Rose Iris up, to be his messenger. Half way ’twixt Samos and the rugged coast Of Imbrus down she plunged to the dark sea, Entering the deep with noise. Far down she sank As sinks the ball of lead, that, sliding o’er A wild bull’s horn, bears into ocean’s depths Death to the greedy fishes. There she found Thetis within her roomy cave, among The goddesses of ocean, seated round In full assembly. Thetis in the midst Bewailed the fate of her own blameless son, About to perish on the fertile soil Of Troy, and far from Greece. The swift of wing, Iris, approached her and addressed her thus:—
“Arise, O Thetis. Father Jupiter, Whose counsel stands forever, sends for thee.”
And silver-footed Thetis answered him: “Why should that potent deity require My presence, who have many griefs, and shrink From mingling with immortals? Yet I go, Perforce, for never doth he speak in vain.”