and a couch will
avail thee, in which thou wast mingled, coming apart from the gods, and
having deceived me."

[Footnote 483: [Greek: De] here has the force of _demum_.]

[Footnote 484: [Greek: Exestekos te psyche].--Scholiast.]

Thus he spoke; but venerable large-eyed Juno shuddered, and, addressing
him, spoke winged words:

"Be witness now, Earth, and boundless Heaven above, and the water of
Styx gliding beneath, which is the greatest and most dreaded oath
amongst the blessed gods; likewise thy sacred head, and our own nuptial
couch, by which I would not rashly swear at any time, that it is not by
my instigation that earth-shaking Neptune harasses the Trojans and
Hector, and aids the other side; but certainly his own mind incites and
orders him; for, beholding the Greeks oppressed at the ships, he took
compassion on them. And even him would I advise to go there, where thou,
O Cloud-collector, mayest command."

Thus she spoke; but the father of men and gods smiled, and answering
her, spoke winged words:

"If indeed thou from henceforth, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, wouldst
sit amongst the immortals, being of the same mind with me, then truly
would Neptune, even although he very much wishes otherwise, immediately
change his mind to the same point, to thy wish and mine. But if indeed
thou speakest in sincerity and truly, go now to the assemblies of the
gods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, renowned in archery,
that she may go to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and tell king
Neptune, ceasing from battle, to repair to his own palaces; but let
Phoebus Apollo excite Hector to battle, and breathe strength into him
again, and make him forgetful of the pains which now afflict him in his
mind: but let him again put the Greeks to flight, exciting unwarlike
panic [amongst them], and, flying, let them fall back upon the
many-benched ships of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Then shall he
stimulate his companion Patroclus, whom illustrious Hector shall slay
with his spear before Ilium, [Patroclus] having slain many other youths,
and with them my son, noble Sarpedon; but noble Achilles shall slay
Hector. From this time forward will I always continually effect for
thee, that there shall be a retreat [of the Trojans] from the ships,
until the Greeks, by the counsels of Minerva, shall take lofty Ilium.
However, I shall not abate my anger, nor will I here permit any of the
immortals to assist the Greeks, befo