Page:Iliad Buckley.djvu/371

94—127. least [she] fetters. For at one time she injured even Jove, who, they say, is the most powerful of men and gods; but him Juno, being a female, deceived by her guile on that day when Alcmene was about to bring forth mighty Hercules in well-walled Thebes. He indeed, boasting, had said among all the gods:

Hear me, all ye gods and all ye goddesses, while I speak those things which the mind within my bosom urges. This day Ilithyia, presiding over births, shall bring into the light a certain man, who shall be ruler over all his neighbors—[one] of those men of the blood of my race!'

"But him the august Juno addressed, devising guile: 'Thou shalt lie, nor shalt thou insure accomplishment to thy speech. But come, swear a firm oath to me, O Olympian! that he shall indeed be ruler over all his neighbors, who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, among those men, who are of the blood of thy family.'

"Thus she spoke, but Jove perceived not her crafty design, but he swore the mighty oath, and afterward was much befooled. Then Juno springing forth, quitted the top of Olympus, and came speedily to Achæan Argos, where she knew the noble spouse of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus. And she, indeed, was pregnant of her beloved son; and the seventh month was at hand; and she brought him into light, being deficient the number of months; but kept back the delivery of Alcmene, and restrained the Ilithyiæ; and herself bearing the message, addressed Jove, the son of Saturn:

Father Jove, hurler of the red lightning, I will put a certain matter in thy mind. A noble man is now born, who shall rule the Argives, Eurystheus, the son of Perseus, thy offspring; nor is it unbecoming that he should govern the Argives.'

"Thus she spoke; but sharp grief smote him in his deep mind; and immediately he seized Até by her head of shining curls, enraged in his mind, and swore a powerful oath, that Até,