Achilles's heart was set on Hector; with his blood he longed to glut the lord of battle. Apollo set Aeneas on to attack him, speaking as Lycaon son of Priam.
He asked where now were the brave words Aeneas had spoken over wine, that he would face Achilles son of Peleus.
Aeneas answered that he was in no mind for it. Achilles's spear had already put him to flight from Ida when the hero attacked their cattle and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Zeus had saved him then by giving strength to flee. No man may fight Achilles while a god is always with him as guardian.
Apollo told him to pray: Aphrodite, Zeus's daughter, bore you; Thetis is only daughter of the Old Man of the Sea. Bring your spear to bear and do not fear his taunts.
Courage entered Aeneas and he strode in full armor among the foremost. White-armed Hera saw the son of Anchises going forth and called Poseidon and Athena: shall we turn him back at once, or stand by Achilles and give him strength so he knows the best of the immortals are for him, while those who long shielded Troy sit idle?
Poseidon told her to restrain her fury. Let mortals fight it out from some hill apart; if Ares or Apollo holds Achilles back, then raise the cry, and those gods will leave vanquished for Olympus.
He led them to the earth-barrow of Heracles, built by Trojans and Athena. There they sat wrapped in cloud. The other gods took the brow of Callicolone round Phoebus and Ares.
Neither side began against the other while Zeus held command on high. The plain blazed with armor as men and horses rushed together, and two champions met between the hosts — Aeneas and Achilles.