E'en as it is she still, amid all of the conclave of Heaven,
Taunts me, and says it is I that assist yon Trojans in battle.520
Go thou away then at once;—lest Hère chance to perceive thee:
Know that thy prayer is heard; and my care shall be still to perform it.
Lo if a sign thou seekest, the nod of my head may convince thee;
No sign greater than this amid all of the race of Immortals:
Never is that recall'd, no deceit can avert its fulfilment,
Never does that come to nought, which the nod of my head has affirmèd."
Thus did the Thunderer speak;—and his dark brows bow'd, as assenting.—
Waved, as he solemnly bent, the ambrosial locks of the great King,
On his immortal head: and his nod shook mighty Olympus[1].
Such the discourse of the two, and they hastily parted: and Thetis530
Shot from the shining Olympus again to the depths of the salt sea;
Zeus to his palace return'd;—and the Gods uprose as he entered;—
All uprose from their seats, as the Father enter'd among them:
None dared keep in his place, but all uprose to receive him.
Then sat he down on his throne.—But already had Hère discover'd
How with Zeus had consulted in secret council the Goddess,
She whose feet are as silver, the child of the ancient of Ocean.
And to Cronïon, thus did she speak with her taunting invectives.
"Who is it now of the Gods who is sharing thy councils, deceiver?
Ever is it thy joy,—I myself put aside and neglected,—540
Still to perform those schemes thy mind has invented in secret:
Not one word do I hear amid all that thy soul has proposèd."
Then to her thus, in reply, spake the Father of Gods and of mortals.
"Hope not to search out thus all the deep resolves of my bosom;
Spouse as thou art of mine, they are yet too hard for thy knowledge.
- ↑ The idea of the Olympian Jove of Phidias is said to have been derived from these three lines. The assent given to the prayer of Thetis is evidently an unwilling assent.
