Through the front lines Aineíās strode, armed in gleaming bronze. As he moved, going after Peleus' son among those crowds of men, he did not go unnoticed.
Seeing Ankhísēs' son, Hêrê gathered her companion gods and said: "Poseidôn, Athênê, think about what's going on. Aineíās is going to meet Akhilles at Apollôn's urging. We should work together to turn him back or one of us should help Akhilles, giving him the strength to fight so that he won't run away. We all know that Ariadnê and her brother, the twin swords of the sea, are fond of Ankhísēs' son."
And Hektōr but he was a little busy trying to convince his parents that he was fine on the battlefield and didn't need to go back behind the walls.
"And then he'll know the gods who love him are the best of the immortals and those gods who up to now have guarded Trojans in this war's battles have only little power, as feeble as the wind."
Well, that was a lie. There may be more Olympians on the side of the Achaeans, but that didn't mean those on the Trojans' side had little power as they had Apollôn, Aphroditê, and Arês on their side.
"We joined the fight so that Akhilles would not come to any harm from Trojans, at least not in the fight today. Later, he'll suffer everything which Fate spun with her thread for him that very day his mother bore him. But if Akhilles doesn't learn this from a god who speaks to him, then he may be fearful if some god appears against him in the battle. For the gods are terrifying when they reveal themselves."
Poseidôn then answered her: "Hêrê, don't let your rage defeat your common sense. There's no need. For I have no desire that gods should fight each other in this battle. We should move off to one side and sit down where we can watch, leaving this war to men. But if Phoibos Apollôn or if Arês begins to fight or holds Akhilles back, not allowing him to go on fighting, then we'll get in the conflict right away, join in the battle. Soon enough, I think, those two will remove themselves from warfare, returning to Olympos, to the company of other gods whom our strong hands have conquered. My children will not interfere lest they believe Akhilles has help."
With these words, the dark-haired god Poseidôn led the way to the remnants of the wall of godlike Herakles, the high rampart Pallas Athênê and the Trojans had built for him, so he could protect himself and escape that monster from the sea, when it forced him to move in from the shore. Poseidôn sat there, beside the other gods, wrapping a concealing cloud around their shoulders. The other group of gods sat on the crest of Callicolone, around you, archer Phoibos, and Arês, who destroys whole cities.
(Ariadnê grumbled to herself when she and Perseus had been cautioned to not rush to Aineíās's side.)
So these gods sat there on either side, making plans, both groups holding back from fighting painful war. Sitting high above them, Zeus stayed in control.
The whole plain by now was filled with men and horses, all in gleaming bronze. The ground shook underfoot, as men charged each other. Two of the finest men then came at one another in the middle ground between the armies, both prepared for combat—Aineíās, Ankhísēs' son, and godlike Akhilles.
Aineíās strode out first, making threatening taunts, his heavy helmet nodding as he moved around. Holding his strong shield across his chest, he brandished his bronze spear.
The son of Peleus, from the other side, charged up against him like a murderous lion which a whole community is keen to slaughter. That's how Akhilles, driven by his furious proud heart, came on then against the brave Aineíās.
As they approached each other, coming to close quarters, swift-footed Akhilles yelled: "Aineíās, why have you stepped forward, standing here so far in front of all your men? Does your heart prompt you to fight against me in the hope you'll win Priamos's royal honours among horse-taming Trojans? If you kill me, that won't make Priamos put his regal power in your hands. For he has his own sons."
