me forth,
the glorious spouse of Jove, nor does the lofty-throned son of Saturn
know it, nor any other of the immortals who inhabit snowy Olympus."

But her swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: "And how can I go to
the slaughter? for they possess my armour. Besides, my dear mother does
not permit me to be armed, before that with my eyes I behold her
coming, for she hath promised that she will bear me beautiful armour
from Vulcan. But I indeed know not of another, whose splendid armour I
could put on,[582] except the shield of Ajax, son of Telamon."

[Footnote 582: [Greek: All' oudenos oida armoxoutan moi
panoplian].--Schol.]

"But he, I hope, mingles in the front ranks, slaying with his spear round
the head of Patroclus."

But him fleet-footed Iris again addressed: "Well too do we know that
they possess thy distinguished armour: yet even thus, going towards the
ditch, show thyself to the Trojans, if perchance the Trojans, terrified,
may desist from battle, and the warlike, harassed sons of the Greeks may
breathe again; and there be a short respite from fighting." [583]

[Footnote 583: Cf. xv. 42.]

Thus indeed having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed; but Achilles,
dear to Jove, arose; and around his strong shoulders Minerva threw her
fringed aegis. And the divine one of goddesses crowned his head around
with a golden cloud, and from it she kindled a shining flame. And as
when smoke, ascending from a city, reaches the aether from an island afar
off, which foes invest, who [pouring out] from their city, contend all
day in hateful fight: but with the setting sun torches blaze one after
another,[584] and the splendour arises, rushing upwards, for [their]
neighbours to behold, if perchance they may come with ships, as
repellers of the war; thus did the flame from the head of Achilles reach
the sky. He stood, having advanced from the wall to the trench, nor
mingled with the Greeks, for he reverenced the prudent advice of his
mother. There standing, he shouted, and Pallas Minerva, on the other
side, vociferated, and stirred up immense tumult among the Trojans. And
as the tone is very clear, when a trumpet sounds, while deadly foes are
investing a city; so distinct then was the voice of the descendant of
AEacus. But when they heard the brazen voice of Achilles, the soul was
disturbed to all, whilst the beautiful-maned steeds turned the chariots
backwards, for they presaged sorrows in their mind. The char