Sprang on him; but Æneas seized a stone Heavy and huge, a weight to overcharge Two men (such men as are accounted strong Now) but he wielded it with ease, alone. Then had Æneas, as Achilles came355 Impetuous on, smitten, although in vain, His helmet or his shield, and Peleus’ son Had with his falchion him stretch’d at his feet, But that the God of Ocean quick perceived His peril, and the Immortals thus bespake.360 I pity brave Æneas, who shall soon, Slain by Achilles, see the realms below, By smooth suggestions of Apollo lured To danger, such as he can ne’er avert. But wherefore should the Chief, guiltless himself,365 Die for the fault of others? at no time His gifts have fail’d, grateful to all in heaven. Come, therefore, and let us from death ourselves Rescue him, lest if by Achilles’ arm This hero perish, Jove himself be wroth;370 For he is destined to survive, lest all The house of Dardanus (whom Jove beyond All others loved, his sons of woman born) Fail with Æneas, and be found no more. Saturnian Jove hath hated now long time375 The family of Priam, and henceforth Æneas and his son, and his sons’ sons, Shall sway the sceptre o’er the race of Troy. To whom, majestic thus the spouse of Jove. Neptune! deliberate thyself, and choose380 Whether to save Æneas, or to leave The hero victim of Achilles’ ire. For Pallas and myself ofttimes have sworn In full assembly of the Gods, to aid Troy never, never to avert the day385 Of her distress, not even when the flames Kindled by the heroic sons of Greece, Shall climb with fury to her topmost towers. She spake; then Neptune, instant, through the throng Of battle flying, and the clash of spears,390 Came where Achilles and Æneas fought. At once with shadows dim he blurr’d the sight Of Peleus’ son, and from the shield, himself, Of brave Æneas the bright-pointed ash Retracting, placed it at Achilles’ feet.395 Then, lifting high Æneas from the ground, He heaved him far remote; o’er many a rank Of heroes and of bounding steeds he flew, Launch’d into air from the expanded palm Of Neptune, and alighted in the rear400 Of all the battle where the Caucons stood. Neptune approach’d him there, and at his side Standing, in accents wing’d, him thus bespake. What God, Æneas! tempted thee to cope Thus inconsiderately with the son405 Of Peleus, both more excellent in fight Than thou, and more the favorite of the skies? From him retire hereafter, or expect A premature descent into the shades. But when Achilles shall have once fulfill’d410 His destiny, in battle slain, then fight Fearless, for thou canst fall by none beside. So saying, he left the well-admonish’d Chief, And from Achilles’ eyes scatter’d the gloom Shed o’er them by himself. The hero saw415 Clearly, and with his noble heart incensed By disappointment, thus conferring, said. Gods! I behold a prodigy. My spear Lies at my foot, and he at whom I cast The weapon with such deadly force, is gone!420 Æneas therefore, as it seems, himself