Burning in wrath, nor ever came to councils of estate That make men honour’d, never trod the fierce embattled field, But kept close, and his lov’d heart pin’d, what fight and cries could yield Thirsting at all parts to the host, And now, since first he told His wrongs to Thetis, twelve fair morns their ensigns did unfold, And then the ever-living gods mounted Olympus, Jove First in ascension. Thetis then, remember’d well to move Achilles’ motion, rose from sea, and, by the morn’s first light, The great heav’n and Olympus climb’d; where, in supremest height Of all that many-headed hill, she saw the far-seen son Of Saturn, set from all the rest, in his free seat alone. Before whom, on her own knees fall’n, the knees of Jupiter Her left hand held, her right his chin, and thus she did prefer Her son’s petition: “Father Jove! If ever I have stood Aidful to thee in word or work, with this imploréd good, Requite my aid, renown my son, since in so short a race (Past others) thou confin’st his life. An insolent disgrace Is done him by the king of men; he forc’d from him a prise Won with his sword. But thou, O Jove, that art most strong, most wise, Honour my son for my sake; add strength to the Trojans’ side By his side’s weakness in his want; and see Troy amplified In conquest, so much, and so long, till Greece may give again The glory reft him, and the more illustrate the free reign Of his wrong’d honour.” Jove at this sate silent; not a word In long space pass’d him. Thetis still hung on his knee, implor’d The second time his help, and said: “Grant, or deny my suit, Be free in what thou dost; I know, thou canst not sit thus mute For fear of any; speak, deny, that so I may be sure, Of all heav’n’s Goddesses ’tis I, that only must endure Dishonour by thee.” Jupiter, the great cloud-gath’rer, griev’d With thought of what a world of griefs this suit ask’d, being achiev’d, Swell’d, sigh’d, and answer’d: “Works of death thou urgest. O, at this Juno will storm, and all my pow’rs inflame with contumelies. Ever she wrangles, charging me in ear of all the Gods That I am partial still, that I add the displeasing odds Of my aid to the Ilians. Begone then, lest she see; Leave thy request to my care; yet, that trust may hearten thee With thy desire’s grant, and my pow’r to give it act approve How vain her strife is, to thy pray’r my eminent head shall move; Which is the great sign of my will with all th’ immortal states; Irrevocable; never fails; never without the rates Of all pow’rs else; when my head bows, all heads bow with it still As their first mover; and gives pow’r to any work I will.” He said; and his black eyebrows bent; above his deathless head Th’ ambrosian curls flow’d; great heav’n shook: and both were severéd, Their counsels broken. To the depth of Neptune’s kingdom div’d Thetis from heav’n’s height; Jove arose; and all the Gods receiv’d (All rising from their thrones) their Sire, attending to his court.