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shield； so that he could not keep his feet； he caught hold of a
great elm…tree； but it came up by the roots； and tore away the
bank； damming the stream with its thick branches and bridging it
all across； whereby Achilles struggled out of the stream； and
fled full speed over the plain； for he was afraid。
But the mighty god ceased not in his pursuit； and sprang upon him
with a dark…crested wave； to stay his hands and save the Trojans
from destruction。 The son of Peleus darted away a spear's throw
from him； swift as the swoop of a black hunter…eagle which is the
strongest and fleetest of all birds； even so did he spring
forward； and the armour rang loudly about his breast。 He fled on
in front； but the river with a loud roar came tearing after。 As
one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain
over his plants； and all his ground…spade in hand he clears away
the dams to free the channels； and the little stones run rolling
round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank
faster than the man can followeven so did the river keep
catching up with Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner； for the
gods are stronger than men。 As often as he would strive to stand
his ground； and see whether or no all the gods in heaven were in
league against him； so often would the mighty wave e beating
down upon his shoulders； and he would have to keep flying on and
on in great dismay； for the angry flood was tiring him out as it
flowed past him and ate the ground from under his feet。
Then the son of Peleus lifted up his voice to heaven saying；
〃Father Jove； is there none of the gods who will take pity upon
me； and save me from the river？ I do not care what may happen to
me afterwards。 I blame none of the other dwellers on Olympus so
severely as I do my dear mother； who has beguiled and tricked me。
She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying
arrows of Apollo； would that Hector； the best man among the
Trojans； might there slay me； then should I fall a hero by the
hand of a hero； whereas now it seems that I shall e to a most
pitiable end； trapped in this river as though I were some
swineherd's boy； who gets carried down a torrent while trying to
cross it during a storm。〃
As soon as he had spoken thus； Neptune and Minerva came up to him
in the likeness of two men； and took him by the hand to reassure
him。 Neptune spoke first。 〃Son of Peleus；〃 said he； 〃be not so
exceeding fearful； we are two gods； e with Jove's sanction to
assist you； I； and Pallas Minerva。 It is not your fate to perish
in this river； he will abate presently as you will see； moreover
we strongly advise you； if you will be guided by us； not to stay
your hand from fighting till you have pent the Trojan host within
the famed walls of Iliusas many of them as may escape。 Then
kill Hector and go back to the ships； for we will vouchsafe you a
triumph over him。〃
When they had so said they went back to the other immortals； but
Achilles strove onward over the plain； encouraged by the charge
the gods had laid upon him。 All was now covered with the flood of
waters； and much goodly armour of the youths that had been slain
was rifting about； as also many corpses； but he forced his way
against the stream； speeding right onwards； nor could the broad
waters stay him； for Minerva had endowed him with great strength。
Nevertheless Scamander did not slacken in his pursuit； but was
still more furious with the son of Peleus。 He lifted his waters
into a high crest and cried aloud to Simois saying； 〃Dear
brother； let the two of us unite to save this man； or he will
sack the mighty city of King Priam； and the Trojans will not hold
out against him。 Help me at once； fill your streams with water
from their sources； rouse all your torrents to a fury； raise your
wave on high； and let snags and stones e thundering down you
that we may make an end of this savage creature who is now
lording it as though he were a god。 Nothing shall serve him
longer； not strength nor eliness； nor his fine armour； which
forsooth shall soon be lying low in the deep waters covered over
with mud。 I will wrap him in sand； and pour tons of shingle round
him； so that the Achaeans shall not know how to gather his bones
for the silt in which I shall have hidden him； and when they
celebrate his funeral they need build no barrow。〃
On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles；
seething as it was with foam and blood and the bodies of the
dead。 The dark waters of the river stood upright and would have
overwhelmed the son of Peleus； but Juno； trembling lest Achilles
should be swept away in the mighty torrent； lifted her voice on
high and called out to Vulcan her son。 〃Crook…foot；〃 she cried；
〃my child； be up and doing； for I deem it is with you that
Xanthus is fain to fight； help us at once； kindle a fierce fire；
I will then bring up the west and the white south wind in a
mighty hurricane from the sea； that shall bear the flames against
the heads and armour of the Trojans and consume them； while you
go along the banks of Xanthus burning his trees and wrapping him
round with fire。 Let him not turn you back neither by fair words
nor foul； and slacken not till I shout and tell you。 Then you may
stay your flames。〃
On this Vulcan kindled a fierce fire； which broke out first upon
the plain and burned the many dead whom Achilles had killed and
whose bodies were lying about in great numbers； by this means the
plain was dried and the flood stayed。 As the north wind； blowing
on an orchard that has been sodden with autumn rain； soon dries
it； and the heart of the owner is gladeven so the whole plain
was dried and the dead bodies were consumed。 Then he turned
tongues of fire on to the river。 He burned the elms the willows
and the tamarisks； the lotus also； with the rushes and marshy
herbage that grew abundantly by the banks of the river。 The eels
and fishes that go darting about everywhere in the water； these；
too； were sorely harassed by the flames that cunning Vulcan had
kindled； and the river himself was scalded； so that he spoke
saying； 〃Vulcan； there is no god can hold his own against you。 I
cannot fight you when you flare out your flames in this way；
strive with me no longer。 Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of
city immediately。 What have I to do with quarrelling and helping
people？〃
He was boiling as he spoke； and all his waters were seething。 As
a cauldron upon a large fire boils when it is melting the lard of
some fatted hog； and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the
dry faggots blaze under iteven so were the goodly waters of
Xanthus heated with the fire till they were boiling。 He could
flow no longer but stayed his stream； so afflicted was he by the
blasts of fire which cunning Vulcan had raised。 Then he prayed to
Juno and besought her saying； 〃Juno； why should your son vex my
stream with such especial fury？ I am not so much to blame as all
the others are who have been helping the Trojans。 I will leave
off； since you so desire it； and let son leave off also。
Furthermore I swear never again will I do anything to save the
Trojans from destruction； not even when a