Iris, turn them back, nor suffer them to come
against me; for we shall not advantageously engage in battle. For thus I
speak, and it shall moreover be accomplished, I will lame their swift
steeds under their chariot, dislodge them from the chariot, and break
the chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed of the
wounds which the thunderbolt shall inflict: that Minerva may know when
she may be fighting with her sire. But with Juno I am neither so
indignant nor so angry; for she is ever accustomed to counteract me, in
whatever I intend."

Thus he said: but Iris, swift as the storm, hastened to bear the
message. Down from the Idsean mountains she went to great Olympus:
meeting them in the foremost gates of many-valleyed Olympus, she
restrained them, and pronounced to them the message of Jove:

"Where do ye go? Why does your soul rage in your breasts? The sun of
Saturn does not suffer you to aid the Greeks. For thus has the son of
Saturn threatened, and he will assuredly perform it, to lame your swift
steeds under your chariot, and dislodge yourselves from the chariot, and
break the chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed of the
wounds which his thunderbolt shall inflict: that thou, O Azure-eyed,
mayest know when thou art fighting with thy sire. But with Juno he is
neither so indignant nor so angry; for she is always accustomed to
counteract him in whatever he devises. But thou, most insolent and
audacious hound! if thou in reality shalt dare to raise thy mighty spear
against Jove--" [285]

[Footnote 285: Observe the aposiopesis.]

Thus indeed having said, swift-footed Iris departed. Then Juno addressed
these words to Minerva:

"Alas! daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, I cannot any longer suffer that we
ourselves shall fight against Jove, on account of mortals. Of whom let
one perish, and let another live, whoever may chance. But let him,
meditating his own affairs in his mind, adjudicate to the Trojans and
the Greeks as is fair."

Thus then having said, she turned back the solid-hoofed steeds. The
Hours unyoked for them the fair-maned steeds, and bound them to the
ambrosial mangers; but they tilted the chariots against the splendid
walls. But they themselves sat, mingled with the other deities, on their
golden couches, sad at heart.

Then father Jove drove his beauteous-wheeled chariot and steeds from Ida
to Olympus, and came to the seats of the gods. His horses, indeed, the
illustrious