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took refuge in Lyrnessus； but I attacked the city； and with the
help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women
into captivity； though Jove and the other gods rescued you。 You
think they will protect you now； but they will not do so；
therefore I say go back into the host； and do not face me； or you
will rue it。 Even a fool may be wise after the event。〃
Then Aeneas answered； 〃Son of Peleus； think not that your words
can scare me as though I were a child。 I too； if I will； can brag
and talk unseemly。 We know one another's race and parentage as
matters of mon fame； though neither have you ever seen my
parents nor I yours。 Men say that you are son to noble Peleus；
and that your mother is Thetis； fair…haired daughter of the sea。
I have noble Anchises for my father； and Venus for my mother； the
parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son； for it
will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is
over。 Learn； then； my lineage if you willand it is known to
many。
〃In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove； and founded
Dardania； for Ilius was not yet stablished on the plain for men
to dwell in； and her people still abode on the spurs of
many…fountained Ida。 Dardanus had a son； king Erichthonius； who
was wealthiest of all men living； he had three thousand mares
that fed by the water…meadows； they and their foals with them。
Boreas was enamoured of them as they were feeding； and covered
them in the semblance of a dark…maned stallion。 Twelve filly
foals did they conceive and bear him； and these； as they sped
over the rich plain； would go bounding on over the ripe ears of
corn and not break them； or again when they would disport
themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the
crest of a breaker。 Erichthonius begat Tros； king of the Trojans；
and Tros had three noble sons； Ilus； Assaracus； and Ganymede who
was eliest of mortal men； wherefore the gods carried him off
to be Jove's cupbearer； for his beauty's sake； that he might
dwell among the immortals。 Ilus begat Laomedon； and Laomedon
begat Tithonus； Priam； Lampus； Clytius； and Hiketaon of the stock
of Mars。 But Assaracus was father to Capys； and Capys to
Anchises； who was my father； while Hector is son to Priam。
〃Such do I declare my blood and lineage； but as for valour； Jove
gives it or takes it as he will； for he is lord of all。 And now
let there be no more of this prating in mid…battle as though we
were children。 We could fling taunts without end at one another；
a hundred…oared galley would not hold them。 The tongue can run
all whithers and talk all wise； it can go here and there； and as
a man says； so shall he be gainsaid。 What is the use of our
bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another
go out and wrangle in the streets； one half true and the other
lies； as rage inspires them？ No words of yours shall turn me now
that I am fain to fighttherefore let us make trial of one
another with our spears。〃
As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield
of Achilles； which rang out as the point struck it。 The son of
Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand； and he
was afraid； for he deemed that Aeneas's spear would go through it
quite easily； not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were
little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men； and indeed
Aeneas's spear did not pierce the shield； for the layer of gold；
gift of the god； stayed the point。 It went through two layers；
but the god had made the shield in five； two of bronze； the two
innermost ones of tin； and one of gold； it was in this that the
spear was stayed。
Achilles in his turn threw； and struck the round shield of Aeneas
at the very edge； where the bronze was thinnest； the spear of
Pelian ash went clean through； and the shield rang under the
blow； Aeneas was afraid； and crouched backwards； holding the
shield away from him； the spear； however； flew over his back； and
stuck quivering in the ground； after having gone through both
circles of the sheltering shield。 Aeneas though he had avoided
the spear； stood still； blinded with fear and grief because the
weapon had gone so near him； then Achilles sprang furiously upon
him； with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn； and
Aeneas seized a great stone； so huge that two men； as men now
are； would be unable to lift it； but Aeneas wielded it quite
easily。
Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing
towards him； either on the helmet； or on the shield that covered
him； and Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him
with his sword； had not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick
to mark； and said forthwith to the immortals； 〃Alas； I am sorry
for great Aeneas； who will now go down to the house of Hades；
vanquished by the son of Peleus。 Fool that he was to give ear to
the counsel of Apollo。 Apollo will never save him from
destruction。 Why should this man suffer when he is guiltless； to
no purpose； and in another's quarrel？ Has he not at all times
offered acceptable sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven？
Let us then snatch him from death's jaws； lest the son of Saturn
be angry should Achilles slay him。 It is fated； moreover； that he
should escape； and that the race of Dardanus； whom Jove loved
above all the sons born to him of mortal women； shall not perish
utterly without seed or sign。 For now indeed has Jove hated the
blood of Priam； while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans； he and
his children's children that shall be born hereafter。〃
Then answered Juno； 〃Earth…shaker； look to this matter yourself；
and consider concerning Aeneas； whether you will save him； or
suffer him； brave though he be； to fall by the hand of Achilles
son of Peleus。 For of a truth we two； I and Pallas Minerva； have
sworn full many a time before all the immortals； that never would
we shield Trojans from destruction； not even when all Troy is
burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall kindle。〃
When earth…encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle
amid the clash of spears； and came to the place where Achilles
and Aeneas were。 Forthwith he s