call this council. Though so soon to die, They are my care. Yet will I keep my place, Seated upon the Olympian mount, and look Calmly upon the conflict. All of you Depart, and aid the Trojans or the Greeks, As it may list you. For should Peleus’ son Alone do battle with the men of Troy, Their squadrons could not stand before the assault Of the swift-footed warrior for an hour. Beforetime, at the sight of him they fled, O’ercome with fear, and now, when he is roused To rage by his companion’s death, I fear Lest, though it be against the will of fate, He level with the ground the walls of Troy.”
Saturnius spake, and moved the hosts to join In desperate conflict. All the gods went forth To mingle with the war on different sides. Juno and Pallas hastened to the fleet With Neptune, he who makes the earth to shake, And Hermes, god of useful arts, and shrewd In forecast. Vulcan also went with them, Strong and stern-eyed, yet lame, his feeble legs Moving with labor. To the Trojan side Went crested Mars, Apollo with his locks Unshorn, Diana mighty with the bow, Latona, Xanthus, and the queen of smiles, Venus; for while the gods remained apart From men, the Achaian host was high in hope Because Achilles, who so long had left The war, now reappeared upon the field, And terror shook the limbs of every son Of Troy when he beheld the swift of foot, Pelides, terrible as Mars—that curse Of human-kind—in glittering arms again. But when the dwellers of Olympus joined The crowd of mortals, Discord, who makes mad The nations, rose and raged; Minerva raised Her war-cry from the trench without the wall, And then she shouted from the sounding shore; While, like a cloudy whirlwind, opposite, Moved Mars, and fiercely yelled, encouraging The men of Troy, as on the city heights He stood, or paced with rapid steps the hill Beside the Simoïs, called the Beautiful.
Thus, kindling hate between the hosts, the gods Engaged, and hideous was the strife that rose Among them. From above, with terrible crash, Thundered the father of the blessed gods And mortal men, while