ng.]

Thus he indeed, raging, was insulting noble Hector, but the blessed
gods, looking towards him, commiserated, and incited the watchful slayer
of Argus to steal him away. Now, to all the rest it was certainly
pleasing, but by no means so to Juno, to Neptune, nor to the azure-eyed
maid; but they were obstinate,[774] for sacred Ilium was odious to them
from the first, and Priam and his people, on account of the infatuation
of Paris, who had insulted the goddesses, when they came to his cottage,
and preferred her who gratified his destructive lust.[775] But when the
twelfth morning from that had arisen, then indeed Phoebus Apollo spoke
amongst the immortals:

[Footnote 774: After [Greek: echon] supply [Greek: ten diathesin]
(with Schol.)="_kept their determination_."]

[Footnote 775: Payne Knight would reject vers. 23--30,
considering the word [Greek: machlosynen] as un-Homeric. If they
are genuine, they furnish the earliest mention of the judgment of
Paris. Cf. Mollus on Longus, Past. iii. 27; Intpp. on Hygin. Fab.
xcii.]

"Cruel ye are, O gods, [and] injurious. Has not Hector indeed formerly
burned for you the thighs of bulls and chosen goats? whom now, although
being dead, ye will not venture to take away for his wife, and mother,
his son, and his father Priam, and the people to behold; who would
quickly burn him with fire, and perform his funeral rites. But ye wish
to bestow favour, O gods, upon destructive Achilles, to whom there is
neither just disposition, nor flexible feelings in his breast; who is
skilled in savage deeds, as a lion, which, yielding to the impulse of
his mighty strength and haughty soul, attacks the flocks of men, that he
may take a repast. Thus has Achilles lost all compassion, nor in him is
there sense of shame, which greatly hurts and profits men. For perhaps
some one will lose another more dear, either a brother, or a son; yet
does he cease weeping and lamenting, for the Destinies have placed in
men an enduring mind. But this man drags godlike Hector around the tomb
of his dear companion, binding him to his chariot, after he has taken
away his dear life; yet truly this is neither more honourable, nor
better for him. [Let him beware] lest we be indignant with him, brave as
he is, because, raging, he insults even the senseless clay."

But him the white-armed Juno, indignant, addressed: "This truly might be
our language, O God of the silver bow, if now thou assignest