for a year for a stipulated hire, and he, commanding,
gave orders? I indeed built a city and wall for the Trojans, extensive
and very beautiful, that the city might be impregnable; whilst thou, O
Phoebus, didst feed, his stamping-footed, curved-horned oxen, among the
lawns of many-valed, woody Ida.[685] But when now the jocund Hours had
brought round the period of payment, then did violent Laomedon forcibly
defraud us both of all reward, and having threatened, dismissed us. And
beside,[686] he threatened that he would bind our feet and hands from
above, and sell us into distant islands; and affirmed that he would cut
off the ears of both with the brass: but we immediately returned back
with indignant mind, enraged on account of the rewards which, having
promised, he did not make good. Is it for this thou dost now gratify the
people? Why dost thou not strive along with us, that the treaty-breaking
Trojans may basely perish from the root, with their children and
modest[687] wives?"

[Footnote 685: On this slavery of Apollo, see my note, p. 43, n.
2. Longus, Past. iv. 10: [Greek: Eipote Apollon Laomedonti
theteyon eboukolese, toiosde en, oios tote ephanthe Daphnis].]

[Footnote 686: [Greek: Sun men]. I almost prefer [Greek: soi
men], with other MSS. and Clarke.]

[Footnote 687: Perhaps intended as a covert sneer at Helen.]

But him the far-darting king, Apollo, in turn addressed:

"O Neptune, thou wouldst not say that I am prudent, if I should now
contend with thee, for the sake of miserable mortals, who, like the
leaves, are at one time very blooming, feeding on the fruit of the soil
and at another again, perish without life. Rather let us cease from
combat as soon as possible; and let them decide the matter themselves."

Thus having spoken, he turned himself back; for he was afraid to come to
strife of hands with his uncle. But him his sister, rustic Diana, the
mistress of wild beasts, harshly rebuked, and uttered this upbraiding
speech:

"Fliest thou, Far-darter? and hast thou yielded the whole victory to
Neptune? and dost thou give easy glory to him? O Fool, why in vain dost
thou hold an useless bow? No longer now shall I hear thee boasting in
the halls of our sire, as formerly amongst the immortal gods, that thou
wouldst fight in opposition to Neptune."

Thus she spoke; but her the far-darting Apollo by no means addressed.
But the venerable spouse of Jove, enraged, rebuked [her] who rejoices