Allen 1931 · Murray (1924)
marks lines athetized/bracketed in the editorial tradition.
5
1 Ἔνθ' αὖ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
δῶκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ἵν' ἔκδηλος μετὰ πᾶσιν
Ἀργείοισι γένοιτο ἰδὲ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο·
δαῖέ οἱ ἐκ κόρυθός τε καὶ ἀσπίδος ἀκάματον πῦρ
5 ἀστέρ' ὀπωρινῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ὅς τε μάλιστα
λαμπρὸν παμφαίνῃσι λελουμένος ὠκεανοῖο·
τοῖόν οἱ πῦρ δαῖεν ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,
ὦρσε δέ μιν κατὰ μέσσον ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο.
Ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δάρης ἀφνειὸς ἀμύμων
10 ἱρεὺς Ἡφαίστοιο· δύω δέ οἱ υἱέες ἤστην
Φηγεὺς Ἰδαῖός τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.
τώ οἱ ἀποκρινθέντε ἐναντίω ὁρμηθήτην·
τὼ μὲν ἀφ' ἵπποιιν, ὃ δ' ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὄρνυτο πεζός.
οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες
15 Φηγεύς ῥα πρότερος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος·
Τυδεΐδεω δ' ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθ' ἀκωκὴ
ἔγχεος, οὐδ' ἔβαλ' αὐτόν· ὃ δ' ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ
Τυδεΐδης· τοῦ δ' οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,
ἀλλ' ἔβαλε στῆθος μεταμάζιον, ὦσε δ' ἀφ' ἵππων.
20 Ἰδαῖος δ' ἀπόρουσε λιπὼν περικαλλέα δίφρον,
οὐδ' ἔτλη περιβῆναι ἀδελφειοῦ κταμένοιο·
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ κεν αὐτὸς ὑπέκφυγε κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ἀλλ' Ἥφαιστος ἔρυτο, σάωσε δὲ νυκτὶ καλύψας,
ὡς δή οἱ μὴ πάγχυ γέρων ἀκαχήμενος εἴη.
25 ἵππους δ' ἐξελάσας μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς
δῶκεν ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.
Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον υἷε Δάρητος
τὸν μὲν ἀλευάμενον, τὸν δὲ κτάμενον παρ' ὄχεσφι,
πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
30 χειρὸς ἑλοῦσ' ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα θοῦρον Ἄρηα·
Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα
οὐκ ἂν δὴ Τρῶας μὲν ἐάσαιμεν καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς
μάρνασθ', ὁπποτέροισι πατὴρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀρέξῃ,
νῶϊ δὲ χαζώμεσθα, Διὸς δ' ἀλεώμεθα μῆνιν;
35 Ὣς εἰποῦσα μάχης ἐξήγαγε θοῦρον Ἄρηα·
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπ' ἠϊόεντι Σκαμάνδρῳ,
Τρῶας δ' ἔκλιναν Δαναοί· ἕλε δ' ἄνδρα ἕκαστος
ἡγεμόνων· πρῶτος δὲ ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
ἀρχὸν Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίον μέγαν ἔκβαλε δίφρου·
40 πρώτῳ γὰρ στρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν
ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ' ἄρα Φαῖστον ἐνήρατο Μῄονος υἱὸν
Βώρου, ὃς ἐκ Τάρνης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει.
45 τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
νύξ' ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον·
ἤριπε δ' ἐξ ὀχέων, στυγερὸς δ' ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλε.
Τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Ἰδομενῆος ἐσύλευον θεράποντες·
υἱὸν δὲ Στροφίοιο Σκαμάνδριον αἵμονα θήρης
50 Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἕλ' ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι
ἐσθλὸν θηρητῆρα· δίδαξε γὰρ Ἄρτεμις αὐτὴ
βάλλειν ἄγρια πάντα, τά τε τρέφει οὔρεσιν ὕλη·
ἀλλ' οὔ οἱ τότε γε χραῖσμ' Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,
οὐδὲ ἑκηβολίαι ᾗσιν τὸ πρίν γε κέκαστο·
55 ἀλλά μιν Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος
πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρὶ
ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν,
ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.
Μηριόνης δὲ Φέρεκλον ἐνήρατο, τέκτονος υἱὸν
60 Ἁρμονίδεω, ὃς χερσὶν ἐπίστατο δαίδαλα πάντα
τεύχειν· ἔξοχα γάρ μιν ἐφίλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·
ὃς καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τεκτήνατο νῆας ἐΐσας
ἀρχεκάκους, αἳ πᾶσι κακὸν Τρώεσσι γένοντο
οἷ τ' αὐτῷ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι θεῶν ἐκ θέσφατα ᾔδη.
65 τὸν μὲν Μηριόνης ὅτε δὴ κατέμαρπτε διώκων
βεβλήκει γλουτὸν κατὰ δεξιόν· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ
ἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπ' ὀστέον ἤλυθ' ἀκωκή·
γνὺξ δ' ἔριπ' οἰμώξας, θάνατος δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε.
Πήδαιον δ' ἄρ' ἔπεφνε Μέγης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν
70 ὅς ῥα νόθος μὲν ἔην, πύκα δ' ἔτρεφε δῖα Θεανὼ
ἶσα φίλοισι τέκεσσι χαριζομένη πόσεϊ ᾧ.
τὸν μὲν Φυλεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
βεβλήκει κεφαλῆς κατὰ ἰνίον ὀξέϊ δουρί·
ἀντικρὺ δ' ἀν' ὀδόντας ὑπὸ γλῶσσαν τάμε χαλκός·
75 ἤριπε δ' ἐν κονίῃ, ψυχρὸν δ' ἕλε χαλκὸν ὀδοῦσιν.
Εὐρύπυλος δ' Εὐαιμονίδης Ὑψήνορα δῖον
υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Δολοπίονος, ὅς ῥα Σκαμάνδρου
ἀρητὴρ ἐτέτυκτο, θεὸς δ' ὣς τίετο δήμῳ,
τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Εὐρύπυλος, Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
80 πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μεταδρομάδην ἔλασ' ὦμον
φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας, ἀπὸ δ' ἔξεσε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν·
αἱματόεσσα δὲ χεὶρ πεδίῳ πέσε· τὸν δὲ κατ' ὄσσε
ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·
85 Τυδεΐδην δ' οὐκ ἂν γνοίης ποτέροισι μετείη
ἠὲ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ὁμιλέοι ἦ μετ' Ἀχαιοῖς.
θῦνε γὰρ ἂμ πεδίον ποταμῷ πλήθοντι ἐοικὼς
χειμάρρῳ, ὅς τ' ὦκα ῥέων ἐκέδασσε γεφύρας·
τὸν δ' οὔτ' ἄρ τε γέφυραι ἐεργμέναι ἰσχανόωσιν,
90 οὔτ' ἄρα ἕρκεα ἴσχει ἀλωάων ἐριθηλέων
ἐλθόντ' ἐξαπίνης ὅτ' ἐπιβρίσῃ Διὸς ὄμβρος·
πολλὰ δ' ὑπ' αὐτοῦ ἔργα κατήριπε κάλ' αἰζηῶν·
ὣς ὑπὸ Τυδεΐδῃ πυκιναὶ κλονέοντο φάλαγγες
Τρώων, οὐδ' ἄρα μιν μίμνον πολέες περ ἐόντες.
95 Τὸν δ' ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
θύνοντ' ἂμ πεδίον πρὸ ἕθεν κλονέοντα φάλαγγας,
αἶψ' ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ ἐτιταίνετο καμπύλα τόξα,
καὶ βάλ' ἐπαΐσσοντα τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον
θώρηκος γύαλον· διὰ δ' ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός,
100 ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε, παλάσσετο δ' αἵματι θώρηξ.
τῷ δ' ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
ὄρνυσθε Τρῶες μεγάθυμοι κέντορες ἵππων·
βέβληται γὰρ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν, οὐδέ ἕ φημι
δήθ' ἀνσχήσεσθαι κρατερὸν βέλος, εἰ ἐτεόν με
105 ὦρσεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς ἀπορνύμενον Λυκίηθεν.
Ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος· τὸν δ' οὐ βέλος ὠκὺ δάμασσεν,
ἀλλ' ἀναχωρήσας πρόσθ' ἵπποιιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν
ἔστη, καὶ Σθένελον προσέφη Καπανήϊον υἱόν·
ὄρσο πέπον Καπανηϊάδη, καταβήσεο δίφρου,
110 ὄφρά μοι ἐξ ὤμοιο ἐρύσσῃς πικρὸν ὀϊστόν.
Ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, Σθένελος δὲ καθ' ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,
πὰρ δὲ στὰς βέλος ὠκὺ διαμπερὲς ἐξέρυσ' ὤμου·
αἷμα δ' ἀνηκόντιζε διὰ στρεπτοῖο χιτῶνος.
δὴ τότ' ἔπειτ' ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
115 κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,
εἴ ποτέ μοι καὶ πατρὶ φίλα φρονέουσα παρέστης
δηΐῳ ἐν πολέμῳ, νῦν αὖτ' ἐμὲ φῖλαι Ἀθήνη·
δὸς δέ τέ μ' ἄνδρα ἑλεῖν καὶ ἐς ὁρμὴν ἔγχεος ἐλθεῖν
ὅς μ' ἔβαλε φθάμενος καὶ ἐπεύχεται, οὐδέ μέ φησι
120 δηρὸν ἔτ' ὄψεσθαι λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο.
Ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
γυῖα δ' ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν·
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
θαρσῶν νῦν Διόμηδες ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι·
125 ἐν γάρ τοι στήθεσσι μένος πατρώϊον ἧκα
ἄτρομον, οἷον ἔχεσκε σακέσπαλος ἱππότα Τυδεύς·
ἀχλὺν δ' αὖ τοι ἀπ' ὀφθαλμῶν ἕλον ἣ πρὶν ἐπῆεν,
ὄφρ' εὖ γιγνώσκῃς ἠμὲν θεὸν ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρα.
τὼ νῦν αἴ κε θεὸς πειρώμενος ἐνθάδ' ἵκηται
130 μή τι σύ γ' ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἀντικρὺ μάχεσθαι
τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἀτὰρ εἴ κε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
ἔλθῃσ' ἐς πόλεμον, τήν γ' οὐτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
ἣ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
Τυδεΐδης δ' ἐξαῦτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη
135 καὶ πρίν περ θυμῷ μεμαὼς Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι·
δὴ τότε μιν τρὶς τόσσον ἕλεν μένος ὥς τε λέοντα
ὅν ῥά τε ποιμὴν ἀγρῷ ἐπ' εἰροπόκοις ὀΐεσσι
χραύσῃ μέν τ' αὐλῆς ὑπεράλμενον οὐδὲ δαμάσσῃ·
τοῦ μέν τε σθένος ὦρσεν, ἔπειτα δέ τ' οὐ προσαμύνει,
140 ἀλλὰ κατὰ σταθμοὺς δύεται, τὰ δ' ἐρῆμα φοβεῖται·
αἳ μέν τ' ἀγχιστῖναι ἐπ' ἀλλήλῃσι κέχυνται,
αὐτὰρ ὃ ἐμμεμαὼς βαθέης ἐξάλλεται αὐλῆς·
ὣς μεμαὼς Τρώεσσι μίγη κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
Ἔνθ' ἕλεν Ἀστύνοον καὶ Ὑπείρονα ποιμένα λαῶν,
145 τὸν μὲν ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρί,
τὸν δ' ἕτερον ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ κληῗδα παρ' ὦμον
πλῆξ', ἀπὸ δ' αὐχένος ὦμον ἐέργαθεν ἠδ' ἀπὸ νώτου.
τοὺς μὲν ἔασ', ὃ δ' Ἄβαντα μετῴχετο καὶ Πολύειδον
υἱέας Εὐρυδάμαντος ὀνειροπόλοιο γέροντος·
150 τοῖς οὐκ ἐρχομένοις ὃ γέρων ἐκρίνατ' ὀνείρους,
ἀλλά σφεας κρατερὸς Διομήδης ἐξενάριξε·
βῆ δὲ μετὰ Ξάνθόν τε Θόωνά τε Φαίνοπος υἷε
ἄμφω τηλυγέτω· ὃ δὲ τείρετο γήραϊ λυγρῷ,
υἱὸν δ' οὐ τέκετ' ἄλλον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσι λιπέσθαι.
155 ἔνθ' ὅ γε τοὺς ἐνάριζε, φίλον δ' ἐξαίνυτο θυμὸν
ἀμφοτέρω, πατέρι δὲ γόον καὶ κήδεα λυγρὰ
λεῖπ', ἐπεὶ οὐ ζώοντε μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντε
δέξατο· χηρωσταὶ δὲ διὰ κτῆσιν δατέοντο.
Ἔνθ' υἷας Πριάμοιο δύω λάβε Δαρδανίδαο
160 εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας Ἐχέμμονά τε Χρομίον τε.
ὡς δὲ λέων ἐν βουσὶ θορὼν ἐξ αὐχένα ἄξῃ
πόρτιος ἠὲ βοὸς ξύλοχον κάτα βοσκομενάων,
ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐξ ἵππων Τυδέος υἱὸς
βῆσε κακῶς ἀέκοντας, ἔπειτα δὲ τεύχε' ἐσύλα·
165 ἵππους δ' οἷς ἑτάροισι δίδου μετὰ νῆας ἐλαύνειν.
Τὸν δ' ἴδεν Αἰνείας ἀλαπάζοντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,
βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων
Πάνδαρον ἀντίθεον διζήμενος εἴ που ἐφεύροι·
εὗρε Λυκάονος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε,
170 στῆ δὲ πρόσθ' αὐτοῖο ἔπος τέ μιν ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Πάνδαρε ποῦ τοι τόξον ἰδὲ πτερόεντες ὀϊστοὶ
καὶ κλέος; ᾧ οὔ τίς τοι ἐρίζεται ἐνθάδε γ' ἀνήρ,
οὐδέ τις ἐν Λυκίῃ σέο γ' εὔχεται εἶναι ἀμείνων.
ἀλλ' ἄγε τῷδ' ἔφες ἀνδρὶ βέλος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν
175 ὅς τις ὅδε κρατέει καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε
Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατ' ἔλυσεν·
εἰ μή τις θεός ἐστι κοτεσσάμενος Τρώεσσιν
ἱρῶν μηνίσας· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ ἔπι μῆνις.
Τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
180 Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων
Τυδεΐδῃ μιν ἔγωγε δαΐφρονι πάντα ἐΐσκω,
ἀσπίδι γιγνώσκων αὐλώπιδί τε τρυφαλείῃ,
ἵππους τ' εἰσορόων· σάφα δ' οὐκ οἶδ' εἰ θεός ἐστιν.
εἰ δ' ὅ γ' ἀνὴρ ὅν φημι δαΐφρων Τυδέος υἱὸς
185 οὐχ ὅ γ' ἄνευθε θεοῦ τάδε μαίνεται, ἀλλά τις ἄγχι
ἕστηκ' ἀθανάτων νεφέλῃ εἰλυμένος ὤμους,
ὃς τούτου βέλος ὠκὺ κιχήμενον ἔτραπεν ἄλλῃ.
ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐφῆκα βέλος, καί μιν βάλον ὦμον
δεξιὸν ἀντικρὺ διὰ θώρηκος γυάλοιο·
190 καί μιν ἔγωγ' ἐφάμην Ἀϊδωνῆϊ προϊάψειν,
ἔμπης δ' οὐκ ἐδάμασσα· θεός νύ τίς ἐστι κοτήεις.
ἵπποι δ' οὐ παρέασι καὶ ἅρματα τῶν κ' ἐπιβαίην·
ἀλλά που ἐν μεγάροισι Λυκάονος ἕνδεκα δίφροι
καλοὶ πρωτοπαγεῖς νεοτευχέες· ἀμφὶ δὲ πέπλοι
195 πέπτανται· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἑκάστῳ δίζυγες ἵπποι
ἑστᾶσι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύρας.
ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλὰ γέρων αἰχμητὰ Λυκάων
ἐρχομένῳ ἐπέτελλε δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσιν·
ἵπποισίν μ' ἐκέλευε καὶ ἅρμασιν ἐμβεβαῶτα
200 ἀρχεύειν Τρώεσσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας·
ἀλλ' ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην· ἦ τ' ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν·
ἵππων φειδόμενος, μή μοι δευοίατο φορβῆς
ἀνδρῶν εἰλομένων εἰωθότες ἔδμεναι ἄδην.
ὣς λίπον, αὐτὰρ πεζὸς ἐς Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθα
205 τόξοισιν πίσυνος· τὰ δέ μ' οὐκ ἄρ' ἔμελλον ὀνήσειν.
ἤδη γὰρ δοιοῖσιν ἀριστήεσσιν ἐφῆκα
Τυδεΐδῃ τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδῃ, ἐκ δ' ἀμφοτέροιιν
ἀτρεκὲς αἷμ' ἔσσευα βαλών, ἤγειρα δὲ μᾶλλον.
τώ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ ἀπὸ πασσάλου ἀγκύλα τόξα
210 ἤματι τῷ ἑλόμην ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰς ἐρατεινὴν
ἡγεόμην Τρώεσσι φέρων χάριν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
εἰ δέ κε νοστήσω καὶ ἐσόψομαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι
πατρίδ' ἐμὴν ἄλοχόν τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἀπ' ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φὼς
215 εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ τάδε τόξα φαεινῷ ἐν πυρὶ θείην
χερσὶ διακλάσσας· ἀνεμώλια γάρ μοι ὀπηδεῖ.
Τὸν δ' αὖτ' Αἰνείας Τρώων ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
μὴ δ' οὕτως ἀγόρευε· πάρος δ' οὐκ ἔσσεται ἄλλως,
πρίν γ' ἐπὶ νὼ τῷδ' ἀνδρὶ σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν
220 ἀντιβίην ἐλθόντε σὺν ἔντεσι πειρηθῆναι.
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι
οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο
κραιπνὰ μάλ' ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι·
τὼ καὶ νῶϊ πόλιν δὲ σαώσετον, εἴ περ ἂν αὖτε
225 Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ κῦδος ὀρέξῃ.
ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα
δέξαι, ἐγὼ δ' ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι ὄφρα μάχωμαι·
ἠὲ σὺ τόνδε δέδεξο, μελήσουσιν δ' ἐμοὶ ἵπποι.
Τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
230 Αἰνεία σὺ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔχ' ἡνία καὶ τεὼ ἵππω·
μᾶλλον ὑφ' ἡνιόχῳ εἰωθότι καμπύλον ἅρμα
οἴσετον, εἴ περ ἂν αὖτε φεβώμεθα Τυδέος υἱόν·
μὴ τὼ μὲν δείσαντε ματήσετον, οὐδ' ἐθέλητον
ἐκφερέμεν πολέμοιο τεὸν φθόγγον ποθέοντε,
235 νῶϊ δ' ἐπαΐξας μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς
αὐτώ τε κτείνῃ καὶ ἐλάσσῃ μώνυχας ἵππους.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ' αὐτὸς ἔλαυνε τέ' ἅρματα καὶ τεὼ ἵππω,
τὸν δὲ δ' ἐγὼν ἐπιόντα δεδέξομαι ὀξέϊ δουρί.
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντες ἐς ἅρματα ποικίλα βάντες
240 ἐμμεμαῶτ' ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.
τοὺς δὲ ἴδε Σθένελος Καπανήϊος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
αἶψα δὲ Τυδεΐδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,
ἄνδρ' ὁρόω κρατερὼ ἐπὶ σοὶ μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι
245 ἶν' ἀπέλεθρον ἔχοντας· ὃ μὲν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς
Πάνδαρος, υἱὸς δ' αὖτε Λυκάονος εὔχεται εἶναι·
Αἰνείας δ' υἱὸς μὲν ἀμύμονος Ἀγχίσαο
εὔχεται ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ οἵ ἐστ' Ἀφροδίτη.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δὴ χαζώμεθ' ἐφ' ἵππων, μηδέ μοι οὕτω
250 θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, μή πως φίλον ἦτορ ὀλέσσῃς.
Τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
μή τι φόβον δ' ἀγόρευ', ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ σὲ πεισέμεν οἴω.
οὐ γάρ μοι γενναῖον ἀλυσκάζοντι μάχεσθαι
οὐδὲ καταπτώσσειν· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν·
255 ὀκνείω δ' ἵππων ἐπιβαινέμεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὔτως
ἀντίον εἶμ' αὐτῶν· τρεῖν μ' οὐκ ἐᾷ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τούτω δ' οὐ πάλιν αὖτις ἀποίσετον ὠκέες ἵπποι
ἄμφω ἀφ' ἡμείων, εἴ γ' οὖν ἕτερός γε φύγῃσιν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
260 αἴ κέν μοι πολύβουλος Ἀθήνη κῦδος ὀρέξῃ
ἀμφοτέρω κτεῖναι, σὺ δὲ τούσδε μὲν ὠκέας ἵππους
αὐτοῦ ἐρυκακέειν ἐξ ἄντυγος ἡνία τείνας,
Αἰνείαο δ' ἐπαΐξαι μεμνημένος ἵππων,
ἐκ δ' ἐλάσαι Τρώων μετ' ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
265 τῆς γάρ τοι γενεῆς ἧς Τρωΐ περ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
δῶχ' υἷος ποινὴν Γανυμήδεος, οὕνεκ' ἄριστοι
ἵππων ὅσσοι ἔασιν ὑπ' ἠῶ τ' ἠέλιόν τε,
τῆς γενεῆς ἔκλεψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγχίσης
λάθρῃ Λαομέδοντος ὑποσχὼν θήλεας ἵππους·
270 τῶν οἱ ἓξ ἐγένοντο ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέθλη.
τοὺς μὲν τέσσαρας αὐτὸς ἔχων ἀτίταλλ' ἐπὶ φάτνῃ,
τὼ δὲ δύ' Αἰνείᾳ δῶκεν μήστωρε φόβοιο.
εἰ τούτω κε λάβοιμεν, ἀροίμεθά κε κλέος ἐσθλόν.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
275 τὼ δὲ τάχ' ἐγγύθεν ἦλθον ἐλαύνοντ' ὠκέας ἵππους.
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
καρτερόθυμε δαΐφρον ἀγαυοῦ Τυδέος υἱὲ
ἦ μάλα σ' οὐ βέλος ὠκὺ δαμάσσατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός·
νῦν αὖτ' ἐγχείῃ πειρήσομαι αἴ κε τύχωμι.
280 Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
καὶ βάλε Τυδεΐδαο κατ' ἀσπίδα· τῆς δὲ διὰ πρὸ
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη πταμένη θώρηκι πελάσθη·
τῷ δ' ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
βέβληαι κενεῶνα διαμπερές, οὐδέ σ' ὀΐω
285 δηρὸν ἔτ' ἀνσχήσεσθαι· ἐμοὶ δὲ μέγ' εὖχος ἔδωκας.
Τὸν δ' οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
ἤμβροτες οὐδ' ἔτυχες· ἀτὰρ οὐ μὲν σφῶΐ γ' ὀΐω
πρίν γ' ἀποπαύσεσθαι πρίν γ' ἢ ἕτερόν γε πεσόντα
αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα, ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.
290 Ὣς φάμενος προέηκε· βέλος δ' ἴθυνεν Ἀθήνη
ῥῖνα παρ' ὀφθαλμόν, λευκοὺς δ' ἐπέρησεν ὀδόντας.
τοῦ δ' ἀπὸ μὲν γλῶσσαν πρυμνὴν τάμε χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,
αἰχμὴ δ' ἐξελύθη παρὰ νείατον ἀνθερεῶνα·
ἤριπε δ' ἐξ ὀχέων, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ
295 αἰόλα παμφανόωντα, παρέτρεσσαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δ' αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.
Αἰνείας δ' ἀπόρουσε σὺν ἀσπίδι δουρί τε μακρῷ
δείσας μή πώς οἱ ἐρυσαίατο νεκρὸν Ἀχαιοί.
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' αὐτῷ βαῖνε λέων ὣς ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
300 πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τ' ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ' ἐΐσην,
τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γ' ἀντίος ἔλθοι
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ
Τυδεΐδης μέγα ἔργον ὃ οὐ δύο γ' ἄνδρε φέροιεν,
οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσ'· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.
305 τῷ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατ' ἰσχίον ἔνθά τε μηρὸς
ἰσχίῳ ἐνστρέφεται, κοτύλην δέ τέ μιν καλέουσι·
θλάσσε δέ οἱ κοτύλην, πρὸς δ' ἄμφω ῥῆξε τένοντε·
ὦσε δ' ἀπὸ ῥινὸν τρηχὺς λίθος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἥρως
ἔστη γνὺξ ἐριπὼν καὶ ἐρείσατο χειρὶ παχείῃ
310 γαίης· ἀμφὶ δὲ ὄσσε κελαινὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψε.
Καί νύ κεν ἔνθ' ἀπόλοιτο ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Αἰνείας,
εἰ μὴ ἄρ' ὀξὺ νόησε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
μήτηρ, ἥ μιν ὑπ' Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε βουκολέοντι·
ἀμφὶ δ' ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ἐχεύατο πήχεε λευκώ,
315 πρόσθε δέ οἱ πέπλοιο φαεινοῦ πτύγμα κάλυψεν
ἕρκος ἔμεν βελέων, μή τις Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων
χαλκὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.
ἣ μὲν ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὑπεξέφερεν πολέμοιο·
οὐδ' υἱὸς Καπανῆος ἐλήθετο συνθεσιάων
320 τάων ἃς ἐπέτελλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης,
ἀλλ' ὅ γε τοὺς μὲν ἑοὺς ἠρύκακε μώνυχας ἵππους
νόσφιν ἀπὸ φλοίσβου ἐξ ἄντυγος ἡνία τείνας,
Αἰνείαο δ' ἐπαΐξας καλλίτριχας ἵππους
ἐξέλασε Τρώων μετ' ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
325 δῶκε δὲ Δηϊπύλῳ ἑτάρῳ φίλῳ, ὃν περὶ πάσης
τῖεν ὁμηλικίης ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη,
νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἥρως
ὧν ἵππων ἐπιβὰς ἔλαβ' ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,
αἶψα δὲ Τυδεΐδην μέθεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους
330 ἐμμεμαώς· ὃ δὲ Κύπριν ἐπῴχετο νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
γιγνώσκων ὅ τ' ἄναλκις ἔην θεός, οὐδὲ θεάων
τάων αἵ τ' ἀνδρῶν πόλεμον κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
οὔτ' ἄρ' Ἀθηναίη οὔτε πτολίπορθος Ἐνυώ.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐκίχανε πολὺν καθ' ὅμιλον ὀπάζων,
335 ἔνθ' ἐπορεξάμενος μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς
ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα μετάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
ἀβληχρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ δόρυ χροὸς ἀντετόρησεν
ἀμβροσίου διὰ πέπλου, ὅν οἱ Χάριτες κάμον αὐταί,
πρυμνὸν ὕπερ θέναρος· ῥέε δ' ἄμβροτον αἷμα θεοῖο
340 ἰχώρ, οἷός πέρ τε ῥέει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν·
οὐ γὰρ σῖτον ἔδουσ', οὐ πίνουσ' αἴθοπα οἶνον,
τοὔνεκ' ἀναίμονές εἰσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι καλέονται.
ἣ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ἀπὸ ἕο κάββαλεν υἱόν·
καὶ τὸν μὲν μετὰ χερσὶν ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
345 κυανέῃ νεφέλῃ, μή τις Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων
χαλκὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο·
τῇ δ' ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
εἶκε Διὸς θύγατερ πολέμου καὶ δηϊοτῆτος·
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι γυναῖκας ἀνάλκιδας ἠπεροπεύεις;
350 εἰ δὲ σύ γ' ἐς πόλεμον πωλήσεαι, ἦ τέ σ' ὀΐω
ῥιγήσειν πόλεμόν γε καὶ εἴ χ' ἑτέρωθι πύθηαι.
Ὣς ἔφαθ', ἣ δ' ἀλύουσ' ἀπεβήσετο, τείρετο δ' αἰνῶς·
τὴν μὲν ἄρ' Ἶρις ἑλοῦσα ποδήνεμος ἔξαγ' ὁμίλου
ἀχθομένην ὀδύνῃσι, μελαίνετο δὲ χρόα καλόν.
355 εὗρεν ἔπειτα μάχης ἐπ' ἀριστερὰ θοῦρον Ἄρηα
ἥμενον· ἠέρι δ' ἔγχος ἐκέκλιτο καὶ ταχέ' ἵππω·
ἣ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριποῦσα κασιγνήτοιο φίλοιο
πολλὰ λισσομένη χρυσάμπυκας ᾔτεεν ἵππους·
φίλε κασίγνητε κόμισαί τέ με δός τέ μοι ἵππους,
360 ὄφρ' ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκωμαι ἵν' ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστί.
λίην ἄχθομαι ἕλκος ὅ με βροτὸς οὔτασεν ἀνὴρ
Τυδεΐδης, ὃς νῦν γε καὶ ἂν Διὶ πατρὶ μάχοιτο.
Ὣς φάτο, τῇ δ' ἄρ' Ἄρης δῶκε χρυσάμπυκας ἵππους·
ἣ δ' ἐς δίφρον ἔβαινεν ἀκηχεμένη φίλον ἦτορ,
365 πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἶρις ἔβαινε καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσί,
μάστιξεν δ' ἐλάαν, τὼ δ' οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην.
αἶψα δ' ἔπειθ' ἵκοντο θεῶν ἕδος αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον·
ἔνθ' ἵππους ἔστησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις
λύσασ' ἐξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δ' ἀμβρόσιον βάλεν εἶδαρ·
370 ἣ δ' ἐν γούνασι πῖπτε Διώνης δῖ' Ἀφροδίτη
μητρὸς ἑῆς· ἣ δ' ἀγκὰς ἐλάζετο θυγατέρα ἥν,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἐκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·
τίς νύ σε τοιάδ' ἔρεξε φίλον τέκος Οὐρανιώνων
μαψιδίως, ὡς εἴ τι κακὸν ῥέζουσαν ἐνωπῇ;
375 Τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη·
οὖτά με Τυδέος υἱὸς ὑπέρθυμος Διομήδης,
οὕνεκ' ἐγὼ φίλον υἱὸν ὑπεξέφερον πολέμοιο
Αἰνείαν, ὃς ἐμοὶ πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπις αἰνή,
380 ἀλλ' ἤδη Δαναοί γε καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μάχονται.
Τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Διώνη, δῖα θεάων·
τέτλαθι τέκνον ἐμόν, καὶ ἀνάσχεο κηδομένη περ·
πολλοὶ γὰρ δὴ τλῆμεν Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες
ἐξ ἀνδρῶν χαλέπ' ἄλγε' ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισι τιθέντες.
385 τλῆ μὲν Ἄρης ὅτε μιν Ὦτος κρατερός τ' Ἐφιάλτης
παῖδες Ἀλωῆος, δῆσαν κρατερῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ·
χαλκέῳ δ' ἐν κεράμῳ δέδετο τρισκαίδεκα μῆνας·
καί νύ κεν ἔνθ' ἀπόλοιτο Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο,
εἰ μὴ μητρυιὴ περικαλλὴς Ἠερίβοια
390 Ἑρμέᾳ ἐξήγγειλεν· ὃ δ' ἐξέκλεψεν Ἄρηα
ἤδη τειρόμενον, χαλεπὸς δέ ἑ δεσμὸς ἐδάμνα.
τλῆ δ' Ἥρη, ὅτε μιν κρατερὸς πάϊς Ἀμφιτρύωνος
δεξιτερὸν κατὰ μαζὸν ὀϊστῷ τριγλώχινι
βεβλήκει· τότε καί μιν ἀνήκεστον λάβεν ἄλγος.
395 τλῆ δ' Ἀΐδης ἐν τοῖσι πελώριος ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν,
εὖτέ μιν ωὐτὸς ἀνὴρ υἱὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
ἐν Πύλῳ ἐν νεκύεσσι βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν·
αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ πρὸς δῶμα Διὸς καὶ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
κῆρ ἀχέων ὀδύνῃσι πεπαρμένος· αὐτὰρ ὀϊστὸς
400 ὤμῳ ἔνι στιβαρῷ ἠλήλατο, κῆδε δὲ θυμόν.
τῷ δ' ἐπὶ Παιήων ὀδυνήφατα φάρμακα πάσσων
ἠκέσατ'· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι καταθνητός γε τέτυκτο.
σχέτλιος ὀβριμοεργὸς ὃς οὐκ ὄθετ' αἴσυλα ῥέζων,
ὃς τόξοισιν ἔκηδε θεοὺς οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι.
405 σοὶ δ' ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἀνῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ οἶδε κατὰ φρένα Τυδέος υἱὸς
ὅττι μάλ' οὐ δηναιὸς ὃς ἀθανάτοισι μάχηται,
οὐδέ τί μιν παῖδες ποτὶ γούνασι παππάζουσιν
ἐλθόντ' ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.
410 τὼ νῦν Τυδεΐδης, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερός ἐστι,
φραζέσθω μή τίς οἱ ἀμείνων σεῖο μάχηται,
μὴ δὴν Αἰγιάλεια περίφρων Ἀδρηστίνη
ἐξ ὕπνου γοόωσα φίλους οἰκῆας ἐγείρῃ
κουρίδιον ποθέουσα πόσιν τὸν ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν
415 ἰφθίμη ἄλοχος Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο.
Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἀπ' ἰχῶ χειρὸς ὀμόργνυ·
ἄλθετο χείρ, ὀδύναι δὲ κατηπιόωντο βαρεῖαι.
αἳ δ' αὖτ' εἰσορόωσαι Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη
κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσι Δία Κρονίδην ἐρέθιζον.
420 τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά τί μοι κεχολώσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
ἦ μάλα δή τινα Κύπρις Ἀχαιϊάδων ἀνιεῖσα
Τρωσὶν ἅμα σπέσθαι, τοὺς νῦν ἔκπαγλα φίλησε,
τῶν τινα καρρέζουσα Ἀχαιϊάδων ἐϋπέπλων
425 πρὸς χρυσῇ περόνῃ καταμύξατο χεῖρα ἀραιήν.
Ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,
καί ῥα καλεσσάμενος προσέφη χρυσῆν Ἀφροδίτην·
οὔ τοι τέκνον ἐμὸν δέδοται πολεμήϊα ἔργα,
ἀλλὰ σύ γ' ἱμερόεντα μετέρχεο ἔργα γάμοιο,
430 ταῦτα δ' Ἄρηϊ θοῷ καὶ Ἀθήνῃ πάντα μελήσει.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
Αἰνείᾳ δ' ἐπόρουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης,
γιγνώσκων ὅ οἱ αὐτὸς ὑπείρεχε χεῖρας Ἀπόλλων·
ἀλλ' ὅ γ' ἄρ' οὐδὲ θεὸν μέγαν ἅζετο, ἵετο δ' αἰεὶ
435 Αἰνείαν κτεῖναι καὶ ἀπὸ κλυτὰ τεύχεα δῦσαι.
τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων,
τρὶς δέ οἱ ἐστυφέλιξε φαεινὴν ἀσπίδ' Ἀπόλλων·
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,
δεινὰ δ' ὁμοκλήσας προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
440 φράζεο Τυδεΐδη καὶ χάζεο, μηδὲ θεοῖσιν
ἶσ' ἔθελε φρονέειν, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποτε φῦλον ὁμοῖον
ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων τ' ἀνθρώπων.
Ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δ' ἀνεχάζετο τυτθὸν ὀπίσσω
μῆνιν ἀλευάμενος ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.
445 Αἰνείαν δ' ἀπάτερθεν ὁμίλου θῆκεν Ἀπόλλων
Περγάμῳ εἰν ἱερῇ, ὅθι οἱ νηός γε τέτυκτο.
ἤτοι τὸν Λητώ τε καὶ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
ἐν μεγάλῳ ἀδύτῳ ἀκέοντό τε κύδαινόν τε·
αὐτὰρ ὃ εἴδωλον τεῦξ' ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
450 αὐτῷ τ' Αἰνείᾳ ἴκελον καὶ τεύχεσι τοῖον,
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' εἰδώλῳ Τρῶες καὶ δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶ
δῄουν ἀλλήλων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι βοείας
ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους λαισήϊά τε πτερόεντα.
δὴ τότε θοῦρον Ἄρηα προσηύδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
455 Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα,
οὐκ ἂν δὴ τόνδ' ἄνδρα μάχης ἐρύσαιο μετελθὼν
Τυδεΐδην, ὃς νῦν γε καὶ ἂν Διὶ πατρὶ μάχοιτο;
Κύπριδα μὲν πρῶτα σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' αὐτῷ μοι ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος.
460 Ὣς εἰπὼν αὐτὸς μὲν ἐφέζετο Περγάμῳ ἄκρῃ,
Τρῳὰς δὲ στίχας οὖλος Ἄρης ὄτρυνε μετελθὼν
εἰδόμενος Ἀκάμαντι θοῷ ἡγήτορι Θρῃκῶν·
υἱάσι δὲ Πριάμοιο διοτρεφέεσσι κέλευεν·
ὦ υἱεῖς Πριάμοιο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος
465 ἐς τί ἔτι κτείνεσθαι ἐάσετε λαὸν Ἀχαιοῖς;
ἦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἀμφὶ πύλῃς εὖ ποιητῇσι μάχωνται;
κεῖται ἀνὴρ ὃν ἶσον ἐτίομεν Ἕκτορι δίῳ
Αἰνείας υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο·
ἀλλ' ἄγετ' ἐκ φλοίσβοιο σαώσομεν ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.
470 Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
ἔνθ' αὖ Σαρπηδὼν μάλα νείκεσεν Ἕκτορα δῖον·
Ἕκτορ πῇ δή τοι μένος οἴχεται ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκες;
φῆς που ἄτερ λαῶν πόλιν ἑξέμεν ἠδ' ἐπικούρων
οἶος σὺν γαμβροῖσι κασιγνήτοισί τε σοῖσι.
475 τῶν νῦν οὔ τιν' ἐγὼ ἰδέειν δύναμ' οὐδὲ νοῆσαι,
ἀλλὰ καταπτώσσουσι κύνες ὣς ἀμφὶ λέοντα·
ἡμεῖς δὲ μαχόμεσθ' οἵ πέρ τ' ἐπίκουροι ἔνειμεν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπίκουρος ἐὼν μάλα τηλόθεν ἥκω·
τηλοῦ γὰρ Λυκίη Ξάνθῳ ἔπι δινήεντι,
480 ἔνθ' ἄλοχόν τε φίλην ἔλιπον καὶ νήπιον υἱόν,
κὰδ δὲ κτήματα πολλά, τὰ ἔλδεται ὅς κ' ἐπιδευής.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Λυκίους ὀτρύνω καὶ μέμον' αὐτὸς
ἀνδρὶ μαχήσασθαι· ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι ἐνθάδε τοῖον
οἷόν κ' ἠὲ φέροιεν Ἀχαιοὶ ἤ κεν ἄγοιεν·
485 τύνη δ' ἕστηκας, ἀτὰρ οὐδ' ἄλλοισι κελεύεις
λαοῖσιν μενέμεν καὶ ἀμυνέμεναι ὤρεσσι.
μή πως ὡς ἀψῖσι λίνου ἁλόντε πανάγρου
ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένησθε·
οἳ δὲ τάχ' ἐκπέρσουσ' εὖ ναιομένην πόλιν ὑμήν.
490 σοὶ δὲ χρὴ τάδε πάντα μέλειν νύκτάς τε καὶ ἦμαρ
ἀρχοὺς λισσομένῳ τηλεκλειτῶν ἐπικούρων
νωλεμέως ἐχέμεν, κρατερὴν δ' ἀποθέσθαι ἐνιπήν.
Ὣς φάτο Σαρπηδών, δάκε δὲ φρένας Ἕκτορι μῦθος·
αὐτίκα δ' ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,
495 πάλλων δ' ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃ
ὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν.
οἳ δ' ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν·
Ἀργεῖοι δ' ὑπέμειναν ἀολλέες οὐδὲ φόβηθεν.
ὡς δ' ἄνεμος ἄχνας φορέει ἱερὰς κατ' ἀλωὰς
500 ἀνδρῶν λικμώντων, ὅτε τε ξανθὴ Δημήτηρ
κρίνῃ ἐπειγομένων ἀνέμων καρπόν τε καὶ ἄχνας,
αἳ δ' ὑπολευκαίνονται ἀχυρμιαί· ὣς τότ' Ἀχαιοὶ
λευκοὶ ὕπερθε γένοντο κονισάλῳ, ὅν ῥα δι' αὐτῶν
οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον ἐπέπληγον πόδες ἵππων
505 ἂψ ἐπιμισγομένων· ὑπὸ δ' ἔστρεφον ἡνιοχῆες.
οἳ δὲ μένος χειρῶν ἰθὺς φέρον· ἀμφὶ δὲ νύκτα
θοῦρος Ἄρης ἐκάλυψε μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγων
πάντοσ' ἐποιχόμενος· τοῦ δ' ἐκραίαινεν ἐφετμὰς
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος χρυσαόρου, ὅς μιν ἀνώγει
510 Τρωσὶν θυμὸν ἐγεῖραι, ἐπεὶ ἴδε Παλλάδ' Ἀθήνην
οἰχομένην· ἣ γάρ ῥα πέλεν Δαναοῖσιν ἀρηγών.
αὐτὸς δ' Αἰνείαν μάλα πίονος ἐξ ἀδύτοιο
ἧκε, καὶ ἐν στήθεσσι μένος βάλε ποιμένι λαῶν.
Αἰνείας δ' ἑτάροισι μεθίστατο· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,
515 ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα
καὶ μένος ἐσθλὸν ἔχοντα· μετάλλησάν γε μὲν οὔ τι.
οὐ γὰρ ἔα πόνος ἄλλος, ὃν ἀργυρότοξος ἔγειρεν
Ἄρης τε βροτολοιγὸς Ἔρις τ' ἄμοτον μεμαυῖα.
Τοὺς δ' Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς καὶ Διομήδης
520 ὄτρυνον Δαναοὺς πολεμιζέμεν· οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
οὔτε βίας Τρώων ὑπεδείδισαν οὔτε ἰωκάς,
ἀλλ' ἔμενον νεφέλῃσιν ἐοικότες ἅς τε Κρονίων
νηνεμίης ἔστησεν ἐπ' ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν
ἀτρέμας, ὄφρ' εὕδῃσι μένος Βορέαο καὶ ἄλλων
525 ζαχρειῶν ἀνέμων, οἵ τε νέφεα σκιόεντα
πνοιῇσιν λιγυρῇσι διασκιδνᾶσιν ἀέντες·
ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρῶας μένον ἔμπεδον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.
Ἀτρεΐδης δ' ἀν' ὅμιλον ἐφοίτα πολλὰ κελεύων·
ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἕλεσθε,
530 ἀλλήλους τ' αἰδεῖσθε κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας·
αἰδομένων ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται·
φευγόντων δ' οὔτ' ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτε τις ἀλκή.
Ἦ καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ θοῶς, βάλε δὲ πρόμον ἄνδρα
Αἰνείω ἕταρον μεγαθύμου Δηϊκόωντα
535 Περγασίδην, ὃν Τρῶες ὁμῶς Πριάμοιο τέκεσσι
τῖον, ἐπεὶ θοὸς ἔσκε μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι.
τόν ῥα κατ' ἀσπίδα δουρὶ βάλε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
ἣ δ' οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,
νειαίρῃ δ' ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσε·
540 δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.
Ἔνθ' αὖτ' Αἰνείας Δαναῶν ἕλεν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους
υἷε Διοκλῆος Κρήθωνά τε Ὀρσίλοχόν τε,
τῶν ῥα πατὴρ μὲν ἔναιεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Φηρῇ
ἀφνειὸς βιότοιο, γένος δ' ἦν ἐκ ποταμοῖο
545 Ἀλφειοῦ, ὅς τ' εὐρὺ ῥέει Πυλίων διὰ γαίης,
ὃς τέκετ' Ὀρτίλοχον πολέεσσ' ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα·
Ὀρτίλοχος δ' ἄρ' ἔτικτε Διοκλῆα μεγάθυμον,
ἐκ δὲ Διοκλῆος διδυμάονε παῖδε γενέσθην,
Κρήθων Ὀρσίλοχός τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.
550 τὼ μὲν ἄρ' ἡβήσαντε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον ἅμ' Ἀργείοισιν ἑπέσθην,
τιμὴν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
ἀρνυμένω· τὼ δ' αὖθι τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψεν.
οἵω τώ γε λέοντε δύω ὄρεος κορυφῇσιν
555 ἐτραφέτην ὑπὸ μητρὶ βαθείης τάρφεσιν ὕλης·
τὼ μὲν ἄρ' ἁρπάζοντε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα
σταθμοὺς ἀνθρώπων κεραΐζετον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὼ
ἀνδρῶν ἐν παλάμῃσι κατέκταθεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ·
τοίω τὼ χείρεσσιν ὑπ' Αἰνείαο δαμέντε
560 καππεσέτην, ἐλάτῃσιν ἐοικότες ὑψηλῇσι.
Τὼ δὲ πεσόντ' ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,
βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ
σείων ἐγχείην· τοῦ δ' ὄτρυνεν μένος Ἄρης,
τὰ φρονέων ἵνα χερσὶν ὑπ' Αἰνείαο δαμείη.
565 τὸν δ' ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱός,
βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων· περὶ γὰρ δίε ποιμένι λαῶν
μή τι πάθοι, μέγα δέ σφας ἀποσφήλειε πόνοιο.
τὼ μὲν δὴ χεῖράς τε καὶ ἔγχεα ὀξυόεντα
ἀντίον ἀλλήλων ἐχέτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι·
570 Ἀντίλοχος δὲ μάλ' ἄγχι παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.
Αἰνείας δ' οὐ μεῖνε θοός περ ἐὼν πολεμιστὴς
ὡς εἶδεν δύο φῶτε παρ' ἀλλήλοισι μένοντε.
οἳ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν νεκροὺς ἔρυσαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,
τὼ μὲν ἄρα δειλὼ βαλέτην ἐν χερσὶν ἑταίρων,
575 αὐτὼ δὲ στρεφθέντε μετὰ πρώτοισι μαχέσθην.
Ἔνθα Πυλαιμένεα ἑλέτην ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ
ἀρχὸν Παφλαγόνων μεγαθύμων ἀσπιστάων.
τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος
ἑσταότ' ἔγχεϊ νύξε κατὰ κληῗδα τυχήσας·
580 Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Μύδωνα βάλ' ἡνίοχον θεράποντα
ἐσθλὸν Ἀτυμνιάδην· ὃ δ' ὑπέστρεφε μώνυχας ἵππους·
χερμαδίῳ ἀγκῶνα τυχὼν μέσον· ἐκ δ' ἄρα χειρῶν
ἡνία λεύκ' ἐλέφαντι χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν.
Ἀντίλοχος δ' ἄρ' ἐπαΐξας ξίφει ἤλασε κόρσην·
585 αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἀσθμαίνων εὐεργέος ἔκπεσε δίφρου
κύμβαχος ἐν κονίῃσιν ἐπὶ βρεχμόν τε καὶ ὤμους.
δηθὰ μάλ' ἑστήκει· τύχε γάρ ῥ' ἀμάθοιο βαθείης·
ὄφρ' ἵππω πλήξαντε χαμαὶ βάλον ἐν κονίῃσι·
τοὺς ἵμασ' Ἀντίλοχος, μετὰ δὲ στρατὸν ἤλασ' Ἀχαιῶν.
590 Τοὺς δ' Ἕκτωρ ἐνόησε κατὰ στίχας, ὦρτο δ' ἐπ' αὐτοὺς
κεκλήγων· ἅμα δὲ Τρώων εἵποντο φάλαγγες
καρτεραί· ἦρχε δ' ἄρα σφιν Ἄρης καὶ πότνι' Ἐνυώ,
ἣ μὲν ἔχουσα Κυδοιμὸν ἀναιδέα δηϊοτῆτος,
Ἄρης δ' ἐν παλάμῃσι πελώριον ἔγχος ἐνώμα,
595 φοίτα δ' ἄλλοτε μὲν πρόσθ' Ἕκτορος, ἄλλοτ' ὄπισθε.
Τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀνὴρ ἀπάλαμνος ἰὼν πολέος πεδίοιο
στήῃ ἐπ' ὠκυρόῳ ποταμῷ ἅλα δὲ προρέοντι
ἀφρῷ μορμύροντα ἰδών, ἀνά τ' ἔδραμ' ὀπίσσω,
600 ὣς τότε Τυδεΐδης ἀνεχάζετο, εἶπέ τε λαῷ·
ὦ φίλοι οἷον δὴ θαυμάζομεν Ἕκτορα δῖον
αἰχμητήν τ' ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέον πολεμιστήν·
τῷ δ' αἰεὶ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν, ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει·
καὶ νῦν οἱ πάρα κεῖνος Ἄρης βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς.
605 ἀλλὰ πρὸς Τρῶας τετραμμένοι αἰὲν ὀπίσσω
εἴκετε, μηδὲ θεοῖς μενεαινέμεν ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
Ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, Τρῶες δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθον αὐτῶν.
ἔνθ' Ἕκτωρ δύο φῶτε κατέκτανεν εἰδότε χάρμης
εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντε, Μενέσθην Ἀγχίαλόν τε.
610 τὼ δὲ πεσόντ' ἐλέησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
στῆ δὲ μάλ' ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
καὶ βάλεν Ἄμφιον Σελάγου υἱόν, ὅς ῥ' ἐνὶ Παισῷ
ναῖε πολυκτήμων πολυλήϊος· ἀλλά ἑ μοῖρα
ἦγ' ἐπικουρήσοντα μετὰ Πρίαμόν τε καὶ υἷας.
615 τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλεν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
νειαίρῃ δ' ἐν γαστρὶ πάγη δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δ' ἐπέδραμε φαίδιμος Αἴας
τεύχεα συλήσων· Τρῶες δ' ἐπὶ δούρατ' ἔχευαν
ὀξέα παμφανόωντα· σάκος δ' ἀνεδέξατο πολλά.
620 αὐτὰρ ὃ λὰξ προσβὰς ἐκ νεκροῦ χάλκεον ἔγχος
ἐσπάσατ'· οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτ' ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ
ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσι.
δεῖσε δ' ὅ γ' ἀμφίβασιν κρατερὴν Τρώων ἀγερώχων,
οἳ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἔγχε' ἔχοντες,
625 οἵ ἑ μέγαν περ ἐόντα καὶ ἴφθιμον καὶ ἀγαυὸν
ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·
Τληπόλεμον δ' Ἡρακλεΐδην ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε
ὦρσεν ἐπ' ἀντιθέῳ Σαρπηδόνι μοῖρα κραταιή.
630 οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες
υἱός θ' υἱωνός τε Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο,
τὸν καὶ Τληπόλεμος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
Σαρπῆδον Λυκίων βουληφόρε, τίς τοι ἀνάγκη
πτώσσειν ἐνθάδ' ἐόντι μάχης ἀδαήμονι φωτί;
635 ψευδόμενοι δέ σέ φασι Διὸς γόνον αἰγιόχοιο
εἶναι, ἐπεὶ πολλὸν κείνων ἐπιδεύεαι ἀνδρῶν
οἳ Διὸς ἐξεγένοντο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων·
ἀλλ' οἷόν τινά φασι βίην Ἡρακληείην
εἶναι, ἐμὸν πατέρα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα·
640 ὅς ποτε δεῦρ' ἐλθὼν ἕνεχ' ἵππων Λαομέδοντος
ἓξ οἴῃς σὺν νηυσὶ καὶ ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισιν
Ἰλίου ἐξαλάπαξε πόλιν, χήρωσε δ' ἀγυιάς·
σοὶ δὲ κακὸς μὲν θυμός, ἀποφθινύθουσι δὲ λαοί.
οὐδέ τί σε Τρώεσσιν ὀΐομαι ἄλκαρ ἔσεσθαι
645 ἐλθόντ' ἐκ Λυκίης, οὐδ' εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι,
ἀλλ' ὑπ' ἐμοὶ δμηθέντα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσειν.
Τὸν δ' αὖ Σαρπηδὼν Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Τληπόλεμ' ἤτοι κεῖνος ἀπώλεσεν Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ἀνέρος ἀφραδίῃσιν ἀγαυοῦ Λαομέδοντος,
650 ὅς ῥά μιν εὖ ἕρξαντα κακῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ,
οὐδ' ἀπέδωχ' ἵππους, ὧν εἵνεκα τηλόθεν ἦλθε.
σοὶ δ' ἐγὼ ἐνθάδε φημὶ φόνον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν
ἐξ ἐμέθεν τεύξεσθαι, ἐμῷ δ' ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντα
εὖχος ἐμοὶ δώσειν, ψυχὴν δ' Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.
655 Ὣς φάτο Σαρπηδών, ὃ δ' ἀνέσχετο μείλινον ἔγχος
Τληπόλεμος· καὶ τῶν μὲν ἁμαρτῇ δούρατα μακρὰ
ἐκ χειρῶν ἤϊξαν· ὃ μὲν βάλεν αὐχένα μέσσον
Σαρπηδών, αἰχμὴ δὲ διαμπερὲς ἦλθ' ἀλεγεινή·
τὸν δὲ κατ' ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψε.
660 Τληπόλεμος δ' ἄρα μηρὸν ἀριστερὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
βεβλήκειν, αἰχμὴ δὲ διέσσυτο μαιμώωσα
ὀστέω ἐγχριμφθεῖσα, πατὴρ δ' ἔτι λοιγὸν ἄμυνεν.
Οἳ μὲν ἄρ' ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα δῖοι ἑταῖροι
ἐξέφερον πολέμοιο· βάρυνε δέ μιν δόρυ μακρὸν
665 ἑλκόμενον· τὸ μὲν οὔ τις ἐπεφράσατ' οὐδὲ νόησε
μηροῦ ἐξερύσαι δόρυ μείλινον ὄφρ' ἐπιβαίη
σπευδόντων· τοῖον γὰρ ἔχον πόνον ἀμφιέποντες.
Τληπόλεμον δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἐξέφερον πολέμοιο· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
670 τλήμονα θυμὸν ἔχων, μαίμησε δέ οἱ φίλον ἦτορ·
μερμήριξε δ' ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἢ προτέρω Διὸς υἱὸν ἐριγδούποιο διώκοι,
ἦ ὅ γε τῶν πλεόνων Λυκίων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.
οὐδ' ἄρ' Ὀδυσσῆϊ μεγαλήτορι μόρσιμον ἦεν
675 ἴφθιμον Διὸς υἱὸν ἀποκτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ·
τώ ῥα κατὰ πληθὺν Λυκίων τράπε θυμὸν Ἀθήνη.
ἔνθ' ὅ γε Κοίρανον εἷλεν Ἀλάστορά τε Χρομίον τε
Ἄλκανδρόν θ' Ἅλιόν τε Νοήμονά τε Πρύτανίν τε.
καί νύ κ' ἔτι πλέονας Λυκίων κτάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
680 εἰ μὴ ἄρ' ὀξὺ νόησε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ
δεῖμα φέρων Δαναοῖσι· χάρη δ' ἄρα οἱ προσιόντι
Σαρπηδὼν Διὸς υἱός, ἔπος δ' ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπε·
Πριαμίδη, μὴ δή με ἕλωρ Δαναοῖσιν ἐάσῃς
685 κεῖσθαι, ἀλλ' ἐπάμυνον· ἔπειτά με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν
ἐν πόλει ὑμετέρῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρ' ἔμελλον ἔγωγε
νοστήσας οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
εὐφρανέειν ἄλοχόν τε φίλην καὶ νήπιον υἱόν.
Ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' οὔ τι προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,
690 ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν λελιημένος ὄφρα τάχιστα
ὤσαιτ' Ἀργείους, πολέων δ' ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.
οἳ μὲν ἄρ' ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα δῖοι ἑταῖροι
εἷσαν ὑπ' αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς περικαλλέϊ φηγῷ·
ἐκ δ' ἄρα οἱ μηροῦ δόρυ μείλινον ὦσε θύραζε
695 ἴφθιμος Πελάγων, ὅς οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος.
τὸν δ' ἔλιπε ψυχή, κατὰ δ' ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτ' ἀχλύς·
αὖτις δ' ἐμπνύνθη, περὶ δὲ πνοιὴ Βορέαο
ζώγρει ἐπιπνείουσα κακῶς κεκαφηότα θυμόν.
Ἀργεῖοι δ' ὑπ' Ἄρηϊ καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ
700 οὔτε ποτὲ προτρέποντο μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν
οὔτε ποτ' ἀντεφέροντο μάχῃ, ἀλλ' αἰὲν ὀπίσσω
χάζονθ', ὡς ἐπύθοντο μετὰ Τρώεσσιν Ἄρηα.
Ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον τίνα δ' ὕστατον ἐξενάριξαν
Ἕκτωρ τε Πριάμοιο πάϊς καὶ χάλκεος Ἄρης;
705 ἀντίθεον Τεύθραντ', ἐπὶ δὲ πλήξιππον Ὀρέστην,
Τρῆχόν τ' αἰχμητὴν Αἰτώλιον Οἰνόμαόν τε,
Οἰνοπίδην θ' Ἕλενον καὶ Ὀρέσβιον αἰολομίτρην,
ὅς ῥ' ἐν Ὕλῃ ναίεσκε μέγα πλούτοιο μεμηλώς,
λίμνῃ κεκλιμένος Κηφισίδι· πὰρ δέ οἱ ἄλλοι
710 ναῖον Βοιωτοὶ μάλα πίονα δῆμον ἔχοντες.
Τοὺς δ' ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,
αὐτίκ' Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,
715 ἦ ῥ' ἅλιον τὸν μῦθον ὑπέστημεν Μενελάῳ
Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντ' εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,
εἰ οὕτω μαίνεσθαι ἐάσομεν οὖλον Ἄρηα.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
Ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
720 ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππους
Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο·
Ἥβη δ' ἀμφ' ὀχέεσσι θοῶς βάλε καμπύλα κύκλα
χάλκεα ὀκτάκνημα σιδηρέῳ ἄξονι ἀμφίς.
τῶν ἤτοι χρυσέη ἴτυς ἄφθιτος, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
725 χάλκε' ἐπίσσωτρα προσαρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι·
πλῆμναι δ' ἀργύρου εἰσὶ περίδρομοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν·
δίφρος δὲ χρυσέοισι καὶ ἀργυρέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν
ἐντέταται, δοιαὶ δὲ περίδρομοι ἄντυγές εἰσι.
τοῦ δ' ἐξ ἀργύρεος ῥυμὸς πέλεν· αὐτὰρ ἐπ' ἄκρῳ
730 δῆσε χρύσειον καλὸν ζυγόν, ἐν δὲ λέπαδνα
κάλ' ἔβαλε χρύσει'· ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν Ἥρη
ἵππους ὠκύποδας, μεμαυῖ' ἔριδος καὶ ἀϋτῆς.
Αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
πέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπ' οὔδει
735 ποικίλον, ὅν ῥ' αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν·
ἣ δὲ χιτῶν' ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο
τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα.
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' ὤμοισιν βάλετ' αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν
δεινήν, ἣν περὶ μὲν πάντῃ Φόβος ἐστεφάνωται,
740 ἐν δ' Ἔρις, ἐν δ' Ἀλκή, ἐν δὲ κρυόεσσα Ἰωκή,
ἐν δέ τε Γοργείη κεφαλὴ δεινοῖο πελώρου
δεινή τε σμερδνή τε, Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.
κρατὶ δ' ἐπ' ἀμφίφαλον κυνέην θέτο τετραφάληρον
χρυσείην, ἑκατὸν πολίων πρυλέεσσ' ἀραρυῖαν·
745 ἐς δ' ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δ' ἔγχος
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν
ἡρώων, οἷσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.
Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετ' ἄρ' ἵππους·
αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι,
750 τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τε
ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδ' ἐπιθεῖναι.
τῇ ῥα δι' αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους·
εὗρον δὲ Κρονίωνα θεῶν ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων
ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο.
755 ἔνθ' ἵππους στήσασα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
Ζῆν' ὕπατον Κρονίδην ἐξείρετο καὶ προσέειπε·
Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ Ἄρῃ τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα
ὁσσάτιόν τε καὶ οἷον ἀπώλεσε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
μὰψ ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἐμοὶ δ' ἄχος, οἳ δὲ ἕκηλοι
760 τέρπονται Κύπρίς τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
ἄφρονα τοῦτον ἀνέντες, ὃς οὔ τινα οἶδε θέμιστα;
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά τί μοι κεχολώσεαι, αἴ κεν Ἄρηα
λυγρῶς πεπληγυῖα μάχης ἐξαποδίωμαι;
Τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
765 ἄγρει μάν οἱ ἔπορσον Ἀθηναίην ἀγελείην,
ἥ ἑ μάλιστ' εἴωθε κακῇς ὀδύνῃσι πελάζειν.
Ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
μάστιξεν δ' ἵππους· τὼ δ' οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην
μεσσηγὺς γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος.
770 ὅσσον δ' ἠεροειδὲς ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
ἥμενος ἐν σκοπιῇ, λεύσσων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον,
τόσσον ἐπιθρῴσκουσι θεῶν ὑψηχέες ἵπποι.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Τροίην ἷξον ποταμώ τε ῥέοντε,
ἧχι ῥοὰς Σιμόεις συμβάλλετον ἠδὲ Σκάμανδρος,
775 ἔνθ' ἵππους ἔστησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
λύσασ' ἐξ ὀχέων, περὶ δ' ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευε·
τοῖσιν δ' ἀμβροσίην Σιμόεις ἀνέτειλε νέμεσθαι.
Αἳ δὲ βάτην τρήρωσι πελειάσιν ἴθμαθ' ὁμοῖαι
ἀνδράσιν Ἀργείοισιν ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαυῖαι·
780 ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἵκανον ὅθι πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι
ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ βίην Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο
εἰλόμενοι λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν
ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,
ἔνθα στᾶσ' ἤϋσε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
785 Στέντορι εἰσαμένη μεγαλήτορι χαλκεοφώνῳ,
ὃς τόσον αὐδήσασχ' ὅσον ἄλλοι πεντήκοντα·
αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι κάκ' ἐλέγχεα εἶδος ἀγητοί·
ὄφρα μὲν ἐς πόλεμον πωλέσκετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
οὐδέ ποτε Τρῶες πρὸ πυλάων Δαρδανιάων
790 οἴχνεσκον· κείνου γὰρ ἐδείδισαν ὄβριμον ἔγχος·
νῦν δὲ ἑκὰς πόλιος κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχονται.
Ὣς εἰποῦσ' ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
Τυδεΐδῃ δ' ἐπόρουσε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
εὗρε δὲ τόν γε ἄνακτα παρ' ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν
795 ἕλκος ἀναψύχοντα τό μιν βάλε Πάνδαρος ἰῷ.
ἱδρὼς γάρ μιν ἔτειρεν ὑπὸ πλατέος τελαμῶνος
ἀσπίδος εὐκύλου· τῷ τείρετο, κάμνε δὲ χεῖρα,
ἂν δ' ἴσχων τελαμῶνα κελαινεφὲς αἷμ' ἀπομόργνυ.
ἱππείου δὲ θεὰ ζυγοῦ ἥψατο φώνησέν τε·
800 ἦ ὀλίγον οἷ παῖδα ἐοικότα γείνατο Τυδεύς.
Τυδεύς τοι μικρὸς μὲν ἔην δέμας, ἀλλὰ μαχητής·
καί ῥ' ὅτε πέρ μιν ἐγὼ πολεμίζειν οὐκ εἴασκον
οὐδ' ἐκπαιφάσσειν, ὅτε τ' ἤλυθε νόσφιν Ἀχαιῶν
ἄγγελος ἐς Θήβας πολέας μετὰ Καδμείωνας·
805 δαίνυσθαί μιν ἄνωγον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἕκηλον·
αὐτὰρ ὃ θυμὸν ἔχων ὃν καρτερὸν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ
κούρους Καδμείων προκαλίζετο, πάντα δ' ἐνίκα
ῥηϊδίως· τοίη οἱ ἐγὼν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦα.
σοὶ δ' ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παρά θ' ἵσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω,
810 καί σε προφρονέως κέλομαι Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι·
ἀλλά σευ ἢ κάματος πολυᾶϊξ γυῖα δέδυκεν
ἤ νύ σέ που δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον· οὐ σύ γ' ἔπειτα
Τυδέος ἔκγονός ἐσσι δαΐφρονος Οἰνεΐδαο.
Τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
815 γιγνώσκω σε θεὰ θύγατερ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
τώ τοι προφρονέως ἐρέω ἔπος οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω.
οὔτέ τί με δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον οὔτέ τις ὄκνος,
ἀλλ' ἔτι σέων μέμνημαι ἐφετμέων ἃς ἐπέτειλας·
οὔ μ' εἴας μακάρεσσι θεοῖς ἀντικρὺ μάχεσθαι
820 τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἀτὰρ εἴ κε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
ἔλθῃσ' ἐς πόλεμον, τήν γ' οὐτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
τοὔνεκα νῦν αὐτός τ' ἀναχάζομαι ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλους
Ἀργείους ἐκέλευσα ἀλήμεναι ἐνδάδε πάντας·
γιγνώσκω γὰρ Ἄρηα μάχην ἀνὰ κοιρανέοντα.
825 Τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ
μήτε σύ γ' Ἄρηα τό γε δείδιθι μήτε τιν' ἄλλον
ἀθανάτων, τοίη τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιτάρροθός εἰμι·
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐπ' Ἄρηϊ πρώτῳ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,
830 τύψον δὲ σχεδίην μηδ' ἅζεο θοῦρον Ἄρηα
τοῦτον μαινόμενον, τυκτὸν κακόν, ἀλλοπρόσαλλον,
ὃς πρῴην μὲν ἐμοί τε καὶ Ἥρῃ στεῦτ' ἀγορεύων
Τρωσὶ μαχήσεσθαι, ἀτὰρ Ἀργείοισιν ἀρήξειν,
νῦν δὲ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ὁμιλεῖ, τῶν δὲ λέλασται.
835 Ὣς φαμένη Σθένελον μὲν ἀφ' ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,
χειρὶ πάλιν ἐρύσασ', ὃ δ' ἄρ' ἐμμαπέως ἀπόρουσεν·
ἣ δ' ἐς δίφρον ἔβαινε παραὶ Διομήδεα δῖον
ἐμμεμαυῖα θεά· μέγα δ' ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων
βριθοσύνῃ· δεινὴν γὰρ ἄγεν θεὸν ἄνδρά τ' ἄριστον.
840 λάζετο δὲ μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·
αὐτίκ' ἐπ' Ἄρηϊ πρώτῳ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Περίφαντα πελώριον ἐξενάριζεν
Αἰτωλῶν ὄχ' ἄριστον Ὀχησίου ἀγλαὸν υἱόν·
τὸν μὲν Ἄρης ἐνάριζε μιαιφόνος· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
845 δῦν' Ἄϊδος κυνέην, μή μιν ἴδοι ὄβριμος Ἄρης.
Ὡς δὲ ἴδε βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης Διομήδεα δῖον,
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Περίφαντα πελώριον αὐτόθ' ἔασε
κεῖσθαι ὅθι πρῶτον κτείνων ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν,
αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥ' ἰθὺς Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο.
850 οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
πρόσθεν Ἄρης ὠρέξαθ' ὑπὲρ ζυγὸν ἡνία θ' ἵππων
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ μεμαὼς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλέσθαι·
καὶ τό γε χειρὶ λαβοῦσα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
ὦσεν ὑπὲκ δίφροιο ἐτώσιον ἀϊχθῆναι.
855 δεύτερος αὖθ' ὡρμᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ· ἐπέρεισε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα ὅθι ζωννύσκετο μίτρῃ·
τῇ ῥά μιν οὖτα τυχών, διὰ δὲ χρόα καλὸν ἔδαψεν,
ἐκ δὲ δόρυ σπάσεν αὖτις· ὃ δ' ἔβραχε χάλκεος Ἄρης
860 ὅσσόν τ' ἐννεάχιλοι ἐπίαχον ἢ δεκάχιλοι
ἀνέρες ἐν πολέμῳ ἔριδα ξυνάγοντες Ἄρηος.
τοὺς δ' ἄρ' ὑπὸ τρόμος εἷλεν Ἀχαιούς τε Τρῶάς τε
δείσαντας· τόσον ἔβραχ' Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο.
Οἵη δ' ἐκ νεφέων ἐρεβεννὴ φαίνεται ἀὴρ
865 καύματος ἐξ ἀνέμοιο δυσαέος ὀρνυμένοιο,
τοῖος Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης
φαίνεθ' ὁμοῦ νεφέεσσιν ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν.
καρπαλίμως δ' ἵκανε θεῶν ἕδος αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον,
πὰρ δὲ Διὶ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο θυμὸν ἀχεύων,
870 δεῖξεν δ' ἄμβροτον αἷμα καταρρέον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς,
καί ῥ' ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ ὁρῶν τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα;
αἰεί τοι ῥίγιστα θεοὶ τετληότες εἰμὲν
ἀλλήλων ἰότητι, χάριν ἄνδρεσσι φέροντες.
875 σοὶ πάντες μαχόμεσθα· σὺ γὰρ τέκες ἄφρονα κούρην
οὐλομένην, ᾗ τ' αἰὲν ἀήσυλα ἔργα μέμηλεν.
ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες ὅσοι θεοί εἰσ' ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ
σοί τ' ἐπιπείθονται καὶ δεδμήμεσθα ἕκαστος·
ταύτην δ' οὔτ' ἔπεϊ προτιβάλλεαι οὔτέ τι ἔργῳ,
880 ἀλλ' ἀνιεῖς, ἐπεὶ αὐτὸς ἐγείναο παῖδ' ἀΐδηλον·
ἣ νῦν Τυδέος υἱὸν ὑπερφίαλον Διομήδεα
μαργαίνειν ἀνέηκεν ἐπ' ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.
Κύπριδα μὲν πρῶτον σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' αὐτῷ μοι ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος·
885 ἀλλά μ' ὑπήνεικαν ταχέες πόδες· ἦ τέ κε δηρὸν
αὐτοῦ πήματ' ἔπασχον ἐν αἰνῇσιν νεκάδεσσιν,
ἤ κε ζὼς ἀμενηνὸς ἔα χαλκοῖο τυπῇσι.
Τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς.
μή τί μοι ἀλλοπρόσαλλε παρεζόμενος μινύριζε.
890 ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν·
αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε.
μητρός τοι μένος ἐστὶν ἀάσχετον οὐκ ἐπιεικτὸν
Ἥρης· τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ' ἐπέεσσι·
τώ σ' ὀΐω κείνης τάδε πάσχειν ἐννεσίῃσιν.
895 ἀλλ' οὐ μάν σ' ἔτι δηρὸν ἀνέξομαι ἄλγε' ἔχοντα·
ἐκ γὰρ ἐμεῦ γένος ἐσσί, ἐμοὶ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ·
εἰ δέ τευ ἐξ ἄλλου γε θεῶν γένευ ὧδ' ἀΐδηλος
καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἦσθα ἐνέρτερος Οὐρανιώνων.
Ὣς φάτο, καὶ Παιήον' ἀνώγειν ἰήσασθαι.
900 τῷ δ' ἐπὶ Παιήων ὀδυνήφατα φάρμακα πάσσων
ἠκέσατ'· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι καταθνητός γ' ἐτέτυκτο.
ὡς δ' ὅτ' ὀπὸς γάλα λευκὸν ἐπειγόμενος συνέπηξεν
ὑγρὸν ἐόν, μάλα δ' ὦκα περιτρέφεται κυκόωντι,
ὣς ἄρα καρπαλίμως ἰήσατο θοῦρον Ἄρηα.
905 τὸν δ' Ἥβη λοῦσεν, χαρίεντα δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε·
πὰρ δὲ Διὶ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων.
Αἳ δ' αὖτις πρὸς δῶμα Διὸς μεγάλοιο νέοντο
Ἥρη τ' Ἀργείη καὶ Ἀλαλκομενηῒς Ἀθήνη
παύσασαι βροτολοιγὸν Ἄρη' ἀνδροκτασιάων.
1And now to Tydeus' son, Diomedes, Pallas Athene gave might and courage, that he should prove himself pre-eminent amid all the Argives, and win glorious renown. She kindled from his helm and shield flame unwearying,5 like to the star of harvesttime that shineth bright above all others when he hath bathed him in the stream of Ocean. Even such flame did she kindle from his head and shoulders; and she sent him into the midst where men thronged the thickest. Now there was amid the Trojans one Dares, a rich man and blameless,10 a priest of Hephaestus; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idaeus, both well skilled in all manner of fighting. These twain separated themselves from the host and went forth against Diomedes, they in their car, while he charged on foot upon the ground. And when they were come near, as they advanced against each other,15 first Phegeus let fly his far-shadowing spear; and over the left shoulder of the son of Tydeus passed the point of the spear, and smote him not. Then Tydeus' son rushed on with the bronze, and not in vain did the shaft speed from his hand, but he smote his foe on the breast between the nipples, and thrust him from the car.20 And Idaeus sprang back, and left the beauteous chariot, and had no heart to bestride his slain brother. Nay, nor would he himself have escaped black fate, had not Hephaestus guarded him, and saved him, enfolding him in darkness, that his aged priest might not be utterly fordone with grief.25 Howbeit the horses did the son of great souled Tydeus drive forth and give to his comrades to bring to the hollow ships. But when the great-souled Trojans beheld the two sons of Dares, the one in flight and the other slain beside the car, the hearts of all were dismayed. And flashing-eyed Athene30 took furious Ares by the hand and spake to him, saying: Ares, Ares, thou bane of mortals, thou blood-stained stormer of walls, shall we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight, to whichsoever of the two it be that father Zeus shall vouchsafe glory? But for us twain, let us give place, and avoid the wrath of Zeus.35 So spake she, and led furious Ares forth from the battle. Then she made him to sit down on the sandy banks of Scamander, and the Trojans were turned in flight by the Danaans. Each one of the captains slew his man; first the king of men, Agamemnon, thrust from his car the leader of the Halizones, great Odius,40 for as he turned first of all to flee he fixed his spear in his back between the shoulders and drave it through his breast; and he fell with a thud, and upon him his armour clanged.
And Idomeneus slew Phaestus, son of Borus the Maeonian, that had come from deep-soiled Tarne.45 Him even as he was mounting his chariot Idomeneus, famed for his spear, pierced with a thrust of his long spear through the right shoulder; and he fell from his car, and hateful darkness gat hold of him. Him then the squires of Idomeneus stripped of his armour; and Scamandrius, son of Strophius, cunning in the chase,50 did Atreus' son Menelaus slay with his sharp spear, even him the mighty hunter; for Artemis herself had taught him to smite all wild things that the mountain forest nurtureth. Yet in no wise did the archer Artemis avail him now, neither all that skill in archery wherein of old he excelled;55 but the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for his spear, smote him as he fled before him with a thrust of his spear in the back between the shoulders, and drave it through his breast. So he fell face foremost, and upon him his armour clanged. And Meriones slew Phereclus, son of Tecton,60 Harmon's son, whose hands were skilled to fashion all manner of curious work; for Pallas Athene loved him above all men. He it was that had also built for Alexander the shapely ships, source of ills, that were made the bane of all the Trojans and of his own self, seeing he knew not in any wise the oracles of the gods.65 After him Meriones pursued, and when he had come up with him, smote him in the right buttock, and the spear-point passed clean through even to the bladder beneath the bone;, and he fell to his knees with a groan, and death enfolded him. And Pedaeus, Antenor's son, was slain of Meges;70 he was in truth a bastard, howbeit goodly Theano had reared him carefully even as her own children, to do pleasure to her husband. To him Phyleus' son, famed for his spear, drew nigh and smote him with a cast of his sharp spear on the sinew of the head; and straight through amid the teeth the bronze shore away the tongue at its base.75 So he fell in the dust, and bit the cold bronze with his teeth. And Eurypylus, son of Euaemon, slew goodly Hypsenor, son of Dolopion high of heart, that was made priest of Scamander, and was honoured of the folk even as a god—upon him did Eurypylus, Euaemon's glorious son,80 rush with his sword as he fled before him, and in mid-course smite him upon the shoulder and lop off his heavy arm. So the arm all bloody fell to the ground; and down over his eyes came dark death and mighty fate.
Thus toiled they in the mighty conflict;85 but of Tydeus' son couldst thou not have told with which host of the twain he was joined, whether it was with the Trojans that he had fellowship or with the Achaeans. For he stormed across the plain like unto a winter torrent at the full, that with its swift flood sweeps away the embankments; this the close-fenced embankments hold not back,90 neither do the walls of the fruitful vineyards stay its sudden coming when the rain of Zeus driveth it on; and before it in multitudes the fair works of men fall in ruin. Even in such wise before Tydeus' son were the thick battalions of the Trojans driven in rout, nor might they abide him for all they were so many.95 But when the glorious son of Lycaon was ware of him as he raged across the plain and drove the battalions in rout before him, forthwith he bent against the son of Tydeus his curved bow, and with sure aim smote him as he rushed onwards upon the right shoulder on the plate of his corselet; through this sped the bitter arrow100 and held straight on its way, and the corselet was spattered with blood. Over him then shouted aloud the glorious son of Lycaon: Rouse you, great-souled Trojans, ye goaders of horses. Smitten is the best man of the Achaeans, and I deem he will not for long endure the mighty shaft, if in very truth the king,105 the son of Zeus, sped me on my way when I set forth from Lycia. So spake he vauntingly; howbeit that other did the swift arrow not lay low, but he drew back, and took his stand before his horses and chariot, and spake to Sthenelus, son of Capaneus: Rouse thee, good son of Capaneus; get thee down from the car,110 that thou mayest draw forth from my shoulder the bitter arrow. So spake he, and Sthenelus leapt from his chariot to the ground, and stood beside him, and drew forth the swift arrow clean through his shoulder; and the blood spurted up through the pliant tunic. And thereat Diomedes, good at the war-cry, made prayer:115 Hear me, child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, unwearied one! If ever with kindly thought thou stoodest by my father's side amid the fury of battle, even so do thou now be likewise kind to me, Athene. Grant that I may slay this man, and that he come within the cast of my spear, that hath smitten me or ever I was ware of him, and boasteth over me,120 and declareth that not for long shall I behold the bright light of the sun.
So spake he in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him, and made his limbs light, his feet and his hands above; and she drew near to his side and spake to him winged words: Be of good courage now, Diomedes, to fight against the Trojans,125 for in thy breast have I put the might of thy father, the dauntless might, such as the horseman Tydeus, wielder of the shield, was wont to have. And the mist moreover have I taken from thine eyes that afore was upon them, to the end that thou mayest well discern both god and man. Wherefore now if any god come hither to make trial of thee,130 do not thou in any wise fight face to face with any other immortal gods, save only if Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, shall enter the battle, her do thou smite with a thrust of the sharp bronze. When she had thus spoken, the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, departed, and the son of Tydeus returned again and mingled with the foremost fighters;135 and though afore his heart had been eager to do battle with the Trojans, now verily did fury thrice so great lay hold upon him, even as upon a lion that a shepherd in the field, guarding his fleecy sheep, hath wounded as he leapt over the wall of the sheep-fold, but hath not vanquished; his might hath he roused, but thereafter maketh no more defence,140 but slinketh amid the farm buildings, and the flock all unprotected is driven in rout, and the sheep are strewn in heaps, each hard by each, but the lion in his fury leapeth forth from the high fold; even in such fury did mighty Diomedes mingle with the Trojans. Then slew he Astynous and Hypeiron, shepherd of the host;145 the one he smote above the nipple with a cast of his bronze-shod spear, and the other he struck with his great sword upon the collar-bone beside the shoulder, and shore off the shoulder from the neck and from the back. These then he let be, but went his way in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus, sons of the old man Eurydamas, the reader of dreams;150 howbeit they came not back for the old man to interpret dreams for them, but mighty Diomedes slew them. Then went he on after Xanthus and Thoön, sons twain of Phaenops, and both well beloved; and their father was fordone with grievous old age, and begat no other son to leave in charge of his possessions.155 There Diomedes slew them, and bereft them of dear life, both the twain; but for the father he left lamentation and grievous sorrow, seeing they lived not for him to welcome them on their return; and the next of kin divided his goods.
Then took he two sons of Priam, Dardanus' son,160 Echemmon and Chromius, the twain being in one car. Even as a lion leapeth among the kine and breaketh the neck of a heifer or a cow as they graze in a woodland pasture, so did Tydeus' son thrust both these in evil wise from their car, sorely against their will, and thereafter despoiled them of their armour;165 and the horses he gave to his comrades to drive to the ships. But Aeneas was ware of him as he made havoc of the ranks of warriors, and went his way along the battle amid the hurtling of the spears in quest of godlike Pandarus, if so be he might anywhere find him. He found the son of Lycaon, goodly and valiant,170 and took his stand before his face, and spake to him, saying: Pandarus, where now are thy bow and thy winged arrows, and thy fame? Therein may no man of this land vie with thee, nor any in Lycia declare himself to be better than thou. Come now, lift up thy hands in prayer to Zeus, and let fly a shaft at this man,175 whoe'er he be that prevaileth thus, and hath verily wrought the Trojans much mischief, seeing he hath loosed the knees of many men and goodly; if indeed he be not some god that is wroth with the Trojans, angered by reason of sacrifices; with grievous weight doth the wrath of god rest upon men. To him then spake the glorious son of Lycaon:180 Aeneas, counsellor of the brazen-coated Trojans, to the wise-hearted son of Tydeus do I liken him in all things, knowing him by his shield and his crested helm, and when I look on his horses; yet I know not surely if he be not a god. But if he be the man I deem him, even the wise-hearted son of Tydeus,185 not without the aid of some god doth he thus rage, but one of the immortals standeth hard by him, his shoulders wrapped in cloud, and turned aside from him my swift shaft even as it lighted. For already have I let fly a shaft at him, and I smote him upon the right shoulder clean through the plate of his corselet;190 and I deemed that I should send him forth to Aïdoneus, yet I subdued him not; verily he is some wrathful god. And horses have I not at hand, neither car whereon I might mount—yet in Lycaon's halls, I ween, there be eleven fair chariots, new-wrought, new-furnished, with cloths spread over them;195 and by each standeth its yoke of horses feeding on white barley and spelt. Aye, and as I set out hither the old spearman Lycaon straitly charged me in our well-built house: he bade me be mounted on horse and car,200 and so lead the Trojans in mighty conflicts.
Howbeit I hearkened not— verily it had been better far!—but spared the horses lest in the multitude of men they should lack fodder, they that were wont to eat their fill. So I left them, and am come on foot to Ilios, trusting in my bow;205 but this, meseems, was to avail me not. Already have I let fly a shaft at two chieftains, the son of Tydeus and Atreus' son, and smitten them fairly, and from them both of a surety I drew forth blood, yet did I but arouse them the more. Wherefore with ill hap was it that I took from the peg my curved bow210 on that day when I led my Trojans to lovely Ilios to do pleasure to Hector. But if so be I shall return and behold with mine eyes my native land and my wife and great, high-roofed palace, then may some alien forthwith cut my head from me,215 if I break not this bow with my hands and cast it into the blazing fire; for worthless as wind doth it attend me. To him then spake in answer Aeneas, leader of the Trojans: Nay, speak not thus; things shall in no wise be any better before that we twain with horses and chariot220 go to face this man and make trial of him in arms. Nay, come, mount upon my car, that thou mayest see of what sort are the horses of Tros, well skilled to course fleetly hither and thither over the plain whether in pursuit or in flight. They twain will bring the two of us safely to the city,225 if again Zeus shall vouchsafe glory to Tydeus' son Diomedes. Come, therefore, take thou now the lash and the shining reins, and I will dismount to fight; or else do thou await his onset, and I will look to the horses. Then made answer to him the glorious son of Lycaon:230 Aeneas, keep thou the reins thyself, and drive thine own horses; better will they draw the curved car under their wonted charioteer, if so be we must flee from the son of Tydeus. I would not that they take fright and run wild, and for want of thy voice be not minded to bear us forth from the battle,235 and so the son of great-souled Tydeus leap upon us and slay the two of us, and drive off the single-hooved horses. Nay, drive thou thyself thine own car and thine own horses, and I will abide this man's onset with my sharp spear.
So saying they mounted upon the inlaid car and240 eagerly drave the swift horses against the son of Tydeus. And Sthenelus, the glorious son of Capaneus, saw them and straightway spake to Tydeus' son winged words: Diomedes, son of Tydeus, dear to my heart, I behold two valiant warriors eager to fight against thee,245 endued with measureless strength. The one is well skilled with the bow, even Pandarus, and moreover avoweth him to be the son of Lycaon; while Aeneas avoweth himself to be born of peerless Anchises, and his mother is Aphrodite. Nay, come, let us give ground on the car, neither rage thou thus,250 I pray thee, amid the foremost fighters, lest thou haply lose thy life. Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows mighty Diomedes spake to him: Talk not thou to me of flight, for I deem thou wilt not persuade me. Not in my blood is it to fight a skulking fight or to cower down; still is my strength steadfast.255 And I have no mind to mount upon a car, but even as I am will I go to face them; that I should quail Pallas Athene suffereth not. As for these twain, their swift horses shall not bear both back from us again, even if one or the other escape. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart.260 If so be Athene, rich in counsel, shall vouchsafe me this glory, to slay them both, then do thou hold here these swift horses, binding the reins taut to the chariot rim; but be mindful to rush upon the horses of Aeneas and drive them forth from the Trojans to the host of the well-greaved Achaeans.265 For they are of that stock wherefrom Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, gave to Tros recompense for his son Ganymedes, for that they were the best of all horses that are beneath the dawn and the sun. Of this stock the king of men Anchises stole a breed, putting his mares to them while Laomedon knew naught thereof.270 And from these a stock of six was born him in his palace; four he kept himself and reared at the stall, and the other two he gave to Aeneas, devisers of rout. Could we but take these twain, we should win us goodly renown. Thus they spake on this wise one to the other,275 and forthwith drew near those other twain, driving the swift horses. And Lycaon's glorious son spake first to him, saying: Thou son of lordly Tydeus, stalwart and wise of heart, verily my swift shaft subdued thee not, the bitter arrow; now will I again make trial of thee with my spear, if so be I may hit thee.
280 So saying, he poised and hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon the shield of Tydeus' son; and straight therethrough sped the point of bronze and reached the corselet. Then over him shouted aloud the glorious son of Lycaon: Thou art smitten clean through the belly, and not for long, methinks,285 shalt thou endure; but to me hast thou granted great glory. Then with no touch of fear spake to him mighty Diomedes: Thou hast missed and not hit; but ye twain, I deem, shall not cease till one or the other of you shall have fallen and glutted with his blood Ares, the warrior with tough shield of hide.290 So spake he and hurled; and Athene guided the spear upon his nose beside the eye, and it pierced through his white teeth. So the stubborn bronze shore off his tongue at its root, and the spear-point came out by the base of the chin. Then he fell from out the car,295 and his armour all bright and flashing clanged upon him, and the swift-footed horses swerved aside; and there his spirit and his strength were undone. But Aeneas leapt down with shield and long spear, seized with fear lest perchance the Achaeans might drag from him the dead man. Over him he strode like a lion confident in his strength, and before him he held his spear and his shield that was well balanced on every side,300 eager to slay the man whosoever should come to seize the corpse, and crying a terrible cry. But the son of Tydeus grasped in his hand a stone—a mighty deed—one that not two men could bear, such as mortals now are; yet lightly did he wield it even alone.305 Therewith he smote Aeneas on the hip, where the thigh turns in the hip joint,—the cup, men call it—and crushed the cup-bone, and broke furthermore both sinews, and the jagged stone tore the skin away. Then the warrior fell upon his knees, and thus abode, and with his stout hand leaned he310 upon the earth; and dark night enfolded his eyes. And now would the king of men, Aeneas, have perished, had not the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, been quick to mark, even his mother, that conceived him to Anchises as he tended his kine. About her dear son she flung her white arms,315 and before him she spread a fold of her bright garment to be a shelter against missiles, lest any of the Danaans with swift horses might hurl a spear of bronze into his breast and take away his life.
She then was bearing her dear son forth from out the battle; but the son of Capaneus forgat not320 the commands that Diomedes good at the war-cry laid upon him. He held his own single-hooved horses away from the turmoil, binding the reins taut to the chariot rim, but rushed upon the fair-maned horses of Aeneas, and drave them forth from the Trojans into the host of the well-greaved Achaeans,325 and gave them to Deïpylus his dear comrade, whom he honoured above all the companions of his youth, because he was like-minded with himself; him he bade drive them to the hollow ships. Then did the warrior mount his own car and take the bright reins, and straightway drive his stout-hooved horses in eager quest of Tydeus' son.330 He the while had gone in pursuit of Cypris with his pitiless bronze, discerning that she was a weakling goddess, and not one of those that lord it in the battle of warriors,—no Athene she, nor Enyo, sacker of cities. But when he had come upon her as he pursued her through the great throng,335 then the son of great-souled Tydeus thrust with his sharp spear and leapt upon her, and wounded the surface of her delicate hand, and forthwith through the ambrosial raiment that the Graces themselves had wrought for her the spear pierced the flesh upon the wrist above the palm and forth flowed the immortal blood of the goddess,340 the ichor, such as floweth in the blessed gods; for they eat not bread neither drink flaming wine, wherefore they are bloodless, and are called immortals. She then with a loud cry let fall her son, and Phoebus Apollo took him in his arms345 and saved him in a dark cloud, lest any of the Danaans with swift horses might hurl a spear of bronze into his breast and take away his life. But over her shouted aloud Diomedes good at the war-cry: Keep thee away, daughter of Zeus, from war and fighting. Sufficeth it not that thou beguilest weakling women?350 But if into battle thou wilt enter, verily methinks thou shalt shudder at the name thereof, if thou hearest it even from afar. So spake he, and she departed frantic, and was sore distressed; and wind-footed Iris took her and led her forth from out the throng, racked with pain, and her fair flesh was darkened.355 Anon she found furious Ares abiding on the left of the battle, and upon a cloud was his spear leaning, and at hand were his swift horses twain. Then she fell upon her knees and with instant prayer begged for her dear brother's horses with frontlets of gold: Dear brother, save me, and give me thy horses,360 that I may get me to Olympus, where is the abode of the immortals. For sorely am I pained with a wound which a mortal man dealt me, Tydeus' son, that would now fight even with father Zeus.
So spake she, and Ares gave her his horses with frontlets of gold; and she mounted upon the car, her heart distraught,365 and beside her mounted Iris and took the reins in her hand. She touched the horses with the lash to start them, and nothing loath the pair sped onward. Straightway then they came to the abode of the gods, to steep Olympus and there wind-footed, swift Iris stayed the horses and loosed them from the car, and cast before them food ambrosial;370 but fair Aphrodite flung herself upon the knees of her mother Dione. She clasped her daughter in her arms, and stroked her with her hand and spake to her, saying: Who now of the sons of heaven, dear child, hath entreated thee thus wantonly, as though thou wert working some evil before the face of all?375 To her then made answer laughter-loving Aphrodite: Tydeus' son, Diomedes high of heart, wounded me, for that I was bearing forth from out the war my dear son Aeneas, who is in my eyes far the dearest of all men. For no longer is the dread battle one between Trojans and Achaeans;380 nay, the Danaans now fight even with the immortals. To her then made answer Dione, the fair goddess: Be of good heart, my child, and endure for all thy suffering; for full many of us that have dwellings on Olympus have suffered at the hands of men, in bringing grievous woes one upon the other.385 So suffered Ares, when Otus and mighty Ephialtes, the sons of Aloeus, bound him in cruel bonds, and in a brazen jar he lay bound for thirteen months; and then would Ares, insatiate of war, have perished, had not the stepmother of the sons of Aloeus, the beauteous Eëriboea,390 brought tidings unto Hermes; and he stole forth Ares, that was now sore distressed, for his grievous bonds were overpowering him. So suffered Hera, when the mighty son of Amphitryon smote her on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow; then upon her too came pain that might in no wise be assuaged.395 And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;400 for into his mighty shoulder had the shaft been driven, and distressed his soul. But Paeëon spread thereon simples that slay pain, and healed him; for verily he was in no wise of mortal mould. Rash man, worker of violence, that recked not of his evil deeds, seeing that with his arrows he vexed the gods that hold Olympus.405 And upon thee has the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, set this man—fool that he is; for the heart of Tydeus' son knoweth not this, that verily he endureth not for long who fighteth with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he is come back from war and the dread conflict.410 Wherefore now let Tydeus' son, for all he is so mighty, beware lest one better than thou fight against him, lest in sooth Aegialeia, the daughter of Adrastus, passing wise, wake from sleep with her long lamentings all her household, as she wails for her wedded husband, the best man of the Achaeans, even she,415 the stately wife of horse-taming Diomedes.
She spake, and with both her hands wiped the ichor from the arm; the arm was restored, and the grievous pains assuaged. But Athene and Hera, as they looked upon her, sought to anger Zeus, son of Cronos, with mocking words.420 And among them the goddess flashing-eyed Athene was first to speak: Father Zeus, wilt thou anywise be wroth with me for the word that I shall say? Of a surety now Cypris has been urging some one of the women of Achaea to follow after the Trojans, whom now she so wondrously loveth; and while stroking such a one of the fair-robed women of Achaea,425 she hath scratched upon her golden brooch her delicate hand. So spake she, but the father of men and gods smiled, and calling to him golden Aphrodite, said: Not unto thee, my child, are given works of war; nay, follow thou after the lovely works of marriage,430 and all these things shall be the business of swift Ares and Athene. On this wise spake they one to the other; but Diomedes, good at the war-cry, leapt upon Aeneas, though well he knew that Apollo himself held forth his arms above him; yet had he no awe even of the great god, but was still eager435 to slay Aeneas and strip from him his glorious armour. Thrice then he leapt upon him, furiously fain to slay him, and thrice did Apollo beat back his shining shield. But when for the fourth time he rushed upon him like a god, then with a terrible cry spake to him Apollo that worketh afar:440 Bethink thee, son of Tydeus, and give place, neither be thou minded to be like of spirit with the gods; seeing in no wise of like sort is the race of immortal gods and that of men who walk upon the earth. So spake he, and the son of Tydeus gave ground a scant space backward, avoiding the wrath of Apollo that smiteth afar.445 Aeneas then did Apollo set apart from the throng in sacred Pergamus where was his temple builded. There Leto and the archer Artemis healed him in the great sanctuary, and glorified him; but Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a wraith450 in the likeness of Aeneas' self and in armour like to his; and over the wraith the Trojans and goodly Achaeans smote the bull's-hide bucklers about one another's breasts, the round shields and fluttering targets. Then unto furious Ares spake Phoebus Apollo:455 Ares, Ares, thou bane of mortals, thou blood-stained stormer of walls, wilt thou not now enter into the battle and withdraw this man therefrom, this son of Tydeus, who now would fight even against father Zeus? Cypris first hath he wounded in close fight on the hand at the wrist, and thereafter rushed he upon mine own self like unto a god.
460 So spake he, and himself sate him down upon the height of Pergamus, and baneful Ares entered amid the Trojans' ranks and urged them on, in the likeness of swft Acamas, leader of the Thracians. To Priam's sons, nurtured of Zeus, he called, saying: Ye sons of Priam, the king nurtured of Zeus,465 how long will ye still suffer your host to be slain by the Achaeans? Shall it be until such time as they fight about our well-built gates? Low lieth a man whom we honoured even as goodly Hector, Aeneas, son of great-hearted Anchises. Nay, come, let us save from out the din of conflict our noble comrade.470 So saying he aroused the strength and spirit of every man. And Sarpedon moreover sternly chid goodly Hector, saying: Hector, where now is the strength gone that aforetime thou hadst? Thou saidst forsooth that without hosts and allies thou wouldst hold the city alone with the aid of thy sisters' husbands and thy brothers;475 howbeit of these can I now neither behold nor mark anyone, but they cower as dogs about a lion; and it is we that fight, we that are but allies among you. For I that am but an ally am come from very far; afar is Lycia by eddying Xanthus,480 where I left my dear wife and infant son, and my great wealth the which every man that is in lack coveteth. Yet even so urge I on the Lycians, and am fain myself to fight my man, though here is naught of mine such as the Achaeans might bear away or drive;485 whereas thou standest and dost not even urge thy hosts to abide and defend their wives. Beware lest thou and they, as if caught in the meshes of all-ensnaring flax, become a prey and spoil unto your foemen; and they shall anon lay waste your well-peopled city. On thee should all these cares rest by night and day,490 and thou shouldest beseech the captains of thy far-famed allies to hold their ground unflinchingly, and so put away from thee strong rebukings.
So spake Sarpedon, and his word stung Hector to the heart. Forthwith he leapt in his armour from his chariot to the ground,495 and brandishing his two sharp spears went everywhere throughout the host, urging men to fight, and roused the dread din of battle. So they rallied and took their stand with their faces towards the Achaeans; and the Argives in close throng abode their coming and fled not. And even as the wind carrieth chaff about the sacred threshing-floors500 of men that are winnowing, when fair-haired Demeter amid the driving blasts of wind separates the grain from the chaff, and the heaps of chaff grow white; even so now did the Achaeans grow white over head and shoulders beneath the cloud of dust that through the midst of the warriors the hooves of their horses beat up to the brazen heaven,505 as the fight was joined again; and the charioteers wheeled round. The might of their hands they bare straight forward, and about the battle furious Ares drew a veil of night to aid the Trojans, ranging everywhere; so fulfilled he the behest of Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who bade him510 rouse the spirit of the Trojans, whenso he saw that Pallas Athene was departed; for she it was that bare aid to the Danaans. And Apollo himself sent Aeneas forth from out the rich sanctuary, and put courage in the breast of the shepherd of the host. And Aeneas took his place in the midst of his comrades, and these waxed glad515 as they saw him come to join them alive and whole and possessed of valiant courage. Howbeit they questioned him not at all, for toil of other sort forbade them, even that which he of the silver bow was stirring, and Ares the bane of mortals, and Discord that rageth without ceasing. On the other side the Aiantes twain and Odysseus and Diomedes520 roused the Danaans to fight; yet these even of themselves quailed not before the Trojans' violence and their onsets, but stood their ground like mists that in still weather the son of Cronos setteth on the mountain-tops moveless, what time the might of the North Wind sleepeth and of the other furious winds525 that blow with shrill blasts and scatter this way and that the shadowy clouds; even so the Danaans withstood the Trojans steadfastly, and fled not. And the son of Atreus ranged throughout the throng with many a word of command: My friends, be men, and take to you hearts of valour, and have shame each of the other in the fierce conflict. Of men that have shame more are saved than are slain, but from them that flee cometh neither glory nor any avail.
He spake, and hurled his spear swiftly and smote a foremost warrior, a comrade of great-souled Aeneas, Deïcoön,535 son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans honoured even as the sons of Priam, for that he was swift to fight amid the foremost. Him did lord Agamemnon smite with his spear upon the shield, and this stayed not the spear, but clean through it passed the bronze, and into the lower belly he drave it through the belt;540 and he fell with a thud, and upon him his armour clanged. Then Aeneas slew two champions of the Danaans, the sons of Diocles, Crethon and Orsilochus, whose father dwelt in well-built Pheme, a man rich in substance, and in lineage was he sprung from the river545 Alpheius that flows in broad stream through the land of the Pylians, and that begat Orsilochus to be king over many men. And Orsilochus begat greatsouled Diocles, and of Diocles were born twin sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in all manner of fighting.550 Now when the twain had reached manhood, they followed with the Argives on the black ships to Ilios famed for its horses, seeking to win recompense for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus; but their own selves in that land did the doom of death enfold. Like them two lions upon the mountain tops555 are reared by their dam in the thickets of a deep wood; and the twain snatch cattle and goodly sheep and make havoc of the farmsteads of men, until themuselves are slain by the hands of men with the sharp bronze; even in such wise were these twain vanquished beneath the hands of Aeneas, and fell like tall fir-trees.560 But as they fell Menelaus dear to Ares had pity for them, and strode through the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze and brandishing his spear; and Ares roused his might with intent that he might be vanquished beneath the hands of Aeneas.565 But Antilochus, son of great-souled Nestor, beheld him, and strode through the foremost fighters; for greatly did he fear for the shepherd of the host, lest aught befall him, and he utterly thwart them of their toil. Now the twain were holding forth their hands and their sharp spears each against the other, fain to do battle,570 when Antilochus came close beside the shepheard of the host. Then Aeneas abode not, swift warrior though he was, when he beheld the two holding their ground side by side; and they, when they had dragged the dead to the host of the Achaeans, laid the hapless pair in the arms of their comrades,575 and themselves turned back and fought amid the foremost.
Then the twain slew Pylaemenes, peer of Ares, the leader of the great-souled Paphlagonian shieldmen. Him as he stood still, the son of Atreus, spear-famed Menelaus, pierced with his spear, smiting him upon the collar-bone;580 and Antilochus made a cast at Mydon, his squire and charioteer, the goodly son of Atymnius, even as he was turning the single-hooved horses, and smote him with a stone full upon the elbow; and the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands to the ground in the dust. Then Antilochus leapt upon him and drave his sword into his temple,585 and gasping he fell forth from out the well-built car headlong in the dust on his head and shoulders. Long time he stood there—for he lighted on deep sand—until his horses kicked him and cast him to the ground in the dust; and them Antilochus lashed, and drave into the host of the Achaeans.590 But Hector marked them across the ranks, and rushed upon them shouting aloud, and with him followed the strong battalions of the Trojans; and Ares led them and the queen Enyo, she bringing ruthless Din of War, while Ares wielded in his hands a monstrous spear,595 and ranged now in front of Hector and now behind him. At sight of him Diomedes, good at the war-cry shuddered; and even as a man in passing over a great plain halteth in dismay at a swift-streaming river that floweth on to the sea, and seeing it seething with foam starteth backward,600 even so now did the son of Tydeus give ground, and he spake to the host: Friends, look you how we were ever wont to marvel at goodly Hector, deeming him a spearman and a dauntless warrior; whereas ever by his side is some god that wardeth from him ruin, even as now Ares is by his side in the likeness of a mortal man.605 But with faces turned toward the Trojans give ye ground ever backwards, neither rage ye to fight amain with gods. So spake he, and the Trojans came very close to them. Then Hector slew two warriors well skilled in fight, Menesthes and Anchialus, the twain being in one car.610 And as they fell great Telamonian Aias had pity of them, and came and stood close at hand, and with a cast of his shining spear smote Amphius, son of Selagus, that dwelt in Paesus, a man rich in substance, rich in corn-land; but fate led him to bear aid to Priam and his sons.615 Him Telamonian Aias smote upon the belt, and in the lower belly was the far-shadowing spear fixed, and he fell with a thud. Then glorious Aias rushed upon him to strip him of his armour, and the Trojans rained upon him their spears, all sharp and gleaming, and his shield caught many thereof.620 But he planted his heel upon the corpse and drew forth the spear of bronze, yet could he not prevail likewise to strip the rest of the fair armour from his shoulders, for he was sore pressed with missiles. Furthermore, he feared the strong defence of the lordly Trojans, that beset him both many and valiant with spears in their hands and,625 for all he was so tall and mighty and lordly, thrust him from them; and he gave ground and was made to reel.
So these toiled in the mighty conflict, but Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, a valiant man and tall, was roused by resistless fate against godlike Sarpedon.630 And when they were come near as they advanced one against the other, the son and grandson of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, then Tlepolemus was first to speak, saying: Sarpedon, counsellor of the Lycians, why must thou be skulking here, that art a man unskilled in battle?635 They speak but a lie that say thou art sprung from Zeus that beareth the aegis, seeing thou art inferior far to those warriors that were sprung from Zeus in the days of men of old. Of other sort, men say, was mighty Heracles, my father, staunch in fight, the lionhearted,640 who on a time came hither by reason of the mares of Laomedon with but six ships and a scantier host, yet sacked the city of Ilios and made waste her streets. But thine is a coward's heart, and thy people are minishing. In no wise methinks shall thy coming from Lycia prove a defence to the men of Troy,645 though thou be never so strong, but thou shalt be vanquished by my hand and pass the gates of Hades. And to him Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, made answer: Tlepolemus, thy sire verily destroyed sacred Ilios through the folly of the lordly man, Laomedon,650 who chid with harsh words him that had done him good service, and rendered him not the mares for the sake of which he had come from afar. But for thee, I deem that death and black fate shall here be wrought by my hands, and that vanquished beneath my spear thou shalt yield glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the goodly steeds.655 So spake Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus lifted on high his ashen spear, and the long spears sped from the hands of both at one moment. Sarpedon smote him full upon the neck, and the grievous point passed clean through, and down upon his eyes came the darkness of night and enfolded him.660 And Tlepolemus smote Sarpedon upon the left thigh with his long spear, and the point sped through furiously and grazed the bone; howbeit his father as yet warded from him destruction. Then his goodly companions bare godlike Sarpedon forth from out the fight, and the long spear burdened him sore,665 as it trailed, but no man marked it or thought in their haste to draw forth from his thigh the spear of ash, that he might stand upon his feet; such toil had they in tending him.
And on the other side the well-greaved Achaeans bare Tlepolemus from out the fight, and goodly Odysseus670 of the enduring soul was ware of it, and his spirit waxed furious within him; and he pondered then in heart and soul whether he should pursue further after the son of Zeus that thundereth aloud, or should rather take the lives of more Lycians. But not for great-hearted Odysseus was it ordained675 to slay with the sharp bronze the valiant son of Zeus; wherefore Athene turned his mind toward the host of the Lycians. Then slew he Coeranus and Alastor and Chromius and Alcandrus and Halius and Noëmon and Prytanis; and yet more of the Lycians would goodly Odysseus have slain,680 but that great Hector of the flashing helm was quick to see, and strode through the foremost fighters harnessed in flaming bronze, bringing terror to the Danaans.685 Then glad at his coming was Sarpedon, son of Zeus, and spake to him a piteous word: Son of Priam, suffer me not to lie here a prey to the Danaans, but bear me aid; thereafter, if need be, let life depart from me in your city, seeing it might not be that I should return home to mine own native land to make glad my dear wife and infant son. So spake he, yet Hector of the flashing helm spake no word in answer,690 but hastened by, eager with all speed to thrust back the Argives and take the lives of many. Then his goodly comrades made godlike Sarpedon to sit beneath a beauteous oak of Zeus that beareth the aegis,695 and forth from his thigh valiant Pelagon, that was his dear comrade, thrust the spear of ash; and his spirit failed him, and down over his eyes a mist was shed. Howbeit he revived, and the breath of the North Wind as it blew upon him made him to live again after in grievous wise he had breathed forth his spirit. But the Argives before the onset of Ares and Hector harnessed in bronze700 neither turned them to make for the black ships, nor yet could they hold out in fight, but they ever gave ground backward, when they heard that Ares was amid the Trojans. Who then was first to be slain and who last by Hector, Priam's son, and brazen Ares?705 Godlike Teuthras, and thereafter Orestes, driver of horses, Trechus, spearman of Aetolia, and Oenomaus, and Helenus, son of Oenops, and Oresbius with flashing taslet, he that dwelt in Hyle on the border of the Cephisian mere, having great care of his wealth;710 and hard by him dwelt other Boeotians having a land exceeding rich.
But when the goddess, white-armed Hera, was ware of them as they made havoc of the Argives in the fierce conflict, forthwith she spake winged words to Athene: Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, unwearied one,715 verily it was for naught that we pledged our word to Menelaus, that not until he had sacked well-walled Ilios should he get him home, if we are to suffer baneful Ares thus to rage. Nay, come, let us twain likewise bethink us of furious valour. So spake she, and the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, failed not to hearken.720 Then Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos, went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets. and Hebe quickly put to the car on either side the curved wheels of bronze, eight-spoked, about the iron axle-tree. Of these the felloe verily is of gold imperishable,725 and thereover are tires of bronze fitted, a marvel to behold; and the naves are of silver, revolving on this side and on that; and the body is plaited tight with gold and silver thongs, and two rims there are that run about it. From the body stood forth the pole of silver, and on the end730 thereof she bound the fair golden yoke, and cast thereon the fair golden breast-straps; and Hera led beneath the yoke the swift-footed horses, and was eager for strife and the war-cry. But Athene, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis, let fall upon her father's floor her soft robe,735 richly broidered, that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned, and put on her the tunic of Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, and arrayed her in armour for tearful war. About her shoulders she flung the tasselled aegis, fraught with terror, all about which Rout is set as a crown,740 and therein is Strife, therein Valour, and therein Onset, that maketh the blood run cold, and therein is the head of the dread monster, the Gorgon, dread and awful, a portent of Zeus that beareth the aegis. And upon her head she set the helmet with two horns and with bosses four, wrought of gold, and fitted with the men-at-arms of an hundred cities.745 Then she stepped upon the flaming car and grasped her spear, heavy and huge and strong, wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of men—of warriors with whom she is wroth, she, the daughter of the mighty sire. And Hera swiftly touched the horses with the lash, and self-bidden groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven which the Hours had in their keeping,750 to whom are entrusted great heaven and Olympus, whether to throw open the thick cloud or shut it to. There through the gate they drave their horses patient of the goad; and they found the son of Cronos as he sat apart from the other gods on the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus.755 Then the goddess, white-armed Hera, stayed the horses, and made question of Zeus most high, the son of Cronos, and spake to him: Father Zeus, hast thou no indignation with Ares for these violent deeds, that he hath destroyed so great and so goodly a host of the Achaeans recklessly and in no seemly wise to my sorrow;760 while at their ease Cypris and Apollo of the silver bow take their joy, having set on this madman that regardeth not any law? Father Zeus, wilt thou in any wise be wroth with me if I smite Ares in sorry fashion and drive him out of the battle?
Then in answer spake to her Zeus, the cloud-gatherer:765 Nay, come now, rouse against him Athene, driver of the spoil, who has ever been wont above others to bring sore pain upon him. So spake he, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken, but touched her horses with the the lash; and nothing loath the pair flew on between earth and starry heaven.770 As far as a man seeth with his eyes into the haze of distance as he sitteth on a place of outlook and gazeth over the wine-dark deep, even so far do the loud-neighing horses of the gods spring at a bound. But when they were come to the land of Troy and the two flowing rivers, where the Simoïs and Scamander join their streams,775 there the goddess, white-armed Hera, stayed her horses, and loosed them from the car, and shed thick mist about them; and Simoïs made ambrosia to spring up for them to graze upon. Then the goddesses twain went their way with steps like those of timorous doves, eager to bring aid to the Argive warriors.780 And when they were come where the most and the bravest stood close thronging about mighty Diomedes, tamer of horses, in semblance like ravening lions or wild boars, whose is no weakling strength, there the goddess, white-armed Hera,785 stood and shouted in the likeness of great-hearted Stentor of the brazen voice, whose voice is as the voice of fifty other men: Fie, ye Argives, base things of shame fair in semblance only! So long as goodly Achilles was wont to fare into battle, never would the Trojans come forth even before the Dardanian gate;790 for of his mighty spear had they dread; but now far from the city they are fighting at the hollow ships.
So saying she roused the strength and spirit of every man. And to the side of Tydeus' son sprang the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene. She found that prince beside his horses and car,795 cooling the wound that Pandarus had dealt him with his arrow. For the sweat vexed him beneath the broad baldric of his round shield; therewith was he vexed and his arm grew weary, so he was lifting up the baldric and wiping away the dark blood. Then the goddess laid hold of the yoke of his horses, and said:800 Verily little like himself was the son that Tydeus begat. Tydeus was small in stature, but a warrior. Even when I would not suffer him to fight or make a show of prowess, what time he came, and no Achaean with him, on an embassage to Thebes into the midst of the many Cadmeians—805I bade him feast in their halls in peace—yet he having his valiant soul as of old challenged the youths of the Cadmeians and vanquished them in everything full easily; so ' present a helper was I to him. But as for thee, I verily stand by thy side and guard thee,810 and of a ready heart I bid thee fight with the Trojans, yet either hath weariness born of thy many onsets entered into thy limbs, or haply spiritless terror possesseth thee. Then art thou no offspring of Tydeus, the wise-hearted son of Oeneus. Then in answer to her spake mighty Diomedes:815 I know thee, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis; therefore with a ready heart will I tell thee my thought and hide it not. In no wise doth spiritless terror possess me nor any slackness, but I am still mindful of thy behest which thou didst lay upon me. Thou wouldest not suffer me to fight face to face with the other blessed gods,820 but if Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus should enter the battle, her thou badest me smite with the sharp bronze. Therefore it is that I now give ground myself and have given command to all the rest of the Argives to be gathered here likewise; for I discern Ares lording it over the battle-field.825 And the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, answered him, saying: Son of Tydeus, Diomedes, dear to my heart, fear thou not Ares for that, neither any other of the immortals; so present a helper am I to thee. Nay, come, at Ares first drive thou thy single-hooved horses,830 and smite him in close fight, neither have thou awe of furious Ares that raveth here a full-wrought bane, a renegade, that but now spake with me and Hera, and made as though he would fight against the Trojans but give aid to the Argives; yet now he consorteth with the Trojans and hath forgotten these.
835 So saying, with her hand she drew back Sthenelus, and thrust him from the car to earth, and he speedily leapt down; and she stepped upon the car beside goodly Diomedes, a goddess eager for battle. Loudly did the oaken axle creak beneath its burden, for it bare a dread goddess and a peerless warrior.840 Then Pallas Athene grasped the lash and the reins, and against Ares first she speedily drave the single-hooved horses. He was stripping of his armour huge Periphas that was far the best of the Aetolians, the glorious son of Ochesius. Him was blood-stained Ares stripping; but Athene845 put on the cap of Hades, to the end that mighty Ares should not see her. Now when Ares, the bane of mortals, was ware of goodly Diomedes, he let be huge Periphas to lie where he was, even where at the first he had slain him and taken away his life but made straight for Diomedes, tamer of horses.850 And when they were now come near as they advanced one against the other, Ares first let drive over the yoke and the reins of the horses with his spear of bronze, eager to take away the other's life; but the spear the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, caught in her hand and thrust above the car to fly its way in vain.855 Next Diomedes, good at the war-cry, drave at Ares with his spear of bronze, and Pallas Athene sped it mightily against his nethermost belly, where he was girded with his taslets. There did he thrust and smite him, rending the fair flesh, and forth he drew the spear again. Then brazen Ares bellowed860 loud as nine thousand warriors or ten thousand cry in battle, when they join in the strife of the War-god; and thereat trembling came upon Achaeans alike and Trojans, and fear gat hold of them; so mightily bellowed Ares insatiate of war.
Even as a black darkness appeareth from the clouds865 when after heat a blustering wind ariseth, even in such wise unto Diomedes, son of Tydeus, did brazen Ares appear, as he fared amid the clouds unto broad heaven. Speedily he came to the abode of the gods, to steep Olympus, and sate him down by the side of Zeus, son of Cronos, grieved at heart, and shewed the immortal blood flowing from the wound,870 and with wailing spake to him winged words: Father Zeus, hast thou no indignation to behold these violent deeds? Ever do we gods continually suffer most cruelly by one another's devices, whenas we show favour to men.875 With thee are we all at strife, for thou art father to that mad and baneful maid, whose mind is ever set on deeds of lawlessness. For all the other gods that are in Olympus are obedient unto thee, and subject to thee, each one of us; but to her thou payest no heed whether in word or in deed,880 but rather settest her on, for that this pestilent maiden is thine own child. Now hath she set on the son of Tydeus, Diomedes high of heart, to vent his rage upon immortal gods. Cypris first he wounded with a thrust in close fight upon the hand at the wrist, and thereafter rushed upon mine own self as he had been a god.885 Howbeit my swift feet bare me away; otherwise had I long suffered woes there amid the gruesome heaps of the dead, or else had lived strengthless by reason of the smitings of the spear. Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows spake to him Zeus, the cloud-gatherer: Sit thou not in any wise by me and whine, thou renegade.890 Most hateful to me art thou of all gods that hold Olympus, for ever is strife dear to thee and wars and fightings. Thou hast the unbearable, unyielding spirit of thy mother, even of Hera; her can I scarce control by my words. Wherefore it is by her promptings, meseems, that thou sufferest thus.895 Howbeit I will no longer endure that thou shouldest be in pain, for thou art mine offspring, and it was to me that thy mother bare thee; but wert thou born of any other god, thus pestilent as thou art, then long ere this hadst thou been lower than the sons of heaven.
He spake, and bade Paeëon heal his hurt;900 and Paeëon spread thereon simples that slay pain, and healed him; for verily he was in no wise of mortal mould. Even as the juice of the fig speedily maketh to grow thick the white milk that is liquid, but is quickly curdled as a man stirreth it, even so swiftly healed he furious Ares.905 And Hebe bathed him, and clad him in beautiful raiment, and he sate him down by the side of Zeus, son of Cronos, exulting in his glory. Then back to the palace of great Zeus fared Argive Hera and Alalcomenean Athene, when they had made Ares, the bane of mortals, to cease from his man-slaying.
And Idomeneus slew Phaestus, son of Borus the Maeonian, that had come from deep-soiled Tarne.45 Him even as he was mounting his chariot Idomeneus, famed for his spear, pierced with a thrust of his long spear through the right shoulder; and he fell from his car, and hateful darkness gat hold of him. Him then the squires of Idomeneus stripped of his armour; and Scamandrius, son of Strophius, cunning in the chase,50 did Atreus' son Menelaus slay with his sharp spear, even him the mighty hunter; for Artemis herself had taught him to smite all wild things that the mountain forest nurtureth. Yet in no wise did the archer Artemis avail him now, neither all that skill in archery wherein of old he excelled;55 but the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for his spear, smote him as he fled before him with a thrust of his spear in the back between the shoulders, and drave it through his breast. So he fell face foremost, and upon him his armour clanged. And Meriones slew Phereclus, son of Tecton,60 Harmon's son, whose hands were skilled to fashion all manner of curious work; for Pallas Athene loved him above all men. He it was that had also built for Alexander the shapely ships, source of ills, that were made the bane of all the Trojans and of his own self, seeing he knew not in any wise the oracles of the gods.65 After him Meriones pursued, and when he had come up with him, smote him in the right buttock, and the spear-point passed clean through even to the bladder beneath the bone;, and he fell to his knees with a groan, and death enfolded him. And Pedaeus, Antenor's son, was slain of Meges;70 he was in truth a bastard, howbeit goodly Theano had reared him carefully even as her own children, to do pleasure to her husband. To him Phyleus' son, famed for his spear, drew nigh and smote him with a cast of his sharp spear on the sinew of the head; and straight through amid the teeth the bronze shore away the tongue at its base.75 So he fell in the dust, and bit the cold bronze with his teeth. And Eurypylus, son of Euaemon, slew goodly Hypsenor, son of Dolopion high of heart, that was made priest of Scamander, and was honoured of the folk even as a god—upon him did Eurypylus, Euaemon's glorious son,80 rush with his sword as he fled before him, and in mid-course smite him upon the shoulder and lop off his heavy arm. So the arm all bloody fell to the ground; and down over his eyes came dark death and mighty fate.
Thus toiled they in the mighty conflict;85 but of Tydeus' son couldst thou not have told with which host of the twain he was joined, whether it was with the Trojans that he had fellowship or with the Achaeans. For he stormed across the plain like unto a winter torrent at the full, that with its swift flood sweeps away the embankments; this the close-fenced embankments hold not back,90 neither do the walls of the fruitful vineyards stay its sudden coming when the rain of Zeus driveth it on; and before it in multitudes the fair works of men fall in ruin. Even in such wise before Tydeus' son were the thick battalions of the Trojans driven in rout, nor might they abide him for all they were so many.95 But when the glorious son of Lycaon was ware of him as he raged across the plain and drove the battalions in rout before him, forthwith he bent against the son of Tydeus his curved bow, and with sure aim smote him as he rushed onwards upon the right shoulder on the plate of his corselet; through this sped the bitter arrow100 and held straight on its way, and the corselet was spattered with blood. Over him then shouted aloud the glorious son of Lycaon: Rouse you, great-souled Trojans, ye goaders of horses. Smitten is the best man of the Achaeans, and I deem he will not for long endure the mighty shaft, if in very truth the king,105 the son of Zeus, sped me on my way when I set forth from Lycia. So spake he vauntingly; howbeit that other did the swift arrow not lay low, but he drew back, and took his stand before his horses and chariot, and spake to Sthenelus, son of Capaneus: Rouse thee, good son of Capaneus; get thee down from the car,110 that thou mayest draw forth from my shoulder the bitter arrow. So spake he, and Sthenelus leapt from his chariot to the ground, and stood beside him, and drew forth the swift arrow clean through his shoulder; and the blood spurted up through the pliant tunic. And thereat Diomedes, good at the war-cry, made prayer:115 Hear me, child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, unwearied one! If ever with kindly thought thou stoodest by my father's side amid the fury of battle, even so do thou now be likewise kind to me, Athene. Grant that I may slay this man, and that he come within the cast of my spear, that hath smitten me or ever I was ware of him, and boasteth over me,120 and declareth that not for long shall I behold the bright light of the sun.
So spake he in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him, and made his limbs light, his feet and his hands above; and she drew near to his side and spake to him winged words: Be of good courage now, Diomedes, to fight against the Trojans,125 for in thy breast have I put the might of thy father, the dauntless might, such as the horseman Tydeus, wielder of the shield, was wont to have. And the mist moreover have I taken from thine eyes that afore was upon them, to the end that thou mayest well discern both god and man. Wherefore now if any god come hither to make trial of thee,130 do not thou in any wise fight face to face with any other immortal gods, save only if Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, shall enter the battle, her do thou smite with a thrust of the sharp bronze. When she had thus spoken, the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, departed, and the son of Tydeus returned again and mingled with the foremost fighters;135 and though afore his heart had been eager to do battle with the Trojans, now verily did fury thrice so great lay hold upon him, even as upon a lion that a shepherd in the field, guarding his fleecy sheep, hath wounded as he leapt over the wall of the sheep-fold, but hath not vanquished; his might hath he roused, but thereafter maketh no more defence,140 but slinketh amid the farm buildings, and the flock all unprotected is driven in rout, and the sheep are strewn in heaps, each hard by each, but the lion in his fury leapeth forth from the high fold; even in such fury did mighty Diomedes mingle with the Trojans. Then slew he Astynous and Hypeiron, shepherd of the host;145 the one he smote above the nipple with a cast of his bronze-shod spear, and the other he struck with his great sword upon the collar-bone beside the shoulder, and shore off the shoulder from the neck and from the back. These then he let be, but went his way in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus, sons of the old man Eurydamas, the reader of dreams;150 howbeit they came not back for the old man to interpret dreams for them, but mighty Diomedes slew them. Then went he on after Xanthus and Thoön, sons twain of Phaenops, and both well beloved; and their father was fordone with grievous old age, and begat no other son to leave in charge of his possessions.155 There Diomedes slew them, and bereft them of dear life, both the twain; but for the father he left lamentation and grievous sorrow, seeing they lived not for him to welcome them on their return; and the next of kin divided his goods.
Then took he two sons of Priam, Dardanus' son,160 Echemmon and Chromius, the twain being in one car. Even as a lion leapeth among the kine and breaketh the neck of a heifer or a cow as they graze in a woodland pasture, so did Tydeus' son thrust both these in evil wise from their car, sorely against their will, and thereafter despoiled them of their armour;165 and the horses he gave to his comrades to drive to the ships. But Aeneas was ware of him as he made havoc of the ranks of warriors, and went his way along the battle amid the hurtling of the spears in quest of godlike Pandarus, if so be he might anywhere find him. He found the son of Lycaon, goodly and valiant,170 and took his stand before his face, and spake to him, saying: Pandarus, where now are thy bow and thy winged arrows, and thy fame? Therein may no man of this land vie with thee, nor any in Lycia declare himself to be better than thou. Come now, lift up thy hands in prayer to Zeus, and let fly a shaft at this man,175 whoe'er he be that prevaileth thus, and hath verily wrought the Trojans much mischief, seeing he hath loosed the knees of many men and goodly; if indeed he be not some god that is wroth with the Trojans, angered by reason of sacrifices; with grievous weight doth the wrath of god rest upon men. To him then spake the glorious son of Lycaon:180 Aeneas, counsellor of the brazen-coated Trojans, to the wise-hearted son of Tydeus do I liken him in all things, knowing him by his shield and his crested helm, and when I look on his horses; yet I know not surely if he be not a god. But if he be the man I deem him, even the wise-hearted son of Tydeus,185 not without the aid of some god doth he thus rage, but one of the immortals standeth hard by him, his shoulders wrapped in cloud, and turned aside from him my swift shaft even as it lighted. For already have I let fly a shaft at him, and I smote him upon the right shoulder clean through the plate of his corselet;190 and I deemed that I should send him forth to Aïdoneus, yet I subdued him not; verily he is some wrathful god. And horses have I not at hand, neither car whereon I might mount—yet in Lycaon's halls, I ween, there be eleven fair chariots, new-wrought, new-furnished, with cloths spread over them;195 and by each standeth its yoke of horses feeding on white barley and spelt. Aye, and as I set out hither the old spearman Lycaon straitly charged me in our well-built house: he bade me be mounted on horse and car,200 and so lead the Trojans in mighty conflicts.
Howbeit I hearkened not— verily it had been better far!—but spared the horses lest in the multitude of men they should lack fodder, they that were wont to eat their fill. So I left them, and am come on foot to Ilios, trusting in my bow;205 but this, meseems, was to avail me not. Already have I let fly a shaft at two chieftains, the son of Tydeus and Atreus' son, and smitten them fairly, and from them both of a surety I drew forth blood, yet did I but arouse them the more. Wherefore with ill hap was it that I took from the peg my curved bow210 on that day when I led my Trojans to lovely Ilios to do pleasure to Hector. But if so be I shall return and behold with mine eyes my native land and my wife and great, high-roofed palace, then may some alien forthwith cut my head from me,215 if I break not this bow with my hands and cast it into the blazing fire; for worthless as wind doth it attend me. To him then spake in answer Aeneas, leader of the Trojans: Nay, speak not thus; things shall in no wise be any better before that we twain with horses and chariot220 go to face this man and make trial of him in arms. Nay, come, mount upon my car, that thou mayest see of what sort are the horses of Tros, well skilled to course fleetly hither and thither over the plain whether in pursuit or in flight. They twain will bring the two of us safely to the city,225 if again Zeus shall vouchsafe glory to Tydeus' son Diomedes. Come, therefore, take thou now the lash and the shining reins, and I will dismount to fight; or else do thou await his onset, and I will look to the horses. Then made answer to him the glorious son of Lycaon:230 Aeneas, keep thou the reins thyself, and drive thine own horses; better will they draw the curved car under their wonted charioteer, if so be we must flee from the son of Tydeus. I would not that they take fright and run wild, and for want of thy voice be not minded to bear us forth from the battle,235 and so the son of great-souled Tydeus leap upon us and slay the two of us, and drive off the single-hooved horses. Nay, drive thou thyself thine own car and thine own horses, and I will abide this man's onset with my sharp spear.
So saying they mounted upon the inlaid car and240 eagerly drave the swift horses against the son of Tydeus. And Sthenelus, the glorious son of Capaneus, saw them and straightway spake to Tydeus' son winged words: Diomedes, son of Tydeus, dear to my heart, I behold two valiant warriors eager to fight against thee,245 endued with measureless strength. The one is well skilled with the bow, even Pandarus, and moreover avoweth him to be the son of Lycaon; while Aeneas avoweth himself to be born of peerless Anchises, and his mother is Aphrodite. Nay, come, let us give ground on the car, neither rage thou thus,250 I pray thee, amid the foremost fighters, lest thou haply lose thy life. Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows mighty Diomedes spake to him: Talk not thou to me of flight, for I deem thou wilt not persuade me. Not in my blood is it to fight a skulking fight or to cower down; still is my strength steadfast.255 And I have no mind to mount upon a car, but even as I am will I go to face them; that I should quail Pallas Athene suffereth not. As for these twain, their swift horses shall not bear both back from us again, even if one or the other escape. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart.260 If so be Athene, rich in counsel, shall vouchsafe me this glory, to slay them both, then do thou hold here these swift horses, binding the reins taut to the chariot rim; but be mindful to rush upon the horses of Aeneas and drive them forth from the Trojans to the host of the well-greaved Achaeans.265 For they are of that stock wherefrom Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, gave to Tros recompense for his son Ganymedes, for that they were the best of all horses that are beneath the dawn and the sun. Of this stock the king of men Anchises stole a breed, putting his mares to them while Laomedon knew naught thereof.270 And from these a stock of six was born him in his palace; four he kept himself and reared at the stall, and the other two he gave to Aeneas, devisers of rout. Could we but take these twain, we should win us goodly renown. Thus they spake on this wise one to the other,275 and forthwith drew near those other twain, driving the swift horses. And Lycaon's glorious son spake first to him, saying: Thou son of lordly Tydeus, stalwart and wise of heart, verily my swift shaft subdued thee not, the bitter arrow; now will I again make trial of thee with my spear, if so be I may hit thee.
280 So saying, he poised and hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon the shield of Tydeus' son; and straight therethrough sped the point of bronze and reached the corselet. Then over him shouted aloud the glorious son of Lycaon: Thou art smitten clean through the belly, and not for long, methinks,285 shalt thou endure; but to me hast thou granted great glory. Then with no touch of fear spake to him mighty Diomedes: Thou hast missed and not hit; but ye twain, I deem, shall not cease till one or the other of you shall have fallen and glutted with his blood Ares, the warrior with tough shield of hide.290 So spake he and hurled; and Athene guided the spear upon his nose beside the eye, and it pierced through his white teeth. So the stubborn bronze shore off his tongue at its root, and the spear-point came out by the base of the chin. Then he fell from out the car,295 and his armour all bright and flashing clanged upon him, and the swift-footed horses swerved aside; and there his spirit and his strength were undone. But Aeneas leapt down with shield and long spear, seized with fear lest perchance the Achaeans might drag from him the dead man. Over him he strode like a lion confident in his strength, and before him he held his spear and his shield that was well balanced on every side,300 eager to slay the man whosoever should come to seize the corpse, and crying a terrible cry. But the son of Tydeus grasped in his hand a stone—a mighty deed—one that not two men could bear, such as mortals now are; yet lightly did he wield it even alone.305 Therewith he smote Aeneas on the hip, where the thigh turns in the hip joint,—the cup, men call it—and crushed the cup-bone, and broke furthermore both sinews, and the jagged stone tore the skin away. Then the warrior fell upon his knees, and thus abode, and with his stout hand leaned he310 upon the earth; and dark night enfolded his eyes. And now would the king of men, Aeneas, have perished, had not the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, been quick to mark, even his mother, that conceived him to Anchises as he tended his kine. About her dear son she flung her white arms,315 and before him she spread a fold of her bright garment to be a shelter against missiles, lest any of the Danaans with swift horses might hurl a spear of bronze into his breast and take away his life.
She then was bearing her dear son forth from out the battle; but the son of Capaneus forgat not320 the commands that Diomedes good at the war-cry laid upon him. He held his own single-hooved horses away from the turmoil, binding the reins taut to the chariot rim, but rushed upon the fair-maned horses of Aeneas, and drave them forth from the Trojans into the host of the well-greaved Achaeans,325 and gave them to Deïpylus his dear comrade, whom he honoured above all the companions of his youth, because he was like-minded with himself; him he bade drive them to the hollow ships. Then did the warrior mount his own car and take the bright reins, and straightway drive his stout-hooved horses in eager quest of Tydeus' son.330 He the while had gone in pursuit of Cypris with his pitiless bronze, discerning that she was a weakling goddess, and not one of those that lord it in the battle of warriors,—no Athene she, nor Enyo, sacker of cities. But when he had come upon her as he pursued her through the great throng,335 then the son of great-souled Tydeus thrust with his sharp spear and leapt upon her, and wounded the surface of her delicate hand, and forthwith through the ambrosial raiment that the Graces themselves had wrought for her the spear pierced the flesh upon the wrist above the palm and forth flowed the immortal blood of the goddess,340 the ichor, such as floweth in the blessed gods; for they eat not bread neither drink flaming wine, wherefore they are bloodless, and are called immortals. She then with a loud cry let fall her son, and Phoebus Apollo took him in his arms345 and saved him in a dark cloud, lest any of the Danaans with swift horses might hurl a spear of bronze into his breast and take away his life. But over her shouted aloud Diomedes good at the war-cry: Keep thee away, daughter of Zeus, from war and fighting. Sufficeth it not that thou beguilest weakling women?350 But if into battle thou wilt enter, verily methinks thou shalt shudder at the name thereof, if thou hearest it even from afar. So spake he, and she departed frantic, and was sore distressed; and wind-footed Iris took her and led her forth from out the throng, racked with pain, and her fair flesh was darkened.355 Anon she found furious Ares abiding on the left of the battle, and upon a cloud was his spear leaning, and at hand were his swift horses twain. Then she fell upon her knees and with instant prayer begged for her dear brother's horses with frontlets of gold: Dear brother, save me, and give me thy horses,360 that I may get me to Olympus, where is the abode of the immortals. For sorely am I pained with a wound which a mortal man dealt me, Tydeus' son, that would now fight even with father Zeus.
So spake she, and Ares gave her his horses with frontlets of gold; and she mounted upon the car, her heart distraught,365 and beside her mounted Iris and took the reins in her hand. She touched the horses with the lash to start them, and nothing loath the pair sped onward. Straightway then they came to the abode of the gods, to steep Olympus and there wind-footed, swift Iris stayed the horses and loosed them from the car, and cast before them food ambrosial;370 but fair Aphrodite flung herself upon the knees of her mother Dione. She clasped her daughter in her arms, and stroked her with her hand and spake to her, saying: Who now of the sons of heaven, dear child, hath entreated thee thus wantonly, as though thou wert working some evil before the face of all?375 To her then made answer laughter-loving Aphrodite: Tydeus' son, Diomedes high of heart, wounded me, for that I was bearing forth from out the war my dear son Aeneas, who is in my eyes far the dearest of all men. For no longer is the dread battle one between Trojans and Achaeans;380 nay, the Danaans now fight even with the immortals. To her then made answer Dione, the fair goddess: Be of good heart, my child, and endure for all thy suffering; for full many of us that have dwellings on Olympus have suffered at the hands of men, in bringing grievous woes one upon the other.385 So suffered Ares, when Otus and mighty Ephialtes, the sons of Aloeus, bound him in cruel bonds, and in a brazen jar he lay bound for thirteen months; and then would Ares, insatiate of war, have perished, had not the stepmother of the sons of Aloeus, the beauteous Eëriboea,390 brought tidings unto Hermes; and he stole forth Ares, that was now sore distressed, for his grievous bonds were overpowering him. So suffered Hera, when the mighty son of Amphitryon smote her on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow; then upon her too came pain that might in no wise be assuaged.395 And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;400 for into his mighty shoulder had the shaft been driven, and distressed his soul. But Paeëon spread thereon simples that slay pain, and healed him; for verily he was in no wise of mortal mould. Rash man, worker of violence, that recked not of his evil deeds, seeing that with his arrows he vexed the gods that hold Olympus.405 And upon thee has the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, set this man—fool that he is; for the heart of Tydeus' son knoweth not this, that verily he endureth not for long who fighteth with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he is come back from war and the dread conflict.410 Wherefore now let Tydeus' son, for all he is so mighty, beware lest one better than thou fight against him, lest in sooth Aegialeia, the daughter of Adrastus, passing wise, wake from sleep with her long lamentings all her household, as she wails for her wedded husband, the best man of the Achaeans, even she,415 the stately wife of horse-taming Diomedes.
She spake, and with both her hands wiped the ichor from the arm; the arm was restored, and the grievous pains assuaged. But Athene and Hera, as they looked upon her, sought to anger Zeus, son of Cronos, with mocking words.420 And among them the goddess flashing-eyed Athene was first to speak: Father Zeus, wilt thou anywise be wroth with me for the word that I shall say? Of a surety now Cypris has been urging some one of the women of Achaea to follow after the Trojans, whom now she so wondrously loveth; and while stroking such a one of the fair-robed women of Achaea,425 she hath scratched upon her golden brooch her delicate hand. So spake she, but the father of men and gods smiled, and calling to him golden Aphrodite, said: Not unto thee, my child, are given works of war; nay, follow thou after the lovely works of marriage,430 and all these things shall be the business of swift Ares and Athene. On this wise spake they one to the other; but Diomedes, good at the war-cry, leapt upon Aeneas, though well he knew that Apollo himself held forth his arms above him; yet had he no awe even of the great god, but was still eager435 to slay Aeneas and strip from him his glorious armour. Thrice then he leapt upon him, furiously fain to slay him, and thrice did Apollo beat back his shining shield. But when for the fourth time he rushed upon him like a god, then with a terrible cry spake to him Apollo that worketh afar:440 Bethink thee, son of Tydeus, and give place, neither be thou minded to be like of spirit with the gods; seeing in no wise of like sort is the race of immortal gods and that of men who walk upon the earth. So spake he, and the son of Tydeus gave ground a scant space backward, avoiding the wrath of Apollo that smiteth afar.445 Aeneas then did Apollo set apart from the throng in sacred Pergamus where was his temple builded. There Leto and the archer Artemis healed him in the great sanctuary, and glorified him; but Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a wraith450 in the likeness of Aeneas' self and in armour like to his; and over the wraith the Trojans and goodly Achaeans smote the bull's-hide bucklers about one another's breasts, the round shields and fluttering targets. Then unto furious Ares spake Phoebus Apollo:455 Ares, Ares, thou bane of mortals, thou blood-stained stormer of walls, wilt thou not now enter into the battle and withdraw this man therefrom, this son of Tydeus, who now would fight even against father Zeus? Cypris first hath he wounded in close fight on the hand at the wrist, and thereafter rushed he upon mine own self like unto a god.
460 So spake he, and himself sate him down upon the height of Pergamus, and baneful Ares entered amid the Trojans' ranks and urged them on, in the likeness of swft Acamas, leader of the Thracians. To Priam's sons, nurtured of Zeus, he called, saying: Ye sons of Priam, the king nurtured of Zeus,465 how long will ye still suffer your host to be slain by the Achaeans? Shall it be until such time as they fight about our well-built gates? Low lieth a man whom we honoured even as goodly Hector, Aeneas, son of great-hearted Anchises. Nay, come, let us save from out the din of conflict our noble comrade.470 So saying he aroused the strength and spirit of every man. And Sarpedon moreover sternly chid goodly Hector, saying: Hector, where now is the strength gone that aforetime thou hadst? Thou saidst forsooth that without hosts and allies thou wouldst hold the city alone with the aid of thy sisters' husbands and thy brothers;475 howbeit of these can I now neither behold nor mark anyone, but they cower as dogs about a lion; and it is we that fight, we that are but allies among you. For I that am but an ally am come from very far; afar is Lycia by eddying Xanthus,480 where I left my dear wife and infant son, and my great wealth the which every man that is in lack coveteth. Yet even so urge I on the Lycians, and am fain myself to fight my man, though here is naught of mine such as the Achaeans might bear away or drive;485 whereas thou standest and dost not even urge thy hosts to abide and defend their wives. Beware lest thou and they, as if caught in the meshes of all-ensnaring flax, become a prey and spoil unto your foemen; and they shall anon lay waste your well-peopled city. On thee should all these cares rest by night and day,490 and thou shouldest beseech the captains of thy far-famed allies to hold their ground unflinchingly, and so put away from thee strong rebukings.
So spake Sarpedon, and his word stung Hector to the heart. Forthwith he leapt in his armour from his chariot to the ground,495 and brandishing his two sharp spears went everywhere throughout the host, urging men to fight, and roused the dread din of battle. So they rallied and took their stand with their faces towards the Achaeans; and the Argives in close throng abode their coming and fled not. And even as the wind carrieth chaff about the sacred threshing-floors500 of men that are winnowing, when fair-haired Demeter amid the driving blasts of wind separates the grain from the chaff, and the heaps of chaff grow white; even so now did the Achaeans grow white over head and shoulders beneath the cloud of dust that through the midst of the warriors the hooves of their horses beat up to the brazen heaven,505 as the fight was joined again; and the charioteers wheeled round. The might of their hands they bare straight forward, and about the battle furious Ares drew a veil of night to aid the Trojans, ranging everywhere; so fulfilled he the behest of Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who bade him510 rouse the spirit of the Trojans, whenso he saw that Pallas Athene was departed; for she it was that bare aid to the Danaans. And Apollo himself sent Aeneas forth from out the rich sanctuary, and put courage in the breast of the shepherd of the host. And Aeneas took his place in the midst of his comrades, and these waxed glad515 as they saw him come to join them alive and whole and possessed of valiant courage. Howbeit they questioned him not at all, for toil of other sort forbade them, even that which he of the silver bow was stirring, and Ares the bane of mortals, and Discord that rageth without ceasing. On the other side the Aiantes twain and Odysseus and Diomedes520 roused the Danaans to fight; yet these even of themselves quailed not before the Trojans' violence and their onsets, but stood their ground like mists that in still weather the son of Cronos setteth on the mountain-tops moveless, what time the might of the North Wind sleepeth and of the other furious winds525 that blow with shrill blasts and scatter this way and that the shadowy clouds; even so the Danaans withstood the Trojans steadfastly, and fled not. And the son of Atreus ranged throughout the throng with many a word of command: My friends, be men, and take to you hearts of valour, and have shame each of the other in the fierce conflict. Of men that have shame more are saved than are slain, but from them that flee cometh neither glory nor any avail.
He spake, and hurled his spear swiftly and smote a foremost warrior, a comrade of great-souled Aeneas, Deïcoön,535 son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans honoured even as the sons of Priam, for that he was swift to fight amid the foremost. Him did lord Agamemnon smite with his spear upon the shield, and this stayed not the spear, but clean through it passed the bronze, and into the lower belly he drave it through the belt;540 and he fell with a thud, and upon him his armour clanged. Then Aeneas slew two champions of the Danaans, the sons of Diocles, Crethon and Orsilochus, whose father dwelt in well-built Pheme, a man rich in substance, and in lineage was he sprung from the river545 Alpheius that flows in broad stream through the land of the Pylians, and that begat Orsilochus to be king over many men. And Orsilochus begat greatsouled Diocles, and of Diocles were born twin sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in all manner of fighting.550 Now when the twain had reached manhood, they followed with the Argives on the black ships to Ilios famed for its horses, seeking to win recompense for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus; but their own selves in that land did the doom of death enfold. Like them two lions upon the mountain tops555 are reared by their dam in the thickets of a deep wood; and the twain snatch cattle and goodly sheep and make havoc of the farmsteads of men, until themuselves are slain by the hands of men with the sharp bronze; even in such wise were these twain vanquished beneath the hands of Aeneas, and fell like tall fir-trees.560 But as they fell Menelaus dear to Ares had pity for them, and strode through the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze and brandishing his spear; and Ares roused his might with intent that he might be vanquished beneath the hands of Aeneas.565 But Antilochus, son of great-souled Nestor, beheld him, and strode through the foremost fighters; for greatly did he fear for the shepherd of the host, lest aught befall him, and he utterly thwart them of their toil. Now the twain were holding forth their hands and their sharp spears each against the other, fain to do battle,570 when Antilochus came close beside the shepheard of the host. Then Aeneas abode not, swift warrior though he was, when he beheld the two holding their ground side by side; and they, when they had dragged the dead to the host of the Achaeans, laid the hapless pair in the arms of their comrades,575 and themselves turned back and fought amid the foremost.
Then the twain slew Pylaemenes, peer of Ares, the leader of the great-souled Paphlagonian shieldmen. Him as he stood still, the son of Atreus, spear-famed Menelaus, pierced with his spear, smiting him upon the collar-bone;580 and Antilochus made a cast at Mydon, his squire and charioteer, the goodly son of Atymnius, even as he was turning the single-hooved horses, and smote him with a stone full upon the elbow; and the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands to the ground in the dust. Then Antilochus leapt upon him and drave his sword into his temple,585 and gasping he fell forth from out the well-built car headlong in the dust on his head and shoulders. Long time he stood there—for he lighted on deep sand—until his horses kicked him and cast him to the ground in the dust; and them Antilochus lashed, and drave into the host of the Achaeans.590 But Hector marked them across the ranks, and rushed upon them shouting aloud, and with him followed the strong battalions of the Trojans; and Ares led them and the queen Enyo, she bringing ruthless Din of War, while Ares wielded in his hands a monstrous spear,595 and ranged now in front of Hector and now behind him. At sight of him Diomedes, good at the war-cry shuddered; and even as a man in passing over a great plain halteth in dismay at a swift-streaming river that floweth on to the sea, and seeing it seething with foam starteth backward,600 even so now did the son of Tydeus give ground, and he spake to the host: Friends, look you how we were ever wont to marvel at goodly Hector, deeming him a spearman and a dauntless warrior; whereas ever by his side is some god that wardeth from him ruin, even as now Ares is by his side in the likeness of a mortal man.605 But with faces turned toward the Trojans give ye ground ever backwards, neither rage ye to fight amain with gods. So spake he, and the Trojans came very close to them. Then Hector slew two warriors well skilled in fight, Menesthes and Anchialus, the twain being in one car.610 And as they fell great Telamonian Aias had pity of them, and came and stood close at hand, and with a cast of his shining spear smote Amphius, son of Selagus, that dwelt in Paesus, a man rich in substance, rich in corn-land; but fate led him to bear aid to Priam and his sons.615 Him Telamonian Aias smote upon the belt, and in the lower belly was the far-shadowing spear fixed, and he fell with a thud. Then glorious Aias rushed upon him to strip him of his armour, and the Trojans rained upon him their spears, all sharp and gleaming, and his shield caught many thereof.620 But he planted his heel upon the corpse and drew forth the spear of bronze, yet could he not prevail likewise to strip the rest of the fair armour from his shoulders, for he was sore pressed with missiles. Furthermore, he feared the strong defence of the lordly Trojans, that beset him both many and valiant with spears in their hands and,625 for all he was so tall and mighty and lordly, thrust him from them; and he gave ground and was made to reel.
So these toiled in the mighty conflict, but Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, a valiant man and tall, was roused by resistless fate against godlike Sarpedon.630 And when they were come near as they advanced one against the other, the son and grandson of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, then Tlepolemus was first to speak, saying: Sarpedon, counsellor of the Lycians, why must thou be skulking here, that art a man unskilled in battle?635 They speak but a lie that say thou art sprung from Zeus that beareth the aegis, seeing thou art inferior far to those warriors that were sprung from Zeus in the days of men of old. Of other sort, men say, was mighty Heracles, my father, staunch in fight, the lionhearted,640 who on a time came hither by reason of the mares of Laomedon with but six ships and a scantier host, yet sacked the city of Ilios and made waste her streets. But thine is a coward's heart, and thy people are minishing. In no wise methinks shall thy coming from Lycia prove a defence to the men of Troy,645 though thou be never so strong, but thou shalt be vanquished by my hand and pass the gates of Hades. And to him Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, made answer: Tlepolemus, thy sire verily destroyed sacred Ilios through the folly of the lordly man, Laomedon,650 who chid with harsh words him that had done him good service, and rendered him not the mares for the sake of which he had come from afar. But for thee, I deem that death and black fate shall here be wrought by my hands, and that vanquished beneath my spear thou shalt yield glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the goodly steeds.655 So spake Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus lifted on high his ashen spear, and the long spears sped from the hands of both at one moment. Sarpedon smote him full upon the neck, and the grievous point passed clean through, and down upon his eyes came the darkness of night and enfolded him.660 And Tlepolemus smote Sarpedon upon the left thigh with his long spear, and the point sped through furiously and grazed the bone; howbeit his father as yet warded from him destruction. Then his goodly companions bare godlike Sarpedon forth from out the fight, and the long spear burdened him sore,665 as it trailed, but no man marked it or thought in their haste to draw forth from his thigh the spear of ash, that he might stand upon his feet; such toil had they in tending him.
And on the other side the well-greaved Achaeans bare Tlepolemus from out the fight, and goodly Odysseus670 of the enduring soul was ware of it, and his spirit waxed furious within him; and he pondered then in heart and soul whether he should pursue further after the son of Zeus that thundereth aloud, or should rather take the lives of more Lycians. But not for great-hearted Odysseus was it ordained675 to slay with the sharp bronze the valiant son of Zeus; wherefore Athene turned his mind toward the host of the Lycians. Then slew he Coeranus and Alastor and Chromius and Alcandrus and Halius and Noëmon and Prytanis; and yet more of the Lycians would goodly Odysseus have slain,680 but that great Hector of the flashing helm was quick to see, and strode through the foremost fighters harnessed in flaming bronze, bringing terror to the Danaans.685 Then glad at his coming was Sarpedon, son of Zeus, and spake to him a piteous word: Son of Priam, suffer me not to lie here a prey to the Danaans, but bear me aid; thereafter, if need be, let life depart from me in your city, seeing it might not be that I should return home to mine own native land to make glad my dear wife and infant son. So spake he, yet Hector of the flashing helm spake no word in answer,690 but hastened by, eager with all speed to thrust back the Argives and take the lives of many. Then his goodly comrades made godlike Sarpedon to sit beneath a beauteous oak of Zeus that beareth the aegis,695 and forth from his thigh valiant Pelagon, that was his dear comrade, thrust the spear of ash; and his spirit failed him, and down over his eyes a mist was shed. Howbeit he revived, and the breath of the North Wind as it blew upon him made him to live again after in grievous wise he had breathed forth his spirit. But the Argives before the onset of Ares and Hector harnessed in bronze700 neither turned them to make for the black ships, nor yet could they hold out in fight, but they ever gave ground backward, when they heard that Ares was amid the Trojans. Who then was first to be slain and who last by Hector, Priam's son, and brazen Ares?705 Godlike Teuthras, and thereafter Orestes, driver of horses, Trechus, spearman of Aetolia, and Oenomaus, and Helenus, son of Oenops, and Oresbius with flashing taslet, he that dwelt in Hyle on the border of the Cephisian mere, having great care of his wealth;710 and hard by him dwelt other Boeotians having a land exceeding rich.
But when the goddess, white-armed Hera, was ware of them as they made havoc of the Argives in the fierce conflict, forthwith she spake winged words to Athene: Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, unwearied one,715 verily it was for naught that we pledged our word to Menelaus, that not until he had sacked well-walled Ilios should he get him home, if we are to suffer baneful Ares thus to rage. Nay, come, let us twain likewise bethink us of furious valour. So spake she, and the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, failed not to hearken.720 Then Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos, went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets. and Hebe quickly put to the car on either side the curved wheels of bronze, eight-spoked, about the iron axle-tree. Of these the felloe verily is of gold imperishable,725 and thereover are tires of bronze fitted, a marvel to behold; and the naves are of silver, revolving on this side and on that; and the body is plaited tight with gold and silver thongs, and two rims there are that run about it. From the body stood forth the pole of silver, and on the end730 thereof she bound the fair golden yoke, and cast thereon the fair golden breast-straps; and Hera led beneath the yoke the swift-footed horses, and was eager for strife and the war-cry. But Athene, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis, let fall upon her father's floor her soft robe,735 richly broidered, that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned, and put on her the tunic of Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, and arrayed her in armour for tearful war. About her shoulders she flung the tasselled aegis, fraught with terror, all about which Rout is set as a crown,740 and therein is Strife, therein Valour, and therein Onset, that maketh the blood run cold, and therein is the head of the dread monster, the Gorgon, dread and awful, a portent of Zeus that beareth the aegis. And upon her head she set the helmet with two horns and with bosses four, wrought of gold, and fitted with the men-at-arms of an hundred cities.745 Then she stepped upon the flaming car and grasped her spear, heavy and huge and strong, wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of men—of warriors with whom she is wroth, she, the daughter of the mighty sire. And Hera swiftly touched the horses with the lash, and self-bidden groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven which the Hours had in their keeping,750 to whom are entrusted great heaven and Olympus, whether to throw open the thick cloud or shut it to. There through the gate they drave their horses patient of the goad; and they found the son of Cronos as he sat apart from the other gods on the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus.755 Then the goddess, white-armed Hera, stayed the horses, and made question of Zeus most high, the son of Cronos, and spake to him: Father Zeus, hast thou no indignation with Ares for these violent deeds, that he hath destroyed so great and so goodly a host of the Achaeans recklessly and in no seemly wise to my sorrow;760 while at their ease Cypris and Apollo of the silver bow take their joy, having set on this madman that regardeth not any law? Father Zeus, wilt thou in any wise be wroth with me if I smite Ares in sorry fashion and drive him out of the battle?
Then in answer spake to her Zeus, the cloud-gatherer:765 Nay, come now, rouse against him Athene, driver of the spoil, who has ever been wont above others to bring sore pain upon him. So spake he, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken, but touched her horses with the the lash; and nothing loath the pair flew on between earth and starry heaven.770 As far as a man seeth with his eyes into the haze of distance as he sitteth on a place of outlook and gazeth over the wine-dark deep, even so far do the loud-neighing horses of the gods spring at a bound. But when they were come to the land of Troy and the two flowing rivers, where the Simoïs and Scamander join their streams,775 there the goddess, white-armed Hera, stayed her horses, and loosed them from the car, and shed thick mist about them; and Simoïs made ambrosia to spring up for them to graze upon. Then the goddesses twain went their way with steps like those of timorous doves, eager to bring aid to the Argive warriors.780 And when they were come where the most and the bravest stood close thronging about mighty Diomedes, tamer of horses, in semblance like ravening lions or wild boars, whose is no weakling strength, there the goddess, white-armed Hera,785 stood and shouted in the likeness of great-hearted Stentor of the brazen voice, whose voice is as the voice of fifty other men: Fie, ye Argives, base things of shame fair in semblance only! So long as goodly Achilles was wont to fare into battle, never would the Trojans come forth even before the Dardanian gate;790 for of his mighty spear had they dread; but now far from the city they are fighting at the hollow ships.
So saying she roused the strength and spirit of every man. And to the side of Tydeus' son sprang the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene. She found that prince beside his horses and car,795 cooling the wound that Pandarus had dealt him with his arrow. For the sweat vexed him beneath the broad baldric of his round shield; therewith was he vexed and his arm grew weary, so he was lifting up the baldric and wiping away the dark blood. Then the goddess laid hold of the yoke of his horses, and said:800 Verily little like himself was the son that Tydeus begat. Tydeus was small in stature, but a warrior. Even when I would not suffer him to fight or make a show of prowess, what time he came, and no Achaean with him, on an embassage to Thebes into the midst of the many Cadmeians—805I bade him feast in their halls in peace—yet he having his valiant soul as of old challenged the youths of the Cadmeians and vanquished them in everything full easily; so ' present a helper was I to him. But as for thee, I verily stand by thy side and guard thee,810 and of a ready heart I bid thee fight with the Trojans, yet either hath weariness born of thy many onsets entered into thy limbs, or haply spiritless terror possesseth thee. Then art thou no offspring of Tydeus, the wise-hearted son of Oeneus. Then in answer to her spake mighty Diomedes:815 I know thee, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis; therefore with a ready heart will I tell thee my thought and hide it not. In no wise doth spiritless terror possess me nor any slackness, but I am still mindful of thy behest which thou didst lay upon me. Thou wouldest not suffer me to fight face to face with the other blessed gods,820 but if Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus should enter the battle, her thou badest me smite with the sharp bronze. Therefore it is that I now give ground myself and have given command to all the rest of the Argives to be gathered here likewise; for I discern Ares lording it over the battle-field.825 And the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, answered him, saying: Son of Tydeus, Diomedes, dear to my heart, fear thou not Ares for that, neither any other of the immortals; so present a helper am I to thee. Nay, come, at Ares first drive thou thy single-hooved horses,830 and smite him in close fight, neither have thou awe of furious Ares that raveth here a full-wrought bane, a renegade, that but now spake with me and Hera, and made as though he would fight against the Trojans but give aid to the Argives; yet now he consorteth with the Trojans and hath forgotten these.
835 So saying, with her hand she drew back Sthenelus, and thrust him from the car to earth, and he speedily leapt down; and she stepped upon the car beside goodly Diomedes, a goddess eager for battle. Loudly did the oaken axle creak beneath its burden, for it bare a dread goddess and a peerless warrior.840 Then Pallas Athene grasped the lash and the reins, and against Ares first she speedily drave the single-hooved horses. He was stripping of his armour huge Periphas that was far the best of the Aetolians, the glorious son of Ochesius. Him was blood-stained Ares stripping; but Athene845 put on the cap of Hades, to the end that mighty Ares should not see her. Now when Ares, the bane of mortals, was ware of goodly Diomedes, he let be huge Periphas to lie where he was, even where at the first he had slain him and taken away his life but made straight for Diomedes, tamer of horses.850 And when they were now come near as they advanced one against the other, Ares first let drive over the yoke and the reins of the horses with his spear of bronze, eager to take away the other's life; but the spear the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, caught in her hand and thrust above the car to fly its way in vain.855 Next Diomedes, good at the war-cry, drave at Ares with his spear of bronze, and Pallas Athene sped it mightily against his nethermost belly, where he was girded with his taslets. There did he thrust and smite him, rending the fair flesh, and forth he drew the spear again. Then brazen Ares bellowed860 loud as nine thousand warriors or ten thousand cry in battle, when they join in the strife of the War-god; and thereat trembling came upon Achaeans alike and Trojans, and fear gat hold of them; so mightily bellowed Ares insatiate of war.
Even as a black darkness appeareth from the clouds865 when after heat a blustering wind ariseth, even in such wise unto Diomedes, son of Tydeus, did brazen Ares appear, as he fared amid the clouds unto broad heaven. Speedily he came to the abode of the gods, to steep Olympus, and sate him down by the side of Zeus, son of Cronos, grieved at heart, and shewed the immortal blood flowing from the wound,870 and with wailing spake to him winged words: Father Zeus, hast thou no indignation to behold these violent deeds? Ever do we gods continually suffer most cruelly by one another's devices, whenas we show favour to men.875 With thee are we all at strife, for thou art father to that mad and baneful maid, whose mind is ever set on deeds of lawlessness. For all the other gods that are in Olympus are obedient unto thee, and subject to thee, each one of us; but to her thou payest no heed whether in word or in deed,880 but rather settest her on, for that this pestilent maiden is thine own child. Now hath she set on the son of Tydeus, Diomedes high of heart, to vent his rage upon immortal gods. Cypris first he wounded with a thrust in close fight upon the hand at the wrist, and thereafter rushed upon mine own self as he had been a god.885 Howbeit my swift feet bare me away; otherwise had I long suffered woes there amid the gruesome heaps of the dead, or else had lived strengthless by reason of the smitings of the spear. Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows spake to him Zeus, the cloud-gatherer: Sit thou not in any wise by me and whine, thou renegade.890 Most hateful to me art thou of all gods that hold Olympus, for ever is strife dear to thee and wars and fightings. Thou hast the unbearable, unyielding spirit of thy mother, even of Hera; her can I scarce control by my words. Wherefore it is by her promptings, meseems, that thou sufferest thus.895 Howbeit I will no longer endure that thou shouldest be in pain, for thou art mine offspring, and it was to me that thy mother bare thee; but wert thou born of any other god, thus pestilent as thou art, then long ere this hadst thou been lower than the sons of heaven.
He spake, and bade Paeëon heal his hurt;900 and Paeëon spread thereon simples that slay pain, and healed him; for verily he was in no wise of mortal mould. Even as the juice of the fig speedily maketh to grow thick the white milk that is liquid, but is quickly curdled as a man stirreth it, even so swiftly healed he furious Ares.905 And Hebe bathed him, and clad him in beautiful raiment, and he sate him down by the side of Zeus, son of Cronos, exulting in his glory. Then back to the palace of great Zeus fared Argive Hera and Alalcomenean Athene, when they had made Ares, the bane of mortals, to cease from his man-slaying.