The Iliad of Homer. Homer

Mars deeply smitten from the field of war?

      To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.

       Go! but exhort thou rather to the task910

       Spoil-huntress Athenæan Pallas, him

       Accustom'd to chastise with pain severe.

      He spake, nor white-arm'd Juno not obey'd.

       She lash'd her steeds; they readily their flight

       Began, the earth and starry vault between.915

       Far as from his high tower the watchman kens

       O'er gloomy ocean, so far at one bound

       Advance the shrill-voiced coursers of the Gods.

       But when at Troy and at the confluent streams

       Of Simoïs and Scamander they arrived,920

       There Juno, white-arm'd Goddess, from the yoke

       Her steeds releasing, them in gather'd shades

       Conceal'd opaque, while Simoïs caused to spring

       Ambrosia from his bank, whereon they browsed.

      Swift as her pinions waft the dove away925

       They sought the Grecians, ardent to begin:

       Arriving where the mightiest and the most

       Compass'd equestrian Diomede around,

       In aspect lion-like, or like wild boars

       Of matchless force, there white-arm'd Juno stood,930

       And in the form of Stentor for his voice

       Of brass renown'd, audible as the roar

       Of fifty throats, the Grecians thus harangued.

      Oh shame, shame, shame! Argives in form alone,

       Beautiful but dishonorable race!935

       While yet divine Achilles ranged the field,

       No Trojan stepp'd from yon Dardanian gates

       Abroad; all trembled at his stormy spear;

       134 But now they venture forth, now at your ships

       Defy you, from their city far remote.940

      She ceased, and all caught courage from the sound.

       But Athenæan Pallas eager sought

       The son of Tydeus; at his chariot side

       She found the Chief cooling his fiery wound

       Received from Pandarus; for him the sweat945

       Beneath the broad band of his oval shield

       Exhausted, and his arm fail'd him fatigued;

       He therefore raised the band and wiped the blood

       Coagulate; when o'er his chariot yoke

       Her arm the Goddess threw, and thus began.950

      Tydeus, in truth, begat a son himself

       Not much resembling. Tydeus was of size

       Diminutive, but had a warrior's heart.

       When him I once commanded to abstain

       From furious fight (what time he enter'd Thebes955

       Ambassador, and the Cadmeans found

       Feasting, himself the sole Achaian there)

       And bade him quietly partake the feast.

       He, fired with wonted ardor, challenged forth

       To proof of manhood the Cadmean youth,960

       Whom easily, through my effectual aid,

       In contests of each kind he overcame.

       But thou, whom I encircle with my power,

       Guard vigilant, and even bid thee forth

       To combat with the Trojans, thou, thy limbs965

       Feel'st wearied with the toils of war, or worse,

       Indulgest womanish and heartless fear.

       Henceforth thou art not worthy to be deem'd

       Son of Oenides, Tydeus famed in arms.

      To whom thus valiant Diomede replied.970

       I know thee well, oh Goddess sprung from Jove!

       And therefore willing shall, and plain, reply.

       Me neither weariness nor heartless fear

       Restrains, but thine injunctions which impress

       My memory, still, that I should fear to oppose975

       The blessed Gods in fight, Venus except,

       135 Whom in the battle found thou badest me pierce

       With unrelenting spear; therefore myself

       Retiring hither, I have hither call'd

       The other Argives also, for I know980

       That Mars, himself in arms, controls the war.

      Him answer'd then the Goddess azure-eyed.

       Tydides! Diomede, my heart's delight!

       Fear not this Mars,[22] nor fear thou other power Immortal, but be confident in me.985 Arise. Drive forth. Seek Mars; him only seek; Him hand to hand engage; this fiery Mars Respect not aught, base implement of wrong And mischief, shifting still from side to side. He promised Juno lately and myself990 That he would fight for Greece, yet now forgets His promise, and gives all his aid to Troy.

      So saying, she backward by his hand withdrew

       The son of Capaneus, who to the ground

       Leap'd instant; she, impatient to his place995

       Ascending, sat beside brave Diomede.

       Loud groan'd the beechen axle, under weight

       Unwonted, for it bore into the fight

       An awful Goddess, and the chief of men.

       Quick-seizing lash and reins Minerva drove1000

       Direct at Mars. That moment he had slain

       Periphas, bravest of Ætolia's sons,

       And huge of bulk; Ochesius was his sire.

       Him Mars the slaughterer had of life bereft

       Newly, and Pallas to elude his sight1005

       The helmet fixed of Ades on her head.[23] Soon as gore-tainted Mars the approach perceived Of Diomede, he left the giant length Of Periphas extended where he died, And flew to cope with Tydeus' valiant son.1010 136 Full nigh they came, when Mars on fire to slay The hero, foremost with his brazen lance Assail'd him, hurling o'er his horses' heads. But Athenæan Pallas in her hand The flying weapon caught and turn'd it wide,1015 Baffling his aim. Then Diomede on him Rush'd furious in his turn, and Pallas plunged The bright spear deep into his cinctured waist Dire was the wound, and plucking back the spear She tore him. Bellow'd brazen-throated Mars1020 Loud as nine thousand warriors, or as ten Join'd in close combat. Grecians, Trojans shook Appall'd alike at the tremendous voice Of Mars insatiable with deeds of blood. Such as the dimness is when summer winds1025 Breathe hot, and sultry mist obscures the sky, Such brazen Mars to Diomede appear'd By clouds accompanied in his ascent Into the boundless ether. Reaching soon The Olympian heights, seat of the Gods, he sat1030 Beside Saturnian Jove; wo fill'd his heart; He show'd fast-streaming from the wound his blood Immortal, and impatient thus complain'd.

      Jove, Father! Seest thou these outrageous acts

       Unmoved with anger? Such are day by day1035

       The dreadful mischiefs by the Gods contrived

       Against each other, for the sake of man.

       Thou art thyself the cause. Thou hast produced

       A foolish daughter petulant, addict

       To evil only and injurious deeds;1040