THE BATTLE AT THE RIVER
Thus did Achilles go again into the battle, eager above all things to
meet with Hector and to slay him.
But Apollo stood by Æneas, and spake to him, "Æneas, where are now
thy boastings that thou wouldst meet Achilles face to face?"
Then Æneas answered: "Nay, I have stood up against him in the day
when he took the town of Lyrnessus. But I fled before him, and only
my nimble feet saved me from falling by his spear. Surely a god is
ever with him, making his spear to fly aright."
Lyr-nes'-sus.
Him Apollo answered again: "Thou, too, art the son of a goddess, and
thy mother is greater than his, for she is but a daughter of the Sea.
Drive straight at him with thy spear, and let not his threats dismay
thee."
Then Æneas cast his spear, and it struck the shield of Achilles with
so dreadful a sound that the hero feared lest it should pierce it
through, knowing not that the gifts of the gods are not easy for
mortal man to vanquish. Two folds, indeed, it pierced, that were of
bronze, but in the gold it was stayed, and there were yet two of tin
within. Then Achilles cast his spear. Through the shield of Æneas
it passed, and though it wounded him not, yet was he sore dismayed,
so near it came. Then Achilles drew his sword, and rushed on Æneas,
and Æneas caught up a great stone to cast at him. But it was not the
will of the gods that Æneas should perish, seeing that he and his
sons after him should rule over the men of Troy in the ages to come.
Therefore Poseidon lifted him up, and bore him over the ranks of men
to the left of the battle, but first he drew the spear out of the
shield, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Much the hero marvelled
to see it, crying: "This is a great wonder that I behold with mine
eyes. For I see my spear before me, but the man whom I sought to
slay I see not. Of a truth Æneas spake truth, saying that he was
dear to the immortal gods."
Then he rushed into the battle, slaying as he went. And Hector would
have met him, but Apollo stood by him, and said, "Fight not with
Achilles, lest he slay thee." Therefore he went back among the men
of Troy. Many did Achilles slay, and among them Polydorus, son of
Priam, who, because he was the youngest and very dear, his father
suffered not to go to the battle. Yet he went, in his folly, and
being very swift of foot, he trusted in his speed, running through
the foremost of the fighters. But as he ran, Achilles smote him, and
wounded him to the death. When Hector saw it, he could not bear any
more to stand apart. Therefore he rushed at Achilles, and Achilles
rejoiced to see him, saying, "This is the man who slew my comrade."
And to Hector he cried, "Come hither, and taste of death."
Pol-y-do'-rus.
And Hector made answer: "Son of Peleus, seek not to make me afraid
with words. For though I be weaker than thou, yet victory lieth on
the knees of the gods, and I, too, bear a spear."
Then he cast his spear; but Athene turned it aside with her breath,
and laid it again at his feet. And when Achilles leapt upon Hector
with a shout, Apollo snatched him away. Three times did Achilles
leap upon him, and three times he struck only the mist. But the
fourth time he cried with a terrible voice, "Dog, thou hast escaped
from death, Apollo helping thee; but I shall meet thee again, and
make an end of thee."
Then Achilles turned to the others, and slew multitudes of them, so
that they fled, some across the plain, and some to the river, the
eddying Xanthus. And these leapt into the water as locusts leap into
a river when a fire which men light drives them from the fields. And
all the river was full of horses and men. Then Achilles leapt into
the stream, leaving his spear on the bank, resting on the tamarisk
trees. Only his sword had he, and with this he slew many; and they
were as fishes which fly from some great dolphin in the sea. And
when Achilles was weary of slaying, he took twelve alive, whom he
would slay on the tomb of Patroclus.
Then there met him Asteropæus, who was the grandson of a river-god
Axius. And Achilles wondered to see him, and said, "Who art thou,
that standest against me?"
As-ter-o-pæ'-us. Ax'-i-us.
And he said, "I am the grandson of the river-god Axius, fairest of
all the streams on the earth."
And as he spake he cast two spears, one with each hand, for he could
use either alike; and the one struck the shield, nor pierced it
through, for the gold stayed it, and the other grazed the right hand
so that the blood spurted forth. Then did Achilles cast his spear,
but missed his aim, and the great spear stood fast in the bank. And
thrice Asteropæus strove to draw it forth. Thrice he strove in vain,
and the fourth time he strove to break the spear. But as he strove
Achilles smote him so that he died. Yet had he some glory, for he
had wounded the great Achilles.