Chapter 38 38

Zeus convened an assembly of the gods on the holy mountain of Olympus, allowing them to freely decide to aid the Trojans or the Greeks. Because if the gods do not join the battle, Achilles will violate the will of the gods and occupy the city of Troy.The gods acted according to the decree, and chose the object of aid according to their own wishes: Hera, the mother of the gods, Pallas Athena, Poseidon, Hermes and Hephaestus rushed to the Greeks. On the warship: Ares and Phoebus, Artemis and her mother Leto, and the river god Scamander, who was called Shantos by the gods, Aphrodite and others set off for Troy people there.

Before the gods joined the ranks of both sides, the Greeks were full of fighting spirit with the valiant Achilles in their ranks.When the Trojans saw the son of Peleus from afar, and saw him in shining armor like a god of war, their limbs trembled with fear.Suddenly, the gods unknowingly joined the ranks of both sides, and the battle suddenly became fierce and cruel. It is hard to predict where the victory will belong.Athena commanded back and forth between the ditches of the wall and the sea, uttering thunderous cries.On the other side, Ares sometimes commanded the Trojans from the high walls, and sometimes galloped like a storm among the troops on the banks of the Simoes, loudly urging the Trojans.Eris, the goddess of discord, runs among the opposing armies.Zeus, the master of war, also sent thunder and lightning from the holy mountain of Olympus.Poseidon shook the earth and made the mountains tremble, even Mount Ada shook.Hades, the king of the underworld, was taken aback, fearing that the earth would crack open and gods and mortals would discover the secrets of the underworld.The gods finally fought face to face: Phoebus Apollo shot Poseidon with arrows; Pallas Pathena fought against Ares; Artemis aimed at the mother of all gods Hera; Leto and Hermes; Hephaestus and Scamander.

When the gods were swarming and inseparable, Achilles looked for Hector in the crowd to fight.Apollo transformed himself into Lycaon, the son of Priam, and led the hero Aeneas to Achilles.Aeneas, in shining armor, gallops forward bravely.But Hera found him in the chaotic battlefield, and she immediately summoned the gods who were friendly with her, and said to them: "Poseidon and Athena! Think about it, and see what to do about this matter. In Phoebe At the instigation of Aeneas, Aeneas rushed towards Achilles. We either forced him to retreat, or strengthened Achilles to make him feel that the great gods were supporting him. But today He can't have an accident, that's why we flew down from the holy mountain of Olympus. From now on, he must obey the bad luck arranged by the goddess of fate."

"Think about the consequences of this, Hera," replied Poseidon. "I don't think we should join forces against the gods who are on the other side. It really doesn't make sense, because we are gods, obviously It has great power. We should stand aside and watch the battle quietly. If Ares or Apollo joins the battle and hinders Achilles from fighting, then we can join the battle as a matter of course!" At the same time, groups of soldiers were clustered on the battlefield.The teams of both sides rushed forward, and the earth rumbled under their feet. Presently two fierce heroes sprang forward from their respective ranks, the one Aeneas son of Anchises, and the other Achilles son of Peleus.Aeneas jumped out first, the feathered helmet on his head fluttering majesticly beside the huge helmet, a large cowhide shield on his chest, and threateningly waving his spear in his hand; Achilles also looked like a lion The same rushed forward.When he approached Aeneas, he shouted loudly: "Aeneas, how dare you leave the team and come before me? Do you think you can rule Troy by killing me? Did the Trojans promise to give you a Large tracts of land, in return for defeating me? Do you remember, at the beginning of this war, I drove you off the top of Mount Ada? When you ran into it in fear, without your head Dare to go back and run until the city of Lyrnaxos before stopping. With the aid of Athena and Zeus, I conquered the city and razed it to the ground. By the mercy of the gods, I spared your death. But, God will not save you a second time. I advise you to retreat quickly and make way for me!" Aeneas retorted: "Son of Peleus, you think I am a child, use a few words Can words scare me? We all know each other's details. I know you are the son of the sea goddess Thetis. But I am the son of the beautiful goddess Aphrodite and the grandson of Zeus. And be honored. Let us not babble here, but try our spears!" And saying he threw his spear, and struck Achilles' shield, piercing two layers of bronze, and a third of gold. Yes, the spear tip is blocked here and cannot penetrate the tin layer behind.Now it was the turn of the son of Peleus to throw the spear.His spear hit Aeneas' shield, and the point fell through the thinnest part of the edge to the ground behind Aeneas.He was so frightened that he hastily clinging to the shield and squatting down.Achilles rushed over with his sword in his hand, and Aeneas picked up a huge boulder on the ground that was usually difficult for two people to lift in a hurry, and threw it deftly.If Poseidon had not noticed this, the boulder would have struck the helmet or shield of the opponent, and he himself would have died by the sword of the son of Peleus.

Although the gods watching the battle opposed the Trojans, they showed pity for Aeneas. "It would be a pity if Aeneas went to hell just because he obeyed Apollo," said Poseidon, "and I'm afraid Zeus would be angry because he hated the Priam family. , but he is unwilling to completely destroy the family, and it is through Aeneas that he wants to continue this powerful royal family." "You can do whatever you want," replied Hera, "as for me and Pallas, we used to I solemnly swear that I will never change the unfortunate fate of the Trojans." Poseidon flew into battle.Human eyes cannot see him.He first rained a thick mist on Achilles' eyes, then pulled out the spear from Aeneas' shield and placed it at Achilles' feet.At last Poseidon threw Aeneas to the edge of the field, where his allies, the Corcones, were gearing up for battle. "Aeneas," Poseidon reproached him mockingly, "which god blinded you to dare to fight against the favorite of the gods? Henceforth you must avoid him until fate Only after God ended his life can you boldly fight at the forefront!"

After the Poseidon finished speaking, he left Aeneas and dispelled the thick fog in front of Achilles' eyes.Achilles was surprised to see that his opponent had disappeared while his spear was at his feet. "It must have been the gods who helped him escape," said Achilles angrily, "I have let him escape so many times." Then he returned to his ranks and encouraged the soldiers to march forward bravely.On the other side, Hector was also rousing his warriors, and so there was another violent fight between the two sides.When Phoebus Apollo saw Hector rushing towards Peleus' son, he whispered a warning in his ear.Hector immediately fled back to his team.Achilles charged into the enemy line, first slaying Iphitheion and then Termoraion.Seeing Hippodamas jump from his chariot, he immediately stabbed him in the back with his spear, and then stabbed Pamon, another son of Priam, in the spine.Pamon screamed in pain, fell to his knees and died.

Hector saw his young brother fell to the ground, his eyes blackened with anger.He could no longer stand idly by, so he ignored the god's warning and rushed straight at Achilles.Achilles applauded when he saw him. "This is the man," said he, "that pains me in the depths of my heart. Hector, let us not avoid each other. Come and die!" "Even if I stand far away from you," replied Hector without fear, "I know you are a hero, but perhaps the gods will help me to win." throws his spear.Athena, standing right behind Achilles, blew lightly on the spear, causing it to fall back and fall powerlessly at Hector's feet.Achilles rushed forward and shot Hector with his spear.Apollo descended a dense fog to surround Hector, and hurriedly pulled him away from the battlefield.Achilles missed three times in a row.When he missed again with the fourth shot, he couldn't help shouting menacingly: "You son of a bitch, this time it's easy for you to escape another death. Phoebus must have protected you. But if there is a god who only helps me , next time you will die in my hands!"

As he spoke, Achilles, furious, charged into the enemy line like a tiger on a flock of sheep, and killed ten valiant Trojans.