But we—­why should we wrangle, and with taunts
Assail each other, as the practice is
Of women, who with heart-devouring strife
On fire, start forth into the public way 315
To mock each other, uttering, as may chance,
Much truth, much falsehood, as their anger bids? 
The ardor of my courage will not slack
For all thy speeches; we must combat first;
Now, therefore, without more delay, begin, 320
That we may taste each other’s force in arms.[7]

    So spake AEneas, and his brazen lance

Hurl’d with full force against the dreadful shield. 
Loud roar’d its ample concave at the blow. 
Not unalarm’d, Pelides his broad disk 325
Thrust farther from him, deeming that the force
Of such an arm should pierce his guard with ease. 
Vain fear! he recollected not that arms
Glorious as his, gifts of the immortal Gods,
Yield not so quickly to the force of man. 330
The stormy spear by brave AEneas sent,
No passage found; the golden plate divine
Repress’d its vehemence; two folds it pierced,
But three were still behind, for with five folds
Vulcan had fortified it; two were brass; 335
The two interior, tin; the midmost, gold;
And at the golden one the weapon stood.[8]
Achilles next, hurl’d his long shadow’d spear,
And struck AEneas on the utmost verge
Of his broad shield, where thinnest lay the brass, 340
And thinnest the ox-hide.  The Pelian ash
Started right through the buckler, and it rang. 
AEneas crouch’d terrified, and his shield
Thrust farther from him; but the rapid beam
Bursting both borders of the ample disk, 345
Glanced o’er his back, and plunged into the soil. 
He ’scaped it, and he stood; but, as he stood,
With horror infinite the weapon saw
Planted so near him.  Then, Achilles drew
His falchion keen, and with a deafening shout 350
Sprang on him; but AEneas seized a stone
Heavy and huge, a weight to overcharge
Two men (such men as are accounted strong
Now) but he wielded it with ease, alone. 
Then had AEneas, as Achilles came 355
Impetuous on, smitten, although in vain,
His helmet or his shield, and Peleus’ son
Had with his falchion him stretch’d at his feet,
But that the God of Ocean quick perceived
His peril, and the Immortals thus bespake. 360

    I pity brave AEneas, who shall soon,

Slain by Achilles, see the realms below,
By smooth suggestions of Apollo lured
To danger, such as he can ne’er avert. 
But wherefore should the Chief, guiltless himself, 365
Die for the fault of others? at no time
His gifts have fail’d, grateful to all in heaven. 
Come, therefore, and let us from death ourselves