And then did Neptune, he who shakes the earth, Make answer: “Juno, it becomes thee ill To be so greatly vexed. I cannot wish A contest with the other gods, though we In power excel them. Rather let us sit Apart, where we can look upon the war, And leave it to mankind. And yet if Mars Or Phoebus should begin the fight, or seek To thwart Achilles or restrain his arm, There will be cause for us to join the strife In earnest, and I deem that they full soon, The contest ended, will return to join The assembled gods upon the Olympian mount, Forced to withdraw by our all-potent hands.”
So spake the dark-haired god, and led the way To the high mound of godlike Hercules, Raised from the earth by Trojans, with the aid Of Pallas, that the hero there might find A refuge when the monster of the deep Should chase him from the sea-beach to the plain. With other gods beside him Neptune there Sat down and drew a shadow, which no sight Could pierce, around their shoulders. Other gods, Upon the hill called Beautiful, were grouped Round thee, Apollo, archer-god, and Mars, Spoiler of cities. On both sides they sat, Devising plans, unwilling to begin The fierce encounter, though Almighty Jove From where he sat in heaven commanded it.
The warriors thronged into the field, which shone With brazen armor and caparisons Of steeds; earth trembled with the sounding tramp Of marching squadrons. From the opposing ranks Two chieftains, each the bravest of his host, Impatient to engage—Anchises’ son, Aeneas, and the great Achilles—came. And first Aeneas, with defiant mien And nodding casque, stood forth. He held his shield Before him, which he wielded right and left, And shook his brazen spear. On the other side, Pelides hurried toward him, terrible As is a lion, which the assembled hinds Of a whole village chase and seek to slay, While on he stalks, contemning their assault; But if the arrow of some strong-armed youth Have smitten him, he stands, and gathers all His strength to spring, with open jaws and teeth Half hid in foam, and uttering fearful growls From his deep chest;