And thou, as I suspect, didst bow thy head, 605 Then spake in answer cloud-encircled Zeus Wayward thou wilt aye 'suspect.' I know thee well. But all thou wilt not compass-farther still Wilt set me from thee. All the worse for thee. 610 He spake; and trembled the gazelle-eyed Queen; Silent sat down, and bent her to his will. 615 Then with big wrath were swelled the heavenly ones In Zeus's palace: till Hephæstus rose, The great Artificer, and welcome words To white-armed Herè spake, his mother dear. "Woe shall there be, intolerable woe, If ye twain battle thus for mortals' sake, 620 And stir up war in heaven. All joyless then Shall seem the fair feast, since the worst prevails. But I my mother warn (though wise is she) To pleasure Zeus our sire: lest he should strive 625 A second time with her, and mar our feast. What if the lord of lightning from her seat Should choose to hurl her? for none else is strong. But thou with softest words approach him now. Straightway the heavenly one will smile on us." 630 He said, and leapt up, and a ponderous cup Placed in his mother's hand, and spake to her. "Be patient, mother, and though vexed, endure: Lest mine eyes see her smitten whom I love. Then shall I sorrow, yet may aid thee naught: 635 Hard 'tis to fight against the heavenly one. Yea, for aforetime did he hurl me down, Burning to aid thee, from the gates of heaven, Grasped by one foot. All day I fell and fell, And lighted at the setting of the sun 640 In Lemnos. Little life was in me then, There lighting I became the Sintians' care." He spake. The white-armed goddess smiled and took The cup her son gave in her hand: while he D Filled for the others all, from left to right, 645 And poured the luscious nectar from the bowl. So they the live-long day, till set of sun, Feasted, nor lacked aught at that equal board: 650 Lacked not Apollo's lovely lyre, lacked not The Muses, whose sweet voice took up the song. But when the bright sun's glory had gone down, Ready for rest they parted each to his home: To where the Crippled Deity for each Had wrought a palace with a cunning hand. 655 The Lord of lightning went and laid him down Where he had slept full oft at sweet Sleep's call: Thither ascended he, and there he slept; And golden-throned Herè by his side. 660 BOOK II. So all else gods, and charioted chiefs Slept the night through. But sweet sleep bound not Zeus; Pondering what way Achilles to exalt, And by the Achaian ships make many fall. This to his soul the fairest counsel seemed; 5 To send to Atreus' son an evil Dream : And to the Dream he spake with wingèd words. “Go, evil Dream, to yon Greek war-ships; seek The tent of Agamemnon Atreus' son; And tell him, truly, all I tell to thee. 10 Say, 'Arm right speedily thy unshorn Greeks; He spake. The Dream, obedient, went his way; Came swiftly to the war-ships of the Greeks, And sought out Atreus' son:-(at rest he lay, Divine sleep floating o'er him, in his tent:)— And stood above his head; in form most like 20 To Nestor, Neleus' son: of all who sat In council Agamemnon ranked him first. In such shape spake to him the heaven-sent Dream. "Sleep'st thou, O son of Atreus? son of one At heart a warrior, tamer of the steed? Not all night long a counsellor should sleep, A people's guard, whose cares are manifold. Now hear me. Zeus's messenger am I; 25 Who, though far off, yet cares, yet grieves for thee. He bids thee arm in haste the unshorn Greeks; 30 mind: 35 |