The Iliad: Book 01 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFDDGDDHIJKLMGMN OMPQRDSTHDKMMUKVFWXN YKZUHUA2ZQB2QC2D2E2K F2C2KG2KGH2QDFKSC2UK I2NDKFUDD2KMKG2J2UK2 KSKGQC2KL2M2SMN2HKO2 GP2Q2NC2P2KMPDMKKMR2 S2SNL2IA2GT2MMC2GMDU 2V2SSSHP2HD2SDD2BP2W 2L2C2C2X2KC2Y2GKH2MD PGZ2SH2SC2MOF2MA2A3S GKGDKKSSSMUDGPMMXDKD ZKDB3KD2KC3C2MSGKGKB 3SQSZQSD3KQSKKSKSSC2 KZSSZKKSMSDE3C2GDC3S OOMF3C3SC2SSSMC3SQA2 SKXKDKL2SKC2KA2C3SC3 SB2KC2KKMC3SSMSGDKDD KKKZKKKDMKKGDZQGSSC3 C3SSC3C2KG3SH3MSKGC2 SKQGMB2DSXSG2C3G2SDO SSKMMSDKMDDF3KSG2G2K C3GDG2C3SDSD2SKGSZI3 J3C3DOMSK3SOI3KSSQSD SG2SSSZDSZSGD2D2G2QS G2D2XDE3D2G2D2QSDSKS DD2SMC3SC3L3KG2SKDKS C3KSMSKSSSSC3ZSSSSGK SMDSD2KKSDKSD2SGG2MS DZC3OSKSG2GKDS

Sing O goddess the anger of Achilles son of Peleus that broughtA
countless ills upon the Achaeans Many a brave soul did it sendB
hurrying down to Hades and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogsC
and vultures for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from theD
day on which the son of Atreus king of men and great Achilles firstE
fell out with one anotherF
And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel It was theD
son of Jove and Leto for he was angry with the king and sent aD
pestilence upon the host to plague the people because the son ofG
Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest Now Chryses had come to theD
ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter and had brought with him aD
great ransom moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of ApolloH
wreathed with a suppliant's wreath and he besought the Achaeans butI
most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefsJ
Sons of Atreus he cried and all other Achaeans may the godsK
who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to reachL
your homes in safety but free my daughter and accept a ransom forM
her in reverence to Apollo son of JoveG
On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were forM
respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered but notN
so Agamemnon who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly awayO
Old man said he let me not find you tarrying about our ships norM
yet coming hereafter Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shallP
profit you nothing I will not free her She shall grow old in myQ
house at Argos far from her own home busying herself with her loomR
and visiting my couch so go and do not provoke me or it shall be theD
worse for youS
The old man feared him and obeyed Not a word he spoke but wentT
by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King ApolloH
whom lovely Leto had borne Hear me he cried O god of theD
silver bow that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest TenedosK
with thy might hear me oh thou of Sminthe If I have ever decked yourM
temple with garlands or burned your thigh bones in fat of bulls orM
goats grant my prayer and let your arrows avenge these my tears uponU
the DanaansK
Thus did he pray and Apollo heard his prayer He came downV
furious from the summits of Olympus with his bow and his quiverF
upon his shoulder and the arrows rattled on his back with the rageW
that trembled within him He sat himself down away from the ships withX
a face as dark as night and his silver bow rang death as he shotN
his arrow in the midst of them First he smote their mules and theirY
hounds but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselvesK
and all day long the pyres of the dead were burningZ
For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people but uponU
the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly moved thereto by JunoH
who saw the Achaeans in their death throes and had compassion uponU
them Then when they were got together he rose and spoke among themA2
Son of Atreus said he I deem that we should now turn rovingZ
home if we would escape destruction for we are being cut down byQ
war and pestilence at once Let us ask some priest or prophet or someB2
reader of dreams for dreams too are of Jove who can tell us whyQ
Phoebus Apollo is so angry and say whether it is for some vow that weC2
have broken or hecatomb that we have not offered and whether he willD2
accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish so as to takeE2
away the plague from usK
With these words he sat down and Calchas son of Thestor wisestF2
of augurs who knew things past present and to come rose to speak HeC2
it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to IliusK
through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired himG2
With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thusK
Achilles loved of heaven you bid me tell you about the anger ofG
King Apollo I will therefore do so but consider first and swear thatH2
you will stand by me heartily in word and deed for I know that IQ
shall offend one who rules the Argives with might to whom all theD
Achaeans are in subjection A plain man cannot stand against the angerF
of a king who if he swallow his displeasure now will yet nurseK
revenge till he has wreaked it Consider therefore whether or no youS
will protect meC2
And Achilles answered Fear not but speak as it is borne in uponU
you from heaven for by Apollo Calchas to whom you pray and whoseK
oracles you reveal to us not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his handI2
upon you while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth no notN
though you name Agamemnon himself who is by far the foremost of theD
AchaeansK
Thereon the seer spoke boldly The god he said is angry neitherF
about vow nor hecatomb but for his priest's sake whom AgamemnonU
has dishonoured in that he would not free his daughter nor take aD
ransom for her therefore has he sent these evils upon us and willD2
yet send others He will not deliver the Danaans from thisK
pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee orM
ransom to her father and has sent a holy hecatomb to Chryse ThusK
we may perhaps appease himG2
With these words he sat down and Agamemnon rose in anger His heartJ2
was black with rage and his eyes flashed fire as he scowled onU
Calchas and said Seer of evil you never yet prophesied smoothK2
things concerning me but have ever loved to foretell that which wasK
evil You have brought me neither comfort nor performance and now youS
come seeing among Danaans and saying that Apollo has plagued usK
because I would not take a ransom for this girl the daughter ofG
Chryses I have set my heart on keeping her in my own house for IQ
love her better even than my own wife Clytemnestra whose peer sheC2
is alike in form and feature in understanding and accomplishmentsK
Still I will give her up if I must for I would have the peopleL2
live not die but you must find me a prize instead or I aloneM2
among the Argives shall be without one This is not well for youS
behold all of you that my prize is to go elsewhitherM
And Achilles answered Most noble son of Atreus covetous beyondN2
all mankind how shall the Achaeans find you another prize We have noH
common store from which to take one Those we took from the citiesK
have been awarded we cannot disallow the awards that have been madeO2
already Give this girl therefore to the god and if ever JoveG
grants us to sack the city of Troy we will requite you three andP2
fourfoldQ2
Then Agamemnon said Achilles valiant though you be you shall notN
thus outwit me You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade meC2
Are you to keep your own prize while I sit tamely under my loss andP2
give up the girl at your bidding Let the Achaeans find me a prizeK
in fair exchange to my liking or I will come and take your own orM
that of Ajax or of Ulysses and he to whomsoever I may come shallP
rue my coming But of this we will take thought hereafter for theD
present let us draw a ship into the sea and find a crew for herM
expressly let us put a hecatomb on board and let us send ChryseisK
also further let some chief man among us be in command either AjaxK
or Idomeneus or yourself son of Peleus mighty warrior that you areM
that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the godR2
Achilles scowled at him and answered You are steeped inS2
insolence and lust of gain With what heart can any of the Achaeans doS
your bidding either on foray or in open fighting I came notN
warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me I have no quarrelL2
with them They have not raided my cattle nor my horses nor cutI
down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia for between me and themA2
there is a great space both mountain and sounding sea We haveG
followed you Sir Insolence for your pleasure not ours to gainT2
satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and forM
Menelaus You forget this and threaten to rob me of the prize forM
which I have toiled and which the sons of the Achaeans have given meC2
Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receiveG
so good a prize as you do though it is my hands that do the betterM
part of the fighting When the sharing comes your share is far theD
largest and I forsooth must go back to my ships take what I canU2
get and be thankful when my labour of fighting is done NowV2
therefore I shall go back to Phthia it will be much better for me toS
return home with my ships for I will not stay here dishonoured toS
gather gold and substance for youS
And Agamemnon answered Fly if you will I shall make you noH
prayers to stay you I have others here who will do me honour andP2
above all Jove the lord of counsel There is no king here soH
hateful to me as you are for you are ever quarrelsome and illD2
affected What though you be brave Was it not heaven that made youS
so Go home then with your ships and comrades to lord it over theD
Myrmidons I care neither for you nor for your anger and thus willD2
I do since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me I shall sendB
her with my ship and my followers but I shall come to your tent andP2
take your own prize Briseis that you may learn how much stronger I amW2
than you are and that another may fear to set himself up as equalL2
or comparable with meC2
The son of Peleus was furious and his heart within his shaggyC2
breast was divided whether to draw his sword push the others asideX2
and kill the son of Atreus or to restrain himself and check hisK
anger While he was thus in two minds and was drawing his mightyC2
sword from its scabbard Minerva came down from heaven for Juno hadY2
sent her in the love she bore to them both and seized the son ofG
Peleus by his yellow hair visible to him alone for of the othersK
no man could see her Achilles turned in amaze and by the fire thatH2
flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva Why areM
you here said he daughter of aegis bearing Jove To see theD
pride of Agamemnon son of Atreus Let me tell you and it shallP
surely be he shall pay for this insolence with his lifeG
And Minerva said I come from heaven if you will hear me to bidZ2
you stay your anger Juno has sent me who cares for both of youS
alike Cease then this brawling and do not draw your sword rail atH2
him if you will and your railing will not be vain for I tell youS
and it shall surely be that you shall hereafter receive gifts threeC2
times as splendid by reason of this present insult Hold thereforeM
and obeyO
Goddess answered Achilles however angry a man may be he mustF2
do as you two command him This will be best for the gods ever hearM
the prayers of him who has obeyed themA2
He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword and thrust itA3
back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him Then she went back toS
Olympus among the other gods and to the house of aegis bearing JoveG
But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of AtreusK
for he was still in a rage Wine bibber he cried with the face ofG
a dog and the heart of a hind you never dare to go out with theD
host in fight nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade You shun thisK
as you do death itself You had rather go round and rob his prizesK
from any man who contradicts you You devour your people for youS
are king over a feeble folk otherwise son of Atreus henceforwardS
you would insult no man Therefore I say and swear it with a greatS
oath nay by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf norM
shoot nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem uponU
the mountains for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark and now theD
sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees ofG
heaven so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shallP
look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him In the day of yourM
distress when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of HectorM
you shall not know how to help them and shall rend your heart withX
rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of theD
AchaeansK
With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold bestudded sceptre on theD
ground and took his seat while the son of Atreus was beginningZ
fiercely from his place upon the other side Then uproseK
smooth tongued Nestor the facile speaker of the Pylians and theD
words fell from his lips sweeter than honey Two generations of menB3
born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule and he wasK
now reigning over the third With all sincerity and goodwillD2
therefore he addressed them thusK
Of a truth he said a great sorrow has befallen the AchaeanC3
land Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice and the Trojans beC2
glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two who areM
so excellent in fight and counsel I am older than either of youS
therefore be guided by me Moreover I have been the familiar friend ofG
men even greater than you are and they did not disregard my counselsK
Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd ofG
his people or as Caeneus Exadius godlike Polyphemus and TheseusK
son of Aegeus peer of the immortals These were the mightiest menB3
ever born upon this earth mightiest were they and when they foughtS
the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them IQ
came from distant Pylos and went about among them for they wouldS
have me come and I fought as it was in me to do Not a man now livingZ
could withstand them but they heard my words and were persuaded byQ
them So be it also with yourselves for this is the more excellentS
way Therefore Agamemnon though you be strong take not this girlD3
away for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to AchillesK
and you Achilles strive not further with the king for no man who byQ
the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon YouS
are strong and have a goddess for your mother but Agamemnon isK
stronger than you for he has more people under him Son of AtreusK
check your anger I implore you end this quarrel with Achilles whoS
in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the AchaeansK
And Agamemnon answered Sir all that you have said is true butS
this fellow must needs become our lord and master he must be lordS
of all king of all and captain of all and this shall hardly beC2
Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior have they alsoK
given him the right to speak with railingZ
Achilles interrupted him I should be a mean coward he criedS
were I to give in to you in all things Order other people about notS
me for I shall obey no longer Furthermore I say and lay my sayingZ
to your heart I shall fight neither you nor any man about thisK
girl for those that take were those also that gave But of all elseK
that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing by force Try thatS
others may see if you do my spear shall be reddened with yourM
bloodS
When they had quarrelled thus angrily they rose and broke up theD
assembly at the ships of the Achaeans The son of Peleus went backE3
to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his companyC2
while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew ofG
twenty oarsmen He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover aD
hecatomb for the god And Ulysses went as captainC3
These then went on board and sailed their ways over the sea ButS
the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves so theyO
purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea Then theyO
offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea shoreM
and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling upF3
towards heavenC3
Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host But Agamemnon didS
not forget the threat that he had made Achilles and called his trustyC2
messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates Go said he toS
the tent of Achilles son of Peleus take Briseis by the hand andS
bring her hither if he will not give her I shall come with others andS
take her which will press him harderM
He charged them straightly further and dismissed them whereonC3
they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside till they came toS
the tents and ships of the Myrmidons They found Achilles sitting byQ
his tent and his ships and ill pleased he was when he beheld themA2
They stood fearfully and reverently before him and never a word didS
they speak but he knew them and said Welcome heralds messengersK
of gods and men draw near my quarrel is not with you but withX
Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis Therefore PatroclusK
bring her and give her to them but let them be witnesses by theD
blessed gods by mortal men and by the fierceness of Agamemnon'sK
anger that if ever again there be need of me to save the peopleL2
from ruin they shall seek and they shall not find Agamemnon is madS
with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the AchaeansK
may fight by their ships in safetyC2
Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him He brought BriseisK
from the tent and gave her over to the heralds who took her with themA2
to the ships of the Achaeans and the woman was loth to go ThenC3
Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea weeping andS
looking out upon the boundless waste of waters He raised his hands inC3
prayer to his immortal mother Mother he cried you bore me doomedS
to live but for a little season surely Jove who thunders fromB2
Olympus might have made that little glorious It is not soK
Agamemnon son of Atreus has done me dishonour and has robbed meC2
of my prize by forceK
As he spoke he wept aloud and his mother heard him where she wasK
sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her fatherM
Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves sat downC3
before him as he stood weeping caressed him with her hand andS
said My son why are you weeping What is it that grieves youS
Keep it not from me but tell me that we may know it togetherM
Achilles drew a deep sigh and said You know it why tell youS
what you know well already We went to Thebe the strong city ofG
Eetion sacked it and brought hither the spoil The sons of theD
Achaeans shared it duly among themselves and chose lovely Chryseis asK
the meed of Agamemnon but Chryses priest of Apollo came to theD
ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter and brought with him aD
great ransom moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of ApolloK
wreathed with a suppliant's wreath and he besought the AchaeansK
but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefsK
On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respectingZ
the priest and taking the ransom that he offered but not soK
Agamemnon who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away SoK
he went back in anger and Apollo who loved him dearly heard hisK
prayer Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives and theD
people died thick on one another for the arrows went everywhitherM
among the wide host of the Achaeans At last a seer in the fulnessK
of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo and I wasK
myself first to say that we should appease him Whereon the son ofG
Atreus rose in anger and threatened that which he has since done TheD
Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse and sendingZ
gifts of sacrifice to the god but the heralds have just taken from myQ
tent the daughter of Briseus whom the Achaeans had awarded to myselfG
Help your brave son therefore if you are able Go to Olympus andS
if you have ever done him service in word or deed implore the aidS
of Jove Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you glory inC3
that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruinC3
when the others with Juno Neptune and Pallas Minerva would have putS
him in bonds It was you goddess who delivered him by calling toS
Olympus the hundred handed monster whom gods call Briareus but menC3
Aegaeon for he is stronger even than his father when therefore heC2
took his seat all glorious beside the son of Saturn the other godsK
were afraid and did not bind him Go then to him remind him of allG3
this clasp his knees and bid him give succour to the Trojans LetS
the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships and perishH3
on the sea shore that they may reap what joy they may of theirM
king and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult toS
the foremost of the AchaeansK
Thetis wept and answered My son woe is me that I should haveG
borne or suckled you Would indeed that you had lived your span freeC2
from all sorrow at your ships for it is all too brief alas that youS
should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peersK
woe therefore was the hour in which I bore you nevertheless IQ
will go to the snowy heights of Olympus and tell this tale to JoveG
if he will hear our prayer meanwhile stay where you are with yourM
ships nurse your anger against the Achaeans and hold aloof fromB2
fight For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus to a feast among theD
Ethiopians and the other gods went with him He will return toS
Olympus twelve days hence I will then go to his mansion paved withX
bronze and will beseech him nor do I doubt that I shall be able toS
persuade himG2
On this she left him still furious at the loss of her that had beenC3
taken from him Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatombG2
When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laidS
them in the ship's hold they slackened the forestays lowered theD
mast into its place and rowed the ship to the place where theyO
would have her lie there they cast out their mooring stones andS
made fast the hawsers They then got out upon the sea shore and landedS
the hecatomb for Apollo Chryseis also left the ship and UlyssesK
led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her fatherM
Chryses said he King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back yourM
child and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans thatS
we may propitiate the god who has now brought sorrow upon theD
ArgivesK
So saying he gave the girl over to her father who received herM
gladly and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round theD
altar of the god They washed their hands and took up theD
barley meal to sprinkle over the victims while Chryses lifted upF3
his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf Hear me he cried OK
god of the silver bow that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla andS
rulest Tenedos with thy might Even as thou didst hear me aforetimeG2
when I prayed and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans so hear meG2
yet again and stay this fearful pestilence from the DanaansK
Thus did he pray and Apollo heard his prayer When they had doneC3
praying and sprinkling the barley meal they drew back the heads ofG
the victims and killed and flayed them They cut out theD
thigh bones wrapped them round in two layers of fat set someG2
pieces of raw meat on the top of them and then Chryses laid them onC3
the wood fire and poured wine over them while the young men stoodS
near him with five pronged spits in their hands When theD
thigh bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats they cutS
the rest up small put the pieces upon the spits roasted them tillD2
they were done and drew them off then when they had finishedS
their work and the feast was ready they ate it and every man had hisK
full share so that all were satisfied As soon as they had had enoughG
to eat and drink pages filled the mixing bowl with wine and water andS
handed it round after giving every man his drink offeringZ
Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with songI3
hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean and the god tookJ3
pleasure in their voices but when the sun went down and it came onC3
dark they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of theD
ship and when the child of morning rosy fingered Dawn appeared theyO
again set sail for the host of the Achaeans Apollo sent them a fairM
wind so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloftS
As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deepK3
blue water and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onwardS
When they reached the wide stretching host of the Achaeans theyO
drew the vessel ashore high and dry upon the sands set her strongI3
props beneath her and went their ways to their own tents and shipsK
But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger He went not toS
the honourable assembly and sallied not forth to fight but gnawed atS
his own heart pining for battle and the war cryQ
Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body toS
Olympus and Jove led the way Thetis was not unmindful of theD
charge her son had laid upon her so she rose from under the sea andS
went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus where sheG2
found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmostS
ridges She sat herself down before him and with her left hand seizedS
his knees while with her right she caught him under the chin andS
besought him sayingZ
Father Jove if I ever did you service in word or deed among theD
immortals hear my prayer and do honour to my son whose life is toS
be cut short so early King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by takingZ
his prize and keeping her Honour him then yourself Olympian lordS
of counsel and grant victory to the Trojans till the Achaeans giveG
my son his due and load him with riches in requitalD2
Jove sat for a while silent and without a word but Thetis stillD2
kept firm hold of his knees and besought him a second timeG2
Incline your head said she and promise me surely or else denyQ
me for you have nothing to fear that I may learn how greatly youS
disdain meG2
At this Jove was much troubled and answered I shall have troubleD2
if you set me quarrelling with Juno for she will provoke me withX
her taunting speeches even now she is always railing at me before theD
other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans Go backE3
now lest she should find out I will consider the matter and willD2
bring it about as wish See I incline my head that you believe meG2
This is the most solemn that I can give to any god I never recallD2
my word or deceive or fail to do what I say when I have nodded myQ
headS
As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows and theD
ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head till vast Olympus reeledS
When the pair had thus laid their plans they parted Jove to hisK
house while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus and plungedS
into the depths of the sea The gods rose from their seats before theD
coming of their sire Not one of them dared to remain sitting but allD2
stood up as he came among them There then he took his seat ButS
Juno when she saw him knew that he and the old merman's daughterM
silver footed Thetis had been hatching mischief so she at once beganC3
to upbraid him Trickster she cried which of the gods have youS
been taking into your counsels now You are always settling matters inC3
secret behind my back and have never yet told me if you could helpL3
it one word of your intentionsK
Juno replied the sire of gods and men you must not expect to beG2
informed of all my counsels You are my wife but you would find itS
hard to understand them When it is proper for you to hear there isK
no one god or man who will be told sooner but when I mean to keep aD
matter to myself you must not pry nor ask questionsK
Dread son of Saturn answered Juno what are you talking aboutS
I Pry and ask questions Never I let you have your own way inC3
everything Still I have a strong misgiving that the old merman'sK
daughter Thetis has been talking you over for she was with you andS
had hold of your knees this self same morning I believe thereforeM
that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles and toS
kill much people at the ships of the AchaeansK
Wife said Jove I can do nothing but you suspect me and findS
it out You will take nothing by it for I shall only dislike youS
the more and it will go harder with you Granted that it is as youS
say I mean to have it so sit down and hold your tongue as I bidS
you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you though all heavenC3
were on your side it would profit you nothingZ
On this Juno was frightened so she curbed her stubborn will and satS
down in silence But the heavenly beings were disquieted throughoutS
the house of Jove till the cunning workman Vulcan began to try andS
pacify his mother Juno It will be intolerable said he if you twoS
fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar about a pack ofG
mortals If such ill counsels are to prevail we shall have noK
pleasure at our banquet Let me then advise my mother and she mustS
herself know that it will be better to make friends with my dearM
father Jove lest he again scold her and disturb our feast If theD
Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us all from our seats he can doS
so for he is far the strongest so give him fair words and he willD2
then soon be in a good humour with usK
As he spoke he took a double cup of nectar and placed it in hisK
mother's hand Cheer up my dear mother said he and make the bestS
of it I love you dearly and should be very sorry to see you get aD
thrashing however grieved I might be I could not help for there isK
no standing against Jove Once before when I was trying to help youS
he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold AllD2
day long from morn till eve was I falling till at sunset I came toS
ground in the island of Lemnos and there I lay with very little lifeG
left in me till the Sintians came and tended meG2
Juno smiled at this and as she smiled she took the cup from herM
son's hands Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing bowl andS
served it round among the gods going from left to right and theD
blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him ingZ
bustling about the heavenly mansionC3
Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun theyO
feasted and every one had his full share so that all were satisfiedS
Apollo struck his lyre and the Muses lifted up their sweet voicesK
calling and answering one another But when the sun's glorious lightS
had faded they went home to bed each in his own abode which lameG2
Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them So JoveG
the Olympian Lord of Thunder hied him to the bed in which he alwaysK
slept and when he had got on to it he went to sleep with Juno of theD
golden throne by his sideS

Homer



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