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BOOK THE FOURTH.

 

ARGUMENT.

Paris not being slain, the combat left it doubtful whether Helen should be returned or not; but Juno extorts a promise from Jove of the final destruction of Troy. Minerva then persuades Pandarus to break the truce by aiming an arrow at Menelaus. The wound is, however, cured by Machaon. The Trojans proceed to the battle, while Agamemnon exhorts the chieftians of the Greeks. The fight then commences, Mars and Apollo encouraging the Trojans, Minerva and the other deities the Greeks.

Now they, the gods, sitting on the golden floor^[1] with Jove, were engaged in consultation, and amid them venerable Hebe poured out the nectar; but they pledged^[2] one another with golden cups, looking toward the city of the Trojans. Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted to irritate Juno, speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful words:^[3]

"Two goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive^[4] Juno and Minerva of Alalcomenæ:^[5] and yet these, forsooth, sitting apart, amuse themselves with looking on; but to the other, on the contrary [Paris], laughter-looking Venus is ever present,^[6] 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 pro-

1. "On the golden floor of Jove's abode."—Cowper.
2. Athenæus, i. 11, ἐδεξιοῦντο, προπίνοντες ἑαυτοῖς, ταῖς δεξιαῖς. Cf. xi. 4. Hesych. δείδεκτο, ἐδεξιοῦντο, διὰ ϕιλίας ἠσπάζετο καὶ λόγων.
3. I am indebted to Arnold for this version.
4. So called from her temple at Argos. See Pausan. ii. 17; Apul. Met. vi. p. 458; Servius on Æn. i. 28.
5. She had a temple at Alalcomenæ, in Bœotia. Cf. Pausan. ix. 33; Steph. Byz. v. ἀλαλκομένιον.
6. On the affinity of βλώσκειν and μολεῖν, see Buttm. Lexil. p. 84.