Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
with an arrow even at the gates of hell, and hurt him badly.
Thereon Hades went to the house of Jove on great Olympus, angry
and full of pain; and the arrow in his brawny shoulder caused him
great anguish till Paeeon healed him by spreading soothing herbs
on the wound, for Hades was not of mortal mould. Daring, headstrong,
evildoer who recked not of his sin in shooting the gods that
dwell in Olympus. And now Minerva has egged this son of Tydeus
on against yourself, fool that he is for not reflecting that no man
who fights with gods will live long or hear his children prattling
about his knees when he returns from battle. Let, then, the son of
Tydeus see that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger
than you are. Then shall his brave wife Aegialeia, daughter of
Adrestus, rouse her whole house from sleep, wailing for the loss of
her wedded lord, Diomed the bravest of the Achaeans.”
So saying, she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her daughter with
both hands, whereon the pain left her, and her hand was healed.
But Minerva and Juno, who were looking on, began to taunt Jove
with their mocking talk, and Minerva was first to speak. “Father
Jove,” said she, “do not be angry with me, but I think the Cyprian
must have been persuading some one of the Achaean women to go
with the Trojans of whom she is so very fond, and while caressing
one or other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the
gold pin of the woman’s brooch.”
The sire of gods and men smiled, and called golden Venus to his
side. “My child,” said he, “it has not been given you to be a
warrior. Attend, henceforth, to your own delightful matrimonial
duties, and leave all this fighting to Mars and to Minerva.”
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