“What words, austere Saturnius, hast thou said! Wilt thou then render vain the toils I bear, And all my sweat? My very steeds even now Are weary with the mustering of the host That threaten woe to Priam and his sons. Yet do thy will; but be at least assured That all the other gods approve it not.”
The cloud-compelling Jupiter replied In anger: “Pestilent one! What grievous wrong Hath Priam done to thee, or Priam’s sons, That thou shouldst persevere to overthrow His noble city? Shouldst thou through the gates Of Ilium make thy way, and there devour, Within the ramparts, Priam and his sons And all the men of Troy alive, thy rage Haply might be appeased. Do as thou wilt, So that this difference breed no lasting strife Between us. Yet I tell thee this—and thou Bear what I say in mind: In time to come, Should I design to level in the dust Some city where men dear to thee are born, Seek not to thwart my vengeance, but submit. For now I fully yield me to thy wish, Though with unwilling mind. Wherever dwell The race of humankind beneath the sun And starry heaven, of all their cities Troy Has been by me most honored—sacred Troy— And Priam, and the people who obey Priam, the wielder of the ashen spear; For there my altars never lacked their rites— Feasts, incense, and libations duly paid.”
Then Juno, the majestic, with large eyes, Rejoined: “The cities most beloved by me Are three—Mycenae, with her spacious streets, Argos, and Sparta. Raze them to the ground, If they be hateful to thee. I shall ne’er Contend to save them, nor repine to see Their fall; for, earnestly as I might seek To rescue them from ruin, all my aid Would not avail, so much the mightier thou. Yet doth it ill become thee thus to make My efforts vain. I am a goddess, sprung From the same stock with thee; I am the child Of crafty Saturn, and am twice revered— Both for my birth and that I am the spouse Of thee who rulest over all the gods. Now let us each yield somewhat—I to thee And thou to me; the other deathless gods Will follow us. Let Pallas be despatched To that dread battle-field on