So saying, with martial force the Chief he fill’d, Who through the foremost combatants advanced Radiant in arms. Nor pass’d Anchises’ son Unseen of Juno, through the crowded ranks145 Seeking Achilles, but the Powers of heaven Convened by her command, she thus address’d. Neptune, and thou, Minerva! with mature Deliberation, ponder the event. Yon Chief, Æneas, dazzling bright in arms;150 Goes to withstand Achilles, and he goes Sent by Apollo; in despite of whom Be it our task to give him quick repulse, Or, of ourselves, let some propitious Power Strengthen Achilles with a mind exempt155 From terror, and with force invincible. So shall he know that of the Gods above The mightiest are his friends, with whom compared The favorers of Ilium in time past, Who stood her guardians in the bloody strife,160 Are empty boasters all, and nothing worth. For therefore came we down, that we may share This fight, and that Achilles suffer nought Fatal to-day, though suffer all he must Hereafter, with his thread of life entwined165 By Destiny, the day when he was born. But should Achilles unapprized remain Of such advantage by a voice divine, When he shall meet some Deity in the field, Fear then will seize him, for celestial forms170 Unveil’d are terrible to mortal eyes. To whom replied the Shaker of the shores. Juno! thy hot impatience needs control; It ill befits thee. No desire I feel To force into contention with ourselves175 Gods, our inferiors. No. Let us, retired To yonder hill, distant from all resort, There sit, while these the battle wage alone. But if Apollo, or if Mars the fight Entering, begin, themselves, to interfere180 Against Achilles, then will we at once To battle also; and, I much misdeem, Or glad they shall be soon to mix again Among the Gods on the Olympian heights, By strong coercion of our arms subdued.185 So saying, the God of Ocean azure-hair’d Moved foremost to the lofty mound earth-built Of noble Hercules, by Pallas raised And by the Trojans for his safe escape, What time the monster of the deep pursued190 The hero from the sea-bank o’er the plain. There Neptune sat, and his confederate Gods, Their shoulders with impenetrable clouds O’ermantled, while the city-spoiler Mars Sat with Apollo opposite on the hill195 Callicolone, with their aids divine. So, Gods to Gods in opposite aspect Sat ruminating, and alike the work All fearing to begin of arduous war, While from his seat sublime Jove urged them on.200 The champain all was fill’d, and with the blaze Illumined wide of men and steeds brass-arm’d, And the incumber’d earth jarr’d under foot Of the encountering hosts. Then, two, the rest Surpassing far, into the midst advanced205 Impatient for the fight, Anchises’ son Æneas and Achilles, glorious Chief! Æneas first, under his ponderous casque Nodding and menacing, advanced; before His breast he held the well-conducted orb210 Of his broad shield, and shook his brazen spear. On the other side, Achilles to the fight