The Iliads of Homer. Homer

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       Woman, nor man, nor God, shall know before it grace thine ear.

       Yet what, apart from men and Gods, I please to know, forbear

       T' examine, or inquire of that." She with the cow's fair eyes,

       Respected Juno, this return'd: "Austere king of the skies,

       What hast thou utter'd? When did I before this time inquire,

       Or sift thy counsels? Passing close you are still. Your desire

       Is serv'd with such care, that I fear you can scarce vouch the deed

       That makes it public, being seduc'd by this old sea-god's seed,

       That could so early use her knees, embracing thine. I doubt,

       The late act of thy bowéd head was for the working out

       Of some boon she ask'd; that her son thy partial hand would please

       With plaguing others." "Wretch!" said he, "thy subtle jealousies

       Are still exploring; my designs can never 'scape thine eye,

       Which yet thou never canst prevent. Thy curiosity

       Makes thee less car'd for at my hands, and horrible the end

       Shall make thy humour. If it be what thy suspects intend,

       What then? 'Tis my free will it should; to which let way be giv'n

       With silence. Curb your tongue in time; lest all the Gods in heav'n

       Too few be and too weak to help thy punish'd insolence,

       When my inaccessible hands shall fall on thee." The sense

       Of this high threat'ning made her fear, and silent she sate down,

       Humbling her great heart. All the Gods in court of Jove did frown

       At this offence giv'n; amongst whom heav'n's famous artizan,

       Ephaistus, in his mother's care, this comely speech began:

       "Believe it, these words will breed wounds, beyond our pow'rs to

       bear,

       If thus for mortals ye fall out. Ye make a tumult here

       That spoils our banquet. Evermore worst matters put down best.

       But, mother, though yourself be wise, yet let your son request

       His wisdom audience. Give good terms to our lov'd father Jove,

       For fear he take offence again, and our kind banquet prove

       A wrathful battle. If he will, the heav'nly Light'ner can

       Take you and toss you from your throne; his pow'r Olympian

       Is so surpassing. Soften then with gentle speech his spleen,

       And drink to him; I know his heart will quickly down again."

       This said, arising from his throne, in his lov'd mother's hand

       He put the double-handed cup, and said: "Come, do not stand

       On these cross humours, suffer, bear, though your great bosom

       grieve,

       And lest blows force you; all my aid not able to relieve

       Your hard condition, though these eyes behold it, and this heart

       Sorrow to think it. 'Tis a task too dang'rous to take part

       Against Olympius. I myself the proof of this still feel.

       When other Gods would fain have help'd, he took me by the heel,

       And hurl'd me out of heav'n. All day I was in falling down;

       At length in Lemnos I strook earth. The likewise-falling sun

       And I, together, set; my life almost set too; yet there

       The Sintii cheer'd and took me up." This did to laughter cheer

       White-wristed Juno, who now took the cup of him, and smil'd.

       The sweet peace-making draught went round, and lame Ephaistus

       fill'd

       Nectar to all the other Gods. A laughter never left

       Shook all the blesséd deities, to see the lame so deft

       At that cup service. All that day, ev'n till the sun went down,

       They banqueted, and had such cheer as did their wishes crown.

       Nor had they music less divine; Apollo there did touch

       His most sweet harp, to which, with voice, the Muses pleas'd as

       much.

       But when the sun's fair light was set, each Godhead to his house

       Address'd for sleep, where ev'ry one, with art most curious,

       By heav'n's great both-foot-halting God a sev'ral roof had built.

       Ev'n he to sleep went, by whose hand heav'n is with lightning gilt,

       High Jove, where he had us'd to rest when sweet sleep seiz'd his

       eyes;

       By him the golden-thron'd Queen slept, the Queen of deities.

      THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.

      [1] "See my bed made," it may be Englished. The word is ἀντιόωσαν, which signifies contra stantem as standing of one side opposite to another on the other side; which yet others translate capessentem et adornantem; which since it shows best to a reader, I follow.

      [2] This simile Virgil directly translates.

      THE SECOND BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIADS

      THE ARGUMENT

      Jove calls a vision up from Somnus' den

       To bid Atrides muster up his men.

       The King, to Greeks dissembling his desire,

       Persuades them to their country to retire.

       By Pallas' will, Ulysses stays their flight:

       And wise old Nestor heartens them to fight.

       They take their meat; which done, to arms they go,

       And march in good array against the foe.

       So those of Troy; when Iris, from the sky,

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