Those two left off, stayed by Hera. Then the other gods fell on one another with a mighty uproar — earth groaned, heaven rang like trumpets. Zeus on Olympus laughed for joy to see them come to blows.
Ares sprang on Athena with his sword, reviling her for setting Diomedes on him once and driving the spear into his flesh. He struck the tasseled aegis that even Zeus's lightning cannot pierce.
She seized a great black boundary-stone from the plain, struck him on the neck, and brought him down nine roods, hair soiled in dust, armor rattling. She laughed that he had not yet learned her strength, and that Hera's curses against him for aiding Troy were fulfilled.
Aphrodite led groaning Ares away. Hera told Athena to go after that dog-fly. Athena struck Aphrodite on the bosom so both lay stretched; she vaunted that if all Trojan helpers were as stalwart, the Argives would long since have sacked Ilios. Hera smiled.
Poseidon challenged Apollo: it is disgraceful to return to Zeus's bronze floor without fighting, now the others have begun. Remember Laomedon — we worked a year for wage; I built Troy's wall, you herded on Ida, and he robbed us and threatened to sell us bound. Yet you favor his people.
Apollo answered he would not fight his father's brother over miserable mortals who come out like leaves and fall; let them settle it themselves. He turned away.
Artemis mocked her brother for flying and handing victory to Poseidon with a cheap vaunt. Hera caught both her wrists, took the bow, and beat her about the ears until arrows shed on the ground.
Artemis fled weeping like a dove before a falcon, leaving bow and shafts. Hermes told Leto he would not fight any wife of Zeus; Leto gathered the weapons and followed.
On Olympus Artemis sat crying on Zeus's knees; he laughed and asked who had treated her so. Your wife, white-armed Hera, she said — she who always begins strife among the immortals.