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her golden arrows； sister of far…darting Apollo； stood to face
Juno； Mercury the lusty bringer of good luck faced Leto； while
the mighty eddying river whom men can Scamander； but gods
Xanthus； matched himself against Vulcan。
The gods； then； were thus ranged against one another。 But the
heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector son of Priam； for it
was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut
the stubborn lord of battle。 Meanwhile Apollo set Aeneas on to
attack the son of Peleus； and put courage into his heart；
speaking with the voice of Lycaon son of Priam。 In his likeness
therefore； he said to Aeneas； 〃Aeneas； counsellor of the Trojans；
where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your
wine before the Trojan princes； saying that you would fight
Achilles son of Peleus in single bat？〃
And Aeneas answered； 〃Why do you thus bid me fight the proud son
of Peleus； when I am in no mind to do so？ Were I to face him now；
it would not be for the first time。 His spear has already put me
to Right from Ida； when he attacked our cattle and sacked
Lyrnessus and Pedasus； Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed
me strength to fly； else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles
and Minerva； who went before him to protect him and urged him to
fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans。 No man may fight Achilles； for
one of the gods is always with him as his guardian angel； and
even were it not so； his weapon flies ever straight； and fails
not to pierce the flesh of him who is against him； if heaven
would let me fight him on even terms he should not soon overe
me； though he boasts that he is made of bronze。〃
Then said King Apollo； son to Jove； 〃Nay； hero； pray to the
ever…living gods； for men say that you were born of Jove's
daughter Venus； whereas Achilles is son to a goddess of inferior
rank。 Venus is child to Jove； while Thetis is but daughter to the
old man of the sea。 Bring； therefore； your spear to bear upon
him； and let him not scare you with his taunts and menaces。〃
As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his
people； and he strode in full armour among the ranks of the
foremost fighters。 Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice
of white…armed Juno； as he went forth into the throng to meet
Achilles。 She called the gods about her； and said； 〃Look to it；
you two； Neptune and Minerva； and consider how this shall be；
Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armour to
fight Achilles。 Shall we turn him back at once； or shall one of
us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his
heart fail not； and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals
are on his side； while the others who have all along been
defending the Trojans are but vain helpers？ Let us all e down
from Olympus and join in the fight； that this day he may take no
hurt at the hands of the Trojans。 Hereafter let him suffer
whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and
his mother bore him。 If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice
of a god； he may e to fear presently when one of us meets him
in battle； for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to
face。〃
Neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying； 〃Juno；
restrain your fury； it is not well； I am not in favour of forcing
the other gods to fight us； for the advantage is too greatly on
our own side； let us take our places on some hill out of the
beaten track； and let mortals fight it out among themselves。 If
Mars or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting； or keep Achilles in check
so that he cannot fight； we too； will at once raise the cry of
battle； and in that case they will soon leave the field and go
back vanquished to Olympus among the other gods。〃
With these words the dark…haired god led the way to the high
earth…barrow of Hercules； built round solid masonry； and made by
the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him fly to when the
sea…monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain。 Here
Neptune and those that were with him took their seats； wrapped in
a thick cloud of darkness； but the other gods seated themselves
on the brow of Callicolone round you； O Phoebus； and Mars the
waster of cities。
Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans； but neither
side was willing to begin battle with the other； and Jove from
his seat on high was in mand over them all。 Meanwhile the
whole plain was alive with men and horses； and blazing with the
gleam of armour。 The earth rang again under the tramp of their
feet as they rushed towards each other； and two champions； by far
the foremost of them all； met between the hosts to fightto wit；
Aeneas son of Anchises； and noble Achilles。
Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack； his doughty helmet
tossing defiance as he came on。 He held his strong shield before
his breast； and brandished his bronze spear。 The son of Peleus
from the other side sprang forth to meet him； like some fierce
lion that the whole country…side has met to hunt and killat
first he bodes no ill； but when some daring youth has struck him
with a spear； he crouches openmouthed； his jaws foam； he roars
with fury； he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs
and loins； and glares as he springs straight before him； to find
out whether he is to slay； or be slain among the foremost of his
foeseven with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon
Aeneas。
When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first
to speak。 〃Aeneas；〃 said he； 〃why do you stand thus out before
the host to fight me？ Is it that you hope to reign over the
Trojans in the seat of Priam？ Nay； though you kill me Priam will
not hand his kingdom over to you。 He is a man of sound judgement；
and he has sons of his own。 Or have the Trojans been allotting
you a demesne of passing richness； fair with orchard lawns and
corn lands； if you should slay me？ This you shall hardly do。 I
have disfited you once already。 Have you forgotten how when
you were alone I chased you from your herds helter…skelter down
the slopes of Ida？ You did not turn round to look behind you； you
took refuge in Lyrnessus； but I attacked the city； and with the
help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women
into captivity； though Jove and the other gods rescued you。 You
think they will protect you now； but they will not do so；
therefore I say go back into the host； and do not face me； or you
will rue it。 Even a fool may be wise after the event。〃
Then Aeneas answered； 〃Son of Peleus； think not that your words
can scare me as though I were a child。 I too； if I will； can brag
and talk unseemly。 We know one another's race and parentage as
matters of mon fame； though neither have you ever seen my
parents nor I yours。 Men say that you are son to noble Peleus；
and that your mother is Thetis； fair…haired daughter of the sea。
I have noble Anchises for my father； and Venus for my mother； the
parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son； for it
will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is
over。 Learn； then； my lineage if you willand it is known to
many。
〃In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove； and founded
Dardani