Then spake Polydamas:  “Let us not wait here for the morning.  It was well for us to fight at the ships while Achilles yet kept his wrath against Agamemnon.  But now it is not so, for to-morrow he will come against us in his anger, and many will fall before him.  Wherefore, let us go back to the city, for high are the walls and strong the gates, and he will perish before he pass them.”

Then said Hector, “This is ill counsel, Polydamas.  Shall we shut ourselves up in the city, where all our goods are wasted already, buying meat for the people?  Nay, let us watch to-night, and to-morrow will we fight with the Greeks.  And if Achilles be indeed come forth from his tent, be it so.  I will not shun to meet him, for Mars gives the victory now to one man and now to another.”

So he spake, and all the people applauded, not knowing what the morrow should bring forth.

Thus did it come to pass that Achilles went again into the battle, eager above all things to meet with Hector and to slay him.

But Apollo stood by AEneas, and spake to him:  “AEneas, where are now thy boastings that thou wouldst meet Achilles face to face?”

Then AEneas answered, “Nay, I have stood up against him in the day when he took the town of Lyrnessus.  But I fled before him, and only my nimble feet saved me from falling by his spear.  Surely a god is ever with him, making his spear to fly aright.”

Him Apollo answered again, “Thou, too, art the son of a goddess, and thy mother is greater than his, for she is but a daughter of the sea.  Drive straight at him with thy spear, and let not his threats dismay thee.”

Then AEneas stood out from the press to meet Achilles and Achilles said, “Fightest thou with me because thou hopest to reign over the men of Troy, or have they given thee a choice portion of ground, ploughland and orchard, to be thine when thou hast slain me?  Thou wilt not find it easy.  Dost thou not remember how thou fleddest before me in the day that I took Lyrnessus?”

Then AEneas answered, “Think not to terrify me with words, son of Peleus, for I, too, am the son of a goddess.  Let us make a trial one of the other.”

Then he cast his spear, and it struck the shield of Achilles with so dreadful a sound that the hero feared lest it should pierce it through, knowing not that the gifts of the Gods are not easy for mortal man to vanquish.  Two folds, indeed, it pierced, that were of bronze, but in the gold it was stayed, and there were yet two of tin within.  Then Achilles cast his spear.  Through the shield of AEneas it passed, and though it wounded him not, yet was he sore dismayed, so near it came.  Then Achilles drew his sword, and rushed on AEneas, and AEneas caught up a great stone to cast at him.  But it was not the will of the Gods that AEneas should perish, seeing that he and his sons after him should rule over the men of Troy in the ages to come.  Therefore Neptune lifted him up, and bore him over the ranks of men to the left of the battle, but first he drew the spear out of the shield, and laid it at the feet of Achilles.  Much the hero marveled to see it, crying, “This is a great wonder that I behold with mine eyes.  For I see my spear before me, but the man whom I sought to slay, I see not.  Of a truth AEneas spake truth, saying that he was dear to the immortal Gods.”