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had been made in his shirt。 Then Diomed prayed； saying； 〃Hear me；
daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； if ever you loved my
father well and stood by him in the thick of a fight； do the like
now by me； grant me to e within a spear's throw of that man
and kill him。 He has been too quick for me and has wounded me；
and now he is boasting that I shall not see the light of the sun
much longer。〃
Thus he prayed； and Pallas Minerva heard him； she made his limbs
supple and quickened his hands and his feet。 Then she went up
close to him and said； 〃Fear not； Diomed； to do battle with the
Trojans； for I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly
father Tydeus。 Moreover； I have withdrawn the veil from your
eyes； that you know gods and men apart。 If； then； any other god
es here and offers you battle； do not fight him； but should
Jove's daughter Venus e； strike her with your spear and wound
her。〃
When she had said this Minerva went away； and the son of Tydeus
again took his place among the foremost fighters； three times
more fierce even than he had been before。 He was like a lion that
some mountain shepherd has wounded； but not killed； as he is
springing over the wall of a sheep…yard to attack the sheep。 The
shepherd has roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his
flock； so he takes shelter under cover of the buildings； while
the sheep； panic…stricken on being deserted； are smothered in
heaps one on top of the other； and the angry lion leaps out over
the sheep…yard wall。 Even thus did Diomed go furiously about
among the Trojans。
He killed Astynous； and Hypeiron shepherd of his people； the one
with a thrust of his spear； which struck him above the nipple；
the other with a sword…cut on the collar…bone； that severed his
shoulder from his neck and back。 He let both of them lie； and
went in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus； sons of the old reader of
dreams Eurydamas： they never came back for him to read them any
more dreams； for mighty Diomed made an end of them。 He then gave
chase to Xanthus and Thoon； the two sons of Phaenops； both of
them very dear to him； for he was now worn out with age； and
begat no more sons to inherit his possessions。 But Diomed took
both their lives and left their father sorrowing bitterly； for he
nevermore saw them e home from battle alive； and his kinsmen
divided his wealth among themselves。
Then he came upon two sons of Priam； Echemmon and Chromius； as
they were both in one chariot。 He sprang upon them as a lion
fastens on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is
feeding in a coppice。 For all their vain struggles he flung them
both from their chariot and stripped the armour from their
bodies。 Then he gave their horses to his rades to take them
back to the ships。
When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks； he went
through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find
Pandarus。 When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said；
〃Pandarus； where is now your bow； your winged arrows； and your
renown as an archer； in respect of which no man here can rival
you nor is there any in Lycia that can beat you？ Lift then your
hands to Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so
masterfully about； and has done such deadly work among the
Trojans。 He has killed many a brave manunless indeed he is some
god who is angry with the Trojans about their sacrifices； and and
has set his hand against them in his displeasure。〃
And the son of Lycaon answered； 〃Aeneas； I take him for none
other than the son of Tydeus。 I know him by his shield； the visor
of his helmet； and by his horses。 It is possible that he may be a
god； but if he is the man I say he is； he is not making all this
havoc without heaven's help； but has some god by his side who is
shrouded in a cloud of darkness； and who turned my arrow aside
when it had hit him。 I have taken aim at him already and hit him
on the right shoulder； my arrow went through the breastpiece of
his cuirass； and I made sure I should send him hurrying to the
world below； but it seems that I have not killed him。 There must
be a god who is angry with me。 Moreover I have neither horse nor
chariot。 In my father's stables there are eleven excellent
chariots； fresh from the builder； quite new； with cloths spread
over them； and by each of them there stand a pair of horses；
champing barley and rye； my old father Lycaon urged me again and
again when I was at home and on the point of starting； to take
chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in
battle； but I would not listen to him； it would have been much
better if I had done so； but I was thinking about the horses；
which had been used to eat their fill； and I was afraid that in
such a great gathering of men they might be ill…fed； so I left
them at home and came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and
arrows。 These it seems； are of no use； for I have already hit two
chieftains； the sons of Atreus and of Tydeus； and though I drew
blood surely enough； I have only made them still more furious。 I
did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band
of Trojans to Ilius in Hector's service； and if ever I get home
again to set eyes on my native place； my wife； and the greatness
of my house； may some one cut my head off then and there if I do
not break the bow and set it on a hot firesuch pranks as it
plays me。〃
Aeneas answered； 〃Say no more。 Things will not mend till we two
go against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a
trial of arms。 Mount my chariot； and note how cleverly the horses
of Tros can speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or
flight。 If Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they
will carry us safely back to the city。 Take hold； then； of the
whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight； or else do
you wait this man's onset while I look after the horses。〃
〃Aeneas；〃 replied the son of Lycaon； 〃take the reins and drive；
if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go
better for their own driver。 If they miss the sound of your voice
when they expect it they may be frightened； and refuse to take us
out of the fight。 The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and
take the horses。 Therefore drive them yourself and I will be
ready for him with my spear。〃
They then mounted the chariot and drove full…speed towards the
son of Tydeus。 Sthenelus； son of Capaneus； saw them ing and
said to Diomed； 〃Diomed； son of Tydeus； man after my own heart； I
see two heroes speeding towards you； both of them men of might
the one a skilful archer； Pandarus son of Lycaon； the other；
Aeneas； whose sire is Anchises； while his mother is Venus。 Mount
the chariot and let us retreat。 Do not； I pray you； press so
furiously forward； or you may get killed。〃
Diomed looked angrily at him and answered： 〃Talk not of flight；
for I shall not listen to you： I am of a race that knows neither
flight nor fear； and my limbs are as yet unwearied。 I am in no
mind to mount； but will go against them even as I am； Pallas
Minerva bids me be afraid of no man； and even though one of them
escape； their steeds shall not take both back again。 I say
further； and lay my saying to your heartif Minerva sees fit to
vouchsafe me the glory of killing both； stay your horses here and
make the reins fast to the rim of the chariot； then be sure you
spring Aeneas' horses and drive them from the Trojan to the
Achaean ranks。 They are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros
in payment for his son Ganymede； and are the finest that live and
move under the sun。 King Anchises stole the blood by putting his
mares to them without Laomedon's knowledge； and they bore him six
foals。 Four are still in his stables； but he gave the other two
to Aeneas。 We shall win great glory if we can take them。〃
Thus did they converse； but the other two had now driven close up
to them； and the son of Lycaon spoke first。 〃Great and mighty
son；〃 said he； 〃of noble Tydeus； my arrow failed to lay you low；
so I will now try with my spear。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him。 It struck
the shield of the son of Tydeus； the bronze point pierced it and
passed