arkness; but Jove in
the third place had allotted to him the wide heaven in the air and in
the clouds. Nevertheless the earth is still the common property of all,
and lofty Olympus. Wherefore I shall not live according to the will of
Jove, but although being very powerful, let him remain quiet in his
third part; and let him by no means terrify me as a coward with his
hands. For it would be better for him to insult with terrific language
the daughters and sons whom he hath begotten, who will also through
necessity attend to him, exhorting them."

But him the fleet wind-footed Iris then answered: "O[488] azure-haired
Earth-shaker, shall I really thus bear back from thee to Jove this
relentless and violent reply? Or wilt thou change it at all? The minds
of the prudent indeed are flexible. Thou knowest that the Furies are
ever attendant on the elders." [489]

[Footnote 486: More literalty, "producing clear air." So
Eustathius, or Eumathius, Erotic. ii. p. 14: [Greek:
Aithregenetes Borras]. Heyne prefers "in aere genitus."]

[Footnote 487: On this division of things, see Servius on Virg.
AEn. i. 143; Fulgent Myth. i. 1, 3. The Scholiasts attempt to
refer it to the ancient theory of the elements.]

[Footnote 488: These three verses were elegantly applied by
Sostrates in mitigating the intemperate language which Antigonus
would fain have addressed to Ptolemy Philadelphus. See Sextus
Emp. adv. Gramm. i. 13, p. 276.]

[Footnote 489: The Furies are said to wait on men in a double
sense; either for evil, as upon Orestes after he had slain his
mother; or else for good, as upon elders when they are injured,
to protect them and avenge their wrongs. This is an instance that
the pagans looked upon birthright as a right divine. Eustath.
quoted in ed. Dubl. cf. ix. 507.]

But her again earth-shaking Neptune in turn addressed: "Goddess Iris,
very rightly hast thou delivered this opinion; moreover, it is good when
a messenger knows fitting things. But on this account severe indignation
comes upon my heart and soul, because he wishes to chide with angry
words me, equal to him by lot, and doomed to an equal destiny.
Nevertheless, at present, although being indignant, I will give way. But
another thing will I tell thee, and I will threaten this from my soul;
if indeed, without me and prey-hunting Minerva, Juno, Mercury, and king
Vulcan, he shall spare lofty Ilium, nor shall wish to destro