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offspring of Podarge… this time when we have done fighting be sure and
bring your driver safely back to the host of the Achaeans； and do
not leave him dead on the plain as you did Patroclus。〃
Then fleet Xanthus answered under the yoke… for white…armed Juno had
endowed him with human speech… and he bowed his head till his mane
touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke…band。 〃Dread
Achilles；〃 said he； 〃we will indeed save you now； but the day of
your death is near； and the blame will not be ours； for it will be
heaven and stern fate that will destroy you。 Neither was it through
any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans stripped Patroclus
of his armour； it was the mighty god whom lovely Leto bore that slew
him as he fought among the foremost； and vouchsafed a triumph to
Hector。 We two can fly as swiftly as Zephyrus who they say is fleetest
of all winds； nevertheless it is your doom to fall by the hand of a
man and of a god。〃
When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech； and Achilles
answered him in great sadness； saying； 〃Why； O Xanthus； do you thus
foretell my death？ You need not do so； for I well know that I am to
fall here； far from my dear father and mother； none the more； however；
shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans their fill of
fighting。〃
So saying； with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front。
BOOK XX
THUS； then； did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you； O son
of Peleus； who were hungering for battle； while the Trojans over
against them armed upon the rise of the plain。
Meanwhile Jove from the top of many…delled Olympus； bade Themis
gather the gods in council； whereon she went about and called them
to the house of Jove。 There was not a river absent except Oceanus； nor
a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves； or springs of
rivers and meadows of green grass。 When they reached the house of
cloud…compelling Jove； they took their seats in the arcades of
polished marble which Vulcan with his consummate skill had made for
father Jove。
In such wise； therefore； did they gather in the house of Jove。
Neptune also； lord of the earthquake； obeyed the call of the
goddess； and came up out of the sea to join them。 There； sitting in
the midst of them； he asked what Jove's purpose might be。 〃Why；〃
said he； 〃wielder of the lightning； have you called the gods in
council？ Are you considering some matter that concerns the Trojans and
Achaeans… for the blaze of battle is on the point of being kindled
between them？〃
And Jove answered； 〃You know my purpose； shaker of earth； and
wherefore I have called you hither。 I take thought for them even in
their destruction。 For my own part I shall stay here seated on Mt。
Olympus and look on in peace； but do you others go about among Trojans
and Achaeans； and help either side as you may be severally disposed。
If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no
stand against him； they have ever trembled at the sight of him； and
now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade； he will override
fate itself and storm their city。〃
Thus spoke Jove and gave the word for war； whereon the gods took
their several sides and went into battle。 Juno； Pallas Minerva；
earth…encircling Neptune； Mercury bringer of good luck and excellent
in all cunning… all these joined the host that came from the ships；
with them also came Vulcan in all his glory； limping； but yet with his
thin legs plying lustily under him。 Mars of gleaming helmet joined the
Trojans； and with him Apollo of locks unshorn； and the archer
goddess Diana； Leto； Xanthus； and laughter…loving Venus。
So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors the
Achaeans were triumphant； for Achilles who had long refused to fight
was now with them。 There was not a Trojan but his limbs failed him for
fear as he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all glorious in his
armour； and looking like Mars himself。 When； however； the Olympians
came to take their part among men； forthwith uprose strong Strife；
rouser of hosts； and Minerva raised her loud voice； now standing by
the deep trench that ran outside the wall； and now shouting with all
her might upon the shore of the sounding sea。 Mars also bellowed out
upon the other side； dark as some black thunder…cloud； and called on
the Trojans at the top of his voice； now from the acropolis； and now
speeding up the side of the river Simois till he came to the hill
Callicolone。
Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight； and rouse fierce
contention also among themselves。 The sire of gods and men thundered
from heaven above； while from beneath Neptune shook the vast earth；
and bade the high hills tremble。 The spurs and crests of
many…fountained Ida quaked； as also the city of the Trojans and the
ships of the Achaeans。 Hades； king of the realms below； was struck
with fear； he sprang panic…stricken from his throne and cried aloud in
terror lest Neptune； lord of the earthquake； should crack the ground
over his head； and lay bare his mouldy mansions to the sight of
mortals and immortals… mansions so ghastly grim that even the gods
shudder to think of them。 Such was the uproar as the gods came
together in battle。 Apollo with his arrows took his stand to face King
Neptune； while Minerva took hers against the god of war； the
archer…goddess Diana with 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 combat？〃
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 overcome 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 daughte