No longer, in the cause of mortal men, 500
  Contend we against Jove.  Perish or live
  Grecians or Trojans as he wills; let him
  Dispose the order of his own concerns,
  And judge between them, as of right he may. 
    So saying, she turn’d the coursers; them the Hours 505
  Released, and to ambrosial mangers bound,
  Then thrust their chariot to the luminous wall. 
  They, mingling with the Gods, on golden thrones
  Dejected sat, and Jove from Ida borne
  Reach’d the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods. 510
  His steeds the glorious King of Ocean loosed,
  And thrust the chariot, with its veil o’erspread. 
  Into its station at the altar’s side. 
  Then sat the Thunderer on his throne of gold
  Himself, and the huge mountain shook.  Meantime 515
  Juno and Pallas, seated both apart,
  Spake not or question’d him.  Their mute reserve
  He noticed, conscious of the cause, and said. 
    Juno and Pallas, wherefore sit ye sad? 
  Not through fatigue by glorious fight incurr’d 520
  And slaughter of the Trojans whom ye hate. 
  Mark now the difference.  Not the Gods combined
  Should have constrain’d me back, till all my force,
  Superior as it is, had fail’d, and all
  My fortitude.  But ye, ere ye beheld 525
  The wonders of the field, trembling retired. 
  And ye did well—­Hear what had else befallen. 
  My bolts had found you both, and ye had reach’d,
  In your own chariot borne, the Olympian height,
  Seat of the blest Immortals, never more. 530
    He ended; Juno and Minerva heard
  Low murmuring deep disgust, and side by side
  Devising sat calamity to Troy. 
  Minerva, through displeasure against Jove,
  Nought utter’d, for her bosom boil’d with rage; 535
  But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied. 
    What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe? 
  We know thy force resistless; yet our hearts
  Feel not the less when we behold the Greeks
  Exhausting all the sorrows of their lot. 540
  If thou command, we doubtless will abstain
  From battle, yet such counsel to the Greeks
  Suggesting still, as may in part effect
  Their safety, lest thy wrath consume them all. 
    Then answer, thus, cloud-gatherer Jove return’d. 545
  Look forth, imperial Juno, if thou wilt,
  To-morrow at the blush of earliest dawn,
  And thou shalt see Saturn’s almighty son
  The Argive host destroying far and wide. 
  For Hector’s fury shall admit no pause 550
  Till he have roused Achilles, in that day
  When at the ships, in perilous straits, the hosts
  Shall wage fierce battle for Patroclus slain. 
  Such is the voice of fate.  But, as