Page 425 - the-iliad

there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the hand of a hero;
whereas now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable
end, trapped in this river as though I were some swine-
herd’s boy, who gets carried down a torrent while trying to
cross it during a storm.’
As soon as he had spoken thus, Neptune and Minerva
came up to him in the likeness of two men, and took him
by the hand to reassure him. Neptune spoke first. ‘Son of
Peleus,’ said he, ‘be not so exceeding fearful; we are two
gods, come with Jove’s sanction to assist you, I, and Pallas
Minerva. It is not your fate to perish in this river; he will
abate presently as you will see; moreover we strongly advise
you, if you will be guided by us, not to stay your hand from
fighting 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, en-
couraged by the charge the gods had laid upon him. All was
now covered with the flood of waters, and much goodly ar-
mour 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

The Iliad