Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling, she said
to Minerva, “Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, the
promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he had
sacked the city of Ilius will be of none effect if we let Mars rage
thus furiously. Let us go into the fray at once.”
Minerva did not gainsay her. Thereon the august goddess,
daughter of great Saturn, began to harness her gold-bedizened
steeds. Hebe with all speed fitted on the eight-spoked wheels of
bronze that were on either side of the iron axle-tree. The felloes of
the wheels were of gold, imperishable, and over these there was a
tire of bronze, wondrous to behold. The naves of the wheels were
silver, turning round the axle upon either side. The car itself was
made with plaited bands of gold and silver, and it had a double
top-rail running all round it. From the body of the car there went a
pole of silver, on to the end of which she bound the golden yoke,
with the bands of gold that were to go under the necks of the
horses Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke, eager for battle
and the war-cry.
Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture, made
with her own hands, on to her father’s threshold, and donned the
shirt of Jove, arming herself for battle. She threw her tasselled aegis
about. her shoulders, wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe,
and on it were Strife, and Strength, and Panic whose blood runs
cold; moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon,,
grim and awful to behold, portent of aegis-bearing Jove. On her
head she set her helmet of gold, with four plumes, and coming to a
peak both in front and behind- decked with the emblems of a
hundred cities; then she stepped into her flaming chariot and
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