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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 sorry for great Aeneas； who
will now go down to the house of Hades； vanquished by the son of
Peleus。 Fool that he was to give ear to the counsel of Apollo。
Apollo will never save him from destruction。 Why should this man
suffer when he is guiltless； to no purpose； and in another's
quarrel？ Has he not at all times offered acceptable sacrifice to the
gods that dwell in heaven？ Let us then snatch him from death's jaws；
lest the son of Saturn be angry should Achilles slay him。 It is fated；
moreover； that he should escape； and that the race of Dardanus； whom
Jove loved above all the sons born to him of mortal women； shall not
perish utterly without seed or sign。 For now indeed has Jove hated the
blood of Priam； while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans； he and
his children's children that shall be born hereafter。〃
Then answered Juno； 〃Earth…shaker； look to this matter yourself； and
consider concerning Aeneas； whether you will save him； or suffer
him； brave though he be； to fall by the hand of Achilles son of
Peleus。 For of a truth we two； I and Pallas Minerva； have sworn full
many a time before all the immortals； that never would we shield
Trojans from destruction； not even when all Troy is burning in the
flames that the Achaeans shall kindle。〃
When earth…encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle
amid the clash of spears； and came to the place where Achilles and
Aeneas were。 Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of the son
of Peleus； drew the bronze…headed ashen spear from the shield of
Aeneas； and laid it at the feet of Achilles。 Then he lifted Aeneas
on high from off the earth and hurried him away。 Over the heads of
many a band of warriors both horse and foot did he soar as the god's
hand sped him； till he came to the very fringe of the battle where the
Cauconians were arming themselves for fight。 Neptune； shaker of the
earth； then came near to him and said； Aeneas； what god has egged
you on to this folly in fighting the son of Peleus； who is both a
mightier man of valour and more beloved of heaven than you are？ Give
way before him whensoever you meet him； lest you go down to the
house of Hades even though fate would have it otherwise。 When Achilles
is dead you may then fight among the foremost undaunted； for none
other of the Achaeans shall slay you。〃
The god left him when he had given him these instructions； and at
once removed the darkness from before the eyes of Achilles； who opened
them wide indeed and said in great anger； 〃Alas！ what marvel am I
now beholding？ Here is my spear upon the ground； but I see not him
whom I meant to kill when I hurled it。 Of a truth Aeneas also must
be under heaven's protection； although I had thought his boasting
was idle。 Let him go hang； he will be in no mood to fight me
further； seeing how narrowly he has missed being killed。 I will now
give my orders to the Danaans and attack some other of the Trojans。〃
He sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did
so。 〃Let not the Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃keep you at arm's length；
Achaeans； but go for them and fight them man for man。 However
valiant I may be； I cannot give chase to so many and fight all of
them。 Even Mars； who is an immortal； or Minerva； would shrink from
flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying about him；
nevertheless； so far as in me lies I will show no slackness of hand or
foot nor want of endurance； not even for a moment； I will utterly
break their ranks； and woe to the Trojan who shall venture within
reach of my spear。〃
Thus did he exhort them。 Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans
and declared that he would fight Achilles。 〃Be not afraid； proud
Trojans；〃 said he； 〃to face the son of Peleus； I could fight gods
myself if the battle were one of words only； but they would be more
than a match for me； if we had to use our spears。 Even so the deed
of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word； he will do in
part； and the other part he will clip short。 I will go up against
him though his hands be as fire… though his hands be fire and his
strength iron。〃
Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the
Achaeans； and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves into
the midst of their ranks。 But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hector and
said； 〃Hector； on no account must you challenge Achilles to single
combat； keep a lookout for him while you are under cover of the others
and away from the thick of the fight； otherwise he will either hit you
with a spear or cut you down at close quarters。〃
Thus he spoke； and Hector drew back within the crowd； for he was
afraid when he heard what the god had said to him。 Achilles then
sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry； clothed in valour as with
a garment。 First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus； a leader of much
people whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus waster of cities；
in the land of Hyde under the snowy heights of Mt。 Tmolus。 Achilles
struck him full on the head as he was coming on towards him； and split
it clean in two； whereon he fell heavily to the ground and Achilles
v