Neptune from below Shook the great earth and lofty mountain peaks. Then watery Ida’s heights and very roots, The city of Troy, and the Greek galleys, quaked. Then Pluto, ruler of the nether world, Leaped from his throne in terror, lest the god Who makes the earth to tremble, cleaving it Above him, should lay bare to gods and men His horrible abodes, the dismal haunts Which even the gods abhor. Such tumult filled The field of battle when the immortals joined The conflict. Then against King Neptune stood Phoebus Apollo, with his wingèd shafts, And Pallas, goddess of the azure eyes, Confronted Mars. Encountering Juno came The sister of Apollo, archer-queen And huntress, Dian of the golden bow. The helpful Hermes, god of useful arts, Opposed Latona, and the mighty stream Called Xanthus by the immortals, but by men Scamander, with his eddies strong and deep, Stood face to face with Vulcan in the field.
So warred the gods with gods. Meantime the son Of Peleus, ranging through the thick of fight, Sought only Hector, Priam’s son, whose blood He meant to pour to greedy Mars, the god Of carnage. But Apollo, who impels Warriors to battle, stirred Aeneas up To meet Pelides. First he filled his heart With resolute valor, and then took the voice Of Priam’s son, Lycaon. In his shape Thus spake Apollo, son of Jupiter:—
“Aeneas, prince of Troy, where now are all The boasts which thou hast made before the chiefs Of Troy at banquets, that thou yet wouldst meet Pelides in the combat hand to hand?”
Aeneas made reply: “Priamides, Why dost thou bid me, when thou knowest me Unwilling, meet in combat Peleus’ son, The mighty among men? It will not be For the first time if I confront him now. He chased me once from Ida with his spear— Me and my fellows, when he took our herds And laid Lyrnessus waste and Pedasus. But Jove, who gave me strength and nimble feet, Preserved me; I had else been slain by him And