Poseidon told Agamemnon that Achilles must be rejoicing now to see the Achaeans dying, but may ruin seize him; the blessed gods had not abandoned the Argives altogether. Soon the Trojan lords would raise dust in flight from the ships to the city. He shouted as loud as nine or ten thousand men in battle, putting strength into every Achaean heart.
Hera of the golden throne saw Poseidon moving through battle and rejoiced. Then she saw Zeus sitting on Ida and hated him in her heart. She planned how to deceive the mind of Zeus who bears the aegis. The best way seemed to be to make herself beautiful, go to Ida, and pour sleep over his eyelids after he desired her.
She went to her chamber, which Hephaestus had built with secret doors no other god could open.
She washed with ambrosia, anointed herself with divine oil whose fragrance would fill earth and heaven, combed her shining hair, braided it beautifully, put on an immortal robe Athena had made, fastened it with golden brooches, set a girdle with a hundred tassels about her waist, and hung bright earrings at her ears.
She veiled herself in a new bright veil, put fine sandals under her feet, and went to Aphrodite. Hera said she needed love and desire to reconcile Ocean and Tethys, who had stopped sharing one bed in anger. Aphrodite, unsuspecting, gave her the embroidered band from her breast, where charm, desire, intimate speech, and persuasion were all held.
Hera took the band and went to Sleep, brother of Death. She asked him to put Zeus to sleep when she lay beside him, promising a beautiful throne made by Hephaestus. Sleep was afraid. Once before, after Heracles sacked Troy, he had put Zeus to sleep at Hera's request; Zeus woke in rage and would have thrown him from heaven if Night had not saved him.
Hera then promised him one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, whom he desired always. Sleep made her swear by the waters of Styx, with one hand on earth and one on sea, calling the Titans below as witnesses. When she swore, they went together from Lemnos and Imbros, wrapped in mist. Sleep climbed a tall pine on Ida, hidden like a clear-voiced mountain bird.