Then Zeus made answer much disturbed: "This is a hard matter, for thou wilt set me at strife with Hera, and she will upbraid me with bitter words. Even now she is ever reproaching me, saying that I favour the men of Troy in the battle. Therefore go thou away, that she may not know of thy coming; and I will consider how this thing may be best accomplished. And now I will assure my promise with a nod; for when I give my nod, then the thing may not be repented of or left undone." So he spake, and nodded with his dark brows, and the hair waved about his head, and all Olympus was shaken. Then Thetis departed, diving into the deep sea, and Zeus went to his own house, and all the gods rose up before him. And when he sat upon his chair, then Hera, knowing that Thetis of the silver feet had held counsel with him, addressed him with bitter words. "Who hath been in council with thee, thou plotter? Thou dost always take pleasure, when I am absent, in secret plans, and never tellest thy thought to me freely." To her the father of gods and men made reply: "Hera, think not to know all my thoughts; that would be too hard for thee, even though thou art my wife. That which is fitting thou shalt hear first; but into such counsel as I take by myself inquire thou not." Hera answered: "What sayest thou? I have not pried into thy plans. These thou makest as thou wilt. And now I sorely fear that Thetis of the silver feet hath persuaded thee. At dawn of day I saw her kneeling before thee; thou hast granted, I doubt not, that Achilles shall have honour, and that many of the Greeks shall die beside their ships." To this Zeus made reply: "Verily nothing escapeth thee, thou witch. If it be as thou sayest, such is my will. Do thou sit silent, and obey. Else all the gods in Olympus shall not save thee, when I lay upon thee the hands that none may resist." Then Hera was afraid, and held her peace, and all the gods were troubled. But her son Hephæstus, the smith, spake, saying: "This indeed will be grievous, if ye two come to strife for the sake of mortal men, and make trouble among the gods. If such ill counsels prevail, what pleasure shall we have in our feasting? Now will I advise my mother that she make peace with Zeus, lest he rebuke her again. If he were minded to hurl her from these seats, who should withstand him?" He-phæs'-tus. Thereupon he put the double-handled cup into his mother's hand, and said: "Have patience, mother, for all that thou art vexed, lest I see thee beaten before mine eyes. I could not help thee. Once before when I would have succoured thee, he grasped me by the foot, and flung me from the threshold of heaven. All day I fell, and at sunset I lighted in Lemnos."