The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships Stood arm’d around Achilles, glorious Chief Insatiable with war, and opposite The Trojans on the rising-ground appear’d.[1] Meantime, Jove order’d Themis, from the head5 Of the deep-fork’d Olympian to convene The Gods in council. She to every part Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.[2] Nor of the Floods was any absent thence Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs10 Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green. Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove Arrived, on pillar’d thrones radiant they sat, With ingenuity divine contrived15 By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all. Thus they within the Thunderer’s palace sat Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear The voice of Themis, but (the billows left) Came also; in the midst his seat he took,20 And ask’d, incontinent, the mind of Jove.[3] King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call’d The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy? For on the battle’s fiery edge they stand.25 To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms, Thou know’st my council, Shaker of the shores! And wherefore ye are call’d. Although ordain’d So soon to die, they interest me still. Myself, here seated on Olympus’ top,30 With contemplation will my mind indulge Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest, Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek Each to assist, as each shall most incline. For should Achilles in the field no foe35 Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly Before the rapid force of Peleus’ son. They trembled ever at his look, and since Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart, I fear lest he anticipate the will40 Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature. So spake the son of Saturn kindling war Inevitable, and the Gods to fight ’Gan move with minds discordant. Juno sought And Pallas, with the earth-encircling Power45 Neptune, the Grecian fleet, with whom were join’d Mercury, teacher of all useful arts, And Vulcan, rolling on all sides his eyes Tremendous, but on disproportion’d legs, Not without labor hard, halting uncouth.50 Mars, warrior-God, on Ilium’s part appear’d With Phœbus never-shorn, Dian shaft-arm’d, Xanthus, Latona, and the Queen of smiles, Venus. So long as the immortal Gods Mixed not with either host, Achaia’s sons55 Exulted, seeing, after tedious pause, Achilles in the field, and terror shook The knees of every Trojan, at the sight Of swift Achilles like another Mars Panting for blood, and bright in arms again.60 But when the Olympian Powers had enter’d once The multitude, then Discord, at whose voice The million maddens, vehement arose; Then, Pallas at the trench without the wall By turns stood shouting, and by turns a shout65 Sent terrible along the sounding shore, While, gloomy as a tempest, opposite, Mars from the lofty citadel of Troy Now yell’d aloud, now running o’er the hill Callicolone, on the Simois’ side.70