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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 come 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； come 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 Ilius… as
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 come
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 comeliness； 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 bo&ies 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 glad… even so the whole plan 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 it… even 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
all Troy is burning in the flames which the Achaeans will kindle。〃
As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan； 〃Son
Vulcan； hold now your flames； we ought not to use such violence
against a god for the sake of mortals。〃
When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames； and the river
went back once more into his own fair bed。
Xanthus was now beaten； so these two left off fighting； for Juno
stayed them though she was still angry； but a furious quarrel broke
out among the other gods； for they were of divided counsels。 They fell
on one another with a mighty uproar… earth groaned； and the spacious
firmament rang out as with a blare of trumpets。 Jove heard as he was
sitting on Olympus； and laughed for joy when he saw the gods coming to
blows among themselves。 They were not long about beginning； and Mars
piercer of shields opened the battle。 Sword in hand he sprang at
once upon Minerva and reviled her。 〃Why； vixen；〃 said he； 〃have you
again set the gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your
heart？ Have you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on to wound
me； and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt
of my fair body？ You shall now suffer for what you then did to me。〃
As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis… so
terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce it。 Here did
murderous Mars strike her with his great spear。 She drew back and with
her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain… great
and rugged and black… which men of old had set for the boundary of a
field。 With this she struck Mars on the neck； and brought him down。
Nine roods did he cover in his fall； and his hair was all soiled in
the