us.

us."

As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his mother's hand. "Cheer
up, my dear mother," said he, "and make the best of it. I love you dearly, and should
be very sorry to see you get a thrashing; however grieved I might be, I could not help
for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was trying to help you, he
caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold. All day long from
morn till eve, was I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos, and
there I lay, with very little life left in me, till the Sintians came and tended me."

Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son's hands. Then
Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl, and served it round among the gods,
going from left to right; and the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw
him ing bustling about the heavenly mansion.

Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they feasted, and every
one had his full share, so that all were satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses
lifted up their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the sun's
glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in his own abode, which lame
Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord
of Thunder, hied him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on to it
he went to sleep, with Juno of the golden throne by his side.