time, so that Agamemnon may find he cannot get on without Achilles'
help, and may thus be brought to reason.

Thetis tells her son that for the moment there is nothing to be
done, inasmuch as the gods are all of them away from home. They are
gone to pay a visit to Oceanus in Central Africa, and will not be
back for another ten or twelve days; she will see what can be done,
however, as soon as ever they return. This in due course she does,
going up to Olympus and laying hold of Jove by the knee and by the
chin. I may say in passing that it is still a common Italian form
of salutation to catch people by the chin. Twice during the last
summer I have been so seized in token of affectionate greeting, once
by a lady and once by a gentleman.

Thetis tells her tale to Jove, and concludes by saying that he is to
say straight out 'yes' or 'no' whether he will do what she asks. Of
course he can please himself, but she should like to know how she
stands.

"It will be a plaguy business," answers Jove, "for me to offend Juno
and put up with all the bitter tongue she will give me. As it is,
she is always nagging at me and saying I help the Trojans, still, go
away now at once before she finds out that you have been here, and
leave the rest to me. See, I nod my head to you, and this is the
most solemn form of covenant into which I can enter. I never go
back upon it, nor shilly-shally with anybody when I have once nodded
my head." Which, by the way, amounts to an admission that he does
shilly-shally sometimes.

Then he frowns and nods, shaking the hair on his immortal head till