he
goddesses, Juno and Minerva, but they only sit still and look on,
while Venus on the other hand takes much better care of Paris, and
defends him when he is in danger. She has only just this moment
been rescuing him when he made sure he was at death's door, for the
victory really did lie with Menelaus. We must think what we are to
do about all this. Shall we renew strife between the combatants or
shall we make them friends again? I think the best plan would be
for the City of Priam to remain unpillaged, but for Menelaus to have
his wife Helen sent back to him.'

"Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit when they heard this. They were
sitting side by side, and thinking what mischief they could do to
the Trojans. Minerva for her part said not one word, but sat
scowling at her father, for she was in a furious passion with him,
but Juno could not contain herself, so she said--

"'What, pray, son of Saturn, is all this about? Is my trouble then
to go for nothing, and all the pains that I have taken, to say
nothing of my horses, and the way we have sweated and toiled to get
the people together against Priam and his children? You can do as
you please, but you must not expect all of us to agree with you.'

"And Jove answered, 'Wife, what harm have Priam and Priam's children
done you that you rage so furiously against them, and want to sack
their city? Will nothing do for you but you must eat Priam with his
sons and all the Trojans into the bargain? Have it your own way
then, for I will not quarrel with you--only remember what I tell
you: if at any time I want to sack a city that belongs to any
friend of yours, it will be no use your trying to hinder me, you
will have to let me do it, for I only yield to you now with the
greatest reluctance. If there was one city under the sun which I
respected more than another it was Troy with its king and people.
My altars there have never been without the savour of fat or of
burnt sacrifice and all my dues were paid.'

"'My own favourite cities,' answered Juno, 'are Argos, Sparta, and
Mycenae. Sack them whenever you may be displeased with them. I
shall not make the smallest protest against your doing so. It would
be no use if I did, for you are much stronger than I am, only I will
not submit to seeing my own work wasted. I am a goddess of the same
race as yourself. I am Saturn's eldest daughter and am not only
nearly related to you in blood, but I am wife to yourself, and