(Which in his mane, let fall to earth, he almost buried) Thus Xanthus spake: “Ablest Achilles, now, at least, our care Shall bring thee off; but not far hence the fatal minutes are Of thy grave ruin. Nor shall we be then to be reprov’d, But mightiest Fate, and the great God. Nor was thy best belov’d Spoil’d so of arms by our slow pace, or courage’s impair; The best of Gods, Latona’s son, that wears the golden hair, Gave him his death’s wound; though the grace he gave to Hector’s hand. We, like the spirit of the west, that all spirits can command For pow’r of wing, could run him off; but thou thyself must go, So fate ordains; God and a man must give thee overthrow.” This said, the Furies stopp’d his voice. Achilles, far in rage, Thus answer’d him: “It fits not thee, thus proudly to presage My overthrow. I know myself, it is my fate to fall Thus far from Phthia; yet that fate shall fail to vent her gall, Till mine vent thousands.” These words us’d, he fell to horrid deeds, Gave dreadful signal, and forthright made fly his one-hoof’d steeds. THE END OF THE NINETEENTH BOOK. [1] Scyros was an isle in the sea Ægeum, where Achilles himself was brought up, as well as his son. THE TWENTIETH BOOK OF HOMER’S ILIADS THE ARGUMENT By Jove’s permission, all the Gods descend To aid on both parts. For the Greeks contend Juno, Minerva, Neptune, Mulciber, And Mercury. The Deities that prefer The Trojan part are Phœbus, Cyprides, Phœbe, Latona, and the Foe to peace, With bright Scamander. Neptune in a mist Preserves Æneas daring to resist Achilles; by whose hand much scathe is done; Besides the slaughter of old Priam’s son Young Polydor, whose rescue Hector makes; Him flying, Phœbus to his rescue takes. The rest, all shunning their importun’d fates, Achilles beats even to the Ilian gates. ANOTHER ARGUMENT In Upsilon, Strife stirs in heav’n; The day’s grace to the Greeks is giv’n.