in
arrows, with reproaching words:

"How darest thou now, fearless wretch, stand against me? A difficult
match am I for thee to be opposed to my strength, although thou art a
bow-bearer; for Jove has made thee a lioness among women, and suffered
thee to kill whatever woman thou wilt. Certainly it is better to slay
wild beasts among the mountains, or rustic stags, than to fight bravely
with thy betters. But if thou desirest to have a knowledge of battle,
come on, that thou mayest well know how much the better I am; since thou
opposest strength to me."

She spoke, and with her left hand seized both her (Diana's) hands at the
wrist, and with her right plucked the bow[688] from her shoulders.
Smiling, she beat her about the ears with it, while she writhed herself;
and the fleet arrows fell out [of her quiver, as she moved]. Then the
goddess fled, weeping, like a dove which flies from a hawk to a hollow
rock, her hiding-place, (for neither was it fated that she should be
taken by it;) so she fled, weeping, and left her arrows there.

[Footnote 688: I have followed Kennedy, who says: "The preferable
meaning of [Greek: toxa] is _arcus_. This Juno employs as an
instrument of chastisement, to avoid the infliction of which, her
antagonist turns from side to side, and whilst thus shifting her
position lets fall her arrows, [Greek: oistoi], ver. 492." Others
by [Greek: toxa] understood both bow and arrows.]

But the messenger [Mercury], the slayer of Argos, addressed Latona:

"O Latona, I will by no means fight with thee; for difficult indeed
would it be to combat with the wives of cloud-compelling Jove; but
rather, very forward among the immortal gods, boast that thou hast
conquered me by violent force."

Thus indeed he spoke; but Latona collected together the bent bow and the
arrows[689] which had fallen here and there amid the whirl of dust. She,
having taken the arrows, followed her daughter. But the daughter had
arrived at Olympus, and at the brazen-floored palace of Jove, and had
sat down at the knees of her father, weeping, whilst her ambrosial robe
trembled around; and her the Saturnian father drew towards him, and,
sweetly smiling, interrogated her:

"Which now of the heavenly inhabitants, my dear child, has rashly done
such things to thee, as if having done some evil openly?"

But him the fair-crowned mistress of the chase[690] addressed in turn:
"Thy spouse, the white-armed Juno, has injured me