Homer (Lombardo, trans) - Iliad 14 (Dios Apate) lyrics

14.150-222 Standing on a crag of Olympus Gold-throned Hera saw her brother, 150 Who was her husband's brother too, Busy on the fields of human glory, And her heart sang. Then she saw Zeus Sitting on the topmost peak of Ida And was filled with resentment. Cow-eyed Hera 155 Mused for a while on how to trick The mind of Zeus Aegis-Holder, And the plan that seemed best to her Was to make herself up and go to Ida, Seduce him, and then shed on his eyelids 160 And cunning mind a sleep gentle and warm. She went to the bedroom her darling son Hephaestus had built for her, and closed Behind her the solid, polished doors He had fitted out with a secret latch 165 And that no other god could open. First she cleansed her lovely skin With ambrosia, then rubbed on scented oil So immortally perfumed that if the jar Were just shaken in Zeus' bronze-floored house 170 The fragrance would spread to heaven and earth. She rubbed this into her beautiful skin, And she combed her hair and plaited The lustrous, ambrosial locks that fell Gorgeously from her immortal head. 175 Then she put on a robe that Athena Had embroidered for her, pinning it At her breast with brooches of gold. A sash with a hundred ta**els Circled her waist, and in her pierced ears 180 She put earrings with three mulberry drops Beguilingly bright. And the shining goddess Veiled over everything with a beautiful veil That was as white as the sun, and bound Lovely sandals on her oiled, supple feet. 185 When everything was perfect, she stepped Out of her room and called Aphrodite And had a word w ith her in private: “My dear child, will you do something for me, I wonder, or will you refuse, angry because 190 I favor the Greeks and you the Trojans?” And Zeus' daughter Aphrodite replied: “Goddess revered as Cronus' daughter, Speak your mind. Tell me what you want And I'll oblige you if I possibly can.” 195 And H era, with every intention to deceive: “Give me now the Sex and Desire You use to subdue immortals and humans. I'm off to visit the ends of the earth And Father Ocean and Mother Tethys 200 Who nursed and doted on me in their house When they got me from Rhea, after Zeus Had exiled Cronus to the regions below. I'm going to see them and try to resolve Their endless quarrel. For eons now 205 They've been angry and haven't made love. If I can talk to them and have them make up— And get them together in bed again— They will worship the ground I walk on." And Aphrodite, who loved to smile: 210 “How could I, or would I, refuse someone Who sleeps in the arms of almighty Zeus?” And with that she unbound from her breast An ornate sash inlaid with magical charms. Sex is in it, and Desire, and seductive 215 Sweet Talk, that fools even the wise. She handed it to Hera and said: “Here, put this sash in your bosom. It has everything built in. I predict You will accomplish what your heart desires.” 220 She spoke, and ox-eyed Hera, Smiling, tucked the sash in her bosom. 14.496-357 Hera was fast approaching Gargarus, Ida's highest peak, when Zeus saw her. And when he saw her, lust enveloped him, Just as it had the first time they made love, Slipping off to bed behind their parents' backs. 300 He stood close to her and said: “Hera, why have you left Olympus? And where are your horses and chariot?” And Hera, with every intention to deceive: “I'm off to visit the ends of the earth 305 And Father Ocean and Mother Tethys Who nursed and doted on me in their house. I'm going to see them and try to resolve Their endless quarrel. For eons now They've been angry and haven't made love. 310 My horses stand at the foot of Ida, Ready to bear me over land and sea. I came here from Olympus for your sake, So you wouldn't be upset that I left To visit Ocean without a word to you.” 315 And Zeus, clouds scudding about him: “You can go there later just as well. Let's get in bed now and make love. No goddess or woman has ever Made me feel so overwhelmed with lust, 320 Not even when I fell for Ixion's wife, Who bore Peirithous, wise as a god; Or Danae, with lovely, slim ankles, Who bore Perseus, a paragon of men; Or the daughter of far-famed Phoenix, 325 Who bore Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus; Or Semele; or Alcmene in Thebes, Who bore Heracles, a stouthearted son; And Semele bore Dionysus, a joy to humans; Or Demeter, the fair-haired queen; 330 Or glorious Leto; or even you— I've never loved anyone as I love you now, Never been in the grip of desire so sweet.” And Hera, with every intention to deceive: “What a thing to say, my awesome lord. 335 The thought of us lying down here on Ida And making love outdoors in broad daylight! What if one of the Immortals saw us Asleep, and went to all the other gods And told them? I could never get up 340 And go back home. It would be shameful. But if you really do want to do this, There is the bedroom your dear son Hephaestus Built for you, with good solid doors. Let's go There and lie down, since you're in the mood.” 345 And Zeus, who ma**es the clouds, replied: “Hera, don't worry about any god or man Seeing us. I'll enfold you in a cloud so dense And golden not even Helios could spy on us, And his light is the sharpest vision there is." 350 With that he caught his wife in his arms. Beneath them the shining soil sprouted Fresh gra**, and dewy lotus, and crocus, And hyacinth, soft and thick, that kept them Up off the ground. And as they lay there 355 A beautiful, golden cloud enfolded them And precipitated drops of glimmering dew. And so the Father slept soundly on Gargaron's peak, Mastered by Sleep and Love, and held his wife close.