Achilles, armed for battle, mounted behind him, glittering in his armour
like the shining sun; and terribly he gave command to the horses of his
sire:

[Footnote 639: Milton, P. L. i. 284:

"........ his pond'rous shield
Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,
Behind him cast; the broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon."]

"Xanthus, and Balius, illustrious offspring of Podarges, resolve now in
a different manner to bring back your charioteer in safety to the body
of the Greeks, after we are satiated with battle, nor leave him there
dead, like Patroclus."

But from beneath the yoke, Xanthus, his swift-footed steed, addressed
him, and immediately hung down his head, and his whole mane, drooping
from the ring which was near the yoke, reached the ground. But the
white-armed goddess Juno gave him the power of speech:

"Now, at least, we will bear thee safe, O impetuous Achilles: but the
fatal day draws nigh to thee; nor are we to blame, but a mighty deity
and violent destiny. For not by our laziness, or sloth, have the Trojans
stripped the armour from the shoulders of Patroclus; but the bravest of
the gods, whom fair-haired Latona brought forth, slew him among the
front ranks, and gave glory to Hector. And [though] we can run even with
the blast of Zephyrus, which they say is the most fleet, yet to thyself
it is fated that thou shouldst be violently subdued by a god and a man."

Of him, having thus spoken, the Furies restrained the voice: but him
swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, addressed:

"O Xanthus, why dost thou predict my death to me? For it is not at all
necessary for thee. Well do I myself know that it is my fate to perish
here, far away from my dear father and mother. Nevertheless I will not
cease before the Trojans are abundantly satiated with war."

He spoke, and shouting amongst the front ranks, directed on his
solid-hoofed steeds.

BOOK THE TWENTIETH

ARGUMENT.

Jove permits the gods to join in the battle, and they take their
respective places on either side. AEneas engages Achilles, but is rescued
by Neptune. Hector, in revenge for the death of his brother Polydorus,
also attacks Achilles, and is only saved from death by the intervention
of Apollo. Achilles then slays many Trojans.

Thus around thee, O son of Peleus, were the Achaeans armed, insatiable in
fi