by Minerva, for the goddess went Before him, giving him the victory And moving him to slay the Leleges And Trojans with the brazen spear he bore. ’Tis not for mortal man to fight the son Of Peleus, at whose side there ever stands One of the immortal gods, averting harm. And then his weapon flies right on, nor stops Until it bites the flesh. Yet were the god To weigh the victory in an equal scale, Achilles would not vanquish me with ease, Though he might boast his frame were all of brass.”
Then spake the king Apollo, son of Jove: “Pray, warrior, to the eternal gods. They say That Venus gave thee birth, who has her own From Jove. His mother is of lower rank Than thine. Thine is a child of Jove, but his A daughter of the Ancient of the Deep. Strike at him with that conquering spear of thine, Nor let him scare thee with stern words and threats.”
He said, and breathed into the prince’s breast Fresh valor, as, arrayed in glittering arms, He pressed to where the foremost warriors fought; Yet not unseen by Juno’s eye went forth The son of old Anchises. She convened The gods in council, and addressed them thus:—
“Neptune and Pallas, what shall now be done? Consider ye. Aeneas, all arrayed In glittering arms, is pressing on to meet Pelides. Phoebus sends him. Let us join To turn him back, or let some one of us Stand near Achilles, fill his limbs with strength, Nor let his heart grow faint, but let him see That we, the mightiest of the immortals, look On him with favor, and that those who strive Amid the war and bloodshed to protect The sons of Troy are empty boasters all. For this we came from heaven to interpose In battle, that Achilles may endure No harm from Trojan hands, although, no doubt, Hereafter he must suffer all that Fate Spun for him when his mother brought him forth. But if he hear not, from some heavenly voice, Of this assurance, fear may fall on him When, haply, in the battle he shall meet Some god; for when revealed to human sight The presence of the gods is terrible.”