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given to Peleus； fraught with the death of heroes。 Automedon and
Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses； they
made the bands fast about them； and put the bit in their mouths；
drawing the reins back towards the chariot。 Automedon； whip in
hand； sprang up behind the horses； and after him Achilles mounted
in full armour； resplendent as the sun…god Hyperion。 Then with a
loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying； 〃Xanthus
and Balius； famed offspring of Podargethis 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 yokefor white…armed Juno
had endowed him with human speechand 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
The gods hold a council and determine to watch the fight； from
the hill Callicolone； and the barrow of HerculesA fight
between Achilles and AEneas is interrupted by Neptune； who
saves AEneasAchilles kills many Trojans。
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…pelling 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 Achaeansfor 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 rade； 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 cunningall 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 immortalsmansions 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 bat？〃
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 overe
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
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 am