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 come
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 come 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 command 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 fight… to 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； fike some fierce lion that the
whole country…side has met to hunt and kill… at 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 foes… even 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 discomfited 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 common 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 will… and it is known to many。
〃In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove； and founded
Dardania； for Ilius was not yet stablished on the plain for men to
dwell in； and her people still abode on the spurs of many…fountained
Ida。 Dardanus had a son； king Erichthonius； who was wealthiest of
all men living； he had three thousand mares that fed by the
water…meadows； they and their foals with them。 Boreas was enamoured of
them as they were feeding； and covered them in the semblance of a
dark…maned stallion。 Twelve filly foals did they conceive and bear
him； and these； as they sped over the rich plain； would go bounding on
over the ripe ears of corn and not break them； or again when they
would disport themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could
gallop on the crest of a breaker。 Erichthonius begat Tros； king of the
Trojans； and Tros had three noble sons； Ilus； Assaracus； and
Ganymede who was comeliest of mortal men； wherefore the gods carried
him off to be Jove's cupbearer； for his beauty's sake； that he might
dwell among the immortals。 Ilus begat Laomedon； and Laomedon begat
Tithonus； Priam； Lampus； Clytius； and Hiketaon of the stock of Mars。
But Assaracus was father to Capys； and Capys to Anchises； who was my
father； while Hector is son to Priam。
〃Such do I declare my blood and lineage； but as for valour； Jove
gives it or takes it as he will； for he is lord of all。 And now let
there be no more of this prating in mid…battle as though we were
children。 We could fling taunts without end at one another； a
hundred…oared galley would not hold them。 The tongue can run all
whithers and talk all wise； it can go here and there； and as a man
says； so shall he be gainsaid。 What is the use of our bandying hard
like women who when they fall foul of one another go out and wrangle
in the streets； one half true and the other lies； as rage inspires
them？ No words of yours shall turn me now that I am fain to fight…
therefore let us make trial of one another with our spears。〃
As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield of
Achilles； which rang out as the point struck it。 The son of Peleus
held the shield before him with his strong hand； and he was afraid；
for he deemed that Aeneas's spear would go through it quite easily；
not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were little likely to
yield before the blows of mortal men； and indeed Aeneas's spear did
not pierce the shield； for the layer of gold； gift of the god；
stayed the point。 It went through two layers； but the god had made the
shield in five； two of bronze； the two innermost ones of tin； and
one of gold； it was in this that the spear was stayed。
Achilles in his turn threw； and struck the round shield of Aeneas at
the very edge； where the bronze was thinnest； the spear of Pelian
ash went clean through； and the shield rang under the blow； Aeneas was
afraid； and crouched backwards； holding the shield away from him；
the spear； however； flew over his back； and stuck quivering in the
ground； after having gone through both circles of the sheltering
shield。 Aeneas though he had avoided the spear； stood still； blinded
with fear and grief because the weapon had gone so near him； then
Achilles sprang furiously upon him； with a cry as of death and with
his keen blade drawn； and Aeneas seized a great stone； so huge that
two men； as men now are； would be unable to lift it； but Aeneas
wielded it quite easily。
Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing towards
him； either on the helmet； or on the shield that covered him； and
Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him with his sword；
had not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick to mark； and said
forthwith to the immortals； 〃Alas； I am