the　tramp　of　their　treading　rose　from　under　their　feet。　In　the　midst
  of　them　all　Achilles　put　on　his　armour；　he　gnashed　his　teeth；　his　eyes
  gleamed　like　fire；　for　his　grief　was　greater　than　he　could　bear。　Thus；
  then；　full　of　fury　against　the　Trojans；　did　he　don　the　gift　of　the
  god；　the　armour　that　Vulcan　had　made　him。
  First　he　put　on　the　goodly　greaves　fitted　with　ancle…clasps；　and
  next　he　did　on　the　breastplate　about　his　chest。　He　slung　the
  silver…studded　sword　of　bronze　about　his　shoulders；　and　then　took　up
  the　shield　so　great　and　strong　that　shone　afar　with　a　splendour　as
  of　the　moon。　As　the　light　seen　by　sailors　from　out　at　sea；　when　men
  have　lit　a　fire　in　their　homestead　high　up　among　the　mountains；　but
  the　sailors　are　carried　out　to　sea　by　wind　and　storm　far　from　the
  haven　where　they　would　be…　even　so　did　the　gleam　of　Achilles'　wondrous
  shield　strike　up　into　the　heavens。　He　lifted　the　redoubtable　helmet；
  and　set　it　upon　his　head；　from　whence　it　shone　like　a　star；　and　the
  golden　plumes　which　Vulcan　had　set　thick　about　the　ridge　of　the
  helmet；　waved　all　around　it。　Then　Achilles　made　trial　of　himself　in
  his　armour　to　see　whether　it　fitted　him；　so　that　his　limbs　could
  play　freely　under　it；　and　it　seemed　to　buoy　him　up　as　though　it　had
  been　wings。
  He　also　drew　his　father's　spear　out　of　the　spear…stand；　a　spear　so
  great　and　heavy　and　strong　that　none　of　the　Achaeans　save　only
  Achilles　had　strength　to　wield　it；　this　was　the　spear　of　Pelian　ash
  from　the　topmost　ridges　of　Mt。　Pelion；　which　Chiron　had　once　given
  to　Peleus；　fraught　with　the　death　of　heroes。　Automedon　and　Alcimus
  busied　themselves　with　the　harnessing　of　his　horses；　they　made　the
  bands　fast　about　them；　and　put　the　bit　in　their　mouths；　drawing　the
  reins　back　towards　the　chariot。　Automedon；　whip　in　hand；　sprang　up
  behind　the　horses；　and　after　him　Achilles　mounted　in　full　armour；
  resplendent　as　the　sun…god　Hyperion。　Then　with　a　loud　voice　he
  chided　with　his　father's　horses　saying；　〃Xanthus　and　Balius；　famed
  offspring　of　Podarge…　this　time　when　we　have　done　fighting　be　sure　and
  bring　your　driver　safely　back　to　the　host　of　the　Achaeans；　and　do
  not　leave　him　dead　on　the　plain　as　you　did　Patroclus。〃
  Then　fleet　Xanthus　answered　under　the　yoke…　for　white…armed　Juno　had
  endowed　him　with　human　speech…　and　he　bowed　his　head　till　his　mane
  touched　the　ground　as　it　hung　down　from　under　the　yoke…band。　〃Dread
  Achilles；〃　said　he；　〃we　will　indeed　save　you　now；　but　the　day　of
  your　death　is　near；　and　the　blame　will　not　be　ours；　for　it　will　be
  heaven　and　stern　fate　that　will　destroy　you。　Neither　was　it　through
  any　sloth　or　slackness　on　our　part　that　the　Trojans　stripped　Patroclus
  of　his　armour；　it　was　the　mighty　god　whom　lovely　Leto　bore　that　slew
  him　as　he　fought　among　the　foremost；　and　vouchsafed　a　triumph　to
  Hector。　We　two　can　fly　as　swiftly　as　Zephyrus　who　they　say　is　fleetest
  of　all　winds；　nevertheless　it　is　your　doom　to　fall　by　the　hand　of　a
  man　and　of　a　god。〃
  When　he　had　thus　said　the　Erinyes　stayed　his　speech；　and　Achilles
  answered　him　in　great　sadness；　saying；　〃Why；　O　Xanthus；　do　you　thus
  foretell　my　death？　You　need　not　do　so；　for　I　well　know　that　I　am　to
  fall　here；　far　from　my　dear　father　and　mother；　none　the　more；　however；
  shall　I　stay　my　hand　till　I　have　given　the　Trojans　their　fill　of
  fighting。〃
  So　saying；　with　a　loud　cry　he　drove　his　horses　to　the　front。
  BOOK　XX
  THUS；　then；　did　the　Achaeans　arm　by　their　ships　round　you；　O　son
  of　Peleus；　who　were　hungering　for　battle；　while　the　Trojans　over
  against　them　armed　upon　the　rise　of　the　plain。
  Meanwhile　Jove　from　the　top　of　many…delled　Olympus；　bade　Themis
  gather　the　gods　in　council；　whereon　she　went　about　and　called　them
  to　the　house　of　Jove。　There　was　not　a　river　absent　except　Oceanus；　nor
  a　single　one　of　the　nymphs　that　haunt　fair　groves；　or　springs　of
  rivers　and　meadows　of　green　grass。　When　they　reached　the　house　of
  cloud…compelling　Jove；　they　took　their　seats　in　the　arcades　of
  polished　marble　which　Vulcan　with　his　consummate　skill　had　made　for
  father　Jove。
  In　such　wise；　therefore；　did　they　gather　in　the　house　of　Jove。
  Neptune　also；　lord　of　the　earthquake；　obeyed　the　call　of　the
  goddess；　and　came　up　out　of　the　sea　to　join　them。　There；　sitting　in
  the　midst　of　them；　he　asked　what　Jove's　purpose　might　be。　〃Why；〃
  said　he；　〃wielder　of　the　lightning；　have　you　called　the　gods　in
  council？　Are　you　considering　some　matter　that　concerns　the　Trojans　and
  Achaeans…　for　the　blaze　of　battle　is　on　the　point　of　being　kindled
  between　them？〃
  And　Jove　answered；　〃You　know　my　purpose；　shaker　of　earth；　and
  wherefore　I　have　called　you　hither。　I　take　thought　for　them　even　in
  their　destruction。　For　my　own　part　I　shall　stay　here　seated　on　Mt。
  Olympus　and　look　on　in　peace；　but　do　you　others　go　about　among　Trojans
  and　Achaeans；　and　help　either　side　as　you　may　be　severally　disposed。
  If　Achilles　fights　the　Trojans　without　hindrance　they　will　make　no
  stand　against　him；　they　have　ever　trembled　at　the　sight　of　him；　and
  now　that　he　is　roused　to　such　fury　about　his　comrade；　he　will　override
  fate　itself　and　storm　their　city。〃
  Thus　spoke　Jove　and　gave　the　word　for　war；　whereon　the　gods　took
  their　several　sides　and　went　into　battle。　Juno；　Pallas　Minerva；
  earth…encircling　Neptune；　Mercury　bringer　of　good　luck　and　excellent
  in　all　cunning…　all　these　joined　the　host　that　came　from　the　ships；
  with　them　also　came　Vulcan　in　all　his　glory；　limping；　but　yet　with　his
  thin　legs　plying　lustily　under　him。　Mars　of　gleaming　helmet　joined　the
  Trojans；　and　with　him　Apollo　of　locks　unshorn；　and　the　archer
  goddess　Diana；　Leto；　Xanthus；　and　laughter…loving　Venus。
  So　long　as　the　gods　held　themselves　aloof　from　mortal　warriors　the
  Achaeans　were　triumphant；　for　Achilles　who　had　long　refused　to　fight
  was　now　with　them。　There　was　not　a　Trojan　but　his　limbs　failed　him　for
  fear　as　he　beheld　the　fleet　son　of　Peleus　all　glorious　in　his
  armour；　and　looking　like　Mars　himself。　When；　however；　the　Olympians
  came　to　take　their　part　among　men；　forthwith　uprose　strong　Strife；
  rouser　of　hosts；　and　Minerva　raised　her　loud　voice；　now　standing　by
  the　deep　trench　that　ran　outside　the　wall；　and　now　shouting　with　all
  her　might　upon　the　shore　of　the　sounding　sea。　Mars　also　bellowed　out
  upon　the　other　side；　dark　as　some　black　thunder…cloud；　and　called　on
  the　Trojans　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　now　from　the　acropolis；　and　now
  speeding　up　the　side　of　the　river　Simois　till　he　came　to　the　hill
  Callicolone。
  Thus　did　the　gods　spur　on　both　hosts　to　fight；　and　rouse　fierce
  contention　also　among　themselves。　The　sire　of　gods　and　men　thundered
  from　heaven　above；　while　from　beneath　Neptune　shook　the　vast　earth；
  and　bade　the　high　hills　tremble。　The　spurs　and　crests　of
  many…fountained　Ida　quaked；　as　also　the　city　of　the　Trojans　and　the
  ships　of　the　Achaeans。　Hades；　king　of　the　realms　below；　was　struck
  with　fear；　he　sprang　panic…stricken　from　his　throne　and　cried　aloud　in
  terror　lest　Neptune；　lord　of　the　earthquake；　should　crack　the　ground
  over　his　head；　and　lay　bare　his　mouldy　mansions　to　the　sight　of
  mortals　and　immortals…　mansions　so　ghastly　grim　that　even　the　gods
  shudder　to　think　of　them。　Such　was　the　uproar　as　the　gods　came
  together　in　battle。　Apollo　with　his　arrows　took　his　stand　to　face　King
  Neptune；　while　Minerva　took　hers　against　the　god　of　war；　the
  archer…goddess　Diana　with　her　golden　arrows；　sister　of　far…darting
  Apollo；　stood　to　face　Juno；　Mercury　the　lusty　bringer　of　good　luck
  faced　Leto；　while　the　mighty　eddying　river　whom　men　can　Scamander；　but
  gods　Xanthus；　matched　himself　against　Vulcan。
  The　gods；　then；　were　thus　ranged　against　one　another。　But　the
  heart　of　Achilles　was　set　on　meeting　Hector　son　of　Priam；　for　it　was
  with　his　blood　that　he　longed　above　all　things　else　to　glut　the
  stubborn　lord　of　battle。　Meanwhile　Apollo　set　Aeneas　on　to　attack
  the　son　of　Peleus；　and　put　courage　into　his　heart；　speaking　with　the
  voice　of　Lycaon　son　of　Priam。　In　his　likeness　therefore；　he　said　to
  Aeneas；　〃Aeneas；　counsellor　of　the　Trojans；　where　are　now　the　brave
  words　with　which　you　vaunted　over　your　wine　before　the　Trojan　princes；
  saying　that　you　would　fight　Achilles　son　of　Peleus　in　single　combat？〃
  And　Aeneas　answered；　〃Why　do　you　thus　bid　me　fight　the　proud　son
  of　Peleus；　when　I　am　in　no　mind　to　do　so？　Were　I　to　face　him　now；　it
  would　not　be　for　the　first　time。　His　spear　has　already　put　me　to　Right
  from　Ida；　when　he　attacked　our　cattle　and　sacked　Lyrnessus　and
  Pedasus；　Jove　indeed　saved　me　in　that　he　vouchsafed　me　strength　to
  fly；　else　had　the　fallen　by　the　hands　of　Achilles　and　Minerva；　who
  went　before　him　to　protect　him　and　urged　him　to　fall　upon　the
  Lelegae　and　Trojans。　No　man　may　fight　Achilles；　for　one　of　the　gods　is
  always　with　him　as　his　guardian　angel；　and　even　were　it　not　so；　his
  weapon　flies　ever　straight；　and　fails　not　to　pierce　the　flesh　of　him
  who　is　against　him；　if　heaven　would　let　me　fight　him　on　even　terms
  he　should　not　soon　overcome　me；　though　he　boasts　that　he　is　made　of
  bronze。〃
  Then　said　King　Apollo；　son　to　Jove；　〃Nay；　hero；　pray　to　the
  ever…living　gods；　for　men　say　that　you　were　born　of　Jove's　daughter
  Venus；　wher