Mars and Apollo
encouraging the Trojans, Minerva and the other deities the Greeks._

Now they, the gods, sitting on the golden floor[163] with Jove, were
engaged in consultation, and amidst them venerable Hebe poured out the
nectar: but they pledged[164] one another with golden cups, looking
towards the city of the Trojans. Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted
to irritate Juno, speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful
words:[165]

"Two goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive[166] Juno
and Minerva of Alalcomenae:[167] and yet these, forsooth, sitting apart,
amuse themselves with looking on; but to the other, on the contrary
[Paris], laughter-loving Venus is ever present,[168] and averts fate
from him. Even now has she saved him, thinking that he was about to die.
But the victory, indeed, belongs to Mars-beloved Menelaus: let us
therefore consult how these things shall be, whether we shall again
excite the destructive war, and dreadful battle-din, or promote
friendship between both parties. And if, moreover, this shall
perchance[169] be grateful and pleasing to all, the city of king Priam,
indeed, may be inhabited, but let Menelaus lead back again Argive
Helen."

[Footnote 163: "On the golden floor of Jove's abode."--Cowper.]

[Footnote 164: Athenaeus, i. ll, [Greek: edexiounto, propinonies
eautois, tais dexiais]. Cf. xi. 14. Hesych. [Greek: deidecto,
edexioto, dia philias espazeto kai logon].]

[Footnote 165: I am indebted to Arnold for this version.]

[Footnote 166: So called from her temple at Argos. See Pausan.
ii. 17; Apul. Met. vi. p. 458; Servius on AEn. i. 28.]

[Footnote 167: She had a temple at Alalcomenae, in Boeotia. Cf.
Pausan. ix. 33; Steph. Byz. n. [Greek: alalkomenion].]

[Footnote 168: On the affinity of [Greek: bloskein] and [Greek:
poleini], see Buttm. Lexil. p. 84.]

[Footnote 169: Read [Greek: pos] for [Greek: autos], with
Aristarchus, Wolf, Spitzner.]

Thus he spoke: but Minerva and Juno murmured with closed lips, for they
were sitting near, and were devising evils for the Trojans. Minerva,
indeed, was silent, nor said anything, indignant with her father Jove,
for dreadful rage possessed her. But Juno could not retain her fury in
her breast, but addressed him:

"Most baleful son of Saturn! what a sentence hast thou uttered! How dost
thou wish to render my labour vain, and my sweat fruitless, which I have
sweated through w