The Iliad of Homer. Homer

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СКАЧАТЬ with her left hand

       His knees, her right beneath his chin she placed,

       And thus the King, Saturnian Jove, implored.

      Father of all, by all that I have done

       Or said that ever pleased thee, grant my suit.620

       Exalt my son, by destiny short-lived

       Beyond the lot of others. Him with shame

       The King of men hath overwhelm'd, by force

       Usurping his just meed; thou, therefore, Jove,

       Supreme in wisdom, honor him, and give625

       Success to Troy, till all Achaia's sons

       Shall yield him honor more than he hath lost!

      She spake, to whom the Thunderer nought replied,

       But silent sat long time. She, as her hand

       Had grown there, still importunate, his knees630

       Clasp'd as at first, and thus her suit renew'd.[34]

      Or grant my prayer, and ratify the grant,

       Or send me hence (for thou hast none to fear)

       Plainly refused; that I may know and feel

       By how much I am least of all in heaven.635

      To whom the cloud-assembler at the last

       Spake, deep-distress'd. Hard task and full of strife

       Thou hast enjoined me; Juno will not spare

       For gibe and taunt injurious, whose complaint

       Sounds daily in the ears of all the Gods,640

       That I assist the Trojans; but depart,

       Lest she observe thee; my concern shall be

       How best I may perform thy full desire.

       025 And to assure thee more, I give the sign

       Indubitable, which all fear expels645

       At once from heavenly minds. Nought, so confirmed,

       May, after, be reversed or render'd vain.

      He ceased, and under his dark brows the nod

       Vouchsafed of confirmation. All around

       The Sovereign's everlasting head his curls650

       Ambrosial shook,[35] and the huge mountain reeled.

      Their conference closed, they parted. She, at once,

       From bright Olympus plunged into the flood

       Profound, and Jove to his own courts withdrew.

       Together all the Gods, at his approach,655

       Uprose; none sat expectant till he came,

       But all advanced to meet the Eternal Sire.

       So on his throne he sat. Nor Juno him

       Not understood; she, watchful, had observed,

       In consultation close with Jove engaged660

       Thetis, bright-footed daughter of the deep,

       And keen the son of Saturn thus reproved.

      Shrewd as thou art, who now hath had thine ear?

       Thy joy is ever such, from me apart

       To plan and plot clandestine, and thy thoughts,665

       Think what thou may'st, are always barred to me.

      To whom the father, thus, of heaven and earth.

       Expect not, Juno, that thou shalt partake

       My counsels at all times, which oft in height

       And depth, thy comprehension far exceed,670

       Jove's consort as thou art. When aught occurs

       Meet for thine ear, to none will I impart

       Of Gods or men more free than to thyself.

       But for my secret thoughts, which I withhold

       From all in heaven beside, them search not thou675

       With irksome curiosity and vain.

      026 Him answer'd then the Goddess ample-eyed.[36] What word hath passed thy lips, Saturnian Jove, Thou most severe! I never search thy thoughts, Nor the serenity of thy profound680 Intentions trouble; they are safe from me: But now there seems a cause. Deeply I dread Lest Thetis, silver-footed daughter fair Of Ocean's hoary Sovereign, here arrived At early dawn to practise on thee, Jove!685 I noticed her a suitress at thy knees, And much misdeem or promise-bound thou stand'st To Thetis past recall, to exalt her son, And Greeks to slaughter thousands at the ships.

      To whom the cloud-assembler God, incensed.690

       Ah subtle! ever teeming with surmise,

       And fathomer of my concealed designs,

       Thy toil is vain, or (which is worse for thee,)

       Shall but estrange thee from mine heart the more.

       And be it as thou sayest—I am well pleased695

       That so it should be. Be advised, desist,

       Hold thou thy peace. Else, if my glorious hands

       Once reach thee, the Olympian Powers combined

       To rescue thee, shall interfere in vain.

      He said—whom Juno, awful Goddess, heard700

       Appall'd, and mute submitted to his will.

       But through the courts of Jove the heavenly Powers

       All felt displeasure; when to them arose

       Vulcan, illustrious artist, who with speech

       Conciliatory interposed to sooth705

       His white-armed mother Juno, Goddess dread.

      Hard doom is ours, and not to be endured,

       027 If feast and merriment must pause in heaven

       While ye such clamor raise tumultuous here

       For man's unworthy sake: yet thus we speed710

       Ever, when evil overpoises good.

       But I exhort my mother, though herself

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