Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/366

364 The work of Trojans with Minerva's aid. What time a vengeful monster of the main Swept the wide shore, and drove him to the plain.

Here Neptune and the gods of Greece repair, With clouds encompassed, and a veil of air: The adverse powers, around Apollo laid, Crown the fair hills that silver Simois shade. In circle close each heavenly party sat, Intent to form the future scheme of fate; But mix not yet in fight, though Jove on high Gives the loud signal, and the heavens reply. Meanwhile the rushing armies hide the ground; The trampled centre yields a hollow sound: Steeds cased in mail, and chiefs in armour bright, The gleamy champaign glows with brazen light. Amidst both hosts—a dreadful space—appear

There, great Achilles; bold Æneas here. With towering strides Æneas first advanced; The nodding plumage on his helmet danced; Spread o'er his breast the fencing shield he bore, And, as he moved, his javelin flamed before. Not so Pelides: furious to engage. He rushed impetuous. Such the lion's rage, Who, viewing first his foes with scornful eyes, Though all in arms the peopled city rise, Stalks careless on, with unre gar ding pride; Till at the length, by some brave youth defied, To his bold spear the savage turns alone; He murmurs fury with a hollow groan: He grins, he foams, he rolls his eyes around; Lashed by his tail, his heaving sides resound; He calls up all his rage, he grinds his teeth, Resolved on vengeance, or resolved on death; So fierce Achilles on Æneas flies; So stands Æneas, and his force defies. Ere yet the stern encounter joined, begun The seed of Thetis thus to Venus' son: "Why comes Æneas through the ranks so far? Seeks he to meet Achilles' arm in war, In hope the realms of Priam to enjoy, And prove his merits to the throne of Troy? Grant that beneath thy lance Achilles dies, The partial monarch may refuse the prize: Sons he has many: those thy pride may quell; And 'tis his fault to love those sons too well.