Close to their ship they laid them down to rest. Then through the camp they took their sev'ral ways. Meantime, beside the ships Achilles sat, The Heav'n-born son of Peleus, swift of foot, Chafing with rage repress'd; no more he sought The honour'd council, nor the battle-field; But wore his soul away, and inly pin'd For the fierce joy and tumult of the fight. 565 570 575 580 But when the twelfth revolving day was come, Jove at their head, together all return'd. Rose from the ocean wave, and sped in haste To high Olympus, and the courts of Heav'n. The broad-brow'd son of Saturn there she found Of many-ridg'd Olympus; at his feet 585 She sat, and while her left hand clasp'd his knees, 590 Her right approach'd his beard, and suppliant thus She made her pray'r to Saturn's royal son: "Father, if e'er amid th' immortal Gods By word or deed I did thee service true, Hear now my pray'r! Avenge my hapless son, 595 The shortest-liv'd of mortals, whom e'en now Avenge his cause; and give to Trojan arms 600 Such strength and power that Greeks may learn how much They need my son, and give him honour due." She said the Cloud-compeller answer'd not, But silent sat; then Thetis clasp'd his knees : "Give me thy promise true, thy gracious nod, 605 How far I stand the lowest in thine eyes." Then, much disturb'd, the Cloud-compeller spoke: 610 "Sad work thou makʼst, in bidding me oppose My will to Juno's, when her bitter words She taunts me, that I aid the Trojan cause. He said, and nodded with his shadowy brows; 615 620 They parted thus; from bright Olympus' heights 625 Jove to his palace; at his entrance all Rose from their seats at once; not one presum'd To wait his coming, but advanc'd to meet. Then on his throne he sat; but not unmark'd 630 Of Juno's eye had been the council held In secret with the silver-footed Queen, The daughter of the aged Ocean-God; And with sharp words she thus address'd her lord: 635 "Tell me, deceiver, who was she with whom Thou late held'st council? ever 'tis thy way Apart from me to weave thy secret schemes, Nor dost thou freely share with me thy mind." To whom the Sire of Gods and men replied: 66 Expect not, Juno, all my mind to know; 640 My wife thou art, yet would such knowledge be Too much for thee; whate'er I deem it fit That thou shouldst know, nor God nor man shall hear Before thee; but what I in secret plan, Seek not to know, nor curiously inquire." 645 To whom replied the stag-ey'd Queen of Heav'n: "What words, dread son of Saturn, dost thou speak? Ne'er have I sought, or now, or heretofore, Thy secret thoughts to know; what thou think'st fit 650 To tell, I wait thy gracious will to hear. To whom the Cloud-compeller thus replied: Yet shalt thou not prevail, but rather thus Be alien'd from my heart-the worse for thee! If this be so, it is my sov'reign will. But, now, keep silence, and my words obey, Lest all th' Immortals fail, if I be wroth, To rescue thee from my resistless hand." 655 660 665 |