Amid themselves such converse held the Gods. The sun was set; the Grecian work was done; They slew, and shar’d, by tents, the ev’ning meal. From Lemnos’ isle a num’rous fleet had come Freighted with wine; and by Euneus sent, Whom fair Hypsipyle to Jason bore. For Atreus’ sons, apart from all the rest, Of wine, the son of Jason had despatch’d A thousand measures; all the other Greeks Hasten’d to purchase, some with brass, and some With gleaming iron; other some with hides, Cattle, or slaves; and joyous wax’d the feast. All night the long-hair’d Greeks their revels held, And so in Troy, the Trojans and Allies: But through the night his anger Jove express’d With awful thunderings; pale they turn’d with fear: To earth the wine was from the goblets shed, Nor dar’d they drink, until libations due Had first been pour’d to Saturn’s mighty son. Then lay they down, and sought the boon of sleep. ARGUMENT. THE SECOND BATTLE, AND THE DISTRESS OF THE GREEKS. Jupiter assembles a council of the deities, and threatens them with the pains of Tartarus, if they assist either side: Minerva only obtains of him that she may direct the Greeks by her counsels. The armies join battle; Jupiter on Mount Ida weighs in his balances the fates of both, and affrights the Greeks with his thunders and lightnings. Nestor alone continues in the field in great danger; Diomed relieves him; whose exploits, and those of Hector, are excellently described. Juno endeavours to animate Neptune to the assistance of the Greeks, but in vain. The acts of Teucer, who is at length wounded by Hector, and carried off. Juno and Minerva prepare to aid the Grecians, but are restrained by Iris, sent from Jupiter. The night puts an end to the battle. Hector continues in the field, (the Greeks being driven to their fortifications before the ships,) and gives orders to keep the watch all night in the camp, to prevent the enemy from re-embarking and escaping by flight. They kindle fires through all the field, and pass the night under arms. The time of seven-and-twenty days is employed from the opening of the poem to the end of this book. The scene here (except of the celestial machines) lies in the field toward the sea-shore. BOOK VIII. Now morn, in saffron robe, the earth o’erspread; And Jove, the lightning’s Lord, of all the Gods A council held upon the highest peak Of many-ridg’d Olympus; he himself Address’d them; they his speech attentive heard.