Page:Iliad Buckley.djvu/272

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260
ILIAD. XIV.
253—287.

while thou wast planning evils in thy mind [against the hero], rousing the blasts of bitter winds over the deep; and thou didst afterward carry him away apart from all his friends to well-inhabited Cos. But he, when awakened, was enraged, hurling about the gods through his mansion, and me chiefly of all he sought, and would have cast me down, a lost one, from the æther into the deep, had not Night, vanquisher of gods and men, preserved me, to whom I came flying. So he restrained himself, angry as he was; for he dreaded lest he should do things which were disagreeable to swift[1] Night. And now again dost thou urge me to perform this another dangerous deed."

But him the venerable large-eyed Juno in turn answered: "O Sleep, why thinkest thou these things within thy mind? Canst thou suppose that far-sounding Jove favors the Trojans, as he was enraged on account of Hercules, his own son? But come, [do this], and I will give thee one of the younger Graces to wed, and to be called thy spouse, Pasithea[2] whom thou fondly desirest day after day."

Thus she spoke; but Sleep was delighted, and, answering, addressed her: "Come now, swear to me by the inviolable water of the Styx, and touch with one hand the fertile earth, and with the other the marble sea; so that all the gods beneath, around Saturn, may be witnesses between us, that thou wilt surely give me one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, whom I will desire all my days."

Thus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but she swore as he desired, and named all gods who dwell under Tartarus, which are called Titans.[3] When then she had sworn and performed her oath, they both proceeded, leaving the city of Lemnos and Imbrus, mantled in haze, quickly making their way; and they came to Ida of many rills, the mother of wild beasts, to Lectos, where first they quitted the sea: but they both advanced over the land, and the summit of the wood was shaken beneath their feet. There Sleep on his part remained, before the eyes of Jove should perceive him; ascending a lofty fir, which then

  1. But see Buttm. Lexil. p. 369. Translate, "quick and fearful night."
  2. The most beautiful of the Graces,—"blandarum prima sororum," accordmg to Statius, Theb. ii. 286. Cf. Virg. Æn. i. 237, sqq.
  3. On this oath, see Grote, vol. i. p. 17.