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1—15.

Now they, the gods, sitting on the golden floor with Jove, were engaged in consultation, and amid them venerable Hebe poured out the nectar; but they pledged one another with golden cups, looking toward the city of the Trojans. Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted to irritate Juno, speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful words:

"Two goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive Juno and Minerva of Alalcomenæ: and yet these, forsooth, sitting apart, amuse themselves with looking on; but to the other, on the contrary [Paris], laughter-looking Venus is ever present, and averts fate from him. Even now has she saved him, thinking that he was about to die. But the victory, indeed, belongs to Mars-beloved Menelaus: let us therefore consult how these things shall be, whether we shall again excite the destructive war, and dreadful battle-din, or