equal
honour to Achilles and to Hector. Hector indeed is a mortal, and sucked
a woman's breast; but Achilles is the offspring of a goddess, whom I
myself both nurtured and educated, and gave as a wife to the hero
Peleus, who is dear to the immortals in their heart: and ye were all
present at the nuptials,[776] O gods; and thou didst feast amongst them,
holding thy lyre, O companion of the evil, ever faithless."

But her cloud-compelling Jove, answering, addressed:

"O Juno, be not now completely enraged with the gods; for their honour
shall not be at all equal: but Hector also was the dearest of mortals to
the gods, of [those] who are in Ilium; for thus was he to me; for never
did he miss [offering] pleasing gifts. For never did my altar lack the
fitting banquet, or incense, or odour: for this honour are we allotted.
Yet let us forego to steal away bold Hector; (nor is it at all
practicable without the knowledge of Achilles;) for he is ever by him
both by night and day, like as a mother. But let some of the gods call
Thetis near me, that to her I may tell prudent advice, in order that
Achilles may receive gifts from Priam, and ransom Hector."

Thus he spoke; but Iris, swift as the whirlwind, rose up, about to bear
his message. Half way between Samos and rugged Imbrus she plunged into
the dark sea, and the ocean groaned. She sank to the bottom like unto a
leaden ball,[777] which, [placed] along the horn of a wild bull,
entering, descends, bearing death to the raw-devouring fishes. But she
found Thetis in her hollow cave, and the other sea goddesses sat around
her, assembled together; she indeed, in the midst, lamented the fate of
her own blameless son, who was about to perish in fertile Troy, far away
from his native land. But her swift-footed Iris, standing near,
addressed:

[Footnote 776: See Grote, vol. i. p. 257.]

[Footnote 777: The only clear explanation of this passage seems
to be that of the traveller Clarke, quoted by Kennedy, as
follows: "The Greeks in fishing let their line, with the lead at
the end, run over a piece of horn fixed at the side of the boat,"
to prevent, as Kennedy remarks, the wear from friction. Pollux,
x. 30, 31, merely mentions the [Greek: molybdaine] among the
implements of fishermen; but says nothing of the manner in which
it was used.]

"Rise, O Thetis; Jove, skilled in imperishable counsels, calls thee."

Her then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answere