BOOK XX.
ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTIETH BOOK.
By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues Æneas from death by the hand of Achilles, from whom Apollo, soon after, rescues Hector. Achilles slays many Trojans.
BOOK XX.
The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships
Stood arm’d around Achilles, glorious Chief
Insatiable with war, and opposite
The Trojans on the rising-ground appear’d.[1]
Meantime, Jove order’d Themis, from the head5
Of the deep-fork’d Olympian to convene
The Gods in council. She to every part
Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.[2]
Nor of the Floods was any absent thence
Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs10
Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside
Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green.
Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove
Arrived, on pillar’d thrones radiant they sat,
With ingenuity divine contrived15
By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all.
Thus they within the Thunderer’s palace sat
Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear
The voice of Themis, but (the billows left)
Came also; in the midst his seat he took,20
And ask’d, incontinent, the mind of Jove.[3]
King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call’d
The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart
Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy?
For on the battle’s fiery edge they stand.25
To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms,
Thou know’st my council, Shaker of the shores!
And wherefore ye are call’d. Although ordain’d
So soon to die, they interest me still.
Myself, here seated on Olympus’ top,30
With contemplation will my mind indulge
Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest,
Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek
Each to assist, as each shall most incline.
For should Achilles in the field no foe35
Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly
Before the rapid force of Peleus’ son.
They trembled ever at his look, and since
Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart,
I fear lest he anticipate the will40
Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature.