me; and Achilles may drive the men of Troy from their city if he will. What have I to do with the strife and sorrow of men?"
So he spake, for all his streams were boiling—as a caldron boils with a great fire beneath it, when a man would melt the fat of a great hog; nor could he flow any longer to the sea, so sorely did the breath of the Fire-god trouble him. Then he cried aloud to Hera, entreating her: "O Hera, why doth thy son torment me only among all? Why should I be blamed more than others that help the men of Troy? Verily, I will cease from helping them, if he also will cease. Nay, I will swear a great oath that I will keep no more the day of doom from the sons of Troy; no, not when all the city shall be consumed with fire."
And Queen Hera heard him, and called to Hephæstus, saying: "Cease, my son; it doth not beseem thee to work such damage to a god for the sake of a mortal man."
So Hephæstus quenched his fire, and the River flowed as he flowed before.
But among the other gods there arose a dreadful strife, for they were divided, the one
