Thus the Immortals, ever-blest, impell’d Both hosts to battle, and dire inroad caused Of strife among them. Sudden from on high The Sire of Gods and men thunder’d; meantime, Neptune the earth and the high mountains shook;75 Through all her base and to her topmost peak Ida spring-fed the agitation felt Reeling, all Ilium and the fleet of Greece. Upstarted from his throne, appall’d, the King Of Erebus, and with a cry his fears80 Through hell proclaim’d, lest Neptune, o’er his head Shattering the vaulted earth, should wide disclose To mortal and immortal eyes his realm Terrible, squalid, to the Gods themselves A dreaded spectacle; with such a sound85 The Powers eternal into battle rush’d.[4] Opposed to Neptune, King of the vast Deep, Apollo stood with his wing’d arrows arm’d; Pallas to Mars; Diana shaft-expert, Sister of Phœbus, in her golden bow90 Rejoicing, with whose shouts the forests ring To Juno; Mercury, for useful arts Famed, to Latona; and to Vulcan’s force The eddied River broad by mortal men Scamander call’d, but Xanthus by the Gods.95 So Gods encounter’d Gods. But most desire Achilles felt, breaking the ranks, to rush On Priameian Hector, with whose blood Chiefly his fury prompted him to sate The indefatigable God of war.100 But, the encourager of Ilium’s host Apollo, urged Æneas to assail The son of Peleus, with heroic might Inspiring his bold heart. He feign’d the voice Of Priam’s son Lycaon, and his form105 Assuming, thus the Trojan Chief address’d. Æneas! Trojan leader! where are now Thy vaunts, which, banqueting erewhile among Our princes, o’er thy brimming cups thou mad’st, That thou would’st fight, thyself, with Peleus’ son?110 To whom Æneas answer thus returned. Offspring of Priam! why enjoin’st thou me Not so inclined, that arduous task, to cope With the unmatch’d Achilles? I have proved His force already, when he chased me down115 From Ida with his spear, what time he made Seizure of all our cattle, and destroy’d Pedasus and Lyrnessus; but I ’scaped Unslain, by Jove himself empower’d to fly, Else had I fallen by Achilles’ hand,120 And by the hand of Pallas, who his steps Conducted, and exhorted him to slay Us and the Leleges.[5] Vain, therefore, proves All mortal force to Peleus’ son opposed; For one, at least, of the Immortals stands125 Ever beside him, guardian of his life, And, of himself, he hath an arm that sends His rapid spear unerring to the mark. Yet, would the Gods more equal sway the scales Of battle, not with ease should he subdue130 Me, though he boast a panoply of brass. Him, then, Apollo answer’d, son of Jove. Hero! prefer to the immortal Gods Thy Prayer, for thee men rumor Venus’ son Daughter of Jove; and Peleus’ son his birth135 Drew from a Goddess of inferior note. Thy mother is from Jove; the offspring, his, Less noble of the hoary Ocean old. Go, therefore, and thy conquering spear uplift Against him, nor let aught his sounding words140 Appal thee, or his threats turn thee away.