With doubled honours, and redeemed his aid.-- She ceased; but the considering God was mute, Till she, resolved to win, renewed her suit, Nor loosed her hold, but forced him to reply:-- Or grant me my petition, or deny; Jove cannot fear; then tell me to my face That I, of all the gods, am least in grace. This I can bear.--The cloud-compeller mourned, And, sighing first, this answer he returned. Know'st thou what clamours will disturb my reign, What my stunned ears from Juno must sustain? In council she gives licence to her tongue, Loquacious, brawling, ever in the wrong; And now she will my partial power upbraid, If, alienate from Greece, I give the Trojans aid. But thou depart, and shun her jealous sight, The care be mine to do Pelides right. Go then, and on the faith of Jove rely, When, nodding to thy suit, he bows the sky. This ratifies the irrevocable doom; The sign ordained, that what I will shall come; The stamp of heaven, and seal of fate.--He said, And shook the sacred honours of his head: With terror trembled heaven's subsiding hill, And from his shaken curls ambrosial dews distil. The Goddess goes exulting from his sight, And seeks the seas profound, and leaves the realms of light. He moves into his hall; the Powers resort, Each from his house, to fill the sovereign's court; Nor waiting summons, nor expecting stood, But met with reverence, and received the God. He mounts the throne; and Juno took her place, But sullen discontent sate lowering on her face. With jealous eyes, at distance she had seen, Whispering with Jove, the silver-footed queen; Then, impotent of tongue, her silence broke, Thus turbulent, in rattling tone, she spoke. Author of ills, and close contriver Jove, Which of thy dames, what prostitute of love, Has held thy ear so long, and begged so hard, For some old service done, some new reward? Apart you talked, for that's your special care; The consort never must the council share. One gracious word is for a wife too much; Such is a marriage vow, and Jove's own faith is such. Then thus the sire of Gods, and men below:-- What I have hidden, hope not thou to know. Even goddesses are women; and no wife Has power to regulate her husband's life. Counsel she may; and I will give thy ear The knowledge first of what is fit to hear. What I transact with others, or alone, Beware to learn, nor press too near the throne. To whom the Goddess, with the charming eyes:-- What hast thou said, O tyrant of the skies! When did I search the secrets of thy reign, Though privileged to know, but privileged in vain? But well thou dost, to hide from common sight Thy close intrigues, too bad to bear the light. Nor doubt I, but the silver-footed dame, Tripping from sea, on such an errand came,