That praise reserved, that he should slay the son800Renown'd of Jove; therefore his wavering mind
Minerva bent against the Lycian band.
Then Cœranus, Alastor, Chromius fell,
Alcander, Halius, Prytanis, and brave
Noëmon; nor had these sufficed the Chief805
Of Ithaca, but Lycians more had fallen,
Had not crest-tossing Hector huge perceived
The havoc; radiant to the van he flew,
130 Filling with dread the Grecians; his approach
Sarpedon, son of Jove, joyful beheld,810
And piteous thus address'd him as he came.
Ah, leave not me, Priamides! a prey
To Grecian hands, but in your city, at least,
Grant me to die: since hither, doom'd, I came
Never to gratify with my return815
To Lycia, my loved spouse, or infant child.
He spake; but Hector unreplying pass'd
Impetuous, ardent to repulse the Greeks
That moment, and to drench his sword in blood.
Then, under shelter of a spreading beech820
Sacred to Jove, his noble followers placed
The godlike Chief Sarpedon, where his friend
Illustrious Pelagon, the ashen spear
Extracted. Sightless, of all thought bereft,
He sank, but soon revived, by breathing airs825
Refresh'd, that fann'd him gently from the North.
Meantime the Argives, although press'd alike
By Mars himself and Hector brazen-arm'd,
Neither to flight inclined, nor yet advanced
To battle, but inform'd that Mars the fight830
Waged on the side of Ilium, slow retired.[16]
Whom first, whom last slew then the mighty son
Of Priam, Hector, and the brazen Mars!
First godlike Teuthras, an equestrian Chief,
Orestes, Trechus of Ætolian race,835
Œnomaüs, Helenus from Œnops' sprung,
And brisk[17] in fight Oresbius; rich was he, And covetous of more; in Hyla dwelt 131 Fast by the lake Cephissus, where abode Bœotian Princes numerous, rich themselves840 And rulers of a people wealth-renown'd. But Juno, such dread slaughter of the Greeks Noting, thus, ardent, to Minerva spake.
Daughter of Jove invincible! Our word
That Troy shall perish, hath been given in vain845
To Menelaus, if we suffer Mars
To ravage longer uncontrol'd. The time
Urges, and need appears that we ourselves
Now call to mind the fury of our might.
She spake; nor blue-eyed Pallas not complied.850
Then Juno, Goddess dread, from Saturn sprung,
Her coursers gold-caparison'd prepared
Impatient. Hebe to the chariot roll'd
The brazen wheels,[18] and joined them to the smooth Steel axle; twice four spokes divided each855 Shot from the centre to the verge. The verge Was gold by fellies of eternal brass Guarded, a dazzling show! The shining naves Were silver; silver cords and cords of gold The seat upbore; two crescents[19] blazed in front.860 The pole was argent all, to which she bound The golden yoke, and in their place disposed The breast-bands incorruptible of gold; But Juno to the yoke, herself, the steeds Led forth, on fire to reach the dreadful field.865
Meantime, Minerva, progeny of Jove,
On the adamantine floor of his abode
132 Let fall profuse her variegated robe,
Labor of her own hands. She first put on
The corselet of the cloud-assembler God,870
Then arm'd her for the field of wo complete.
She charged her shoulder with the dreadful shield
The shaggy Ægis,[20] border'd thick around With terror; there was Discord, Prowess there, There hot Pursuit, and there the feature grim875 Of Gorgon, dire Deformity, a sign Oft borne portentous on the arm of Jove. Her golden helm, whose concave had sufficed The legions of an hundred cities, rough With warlike ornament superb, she fix'd880 On her immortal head. Thus arm'd, she rose Into the flaming chariot, and her spear Seized ponderous, huge, with which the Goddess sprung From an Almighty father, levels ranks Of heroes, against whom her anger burns.885 Juno with lifted lash urged quick the steeds; At her approach, spontaneous roar'd the wide- Unfolding gates of heaven;[21] the heavenly gates Kept by the watchful Hours, to whom the charge Of the Olympian summit appertains,890 And of the boundless ether, back to roll, And to replace the cloudy barrier dense. Spurr'd through the portal flew the rapid steeds; Apart from all, and seated on the point Superior of the cloven mount, they found895 The Thunderer. Juno the white-arm'd her steeds There stay'd, and thus the Goddess, ere she pass'd, Question'd the son of Saturn, Jove supreme.
Jove, Father, seest thou, and art not incensed,
These ravages of Mars? Oh what a field,900
133 Drench'd with what Grecian blood! All rashly spilt,
And in despite of me. Venus, the while,
Sits, and the Archer of the silver bow
Delighted, and have urged, themselves, to this
The frantic Mars within no bounds confined905
Of law or order. But, eternal sire!
Shall I offend thee chasing far away
Mars deeply smitten from the field of war?
To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.
Go! but exhort thou rather to the task910
Spoil-huntress Athenæan Pallas, him
Accustom'd to chastise with pain severe.
He spake, nor white-arm'd Juno not obey'd.
She lash'd her steeds; they readily their flight
