Apollo entered strong Ilios, uneasy lest the Danaans take the city before its hour. The other gods went back to Olympus, angry or triumphant, beside Zeus. Achilles still dealt death on Trojans and horses. As smoke from a burning city rises when gods' anger kindles it, so he brought toil and sorrow on Troy.
Old Priam on a high tower saw huge Achilles drive the panic-stricken Trojans with none to help. He came down groaning and ordered the gate-warders: keep the gates wide until the people fly in; Achilles is hard by. When they are safe inside, shut the strong gates, or that terrible man may bound within the wall.
They drew the bolts. The open gates became a haven. Apollo ran out to protect the fleeing. Parched and dust-grimy they made for the high wall, Achilles behind them wielding his spear like one possessed, thirsting for glory.
Then the Achaeans would have taken the lofty gates if Apollo had not spurred Agenor son of Antenor, standing by him in darkness against a beech.
Agenor's heart clouded: if he fled with the rout Achilles would kill him for a coward; if he ran for Ida's scrub he might be seen and caught. Better face him here — Achilles too is mortal, one life only, though Zeus gives him glory.
He stood like a leopardess that will not quit a hunter though spear-pierced until she grips him or dies. Holding his round shield he hurled and cried that Achilles hoped in vain to sack Troy that day — many brave men still inside would stand before parents, wives, and children.
Here, huge though you are, you shall die. The spear struck the greave below the knee; newly worked tin rang, but the god's gift held and the point recoiled.
Achilles attacked, but Apollo snatched Agenor into mist and sent him from the battle unharmed. Then the god put on Agenor's semblance and stood before Achilles, who gave chase over the cornlands toward Scamander, always thinking he was about to overtake him.
Meanwhile the routed Trojans crowded thankfully into the city until it thronged. They dared not wait outside to learn who had escaped and who had fallen; all whose feet and knees could carry them poured pell-mell through the gates.
The warders shut them. Hector alone remained outside Ilios, held by hard fate before the Scaean gates.