rowning, and I care not how I perish afterwards. The
Scholiast compares the prayer of Ajax in p. 647: [Greek: En de
phaei kai olesson]. Cf. AEn, i. 100, sqq. AEsch. Choeph 340; Eur.
Andr. 1184.]

Thus he spoke; but Neptune and Minerva, very quickly advancing, stood
near him (but in body they had likened themselves to men), and, taking
his hand in their hands, strengthened him with words. But to them
earth-shaking Neptune began discourse:

"O son of Peleus, neither now greatly fear, nor yet be at all dismayed;
so great allies from among the gods are we to thee, Jove approving it, I
and Pallas Minerva, so that it is not decreed that thou shouldst be
overcome by a river. It, indeed, shall soon cease, and thou thyself
shalt see it. But let us prudently suggest, if thou be obedient, not to
stop thy hands from equally destructive war, before thou shalt have
enclosed the Trojan army within the renowned walls of Troy, whoever,
indeed, can escape: but do thou, having taken away the life of Hector,
return again to the ships; for we grant to thee to bear away glory."

They indeed having thus spoken, departed to the immortals. But he
proceeded towards the plain (for the command of the gods strongly
impelled him), and it was all filled with the overflowed water. Much
beautiful armour and corpses of youths slain in battle, floated along;
but his knees bounded up against the course of it rushing straight
forward; for Minerva had put great strength into him. Nor did Scamander
remit his strength, but was the more enraged with the son of Peleus. And
he swelled the wave of the stream, and, shouting, animated Simois:

"O dear brother, let us both, at least, restrain the force of the man,
since he will quickly destroy the great city of king Priam, for the
Trojans resist him not in battle. But aid me very quickly, and fill thy
streams of water from thy fountains, and rouse all thy rivulets, raise a
great wave, and stir up a mighty confusion of stems and stones, that we
may restrain this furious man, who now already is victorious, and is
bent on deeds equal to the gods. For I think that neither his strength
will defend him, nor his beauty at all, nor those beautiful arms, which
shall lie everywhere in the very bottom of my gulf, covered with mud.
Himself also will I involve in sand, pouring vast abundant silt around
him; nor shall the Greeks know where to gather his bones, so much slime
will I spread over him. And there forthwith