Aeneas came on first, doughty helmet tossing, strong shield before his breast, bronze spear brandished. Achilles sprang to meet him like a fierce lion the countryside has gathered to kill — at first he thinks no harm, but when some daring youth has struck him he crouches open-mouthed, jaws foaming, roaring, lashing his flanks, and springs to see whether he will slay or be slain among the foremost.
Achilles asked why Aeneas stood out to fight. Did he hope for Priam's seat? Even if he killed Achilles, Priam had sons of his own. Or had the Trojans promised rich land for the deed?
He had already chased Aeneas from the cattle on Ida, and only Zeus and the gods had saved him then.
Aeneas said words would not scare him like a child. Common fame knew their blood: Achilles son of Peleus and Thetis; himself son of Anchises and Aphrodite. One side's parents would mourn that day.
He traced his line from Dardanus son of Zeus down through the kings of Dardania. Valor Zeus gives or takes as he will. Now stop prating like children — try each other with bronze.
He drove his spear at Achilles's shield. The point rang but did not pierce; the golden layer of the god's five-fold work stayed it.
Achilles threw in turn and struck Aeneas's shield at the thin edge where the bronze was weakest. The spear of Pelian ash went clean through; Aeneas crouched back holding the shield away, and the spear flew over his back and stuck quivering in the ground. Though he had avoided it, he stood still, blinded with fear and grief that the weapon had come so near. Then Achilles sprang with a cry of death, drawing his sharp sword.
They would have closed and finished it had not Poseidon been quick to mark. Alas for great Aeneas, he said among the immortals — he will go down to Hades beaten by the son of Peleus. Fool that he was to heed Apollo; Apollo will never save him. Why should this guiltless man suffer in another's quarrel, who always gives pleasing gifts to the gods who hold broad heaven?
It is fated he escape, so Dardanus's race not perish without seed. Zeus has come to hate Priam's line; Aeneas and his children's children shall be lords over the Trojans.
Hera said the earth-shaker should save him or not as he chose; she and Athena had sworn never to shield Trojans, not even when Troy burned.
Poseidon went into the battle amid the clash of spears. At once he shed darkness before Achilles's eyes, drew the bronze-headed ashen spear from Aeneas's shield and laid it at Achilles's feet. Then he lifted Aeneas high from the earth and hurried him away over the heads of many bands of horse and foot until he came to the fringe where the Cauconians were arming.
He told Aeneas which god had driven him mad to fight Peleus's son, stronger and dearer to the immortals. Draw back when you meet him, or go to Hades before your time; after Achilles's death, fight among the foremost — no other Achaean shall slay you.
Then he took the darkness from Achilles, who stared angry: my spear lies here, but not the man I meant to kill. Heaven protects Aeneas too. Let him go; he will not face me again soon. I will order the Danaans and attack other Trojans.