BOOK XIV.

ARGUMENT.(231)

JUNO DECEIVES JUPITER BY THE GIRDLE OF VENUS.

Nestor, sitting at the table with Machaon, is alarmed with the increasing

clamour of war, and hastens to Agamemnon; on his way he meets that prince

with Diomed and Ulysses, whom he informs of the extremity of the danger.

Agamemnon proposes to make their escape by night, which Ulysses

withstands; to which Diomed adds his advice, that, wounded as they were,

they should go forth and encourage the army with their presence, which

advice is pursued. Juno, seeing the partiality of Jupiter to the Trojans,

forms a design to over-reach him: she sets off her charms with the utmost

care, and (the more surely to enchant him) obtains the magic girdle of

Venus. She then applies herself to the god of sleep, and, with some

difficulty, persuades him to seal the eyes of Jupiter: this done, she goes

to mount Ida, where the god, at first sight, is ravished with her beauty,

sinks in her embraces, and is laid asleep. Neptune takes advantage of his

slumber, and succours the Greeks: Hector is struck to the ground with a

prodigious stone by Ajax, and carried off from the battle: several actions

succeed, till the Trojans, much distressed, are obliged to give way: the

lesser Ajax signalizes himself in a particular manner.

But not the genial feast, nor flowing bowl,

514

The Iliad of Homer