Book VIII

BOOK VIII

NOW when Morning, clad in her robe of saffron, had begun to

suffuse light over the earth, Jove called the gods in council on

the topmost crest of serrated Olympus. Then he spoke and all the

other gods gave ear. "Hear me," said he, "gods and goddesses,

that I may speak even as I am minded. Let none of you neither

goddess nor god try to cross me, but obey me every one of you

that I may bring this matter to an end. If I see anyone acting

apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans, he shall be beaten

inordinately ere he come back again to Olympus; or I will hurl

him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the

earth, where the gates are iron and the floor bronze, as far

beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth, that you may

learn how much the mightiest I am among you. Try me and find out

for yourselves. Hangs me a golden chain from heaven, and lay hold

of it all of you, gods and goddesses together--tug as you will,

you will not drag Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to

earth; but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with

earth and sea into the bargain, then would I bind the chain about

some pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid

firmament. So far am I above all others either of gods or men."

They were frightened and all of them of held their peace, for he

had spoken masterfully; but at last Minerva answered, "Father,

son of Saturn, king of kings, we all know that your might is not

to be gainsaid, but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors,

who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however,

since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will

make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may not all

of them perish in your displeasure."

Jove smiled at her and answered, "Take heart, my child,

Trito-born; I am not really in earnest, and I wish to be kind to

you."

With this he yoked his fleet horses, with hoofs of bronze and

manes of glittering gold. He girded himself also with gold about

the body, seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot.

Thereon he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing loth

midway twixt earth and starry heaven. After a while he reached

many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, and Gargarus, where

are his grove and fragrant altar. There the father of gods and

men stayed his horses, took them from the chariot, and hid them

in a thick cloud; then he took his seat all glorious upon the

topmost crests, looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships

of the