hast deserted the Greeks, and dost aid the treaty-breaking Trojans."
Thus having spoken, she turned back her bright eyes. But Venus, the daughter of Jove, taking him by the hand, led him away, groaning very frequently; but he with difficulty collected his spirits. But when the white-armed goddess Juno perceived him, immediately to Minerva she addressed winged words:
"Alas! O child of ægis-bearing Jove, invincible, see how again she, most impudent, leads man-slaughtering Mars through the tumult, from the glowing battle. But follow."
Thus she spoke; and Minerva rushed after, and rejoiced in her mind; and springing upon her, smote her with her stout hand on the breast, and dissolved her knees and dear heart. Then both of them lay upon the fruitful earth; but she, boasting over them, spoke winged words:
"Would that all, as many as are allies to the Trojans, when they fight against the armed Greeks, were so bold and daring, as Venus came an assistant to Mars, to oppose my strength; then had we long since ceased from battle, having overthrown the well-built city of Ilium."
Thus she spoke; but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled. And the earth-shaking king addressed Apollo:
"Phœbus, why do we two stand apart? Nor is it becoming, since the others have begun. This would be disgraceful, if we return without fight to Olympus, and to the brazen-floored mansion of Jove. Commence, for thou art younger by birth; for it would not be proper for me, since I am elder, and know more things. Fool, since thou possessest a senseless heart; nor dost at all remember those things, how many evils we suffered round Ilium, when we alone of the gods, coming from Jove to haughty Laomedon, labored for a year for a stipulated hire, and he, commanding, gave orders? I indeed built a city and wall for the Trojans, extensive and very beautiful, that the city might be impregnable; while thou, O Phœbus, didst feed his stamping-footed, curved-horned oxen, among the lawns of many-valed, woody Ida.[1] But when now the jocund Hours had brought
- ↑ On this slavery of Apollo, see my note, p. 43, n. 2. Longus, Past. iv. 10: Εἴποτε Ἀπόλλων Λαομέδοντι θητεύων ἐβούκολησε, τοιόσδε ἦν, οἰος τότε ἐφάνθη Δάφνις.
