The Iliad of Homer. Homer

observed, and turning quick

       His speech to Diomede, him thus address'd.

      Tydides, Diomede, my heart's delight!

       Two warriors of immeasurable force

       In battle, ardent to contend with thee,285

       Come rattling on. Lycaon's offspring one,

       Bow-practised Pandarus; with whom appears

       Æneas; he who calls the mighty Chief

       Anchises father, and whom Venus bore.

       Mount—drive we swift away—lest borne so far290

       Beyond the foremost battle, thou be slain.

      To whom, dark-frowning, Diomede replied

       Speak not of flight to me, who am disposed

       To no such course. I am ashamed to fly

       116 Or tremble, and my strength is still entire;295

       I cannot mount. No. Rather thus, on foot,

       I will advance against them. Fear and dread

       Are not for me; Pallas forbids the thought.

       One falls, be sure; swift as they are, the steeds

       That whirl them on, shall never rescue both.300

       But hear my bidding, and hold fast the word.

       Should all-wise Pallas grant me my desire

       To slay them both, drive not my coursers hence,

       But hook the reins, and seizing quick the pair

       That draw Æneas, urge them from the powers305

       Of Troy away into the host of Greece.

       For they are sprung from those which Jove to Tros

       In compensation gave for Ganymede;

       The Sun himself sees not their like below.

       Anchises, King of men, clandestine them310

       Obtain'd, his mares submitting to the steeds

       Of King Laomedon. Six brought him foals;

       Four to himself reserving, in his stalls

       He fed them sleek, and two he gave his son:

       These, might we win them, were a noble prize.315

      Thus mutual they conferr'd; those Chiefs, the while,

       With swiftest pace approach'd, and first his speech

       To Diomede Lycaon's son address'd.

      Heroic offspring of a noble sire,

       Brave son of Tydeus! false to my intent320

       My shaft hath harm'd thee little. I will now

       Make trial with my spear, if that may speed.

      He said, and shaking his long-shadow'd spear,

       Dismiss'd it. Forceful on the shield it struck

       Of Diomede, transpierced it, and approach'd325

       With threatening point the hauberk on his breast.

       Loud shouted Pandarus—Ah nobly thrown!

       Home to thy bowels. Die, for die thou must,

       And all the glory of thy death is mine.

      Then answer thus brave Diomede return'd330

       Undaunted. I am whole. Thy cast was short.

       But ye desist not, as I plain perceive,

       117 Till one at least extended on the plain

       Shall sate the God of battles with his blood.

      He said and threw. Pallas the spear herself335

       Directed; at his eye fast by the nose

       Deep-entering, through his ivory teeth it pass'd,

       At its extremity divided sheer

       His tongue, and started through his chin below.

       He headlong fell, and with his dazzling arms340

       Smote full the plain. Back flew the fiery steeds

       With swift recoil, and where he fell he died.

       Then sprang Æneas forth with spear and shield,

       That none might drag the body;[11] lion-like He stalk'd around it, oval shield and spear345 Advancing firm, and with incessant cries Terrific, death denouncing on his foes. But Diomede with hollow grasp a stone Enormous seized, a weight to overtask Two strongest men of such as now are strong,350 Yet he, alone, wielded the rock with ease. Full on the hip he smote him, where the thigh Rolls in its cavity, the socket named. He crushed the socket, lacerated wide Both tendons, and with that rough-angled mass355 Flay'd all his flesh, The Hero on his knees Sank, on his ample palm his weight upbore Laboring, and darkness overspread his eyes.

      There had Æneas perish'd, King of men,

       Had not Jove's daughter Venus quick perceived360

       His peril imminent, whom she had borne

       Herself to Anchises pasturing his herds.

       Her snowy arras her darling son around

       She threw maternal, and behind a fold

       Of her bright mantle screening close his breast365

       From mortal harm by some brave Grecian's spear,

       118 Stole him with eager swiftness from the fight.

      Nor then forgat brave Sthenelus his charge

       Received from Diomede, but his own steeds

       Detaining distant from the boisterous war,370

       Stretch'd tight the reins, and hook'd them fast behind.

       The coursers of Æneas next he seized

       Ardent, and them into the host of Greece

       Driving remote, consign'd them to his care,

       Whom far above all others his compeers375

       He loved, Deipylus, his bosom friend

       Congenial. Him he charged to drive them thence

       Into the fleet, then, mounting swift his own,

       Lash'd after Diomede; he, fierce in arms,

       Pursued the Cyprian Goddess, conscious whom,380

       Not Pallas, not Enyo, waster dread

       Of cities close-beleaguer'd, none of all

       Who o'er the battle's bloody course preside,

       But one of softer kind and prone to fear.

       When, therefore, her at length, after long chase385

       Through all the warring multitude he reach'd,

       With his protruded spear her gentle hand

       He wounded, piercing through her thin attire

       Ambrosial, by themselves the graces wrought,

       Her inside wrist, fast by the rosy palm.390

       Blood follow'd, but immortal; ichor pure,

       Such as the blest inhabitants of heaven

       May bleed, nectareous; for the Gods eat not

       Man's food, nor slake as he with sable wine

       Their thirst, thence bloodless and from death exempt.395

       She, shrieking, from her arms cast down her son,

       And Phœbus, in impenetrable clouds

       Him hiding, lest the spear of some brave Greek

       Should pierce his bosom, caught him swift away.

       Then shouted brave Tydides after her—400

      Depart, Jove's daughter! fly the bloody field.

       Is't not enough