he said, "I am the grandson of the river-god Axius, fairest of all the
streams on the earth, and I lead the men of Paeonia."

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 staved it, and the other grazed the right hand of Achilles 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 Asteropaeus
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 that he
died. Yet had he some glory, for that he wounded the great Achilles.

When the River saw that Asteropaeus was dead, and that Achilles was slaying
many of the Paeonians--for these were troubled, their chief being dead--he
took upon him the shape of a man, and spake to Achilles, saying, "Truly,
Achilles, thou excellest all other men in might and deeds of blood, for
the Gods themselves protect thee. It may be that Zeus hath given thee to
slay all the sons of Troy; nevertheless, depart from me and work thy will
upon the plain; for my stream is choked with the multitude of corpses, nor
can I pass to the sea. Do thou, therefore, cease from troubling me."

To him Achilles made answer, "This shall be as thou wilt, O Scamander. But
the Trojans I will not cease from slaying till I have driven them into
their city and have made trial of Hector, whether I shall vanquish him or
he shall vanquish me."

And as he spake he sped on, pursuing the Trojans. Then the River cried to
Apollo, "Little thou doest the will of thy father, thou of the Silver Bow,
who bade thee stand by the men of Troy and help them till darkness should
cover the land." And he rushed on with a great wave, stirring together all
his streams. The dead bodies he threw upon the shore, roaring as a bull
roareth; and them that lived he hid in the depths of his eddies. And all
about Achilles rose up the flood, beating full upon his shield, so that he
could not stand fast upon his feet. Then Achilles laid hold of a
lime-tree, fair and tall, that grew upon the bank; but the tree brake
therefrom with all its roots, and tare down the bank, and lay across the
River, staying its flood, for it had many branches. Thereupon Achilles
leapt out of the water and sped across the plain, being sore afraid. But
the River ceased not from pursuing him, that he mig