till you have pent the Trojan host within the famed walls of Ilius… as
many of them as may escape。 Then kill Hector and go back to the ships；
for we will vouchsafe you a triumph over him。〃
When they had so said they went back to the other immortals； but
Achilles strove onward over the plain； encouraged by the charge the
gods had laid upon him。 All was now covered with the flood of
waters； and much goodly armour of the youths that had been slain was
rifting about； as also many corpses； but he forced his way against the
stream； speeding right onwards； nor could the broad waters stay him；
for Minerva had endowed him with great strength。 Nevertheless
Scamander did not slacken in his pursuit； but was still more furious
with the son of Peleus。 He lifted his waters into a high crest and
cried aloud to Simois saying； 〃Dear brother； let the two of us unite
to save this man； or he will sack the mighty city of King Priam； and
the Trojans will not hold out against him。 Help me at once； fill
your streams with water from their sources； rouse all your torrents to
a fury； raise your wave on high； and let snags and stones come
thundering down you that we may make an end of this savage creature
who is now lording it as though he were a god。 Nothing shall serve him
longer； not strength nor comeliness； nor his fine armour； which
forsooth shall soon be lying low in the deep waters covered over
with mud。 I will wrap him in sand； and pour tons of shingle round him；
so that the Achaeans shall not know how to gather his bones for the
silt in which I shall have hidden him； and when they celebrate his
funeral they need build no barrow。〃
On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles；
seething as it was with foam and blood and the bo&ies of the dead。 The
dark waters of the river stood upright and would have overwhelmed
the son of Peleus； but Juno； trembling lest Achilles should be swept
away in the mighty torrent； lifted her voice on high and called out to
Vulcan her son。 〃Crook…foot；〃 she cried； 〃my child； be up and doing；
for I deem it is with you that Xanthus is fain to fight； help us at
once； kindle a fierce fire； I will then bring up the west and the
white south wind in a mighty hurricane from the sea； that shall bear
the flames against the heads and armour of the Trojans and consume
them； while you go along the banks of Xanthus burning his trees and
wrapping him round with fire。 Let him not turn you back neither by
fair words nor foul； and slacken not till I shout and tell you。 Then
you may stay your flames。〃
On this Vulcan kindled a fierce fire； which broke out first upon the
plain and burned the many dead whom Achilles had killed and whose
bodies were lying about in great numbers； by this means the plain
was dried and the flood stayed。 As the north wind； blowing on an
orchard that has been sodden with autumn rain； soon dries it； and
the heart of the owner is glad… even so the whole plan was dried and
the dead bodies were consumed。 Then he turned tongues of fire on to
the river。 He burned the elms the willows and the tamarisks； the lotus
also； with the rushes and marshy herbage that grew abundantly by the
banks of the river。 The eels and fishes that go darting about
everywhere in the water； these； too； were sorely harassed by the
flames that cunning Vulcan had kindled； and the river himself was
scalded； so that he spoke saying； 〃Vulcan； there is no god can hold
his own against you。 I cannot fight you when you flare out your flames
in this way； strive with me no longer。 Let Achilles drive the
Trojans out of city immediately。 What have I to do with quarrelling
and helping people？〃
He was boiling as he spoke； and all his waters were seething。 As a
cauldron upon 'a large fire boils when it is melting the lard of
some fatted hog； and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the
dry faggots blaze under it… even so were the goodly waters of
Xanthus heated with the fire till they were boiling。 He could flow
no longer but stayed his stream； so afflicted was he by the blasts
of fire which cunning Vulcan had raised。 Then he prayed to Juno and
besought her saying； 〃Juno； why should your son vex my stream with
such especial fury？ I am not so much to blame as all the others are
who have been helping the Trojans。 I will leave off； since you so
desire it； and let son leave off also。 Furthermore I swear never again
will I do anything to save the Trojans from destruction； not even when
all Troy is burning in the flames which the Achaeans will kindle。〃
As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan； 〃Son
Vulcan； hold now your flames； we ought not to use such violence
against a god for the sake of mortals。〃
When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames； and the river
went back once more into his own fair bed。
Xanthus was now beaten； so these two left off fighting； for Juno
stayed them though she was still angry； but a furious quarrel broke
out among the other gods； for they were of divided counsels。 They fell
on one another with a mighty uproar… earth groaned； and the spacious
firmament rang out as with a blare of trumpets。 Jove heard as he was
sitting on Olympus； and laughed for joy when he saw the gods coming to
blows among themselves。 They were not long about beginning； and Mars
piercer of shields opened the battle。 Sword in hand he sprang at
once upon Minerva and reviled her。 〃Why； vixen；〃 said he； 〃have you
again set the gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your
heart？ Have you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on to wound
me； and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt
of my fair body？ You shall now suffer for what you then did to me。〃
As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis… so
terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce it。 Here did
murderous Mars strike her with his great spear。 She drew back and with
her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain… great
and rugged and black… which men of old had set for the boundary of a
field。 With this she struck Mars on the neck； and brought him down。
Nine roods did he cover in his fall； and his hair was all soiled in
the dust； while his armour rang rattling round him。 But Minerva
laughed and vaunted over him saying； 〃Idiot； have you not learned
how far stronger I am than you； but you must still match yourself
against me？ Thus do your mother's curses now roost upon you； for she
is angry and would do you mischief because you have deserted the
Achaeans and are helping the Trojans。〃
She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere； whereon Jove's
daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and led him away groaning all the
time； for it was only with great difficulty that he had come to
himself again。 When Queen Juno saw her； she said to Minerva； 〃Look；
daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； that vixen Venus is again
taking Mars through the crowd out of the battle； go after her at
once。〃
Thus she spoke。 Minerva sped after Venus with a will； and made at
her； striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she fell
fainting to the ground； and there they both lay stretched at full
length。 Then Minerva vaunted over her saying； 〃May all who help the
Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable and stalwart
as Venus did when she came across me while she was helping Mars。 Had
this been so； we should long since have ended the war by sacking the
strong city of Ilius。〃
Juno smiled as she listened。 Meanwhile King Neptune turned to Apollo
saying； 〃Phoebus； why should we keep each other at arm's length？ it is
not well； now that the others have begun fighting； it will be
disgraceful to us if we return to Jove's bronze…floored mansion on
Olympus without having fought each other； therefore come on； you are
the younger of the two； and I ought not to attack you； for I am
older and have had more experience。 Idiot； you have no sense； and
forget how we two alone of all the gods fared hardly round about Ilius
when we came from Jove's house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at
a stated wage and he gave us his orders。 I built the Trojans the
wall about their city； so wide and fair that it might be
impregnable； while you； Phoebus； herded cattle for him in the dales of
many valleyed Ida。 When； however； the glad hours brought round the
time of payment； mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and sent us
off with nothing but abuse。 He threatened to bind us hand and foot and
sell us over into some distant island。 He tried； moreover； to cut
off the ears of both of us； so we went away in a rage； furious about
the payment he had promised us； and yet withheld； in spite of all
this； you are now showing favour to his people； and will not join us
in compassing the utter ruin of the proud Trojans with their wives and
children。〃
And King Apollo answered； 〃Lord of the earthquake； you would have no
respect for me if I were to fight you about a pack of miserable
mortals； who come out like leaves in summer and eat the fruit of the
field； and presently fall lifeless to the ground。 Let us stay this
fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves。〃
He turned away as he spoke； for he