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Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

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<strong>Homer</strong>’s <strong>Iliad</strong><br />

And Juno said, “Sleep, why do you take such notions as those into<br />

your head? Do you think Jove will be as anxious to help the<br />

Trojans, as he was about his own son? Come, I will marry you to<br />

one of the youngest of the Graces, and she shall be your own-<br />

Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry.”<br />

Sleep was pleased when he heard this, and answered, “Then swear<br />

it to me <strong>by</strong> the dread waters of the river Styx; lay one hand on the<br />

bounteous earth, and the other on the sheen of the sea, so that all<br />

the gods who dwell down below with Saturn may be our<br />

witnesses, and see that you really do give me one of the youngest<br />

of the Graces- Pasithea, whom I have always wanted to marry.”<br />

Juno did as he had said. She swore, and invoked all the gods of the<br />

nether world, who are called Titans, to witness. When she had<br />

completed her oath, the two enshrouded themselves in a thick mist<br />

and sped lightly forward, leaving Lemnos and Imbrus behind<br />

them. Presently they reached many-fountained Ida, mother of wild<br />

beasts, and Lectum where they left the sea to go on <strong>by</strong> land, and<br />

the tops of the trees of the forest soughed under the going of their<br />

feet. Here Sleep halted, and ere Jove caught sight of him he<br />

climbed a lofty pine-tree- the tallest that reared its head towards<br />

heaven on all Ida. He hid himself behind the branches and sat there<br />

in the semblance of the sweet-singing bird that haunts the<br />

mountains and is called Chalcis <strong>by</strong> the gods, but men call it<br />

Cymindis. Juno then went to Gargarus, the topmost peak of Ida,<br />

and Jove, driver of the clouds, set eyes upon her. As soon as he did<br />

so he became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her that<br />

he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other’s embraces, and<br />

slept with one another without their dear parents knowing<br />

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