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wide plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great
river rolling swiftly to the seahe sees its boiling waters and
starts back in feareven so did the son of Tydeus give ground。
Then he said to his men； 〃My friends； how can we wonder that
Hector wields the spear so well？ Some god is ever by his side to
protect him； and now Mars is with him in the likeness of mortal
man。 Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans； but give
ground backwards； for we dare not fight with gods。〃
As he spoke the Trojans drew close up； and Hector killed two men；
both in one chariot； Menesthes and Anchialus； heroes well versed
in war。 Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall； he came
close up and hurled his spear； hitting Amphius the son of
Selagus； a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much
corn…growing land； but his lot had led him to e to the aid of
Priam and his sons。 Ajax struck him in the belt； the spear
pierced the lower part of his belly； and he fell heavily to the
ground。 Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour； but
the Trojans rained spears upon him； many of which fell upon his
shield。 He planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear；
but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he could not strip
the goodly armour from his shoulders。 The Trojan chieftains；
moreover； many and valiant； came about him with their spears； so
that he dared not stay； great； brave and valiant though he was；
they drove him from them and he was beaten back。
Thus； then； did the battle rage between them。 Presently the
strong hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus； the son of Hercules； a
man both brave and of great stature； to fight Sarpedon； so the
two； son and grandson of great Jove； drew near to one another；
and Tlepolemus spoke first。 〃Sarpedon；〃 said he； 〃councillor of
the Lycians； why should you e skulking here you who are a man
of peace？ They lie who call you son of aegis…bearing Jove； for
you are little like those who were of old his children。 Far other
was Hercules； my own brave and lion…hearted father； who came here
for the horses of Laomedon； and though he had six ships only； and
few men to follow him； sacked the city of Ilius and made a
wilderness of her highways。 You are a coward； and your people are
falling from you。 For all your strength； and all your ing from
Lycia； you will be no help to the Trojans but will pass the gates
of Hades vanquished by my hand。〃
And Sarpedon； captain of the Lycians； answered； 〃Tlepolemus； your
father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon's folly in refusing
payment to one who had served him well。 He would not give your
father the horses which he had e so far to fetch。 As for
yourself； you shall meet death by my spear。 You shall yield glory
to myself； and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds。〃
Thus spoke Sarpedon； and Tlepolemus upraised his spear。 They
threw at the same moment； and Sarpedon struck his foe in the
middle of his throat； the spear went right through； and the
darkness of death fell upon his eyes。 Tlepolemus's spear struck
Sarpedon on the left thigh with such force that it tore through
the flesh and grazed the bone； but his father as yet warded off
destruction from him。
His rades bore Sarpedon out of the fight； in great pain by the
weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound。 They were
in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of
drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly。
Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus；
whereon Ulysses was moved to pity； and panted for the fray as he
beheld them。 He doubted whether to pursue the son of Jove； or to
make slaughter of the Lycian rank and file； it was not decreed；
however； that he should slay the son of Jove； Minerva； therefore；
turned him against the main body of the Lycians。 He killed
Coeranus； Alastor； Chromius； Alcandrus； Halius； Noemon； and
Prytanis； and would have slain yet more； had not great Hector
marked him； and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit
of mail； filling the Danaans with terror。 Sarpedon was glad when
he saw him ing； and besought him； saying； 〃Son of Priam； let
me not be here to fall into the hands of the Danaans。 Help me；
and since I may not return home to gladden the hearts of my wife
and of my infant son； let me die within the walls of your city。〃
Hector made him no answer； but rushed onward to fall at once upon
the Achaeans and kill many among them。 His rades then bore
Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove's spreading oak tree。
Pelagon； his friend and rade； drew the spear out of his thigh；
but Sarpedon fainted and a mist came over his eyes。 Presently he
came to himself again； for the breath of the north wind as it
played upon him gave him new life； and brought him out of the
deep swoon into which he had fallen。
Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by
Mars and Hector； nor yet did they attack them； when they knew
that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated； but kept their
faces still turned towards the foe。 Who； then； was first and who
last to be slain by Mars and Hector？ They were valiant Teuthras；
and Orestes the renowned charioteer； Trechus the Aetolian
warrior； Oenomaus； Helenus the son of Oenops； and Oresbius of the
gleaming girdle； who was possessed of great wealth； and dwelt by
the Cephisian lake with the other Boeotians who lived near him；
owners of a fertile country。
Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling； she said
to Minerva； 〃Alas； daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable；
the promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he
had sacked the city of Ilius will be of no effect if we let Mars
rage thus furiously。 Let us go into the fray at once。〃
Minerva did not gainsay her。 Thereon the august goddess； daughter
of great Saturn； began to harness her gold…bedizened steeds。 Hebe
with all speed fitted on the eight…spoked wheels of bronze that
were on either side of the iron axle…tree。 The felloes of the
wheels were of gold； imperishable； and over these there was a
tire of bronze； wondrous to behold。 The naves of the wheels were
silver； turning round the axle upon either side。 The car itself
was made with plaited bands of gold and silver； and it had a
double top…rail running all round it。 From the body of the car
there went a pole of silver； on to the end of which she bound the
golden yoke； with the bands of gold that were to go under the
necks of the horses Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke；
eager for battle and the war…cry。
Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture； made with
her own hands； on to her father's threshold； and donned the shirt
of Jove； arming herself for battle。 She threw her tasselled aegis
about her shoulders； wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe；
and on it were Strife； and Strength； and Panic whose blood runs
cold； moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon；
grim and awful to behold； portent of aegis…bearing Jove。 On her
head she set her helmet of gold； with four plumes； and ing to
a peak both in front and behinddecked with the emblems of a
hundred cities； then she stepped into her flaming chariot and
grasped the spear； so stout and sturdy and strong； with which she
quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her。 Juno lashed
the horses on； and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open
of their own accordgates over which the Hours preside； in whose
hands are Heaven and Olympus； either to open the dense cloud that
hides them； or to close it。 Through these the goddesses drove
their obedient steeds； and found the son of Saturn sitting all
alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus。 There Juno stayed her
horses； and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn； lord of all。 〃Father
Jove；〃 said she； 〃are you not angry with Mars for these high
doings？ how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he has
destroyed to my great grief； and without either right or reason；
while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease
and setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief。 I
hope； Father Jove； that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard；
and chase him out of the batt