Iliad Book V: The Prowess of Diomed

Lines 1–165

Diomed's Rampage

Minerva fires Diomed with valour; Athena draws Mars from the field, and the Achaean captains cut down warrior after warrior as Diomed leads the slaughter.

1ἔνθʼ αὖ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ Παλλὰς ἈθήνηThen Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Diomed,

2δῶκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ἵνʼ ἔκδηλος μετὰ πᾶσιν son of Tydeus, that he might excel all the other Argives,

3Ἀργείοισι γένοιτο ἰδὲ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο· and cover himself with glory.

4δαῖέ οἱ ἐκ κόρυθός τε καὶ ἀσπίδος ἀκάματον πῦρ

5ἀστέρʼ ὀπωρινῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ὅς τε μάλιστα She made a stream of fire flare from his shield and helmet like the star that shines most brilliantly in summer after its bath in the waters of Oceanus—

6λαμπρὸν παμφαίνῃσι λελουμένος ὠκεανοῖο·

7τοῖόν οἱ πῦρ δαῖεν ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,even such a fire did she kindle upon his head and shoulders as she bade him speed into the thickest hurly-burly of the fight.

8ὦρσε δέ μιν κατὰ μέσσον ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο.

9ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δάρης ἀφνειὸς ἀμύμωνNow there was a certain rich and honourable man among the Trojans,

10ἱρεὺς Ἡφαίστοιο· δύω δέ οἱ υἱέες ἤστην priest of Vulcan,

11Φηγεὺς Ἰδαῖός τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης. and his name was Dares. He had two sons, Phegeus and Idaeus,

12τώ οἱ ἀποκρινθέντε ἐναντίω ὁρμηθήτην· both of them skilled in all the arts of war.

13τὼ μὲν ἀφʼ ἵπποιιν, ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὄρνυτο πεζός. These two came forward from the main body of Trojans,

14οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες and set upon Diomed, he being on foot,

15Φηγεύς ῥα πρότερος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος· while they fought from their chariot. When they were close up to one another,

16Τυδεΐδεω δʼ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκὴ Phegeus took aim first,

17ἔγχεος, οὐδʼ ἔβαλʼ αὐτόν· ὃ δʼ ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ but his spear went over Diomed’s left shoulder without hitting him.

18Τυδεΐδης· τοῦ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός, Diomed then threw, and his spear sped not in vain,

19ἀλλʼ ἔβαλε στῆθος μεταμάζιον, ὦσε δʼ ἀφʼ ἵππων. for it hit Phegeus on the breast near the nipple, and he fell from his chariot.

20Ἰδαῖος δʼ ἀπόρουσε λιπὼν περικαλλέα δίφρον, Idaeus did not dare to bestride his brother’s body,

21οὐδʼ ἔτλη περιβῆναι ἀδελφειοῦ κταμένοιο· but sprang from the chariot and took to flight,

22οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ κεν αὐτὸς ὑπέκφυγε κῆρα μέλαιναν, or he would have shared his brother’s fate;

23ἀλλʼ Ἥφαιστος ἔρυτο, σάωσε δὲ νυκτὶ καλύψας, whereon Vulcan saved him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness,

24ὡς δή οἱ μὴ πάγχυ γέρων ἀκαχήμενος εἴη. that his old father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief;

25ἵππους δʼ ἐξελάσας μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς but the son of Tydeus drove off with the horses,

26δῶκεν ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας. and bade his followers take them to the ships.

27Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον υἷε Δάρητος The Trojans were scared when they saw the two sons of Dares,

28τὸν μὲν ἀλευάμενον, τὸν δὲ κτάμενον παρʼ ὄχεσφι,

29πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his chariot. Minerva, therefore,

30χειρὸς ἑλοῦσʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα θοῦρον Ἄρηα· took Mars by the hand and said, “Mars, Mars,

31Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα bane of men, blood-stained stormer of cities,

32οὐκ ἂν δὴ Τρῶας μὲν ἐάσαιμεν καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς may we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out,

33μάρνασθʼ, ὁπποτέροισι πατὴρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀρέξῃ, and see to which of the two Jove will vouchsafe the victory?

34νῶϊ δὲ χαζώμεσθα, Διὸς δʼ ἀλεώμεθα μῆνιν; Let us go away, and thus avoid his anger.”

35ὣς εἰποῦσα μάχης ἐξήγαγε θοῦρον Ἄρηα·So saying, she drew Mars out of the battle,

36τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπʼ ἠϊόεντι Σκαμάνδρῳ, and set him down upon the steep banks of the Scamander. Upon this the Danaans drove the Trojans back,

37Τρῶας δʼ ἔκλιναν Δαναοί· ἕλε δʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστος and each one of their chieftains killed his man.

38ἡγεμόνων· πρῶτος δὲ ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων First King Agamemnon flung mighty Odius, captain of the Halizoni,

39ἀρχὸν Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίον μέγαν ἔκβαλε δίφρου· from his chariot. The spear of Agamemnon caught him on the broad of his back,

40πρώτῳ γὰρ στρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν just as he was turning in flight;

41ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε, it struck him between the shoulders and went right through his chest,

42δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

43Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Φαῖστον ἐνήρατο Μῄονος υἱὸνThen Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian,

44Βώρου, ὃς ἐκ Τάρνης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει. who had come from Varne.

45τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right shoulder as he was mounting his chariot,

46νύξʼ ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον·

47ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, στυγερὸς δʼ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλε. and the darkness of death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car.

48τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἰδομενῆος ἐσύλευον θεράποντες·The squires of Idomeneus spoiled him of his armour,

49υἱὸν δὲ Στροφίοιο Σκαμάνδριον αἵμονα θήρης while Menelaus, son of Atreus,

50Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἕλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι killed Scamandrius the son of Strophius,

51ἐσθλὸν θηρητῆρα· δίδαξε γὰρ Ἄρτεμις αὐτὴ a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase.

52βάλλειν ἄγρια πάντα, τά τε τρέφει οὔρεσιν ὕλη· Diana herself had taught him how to kill every kind of wild creature that is bred in mountain forests,

53ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ τότε γε χραῖσμʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,

54οὐδὲ ἑκηβολίαι ᾗσιν τὸ πρίν γε κέκαστο· but neither she nor his famed skill in archery could now save him,

55ἀλλά μιν Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος for the spear of Menelaus struck him in the back as he was flying;

56πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρὶ it struck him between the shoulders and went right through his chest,

57ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν,

58ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. so that he fell headlong and his armour rang rattling round him.

59Μηριόνης δὲ Φέρεκλον ἐνήρατο, τέκτονος υἱὸνMeriones then killed Phereclus the son of Tecton,

60Ἁρμονίδεω, ὃς χερσὶν ἐπίστατο δαίδαλα πάντα who was the son of Hermon, a man whose hand was skilled in all manner of cunning workmanship,

61τεύχειν· ἔξοχα γάρ μιν ἐφίλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη· for Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him.

62ὃς καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τεκτήνατο νῆας ἐΐσας He it was that made the ships for Alexandrus,

63ἀρχεκάκους, αἳ πᾶσι κακὸν Τρώεσσι γένοντο which were the beginning of all mischief,

64οἷ τʼ αὐτῷ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι θεῶν ἐκ θέσφατα ᾔδη. and brought evil alike both on the Trojans and on Alexandrus himself;

65τὸν μὲν Μηριόνης ὅτε δὴ κατέμαρπτε διώκων for he heeded not the decrees of heaven. Meriones overtook him as he was flying,

66βεβλήκει γλουτὸν κατὰ δεξιόν· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ and struck him on the right buttock.

67ἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπʼ ὀστέον ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή· The point of the spear went through the bone into the bladder,

68γνὺξ δʼ ἔριπʼ οἰμώξας, θάνατος δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε. and death came upon him as he cried aloud and fell forward on his knees.

69Πήδαιον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε Μέγης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸνMeges, moreover, slew Pedaeus, son of Antenor, who,

70ὅς ῥα νόθος μὲν ἔην, πύκα δʼ ἔτρεφε δῖα Θεανὼ though he was a bastard,

71ἶσα φίλοισι τέκεσσι χαριζομένη πόσεϊ ᾧ. had been brought up by Theano as one of her own children,

72τὸν μὲν Φυλεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν for the love she bore her husband.

73βεβλήκει κεφαλῆς κατὰ ἰνίον ὀξέϊ δουρί· The son of Phyleus got close up to him and drove a spear into the nape of his neck:

74ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀνʼ ὀδόντας ὑπὸ γλῶσσαν τάμε χαλκός· it went under his tongue all among his teeth,

75ἤριπε δʼ ἐν κονίῃ, ψυχρὸν δʼ ἕλε χαλκὸν ὀδοῦσιν. so he bit the cold bronze, and fell dead in the dust.

76Εὐρύπυλος δʼ Εὐαιμονίδης Ὑψήνορα δῖονAnd Eurypylus, son of Euaemon, killed Hypsenor,

77υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Δολοπίονος, ὅς ῥα Σκαμάνδρου the son of noble Dolopion,

78ἀρητὴρ ἐτέτυκτο, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ, who had been made priest of the river Scamander,

79τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Εὐρύπυλος, Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός, and was honoured among the people as though he were a god.

80πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μεταδρομάδην ἔλασʼ ὦμον Eurypylus gave him chase as he was flying before him,

81φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔξεσε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν· smote him with his sword upon the arm,

82αἱματόεσσα δὲ χεὶρ πεδίῳ πέσε· τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὄσσε and lopped his strong hand from off it. The bloody hand fell to the ground,

83ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή. and the shades of death,

84ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην· with fate that no man can withstand, came over his eyes.

85Τυδεΐδην δʼ οὐκ ἂν γνοίης ποτέροισι μετείηThus furiously did the battle rage between them.

86ἠὲ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ὁμιλέοι ἦ μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖς. As for the son of Tydeus, you could not say whether he was more among the Achaeans or the Trojans.

87θῦνε γὰρ ἂμ πεδίον ποταμῷ πλήθοντι ἐοικὼς

88χειμάρρῳ, ὅς τʼ ὦκα ῥέων ἐκέδασσε γεφύρας· He rushed across the plain like a winter torrent that has burst its barrier in full flood;

89τὸν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ τε γέφυραι ἐεργμέναι ἰσχανόωσιν, no dykes, no walls of fruitful vineyards can embank it when it is swollen with rain from heaven,

90οὔτʼ ἄρα ἕρκεα ἴσχει ἀλωάων ἐριθηλέων

91ἐλθόντʼ ἐξαπίνης ὅτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ Διὸς ὄμβρος· but in a moment it comes tearing onward,

92πολλὰ δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἔργα κατήριπε κάλʼ αἰζηῶν· and lays many a field waste that many a strong man’s hand has reclaimed—

93ὣς ὑπὸ Τυδεΐδῃ πυκιναὶ κλονέοντο φάλαγγεςeven so were the dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus,

94Τρώων, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν μίμνον πολέες περ ἐόντες. and many though they were, they dared not abide his onslaught.

95τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

96θύνοντʼ ἂμ πεδίον πρὸ ἕθεν κλονέοντα φάλαγγας,Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving the Trojans pell-mell before him,

97αἶψʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ ἐτιταίνετο καμπύλα τόξα,

98καὶ βάλʼ ἐπαΐσσοντα τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον he aimed an arrow and hit the front part of his cuirass near the shoulder:

99θώρηκος γύαλον· διὰ δʼ ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός, the arrow went right through the metal and pierced the flesh,

100ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε, παλάσσετο δʼ αἵματι θώρηξ. so that the cuirass was covered with blood.

101τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός· On this the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph,

102ὄρνυσθε Τρῶες μεγάθυμοι κέντορες ἵππων· “Knights Trojans, come on;

103βέβληται γὰρ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν, οὐδέ ἕ φημι the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded,

104δήθʼ ἀνσχήσεσθαι κρατερὸν βέλος, εἰ ἐτεόν με and he will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was indeed with me when I sped from Lycia hither.

105ὦρσεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς ἀπορνύμενον Λυκίηθεν.”

106ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τὸν δʼ οὐ βέλος ὠκὺ δάμασσεν,Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Diomed,

107ἀλλʼ ἀναχωρήσας πρόσθʼ ἵπποιιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν who withdrew and made for the chariot and horses of Sthenelus,

108ἔστη, καὶ Σθένελον προσέφη Καπανήϊον υἱόν· the son of Capaneus.

109ὄρσο πέπον Καπανηϊάδη, καταβήσεο δίφρου, “Dear son of Capaneus,” said he, “come down from your chariot,

110ὄφρά μοι ἐξ ὤμοιο ἐρύσσῃς πικρὸν ὀϊστόν. and draw the arrow out of my shoulder.

111ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, Σθένελος δὲ καθʼ ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,” Sthenelus sprang from his chariot,

112πὰρ δὲ στὰς βέλος ὠκὺ διαμπερὲς ἐξέρυσʼ ὤμου· and drew the arrow from the wound,

113αἷμα δʼ ἀνηκόντιζε διὰ στρεπτοῖο χιτῶνος. whereon the blood came spouting out through the hole that had been made in his shirt.

114δὴ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης· Then Diomed prayed, saying, “Hear me,

115κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable,

116εἴ ποτέ μοι καὶ πατρὶ φίλα φρονέουσα παρέστης if ever you loved my father well and stood by him in the thick of a fight,

117δηΐῳ ἐν πολέμῳ, νῦν αὖτʼ ἐμὲ φῖλαι Ἀθήνη· do the like now by me;

118δὸς δέ τέ μʼ ἄνδρα ἑλεῖν καὶ ἐς ὁρμὴν ἔγχεος ἐλθεῖν grant me to come within a spear’s throw of that man and kill him.

119ὅς μʼ ἔβαλε φθάμενος καὶ ἐπεύχεται, οὐδέ μέ φησι He has been too quick for me and has wounded me;

120δηρὸν ἔτʼ ὄψεσθαι λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο. and now he is boasting that I shall not see the light of the sun much longer.”

121ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,Thus he prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard him;

122γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν· she made his limbs supple and quickened his hands and his feet.

123ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· Then she went up close to him and said,

124θαρσῶν νῦν Διόμηδες ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι· “Fear not, Diomed,

125ἐν γάρ τοι στήθεσσι μένος πατρώϊον ἧκα to do battle with the Trojans,

126ἄτρομον, οἷον ἔχεσκε σακέσπαλος ἱππότα Τυδεύς· for I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus.

127ἀχλὺν δʼ αὖ τοι ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν ἕλον ἣ πρὶν ἐπῆεν, Moreover,

128ὄφρʼ εὖ γιγνώσκῃς ἠμὲν θεὸν ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρα. I have withdrawn the veil from your eyes, that you know gods and men apart.

129τὼ νῦν αἴ κε θεὸς πειρώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἵκηται If, then,

130μή τι σύ γʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἀντικρὺ μάχεσθαι any other god comes here and offers you battle, do not fight him;

131τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἀτὰρ εἴ κε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη but should Jove’s daughter Venus come,

132ἔλθῃσʼ ἐς πόλεμον, τήν γʼ οὐτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ. strike her with your spear and wound her.”

133ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,When she had said this Minerva went away,

134Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἐξαῦτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη and the son of Tydeus again took his place among the foremost fighters,

135καὶ πρίν περ θυμῷ μεμαὼς Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι· three times more fierce even than he had been before.

136δὴ τότε μιν τρὶς τόσσον ἕλεν μένος ὥς τε λέοντα He was like a lion that some mountain shepherd has wounded,

137ὅν ῥά τε ποιμὴν ἀγρῷ ἐπʼ εἰροπόκοις ὀΐεσσι but not killed,

138χραύσῃ μέν τʼ αὐλῆς ὑπεράλμενον οὐδὲ δαμάσσῃ· as he is springing over the wall of a sheep-yard to attack the sheep.

139τοῦ μέν τε σθένος ὦρσεν, ἔπειτα δέ τʼ οὐ προσαμύνει, The shepherd has roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his flock,

140ἀλλὰ κατὰ σταθμοὺς δύεται, τὰ δʼ ἐρῆμα φοβεῖται· so he takes shelter under cover of the buildings, while the sheep,

141αἳ μέν τʼ ἀγχιστῖναι ἐπʼ ἀλλήλῃσι κέχυνται, panic-stricken on being deserted, are smothered in heaps one on top of the other,

142αὐτὰρ ὃ ἐμμεμαὼς βαθέης ἐξάλλεται αὐλῆς· and the angry lion leaps out over the sheep-yard wall.

143ὣς μεμαὼς Τρώεσσι μίγη κρατερὸς Διομήδης. Even thus did Diomed go furiously about among the Trojans.

144ἔνθʼ ἕλεν Ἀστύνοον καὶ Ὑπείρονα ποιμένα λαῶν,He killed Astynous, and Hypeiron shepherd of his people,

145τὸν μὲν ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρί, the one with a thrust of his spear,

146τὸν δʼ ἕτερον ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ κληῗδα παρʼ ὦμον which struck him above the nipple, the other with a sword-cut on the collar-bone,

147πλῆξʼ, ἀπὸ δʼ αὐχένος ὦμον ἐέργαθεν ἠδʼ ἀπὸ νώτου. that severed his shoulder from his neck and back.

148τοὺς μὲν ἔασʼ, ὃ δʼ Ἄβαντα μετῴχετο καὶ Πολύειδον He let both of them lie, and went in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus,

149υἱέας Εὐρυδάμαντος ὀνειροπόλοιο γέροντος· sons of the old reader of dreams Eurydamas:

150τοῖς οὐκ ἐρχομένοις ὃ γέρων ἐκρίνατʼ ὀνείρους, they never came back for him to read them any more dreams,

151ἀλλά σφεας κρατερὸς Διομήδης ἐξενάριξε· for mighty Diomed made an end of them.

152βῆ δὲ μετὰ Ξάνθόν τε Θόωνά τε Φαίνοπος υἷε He then gave chase to Xanthus and Thoon, the two sons of Phaenops,

153ἄμφω τηλυγέτω· ὃ δὲ τείρετο γήραϊ λυγρῷ, both of them very dear to him,

154υἱὸν δʼ οὐ τέκετʼ ἄλλον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσι λιπέσθαι. for he was now worn out with age, and begat no more sons to inherit his possessions.

155ἔνθʼ ὅ γε τοὺς ἐνάριζε, φίλον δʼ ἐξαίνυτο θυμὸν

156ἀμφοτέρω, πατέρι δὲ γόον καὶ κήδεα λυγρὰ But Diomed took both their lives and left their father sorrowing bitterly,

157λεῖπʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ ζώοντε μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντε for he nevermore saw them come home from battle alive,

158δέξατο· χηρωσταὶ δὲ διὰ κτῆσιν δατέοντο. and his kinsmen divided his wealth among themselves.

159ἔνθʼ υἷας Πριάμοιο δύω λάβε ΔαρδανίδαοThen he came upon two sons of Priam, Echemmon and Chromius,

160εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας Ἐχέμμονά τε Χρομίον τε. as they were both in one chariot.

161ὡς δὲ λέων ἐν βουσὶ θορὼν ἐξ αὐχένα ἄξῃ He sprang upon them as a lion fastens on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is feeding in a coppice.

162πόρτιος ἠὲ βοὸς ξύλοχον κάτα βοσκομενάων,

163ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐξ ἵππων Τυδέος υἱὸς For all their vain struggles he flung them both from their chariot and stripped the armour from their bodies.

164βῆσε κακῶς ἀέκοντας, ἔπειτα δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα·

165ἵππους δʼ οἷς ἑτάροισι δίδου μετὰ νῆας ἐλαύνειν. Then he gave their horses to his comrades to take them back to the ships.

Lines 166–296

Pandarus Wounds Diomed

Pandarus wounds Diomed with an arrow; Minerva heals him and grants him the power to know gods from men, and Diomed kills Pandarus while Aeneas moves to defend the body.

166τὸν δʼ ἴδεν Αἰνείας ἀλαπάζοντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks,

167βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων he went through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find Pandarus.

168Πάνδαρον ἀντίθεον διζήμενος εἴ που ἐφεύροι·

169εὗρε Λυκάονος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε, When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said, “Pandarus,

170στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῖο ἔπος τέ μιν ἀντίον ηὔδα· where is now your bow, your winged arrows,

171Πάνδαρε ποῦ τοι τόξον ἰδὲ πτερόεντες ὀϊστοὶ and your renown as an archer,

172καὶ κλέος; ᾧ οὔ τίς τοι ἐρίζεται ἐνθάδε γʼ ἀνήρ, in respect of which no man here can rival you nor is there any in Lycia that can beat you?

173οὐδέ τις ἐν Λυκίῃ σέο γʼ εὔχεται εἶναι ἀμείνων.

174ἀλλʼ ἄγε τῷδʼ ἔφες ἀνδρὶ βέλος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν Lift then your hands to Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so masterfully about,

175ὅς τις ὅδε κρατέει καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε and has done such deadly work among the Trojans.

176Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν· He has killed many a brave man—

177εἰ μή τις θεός ἐστι κοτεσσάμενος Τρώεσσινunless indeed he is some god who is angry with the Trojans about their sacrifices,

178ἱρῶν μηνίσας· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ ἔπι μῆνις. and has set his hand against them in his displeasure.”

179τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·And the son of Lycaon answered, “Aeneas,

180Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων I take him for none other than the son of Tydeus.

181Τυδεΐδῃ μιν ἔγωγε δαΐφρονι πάντα ἐΐσκω, I know him by his shield, the visor of his helmet,

182ἀσπίδι γιγνώσκων αὐλώπιδί τε τρυφαλείῃ, and by his horses. It is possible that he may be a god,

183ἵππους τʼ εἰσορόων· σάφα δʼ οὐκ οἶδʼ εἰ θεός ἐστιν. but if he is the man I say he is,

184εἰ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἀνὴρ ὅν φημι δαΐφρων Τυδέος υἱὸς he is not making all this havoc without heaven’s help,

185οὐχ ὅ γʼ ἄνευθε θεοῦ τάδε μαίνεται, ἀλλά τις ἄγχι but has some god by his side who is shrouded in a cloud of darkness,

186ἕστηκʼ ἀθανάτων νεφέλῃ εἰλυμένος ὤμους, and who turned my arrow aside when it had hit him.

187ὃς τούτου βέλος ὠκὺ κιχήμενον ἔτραπεν ἄλλῃ. I have taken aim at him already and hit him on the right shoulder;

188ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐφῆκα βέλος, καί μιν βάλον ὦμον my arrow went through the breast-piece of his cuirass;

189δεξιὸν ἀντικρὺ διὰ θώρηκος γυάλοιο·

190καί μιν ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην Ἀϊδωνῆϊ προϊάψειν, and I made sure I should send him hurrying to the world below,

191ἔμπης δʼ οὐκ ἐδάμασσα· θεός νύ τίς ἐστι κοτήεις. but it seems that I have not killed him. There must be a god who is angry with me.

192ἵπποι δʼ οὐ παρέασι καὶ ἅρματα τῶν κʼ ἐπιβαίην· Moreover I have neither horse nor chariot.

193ἀλλά που ἐν μεγάροισι Λυκάονος ἕνδεκα δίφροι In my father’s stables there are eleven excellent chariots,

194καλοὶ πρωτοπαγεῖς νεοτευχέες· ἀμφὶ δὲ πέπλοι fresh from the builder, quite new,

195πέπτανται· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἑκάστῳ δίζυγες ἵπποι with cloths spread over them; and by each of them there stand a pair of horses,

196ἑστᾶσι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύρας. champing barley and rye;

197ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλὰ γέρων αἰχμητὰ Λυκάων my old father Lycaon urged me again and again when I was at home and on the point of starting,

198ἐρχομένῳ ἐπέτελλε δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσιν·

199ἵπποισίν μʼ ἐκέλευε καὶ ἅρμασιν ἐμβεβαῶτα to take chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in battle,

200ἀρχεύειν Τρώεσσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας· but I would not listen to him;

201ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην· ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν· it would have been much better if I had done so,

202ἵππων φειδόμενος, μή μοι δευοίατο φορβῆς but I was thinking about the horses,

203ἀνδρῶν εἰλομένων εἰωθότες ἔδμεναι ἄδην. which had been used to eat their fill,

204ὣς λίπον, αὐτὰρ πεζὸς ἐς Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθα and I was afraid that in such a great gathering of men they might be ill-fed,

205τόξοισιν πίσυνος· τὰ δέ μʼ οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ὀνήσειν. so I left them at home and came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and arrows.

206ἤδη γὰρ δοιοῖσιν ἀριστήεσσιν ἐφῆκα These it seems,

207Τυδεΐδῃ τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδῃ, ἐκ δʼ ἀμφοτέροιιν are of no use, for I have already hit two chieftains,

208ἀτρεκὲς αἷμʼ ἔσσευα βαλών, ἤγειρα δὲ μᾶλλον. the sons of Atreus and of Tydeus,

209τώ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ ἀπὸ πασσάλου ἀγκύλα τόξα and though I drew blood surely enough,

210ἤματι τῷ ἑλόμην ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰς ἐρατεινὴν I have only made them still more furious.

211ἡγεόμην Τρώεσσι φέρων χάριν Ἕκτορι δίῳ. I did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band of Trojans to Ilius in Hector’s service,

212εἰ δέ κε νοστήσω καὶ ἐσόψομαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι

213πατρίδʼ ἐμὴν ἄλοχόν τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα, and if ever I get home again to set eyes on my native place,

214αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπʼ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φὼς my wife, and the greatness of my house,

215εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ τάδε τόξα φαεινῷ ἐν πυρὶ θείην

216χερσὶ διακλάσσας· ἀνεμώλια γάρ μοι ὀπηδεῖ. may some one cut my head off then and there if I do not break the bow and set it on a hot fire—

217τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Τρώων ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·such pranks as it plays me.”

218μὴ δʼ οὕτως ἀγόρευε· πάρος δʼ οὐκ ἔσσεται ἄλλως,Aeneas answered, “Say no more.

219πρίν γʼ ἐπὶ νὼ τῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν Things will not mend till we two go against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a trial of arms.

220ἀντιβίην ἐλθόντε σὺν ἔντεσι πειρηθῆναι.

221ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι Mount my chariot,

222οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο and note how cleverly the horses of Tros can speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or flight.

223κραιπνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι·

224τὼ καὶ νῶϊ πόλιν δὲ σαώσετον, εἴ περ ἂν αὖτε If Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they will carry us safely back to the city.

225Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ κῦδος ὀρέξῃ. Take hold,

226ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα then, of the whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight,

227δέξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι ὄφρα μάχωμαι·

228ἠὲ σὺ τόνδε δέδεξο, μελήσουσιν δʼ ἐμοὶ ἵπποι. or else do you wait this man’s onset while I look after the horses.”

229τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·“Aeneas,” replied the son of Lycaon,

230Αἰνεία σὺ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔχʼ ἡνία καὶ τεὼ ἵππω· “take the reins and drive;

231μᾶλλον ὑφʼ ἡνιόχῳ εἰωθότι καμπύλον ἅρμα if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go better for their own driver.

232οἴσετον, εἴ περ ἂν αὖτε φεβώμεθα Τυδέος υἱόν·

233μὴ τὼ μὲν δείσαντε ματήσετον, οὐδʼ ἐθέλητον If they miss the sound of your voice when they expect it they may be frightened,

234ἐκφερέμεν πολέμοιο τεὸν φθόγγον ποθέοντε,

235νῶϊ δʼ ἐπαΐξας μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς and refuse to take us out of the fight.

236αὐτώ τε κτείνῃ καὶ ἐλάσσῃ μώνυχας ἵππους. The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and take the horses.

237ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αὐτὸς ἔλαυνε τέʼ ἅρματα καὶ τεὼ ἵππω,

238τὸν δὲ δʼ ἐγὼν ἐπιόντα δεδέξομαι ὀξέϊ δουρί. Therefore drive them yourself and I will be ready for him with my spear.”

239ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντες ἐς ἅρματα ποικίλα βάντεςThey then mounted the chariot and drove full speed towards the son of Tydeus.

240ἐμμεμαῶτʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδῃ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.

241τοὺς δὲ ἴδε Σθένελος Καπανήϊος ἀγλαὸς υἱός, Sthenelus, son of Capaneus,

242αἶψα δὲ Τυδεΐδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· saw them coming and said to Diomed, “Diomed,

243Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ, son of Tydeus, man after my own heart,

244ἄνδρʼ ὁρόω κρατερὼ ἐπὶ σοὶ μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι I see two heroes speeding towards you,

245ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον ἔχοντας· ὃ μὲν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς both of them men of might the one a skilful archer,

246Πάνδαρος, υἱὸς δʼ αὖτε Λυκάονος εὔχεται εἶναι· Pandarus son of Lycaon, the other,

247Αἰνείας δʼ υἱὸς μὲν ἀμύμονος Ἀγχίσαο Aeneas, whose sire is Anchises,

248εὔχεται ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ οἵ ἐστʼ Ἀφροδίτη. while his mother is Venus.

249ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ χαζώμεθʼ ἐφʼ ἵππων, μηδέ μοι οὕτω Mount the chariot and let us retreat. Do not, I pray you,

250θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, μή πως φίλον ἦτορ ὀλέσσῃς. press so furiously forward, or you may get killed.

251τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·” Diomed looked angrily at him and answered:

252μή τι φόβον δʼ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ σὲ πεισέμεν οἴω. “Talk not of flight, for I shall not listen to you:

253οὐ γάρ μοι γενναῖον ἀλυσκάζοντι μάχεσθαι I am of a race that knows neither flight nor fear,

254οὐδὲ καταπτώσσειν· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν· and my limbs are as yet unwearied.

255ὀκνείω δʼ ἵππων ἐπιβαινέμεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὔτως I am in no mind to mount,

256ἀντίον εἶμʼ αὐτῶν· τρεῖν μʼ οὐκ ἐᾷ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη. but will go against them even as I am;

257τούτω δʼ οὐ πάλιν αὖτις ἀποίσετον ὠκέες ἵπποι Pallas Minerva bids me be afraid of no man,

258ἄμφω ἀφʼ ἡμείων, εἴ γʼ οὖν ἕτερός γε φύγῃσιν. and even though one of them escape,

259ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν· their steeds shall not take both back again. I say further,

260αἴ κέν μοι πολύβουλος Ἀθήνη κῦδος ὀρέξῃ and lay my saying to your heart—

261ἀμφοτέρω κτεῖναι, σὺ δὲ τούσδε μὲν ὠκέας ἵππουςif Minerva sees fit to vouchsafe me the glory of killing both,

262αὐτοῦ ἐρυκακέειν ἐξ ἄντυγος ἡνία τείνας, stay your horses here and make the reins fast to the rim of the chariot;

263Αἰνείαο δʼ ἐπαΐξαι μεμνημένος ἵππων,

264ἐκ δʼ ἐλάσαι Τρώων μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς. then be sure you spring Aeneas’ horses and drive them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks.

265τῆς γάρ τοι γενεῆς ἧς Τρωΐ περ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

266δῶχʼ υἷος ποινὴν Γανυμήδεος, οὕνεκʼ ἄριστοι They are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros in payment for his son Ganymede,

267ἵππων ὅσσοι ἔασιν ὑπʼ ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,

268τῆς γενεῆς ἔκλεψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγχίσης and are the finest that live and move under the sun.

269λάθρῃ Λαομέδοντος ὑποσχὼν θήλεας ἵππους· King Anchises stole the blood by putting his mares to them without Laomedon’s knowledge,

270τῶν οἱ ἓξ ἐγένοντο ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέθλη.

271τοὺς μὲν τέσσαρας αὐτὸς ἔχων ἀτίταλλʼ ἐπὶ φάτνῃ, and they bore him six foals. Four are still in his stables,

272τὼ δὲ δύʼ Αἰνείᾳ δῶκεν μήστωρε φόβοιο. but he gave the other two to Aeneas.

273εἰ τούτω κε λάβοιμεν, ἀροίμεθά κε κλέος ἐσθλόν. We shall win great glory if we can take them.”

274ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,Thus did they converse,

275τὼ δὲ τάχʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθον ἐλαύνοντʼ ὠκέας ἵππους. but the other two had now driven close up to them,

276τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός· and the son of Lycaon spoke first.

277καρτερόθυμε δαΐφρον ἀγαυοῦ Τυδέος υἱὲ “Great and mighty son,” said he,

278ἦ μάλα σʼ οὐ βέλος ὠκὺ δαμάσσατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός· “of noble Tydeus, my arrow failed to lay you low,

279νῦν αὖτʼ ἐγχείῃ πειρήσομαι αἴ κε τύχωμι. so I will now try with my spear.”

280ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχοςHe poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him.

281καὶ βάλε Τυδεΐδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα· τῆς δὲ διὰ πρὸ It struck the shield of the son of Tydeus;

282αἰχμὴ χαλκείη πταμένη θώρηκι πελάσθη· the bronze point pierced it and passed on till it reached the breastplate.

283τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός· Thereon the son of Lycaon shouted out and said,

284βέβληαι κενεῶνα διαμπερές, οὐδέ σʼ ὀΐω “You are hit clean through the belly;

285δηρὸν ἔτʼ ἀνσχήσεσθαι· ἐμοὶ δὲ μέγʼ εὖχος ἔδωκας. you will not stand out for long, and the glory of the fight is mine.”

286τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·But Diomed all undismayed made answer,

287ἤμβροτες οὐδʼ ἔτυχες· ἀτὰρ οὐ μὲν σφῶΐ γʼ ὀΐω “You have missed, not hit,

288πρίν γʼ ἀποπαύσεσθαι πρίν γʼ ἢ ἕτερόν γε πεσόντα and before you two see the end of this matter one or other of you shall glut tough-shielded Mars with his blood.

289αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα, ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.”

290ὣς φάμενος προέηκε· βέλος δʼ ἴθυνεν ἈθήνηWith this he hurled his spear,

291ῥῖνα παρʼ ὀφθαλμόν, λευκοὺς δʼ ἐπέρησεν ὀδόντας. and Minerva guided it on to Pandarus’s nose near the eye.

292τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν γλῶσσαν πρυμνὴν τάμε χαλκὸς ἀτειρής, It went crashing in among his white teeth; the bronze point cut through the root of his tongue,

293αἰχμὴ δʼ ἐξελύθη παρὰ νείατον ἀνθερεῶνα· coming out under his chin,

294ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ and his glistening armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

295αἰόλα παμφανόωντα, παρέτρεσσαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι The horses started aside for fear,

296ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε. and he was reft of life and strength.

Lines 297–431

Diomed Wounds Aphrodite and Ares

Diomed maims Aeneas with a boulder; Aphrodite carries her son from the fight and is wounded in the hand for it, fleeing to Olympus where Dione comforts her and Zeus gently rebukes her.

297Αἰνείας δʼ ἀπόρουσε σὺν ἀσπίδι δουρί τε μακρῷAeneas sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear,

298δείσας μή πώς οἱ ἐρυσαίατο νεκρὸν Ἀχαιοί. fearing lest the Achaeans should carry off the body.

299ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ βαῖνε λέων ὣς ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς, He bestrode it as a lion in the pride of strength,

300πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τʼ ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην, with shield and spear before him and a cry of battle on his lips resolute to kill the first that should dare face him.

301τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γʼ ἀντίος ἔλθοι

302σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ But the son of Tydeus caught up a mighty stone,

303Τυδεΐδης μέγα ἔργον ὃ οὐ δύο γʼ ἄνδρε φέροιεν, so huge and great that as men now are it would take two to lift it;

304οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος. nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease unaided,

305τῷ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατʼ ἰσχίον ἔνθά τε μηρὸς and with this he struck Aeneas on the groin where the hip turns in the joint that is called the “cup-bone.

306ἰσχίῳ ἐνστρέφεται, κοτύλην δέ τέ μιν καλέουσι·” The stone crushed this joint,

307θλάσσε δέ οἱ κοτύλην, πρὸς δʼ ἄμφω ῥῆξε τένοντε· and broke both the sinews, while its jagged edges tore away all the flesh.

308ὦσε δʼ ἀπὸ ῥινὸν τρηχὺς λίθος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως The hero fell on his knees,

309ἔστη γνὺξ ἐριπὼν καὶ ἐρείσατο χειρὶ παχείῃ and propped himself with his hand resting on the ground till the darkness of night fell upon his eyes.

310γαίης· ἀμφὶ δὲ ὄσσε κελαινὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψε. And now Aeneas,

311καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλοιτο ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Αἰνείας, king of men, would have perished then and there,

312εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη had not his mother, Jove’s daughter Venus,

313μήτηρ, ἥ μιν ὑπʼ Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε βουκολέοντι· who had conceived him by Anchises when he was herding cattle,

314ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ἐχεύατο πήχεε λευκώ, been quick to mark, and thrown her two white arms about the body of her dear son.

315πρόσθε δέ οἱ πέπλοιο φαεινοῦ πτύγμα κάλυψεν

316ἕρκος ἔμεν βελέων, μή τις Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων She protected him by covering him with a fold of her own fair garment,

317χαλκὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο. lest some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him.

318ἣ μὲν ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὑπεξέφερεν πολέμοιο·Thus, then, did she bear her dear son out of the fight.

319οὐδʼ υἱὸς Καπανῆος ἐλήθετο συνθεσιάων But the son of Capaneus was not unmindful of the orders that Diomed had given him.

320τάων ἃς ἐπέτελλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης,

321ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τοὺς μὲν ἑοὺς ἠρύκακε μώνυχας ἵππους He made his own horses fast, away from the hurly-burly,

322νόσφιν ἀπὸ φλοίσβου ἐξ ἄντυγος ἡνία τείνας, by binding the reins to the rim of the chariot.

323Αἰνείαο δʼ ἐπαΐξας καλλίτριχας ἵππους Then he sprang upon Aeneas’s horses and drove them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks.

324ἐξέλασε Τρώων μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

325δῶκε δὲ Δηϊπύλῳ ἑτάρῳ φίλῳ, ὃν περὶ πάσης When he had so done he gave them over to his chosen comrade Deipylus,

326τῖεν ὁμηλικίης ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη, whom he valued above all others as the one who was most like-minded with himself,

327νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως to take them on to the ships.

328ὧν ἵππων ἐπιβὰς ἔλαβʼ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα, He then remounted his own chariot, seized the reins,

329αἶψα δὲ Τυδεΐδην μέθεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους and drove with all speed in search of the son of Tydeus.

330ἐμμεμαώς· ὃ δὲ Κύπριν ἐπῴχετο νηλέϊ χαλκῷNow the son of Tydeus was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess,

331γιγνώσκων ὅ τʼ ἄναλκις ἔην θεός, οὐδὲ θεάων spear in hand,

332τάων αἵ τʼ ἀνδρῶν πόλεμον κάτα κοιρανέουσιν, for he knew her to be feeble and not one of those goddesses that can lord it among men in battle like Minerva or Enyo the waster of cities,

333οὔτʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίη οὔτε πτολίπορθος Ἐνυώ.

334ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκίχανε πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων, and when at last after a long chase he caught her up,

335ἔνθʼ ἐπορεξάμενος μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς he flew at her and thrust his spear into the flesh of her delicate hand.

336ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα μετάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

337ἀβληχρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ δόρυ χροὸς ἀντετόρησεν The point tore through the ambrosial robe which the Graces had woven for her,

338ἀμβροσίου διὰ πέπλου, ὅν οἱ Χάριτες κάμον αὐταί, and pierced the skin between her wrist and the palm of her hand,

339πρυμνὸν ὕπερ θέναρος· ῥέε δʼ ἄμβροτον αἷμα θεοῖο so that the immortal blood, or ichor,

340ἰχώρ, οἷός πέρ τε ῥέει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν· that flows in the veins of the blessed gods,

341οὐ γὰρ σῖτον ἔδουσʼ, οὐ πίνουσʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον, came pouring from the wound; for the gods do not eat bread nor drink wine,

342τοὔνεκʼ ἀναίμονές εἰσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι καλέονται. hence they have no blood such as ours,

343ἣ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ἀπὸ ἕο κάββαλεν υἱόν· and are immortal. Venus screamed aloud,

344καὶ τὸν μὲν μετὰ χερσὶν ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων and let her son fall, but Phoebus Apollo caught him in his arms,

345κυανέῃ νεφέλῃ, μή τις Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων and hid him in a cloud of darkness,

346χαλκὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο· lest some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him;

347τῇ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης· and Diomed shouted out as he left her,

348εἶκε Διὸς θύγατερ πολέμου καὶ δηϊοτῆτος· “Daughter of Jove, leave war and battle alone,

349ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι γυναῖκας ἀνάλκιδας ἠπεροπεύεις; can you not be contented with beguiling silly women?

350εἰ δὲ σύ γʼ ἐς πόλεμον πωλήσεαι, ἦ τέ σʼ ὀΐω

351ῥιγήσειν πόλεμόν γε καὶ εἴ χʼ ἑτέρωθι πύθηαι. If you meddle with fighting you will get what will make you shudder at the very name of war.”

352ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἣ δʼ ἀλύουσʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τείρετο δʼ αἰνῶς·The goddess went dazed and discomfited away, and Iris,

353τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἶρις ἑλοῦσα ποδήνεμος ἔξαγʼ ὁμίλου fleet as the wind, drew her from the throng,

354ἀχθομένην ὀδύνῃσι, μελαίνετο δὲ χρόα καλόν. in pain and with her fair skin all besmirched.

355εὗρεν ἔπειτα μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ θοῦρον Ἄρηα She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of the battle,

356ἥμενον· ἠέρι δʼ ἔγχος ἐκέκλιτο καὶ ταχέʼ ἵππω· with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud;

357ἣ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριποῦσα κασιγνήτοιο φίλοιο

358πολλὰ λισσομένη χρυσάμπυκας ᾔτεεν ἵππους· whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and implored him to let her have his horses.

359φίλε κασίγνητε κόμισαί τέ με δός τέ μοι ἵππους, “Dear brother,” she cried, “save me,

360ὄφρʼ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκωμαι ἵνʼ ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστί. and give me your horses to take me to Olympus where the gods dwell.

361λίην ἄχθομαι ἕλκος ὅ με βροτὸς οὔτασεν ἀνὴρ I am badly wounded by a mortal, the son of Tydeus,

362Τυδεΐδης, ὃς νῦν γε καὶ ἂν Διὶ πατρὶ μάχοιτο. who would now fight even with father Jove.”

363ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἄρης δῶκε χρυσάμπυκας ἵππους·Thus she spoke, and Mars gave her his gold-bedizened steeds.

364ἣ δʼ ἐς δίφρον ἔβαινεν ἀκηχεμένη φίλον ἦτορ, She mounted the chariot sick and sorry at heart,

365πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἶρις ἔβαινε καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσί, while Iris sat beside her and took the reins in her hand.

366μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην. She lashed her horses on and they flew forward nothing loth,

367αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο θεῶν ἕδος αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον· till in a trice they were at high Olympus,

368ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις where the gods have their dwelling. There she stayed them,

369λύσασʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δʼ ἀμβρόσιον βάλεν εἶδαρ· unloosed them from the chariot,

370ἣ δʼ ἐν γούνασι πῖπτε Διώνης δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη and gave them their ambrosial forage; but Venus flung herself on to the lap of her mother Dione,

371μητρὸς ἑῆς· ἣ δʼ ἀγκὰς ἐλάζετο θυγατέρα ἥν,

372χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἐκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε· who threw her arms about her and caressed her, saying,

373τίς νύ σε τοιάδʼ ἔρεξε φίλον τέκος Οὐρανιώνων “Which of the heavenly beings has been treating you in this way,

374μαψιδίως, ὡς εἴ τι κακὸν ῥέζουσαν ἐνωπῇ; as though you had been doing something wrong in the face of day?”

375τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη·And laughter-loving Venus answered, “Proud Diomed,

376οὖτά με Τυδέος υἱὸς ὑπέρθυμος Διομήδης, the son of Tydeus, wounded me because I was bearing my dear son Aeneas,

377οὕνεκʼ ἐγὼ φίλον υἱὸν ὑπεξέφερον πολέμοιο whom I love best of all mankind,

378Αἰνείαν, ὃς ἐμοὶ πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν. out of the fight.

379οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπις αἰνή, The war is no longer one between Trojans and Achaeans,

380ἀλλʼ ἤδη Δαναοί γε καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μάχονται. for the Danaans have now taken to fighting with the immortals.”

381τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Διώνη, δῖα θεάων·“Bear it, my child,” replied Dione,

382τέτλαθι τέκνον ἐμόν, καὶ ἀνάσχεο κηδομένη περ· “and make the best of it. We dwellers in Olympus have to put up with much at the hands of men,

383πολλοὶ γὰρ δὴ τλῆμεν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

384ἐξ ἀνδρῶν χαλέπʼ ἄλγεʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι τιθέντες. and we lay much suffering on one another. Mars had to suffer when Otus and Ephialtes,

385τλῆ μὲν Ἄρης ὅτε μιν Ὦτος κρατερός τʼ Ἐφιάλτης children of Aloeus, bound him in cruel bonds,

386παῖδες Ἀλωῆος, δῆσαν κρατερῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ· so that he lay thirteen months imprisoned in a vessel of bronze.

387χαλκέῳ δʼ ἐν κεράμῳ δέδετο τρισκαίδεκα μῆνας·

388καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλοιτο Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο, Mars would have then perished had not fair Eeriboea,

389εἰ μὴ μητρυιὴ περικαλλὴς Ἠερίβοια stepmother to the sons of Aloeus, told Mercury,

390Ἑρμέᾳ ἐξήγγειλεν· ὃ δʼ ἐξέκλεψεν Ἄρηα who stole him away when he was already well-nigh worn out by the severity of his bondage.

391ἤδη τειρόμενον, χαλεπὸς δέ ἑ δεσμὸς ἐδάμνα. Juno,

392τλῆ δʼ Ἥρη, ὅτε μιν κρατερὸς πάϊς Ἀμφιτρύωνος again,

393δεξιτερὸν κατὰ μαζὸν ὀϊστῷ τριγλώχινι suffered when the mighty son of Amphitryon wounded her on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow,

394βεβλήκει· τότε καί μιν ἀνήκεστον λάβεν ἄλγος. and nothing could assuage her pain.

395τλῆ δʼ Ἀΐδης ἐν τοῖσι πελώριος ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, So, also, did huge Hades, when this same man,

396εὖτέ μιν ωὐτὸς ἀνὴρ υἱὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο the son of aegis-bearing Jove,

397ἐν Πύλῳ ἐν νεκύεσσι βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν· hit him with an arrow even at the gates of hell, and hurt him badly.

398αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ πρὸς δῶμα Διὸς καὶ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον Thereon Hades went to the house of Jove on great Olympus,

399κῆρ ἀχέων ὀδύνῃσι πεπαρμένος· αὐτὰρ ὀϊστὸς angry and full of pain;

400ὤμῳ ἔνι στιβαρῷ ἠλήλατο, κῆδε δὲ θυμόν.

401τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Παιήων ὀδυνήφατα φάρμακα πάσσων and the arrow in his brawny shoulder caused him great anguish till Paeeon healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the wound,

402ἠκέσατʼ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι καταθνητός γε τέτυκτο. for Hades was not of mortal mould.

403σχέτλιος ὀβριμοεργὸς ὃς οὐκ ὄθετʼ αἴσυλα ῥέζων, Daring, headstrong,

404ὃς τόξοισιν ἔκηδε θεοὺς οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι. evildoer who recked not of his sin in shooting the gods that dwell in Olympus.

405σοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἀνῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· And now Minerva has egged this son of Tydeus on against yourself,

406νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ οἶδε κατὰ φρένα Τυδέος υἱὸς

407ὅττι μάλʼ οὐ δηναιὸς ὃς ἀθανάτοισι μάχηται,

408οὐδέ τί μιν παῖδες ποτὶ γούνασι παππάζουσιν fool that he is for not reflecting that no man who fights with gods will live long or hear his children prattling about his knees when he returns from battle.

409ἐλθόντʼ ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος. Let, then,

410τὼ νῦν Τυδεΐδης, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερός ἐστι, the son of Tydeus see that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger than you are.

411φραζέσθω μή τίς οἱ ἀμείνων σεῖο μάχηται,

412μὴ δὴν Αἰγιάλεια περίφρων Ἀδρηστίνη Then shall his brave wife Aegialeia,

413ἐξ ὕπνου γοόωσα φίλους οἰκῆας ἐγείρῃ daughter of Adrestus, rouse her whole house from sleep,

414κουρίδιον ποθέουσα πόσιν τὸν ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν wailing for the loss of her wedded lord,

415ἰφθίμη ἄλοχος Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο. Diomed the bravest of the Achaeans.”

416ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἀπʼ ἰχῶ χειρὸς ὀμόργνυ·So saying, she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her daughter with both hands,

417ἄλθετο χείρ, ὀδύναι δὲ κατηπιόωντο βαρεῖαι. whereon the pain left her,

418αἳ δʼ αὖτʼ εἰσορόωσαι Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη and her hand was healed. But Minerva and Juno, who were looking on,

419κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσι Δία Κρονίδην ἐρέθιζον. began to taunt Jove with their mocking talk,

420τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· and Minerva was first to speak. “Father Jove,” said she,

421Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά τί μοι κεχολώσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω; “do not be angry with me,

422ἦ μάλα δή τινα Κύπρις Ἀχαιϊάδων ἀνιεῖσα but I think the Cyprian must have been persuading some one of the Achaean women to go with the Trojans of whom she is so very fond,

423Τρωσὶν ἅμα σπέσθαι, τοὺς νῦν ἔκπαγλα φίλησε,

424τῶν τινα καρρέζουσα Ἀχαιϊάδων ἐϋπέπλων and while caressing one or other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the gold pin of the woman’s brooch.

425πρὸς χρυσῇ περόνῃ καταμύξατο χεῖρα ἀραιήν.”

426ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,The sire of gods and men smiled, and called golden Venus to his side.

427καί ῥα καλεσσάμενος προσέφη χρυσῆν Ἀφροδίτην· “My child,” said he,

428οὔ τοι τέκνον ἐμὸν δέδοται πολεμήϊα ἔργα, “it has not been given you to be a warrior. Attend, henceforth,

429ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἱμερόεντα μετέρχεο ἔργα γάμοιο, to your own delightful matrimonial duties,

430ταῦτα δʼ Ἄρηϊ θοῷ καὶ Ἀθήνῃ πάντα μελήσει. and leave all this fighting to Mars and to Minerva.”

431ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,Thus did they converse. But Diomed sprang upon Aeneas,

Lines 432–710

Sarpedon and Tlepolemus

Apollo shields Aeneas and warns Diomed off, Ares rallies the Trojans, Sarpedon rebukes Hector, and Sarpedon and Tlepolemus wound each other in single combat as the slaughter spreads on both sides.

432Αἰνείᾳ δʼ ἐπόρουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης, though he knew him to be in the very arms of Apollo.

433γιγνώσκων ὅ οἱ αὐτὸς ὑπείρεχε χεῖρας Ἀπόλλων· Not one whit did he fear the mighty god,

434ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ οὐδὲ θεὸν μέγαν ἅζετο, ἵετο δʼ αἰεὶ so set was he on killing Aeneas and stripping him of his armour.

435Αἰνείαν κτεῖναι καὶ ἀπὸ κλυτὰ τεύχεα δῦσαι. Thrice did he spring forward with might and main to slay him,

436τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων, and thrice did Apollo beat back his gleaming shield.

437τρὶς δέ οἱ ἐστυφέλιξε φαεινὴν ἀσπίδʼ Ἀπόλλων· When he was coming on for the fourth time,

438ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος, as though he were a god,

439δεινὰ δʼ ὁμοκλήσας προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων· Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said, “Take heed,

440φράζεο Τυδεΐδη καὶ χάζεο, μηδὲ θεοῖσιν son of Tydeus, and draw off;

441ἶσʼ ἔθελε φρονέειν, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποτε φῦλον ὁμοῖον think not to match yourself against gods,

442ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων τʼ ἀνθρώπων. for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals.”

443ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἀνεχάζετο τυτθὸν ὀπίσσωThe son of Tydeus then gave way for a little space,

444μῆνιν ἀλευάμενος ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος. to avoid the anger of the god,

445Αἰνείαν δʼ ἀπάτερθεν ὁμίλου θῆκεν Ἀπόλλων while Apollo took Aeneas out of the crowd and set him in sacred Pergamus,

446Περγάμῳ εἰν ἱερῇ, ὅθι οἱ νηός γε τέτυκτο. where his temple stood. There, within the mighty sanctuary,

447ἤτοι τὸν Λητώ τε καὶ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα Latona and Diana healed him and made him glorious to behold,

448ἐν μεγάλῳ ἀδύτῳ ἀκέοντό τε κύδαινόν τε·

449αὐτὰρ ὃ εἴδωλον τεῦξʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων while Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a wraith in the likeness of Aeneas,

450αὐτῷ τʼ Αἰνείᾳ ἴκελον καὶ τεύχεσι τοῖον, and armed as he was.

451ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ εἰδώλῳ Τρῶες καὶ δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶ Round this the Trojans and Achaeans hacked at the bucklers about one another’s breasts,

452δῄουν ἀλλήλων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι βοείας hewing each other’s round shields and light hide-covered targets.

453ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους λαισήϊά τε πτερόεντα.

454δὴ τότε θοῦρον Ἄρηα προσηύδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων· Then Phoebus Apollo said to Mars, “Mars, Mars, bane of men,

455Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα, blood-stained stormer of cities, can you not go to this man,

456οὐκ ἂν δὴ τόνδʼ ἄνδρα μάχης ἐρύσαιο μετελθὼν the son of Tydeus, who would now fight even with father Jove,

457Τυδεΐδην, ὃς νῦν γε καὶ ἂν Διὶ πατρὶ μάχοιτο; and draw him out of the battle?

458Κύπριδα μὲν πρῶτα σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ, He first went up to the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist,

459αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ αὐτῷ μοι ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος. and afterwards sprang upon me too, as though he were a god.”

460ὣς εἰπὼν αὐτὸς μὲν ἐφέζετο Περγάμῳ ἄκρῃ,He then took his seat on the top of Pergamus,

461Τρῳὰς δὲ στίχας οὖλος Ἄρης ὄτρυνε μετελθὼν while murderous Mars went about among the ranks of the Trojans,

462εἰδόμενος Ἀκάμαντι θοῷ ἡγήτορι Θρῃκῶν· cheering them on,

463υἱάσι δὲ Πριάμοιο διοτρεφέεσσι κέλευεν· in the likeness of fleet Acamas chief of the Thracians. “Sons of Priam,

464ὦ υἱεῖς Πριάμοιο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος” said he,

465ἐς τί ἔτι κτείνεσθαι ἐάσετε λαὸν Ἀχαιοῖς; “how long will you let your people be thus slaughtered by the Achaeans?

466ἦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἀμφὶ πύλῃς εὖ ποιητῇσι μάχωνται; Would you wait till they are at the walls of Troy?

467κεῖται ἀνὴρ ὃν ἶσον ἐτίομεν Ἕκτορι δίῳ Aeneas the son of Anchises has fallen, he whom we held in as high honour as Hector himself.

468Αἰνείας υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο· Help me, then,

469ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐκ φλοίσβοιο σαώσομεν ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον. to rescue our brave comrade from the stress of the fight.”

470ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.With these words he put heart and soul into them all.

471ἔνθʼ αὖ Σαρπηδὼν μάλα νείκεσεν Ἕκτορα δῖον· Then Sarpedon rebuked Hector very sternly.

472Ἕκτορ πῇ δή τοι μένος οἴχεται ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκες; “Hector,” said he, “where is your prowess now?

473φῆς που ἄτερ λαῶν πόλιν ἑξέμεν ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων

474οἶος σὺν γαμβροῖσι κασιγνήτοισί τε σοῖσι. You used to say that though you had neither people nor allies you could hold the town alone with your brothers and brothers-in-law.

475τῶν νῦν οὔ τινʼ ἐγὼ ἰδέειν δύναμʼ οὐδὲ νοῆσαι,

476ἀλλὰ καταπτώσσουσι κύνες ὣς ἀμφὶ λέοντα· I see not one of them here; they cower as hounds before a lion;

477ἡμεῖς δὲ μαχόμεσθʼ οἵ πέρ τʼ ἐπίκουροι ἔνειμεν. it is we, your allies,

478καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπίκουρος ἐὼν μάλα τηλόθεν ἥκω· who bear the brunt of the battle. I have come from afar,

479τηλοῦ γὰρ Λυκίη Ξάνθῳ ἔπι δινήεντι, even from Lycia and the banks of the river Xanthus,

480ἔνθʼ ἄλοχόν τε φίλην ἔλιπον καὶ νήπιον υἱόν, where I have left my wife, my infant son,

481κὰδ δὲ κτήματα πολλά, τὰ ἔλδεται ὅς κʼ ἐπιδευής. and much wealth to tempt whoever is needy; nevertheless,

482ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Λυκίους ὀτρύνω καὶ μέμονʼ αὐτὸς

483ἀνδρὶ μαχήσασθαι· ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι ἐνθάδε τοῖον I head my Lycian soldiers and stand my ground against any who would fight me though I have nothing here for the Achaeans to plunder,

484οἷόν κʼ ἠὲ φέροιεν Ἀχαιοὶ ἤ κεν ἄγοιεν·

485τύνη δʼ ἕστηκας, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ ἄλλοισι κελεύεις while you look on,

486λαοῖσιν μενέμεν καὶ ἀμυνέμεναι ὤρεσσι. without even bidding your men stand firm in defence of their wives.

487μή πως ὡς ἀψῖσι λίνου ἁλόντε πανάγρου See that you fall not into the hands of your foes as men caught in the meshes of a net,

488ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένησθε·

489οἳ δὲ τάχʼ ἐκπέρσουσʼ εὖ ναιομένην πόλιν ὑμήν. and they sack your fair city forthwith.

490σοὶ δὲ χρὴ τάδε πάντα μέλειν νύκτάς τε καὶ ἦμαρ Keep this before your mind night and day,

491ἀρχοὺς λισσομένῳ τηλεκλειτῶν ἐπικούρων and beseech the captains of your allies to hold on without flinching,

492νωλεμέως ἐχέμεν, κρατερὴν δʼ ἀποθέσθαι ἐνιπήν. and thus put away their reproaches from you.”

493ὣς φάτο Σαρπηδών, δάκε δὲ φρένας Ἕκτορι μῦθος·So spoke Sarpedon, and Hector smarted under his words.

494αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε, He sprang from his chariot clad in his suit of armour,

495πάλλων δʼ ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃ and went about among the host brandishing his two spears,

496ὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν. exhorting the men to fight and raising the terrible cry of battle.

497οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν· Then they rallied and again faced the Achaeans,

498Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ὑπέμειναν ἀολλέες οὐδὲ φόβηθεν. but the Argives stood compact and firm,

499ὡς δʼ ἄνεμος ἄχνας φορέει ἱερὰς κατʼ ἀλωὰς and were not driven back.

500ἀνδρῶν λικμώντων, ὅτε τε ξανθὴ Δημήτηρ As the breezes sport with the chaff upon some goodly threshing-floor,

501κρίνῃ ἐπειγομένων ἀνέμων καρπόν τε καὶ ἄχνας, when men are winnowing—

502αἳ δʼ ὑπολευκαίνονται ἀχυρμιαί· ὣς τότʼ Ἀχαιοὶwhile yellow Ceres blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the grain,

503λευκοὶ ὕπερθε γένοντο κονισάλῳ, ὅν ῥα διʼ αὐτῶν and the chaff-heaps grow whiter and whiter—

504οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον ἐπέπληγον πόδες ἵππωνeven so did the Achaeans whiten in the dust which the horses’ hoofs raised to the firmament of heaven,

505ἂψ ἐπιμισγομένων· ὑπὸ δʼ ἔστρεφον ἡνιοχῆες.

506οἳ δὲ μένος χειρῶν ἰθὺς φέρον· ἀμφὶ δὲ νύκτα as their drivers turned them back to battle, and they bore down with might upon the foe.

507θοῦρος Ἄρης ἐκάλυψε μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγων Fierce Mars, to help the Trojans,

508πάντοσʼ ἐποιχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἐκραίαινεν ἐφετμὰς covered them in a veil of darkness,

509Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος χρυσαόρου, ὅς μιν ἀνώγει and went about everywhere among them,

510Τρωσὶν θυμὸν ἐγεῖραι, ἐπεὶ ἴδε Παλλάδʼ Ἀθήνην inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told him that when he saw Pallas Minerva leave the fray he was to put courage into the hearts of the Trojans—

511οἰχομένην· ἣ γάρ ῥα πέλεν Δαναοῖσιν ἀρηγών.

512αὐτὸς δʼ Αἰνείαν μάλα πίονος ἐξ ἀδύτοιοfor it was she who was helping the Danaans.

513ἧκε, καὶ ἐν στήθεσσι μένος βάλε ποιμένι λαῶν. Then Apollo sent Aeneas forth from his rich sanctuary,

514Αἰνείας δʼ ἑτάροισι μεθίστατο· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν, and filled his heart with valour,

515ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα whereon he took his place among his comrades,

516καὶ μένος ἐσθλὸν ἔχοντα· μετάλλησάν γε μὲν οὔ τι. who were overjoyed at seeing him alive, sound, and of a good courage;

517οὐ γὰρ ἔα πόνος ἄλλος, ὃν ἀργυρότοξος ἔγειρεν but they could not ask him how it had all happened,

518Ἄρης τε βροτολοιγὸς Ἔρις τʼ ἄμοτον μεμαυῖα. for they were too busy with the turmoil raised by Mars and by Strife,

519τοὺς δʼ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς καὶ Διομήδης who raged insatiably in their midst.

520ὄτρυνον Δαναοὺς πολεμιζέμεν· οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶThe two Ajaxes, Ulysses and Diomed, cheered the Danaans on,

521οὔτε βίας Τρώων ὑπεδείδισαν οὔτε ἰωκάς, fearless of the fury and onset of the Trojans.

522ἀλλʼ ἔμενον νεφέλῃσιν ἐοικότες ἅς τε Κρονίων

523νηνεμίης ἔστησεν ἐπʼ ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν

524ἀτρέμας, ὄφρʼ εὕδῃσι μένος Βορέαο καὶ ἄλλων They stood as still as clouds which the son of Saturn has spread upon the mountain tops when there is no air and fierce Boreas sleeps with the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds in all directions—

525ζαχρειῶν ἀνέμων, οἵ τε νέφεα σκιόεντα

526πνοιῇσιν λιγυρῇσι διασκιδνᾶσιν ἀέντες·

527ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρῶας μένον ἔμπεδον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.even so did the Danaans stand firm and unflinching against the Trojans.

528Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἐφοίτα πολλὰ κελεύων· The son of Atreus went about among them and exhorted them. “My friends,”

529ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἕλεσθε, said he, “quit yourselves like brave men,

530ἀλλήλους τʼ αἰδεῖσθε κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας· and shun dishonour in one another’s eyes amid the stress of battle.

531αἰδομένων ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται· They that shun dishonour more often live than get killed,

532φευγόντων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτε τις ἀλκή. but they that fly save neither life nor name.”

533ἦ καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ θοῶς, βάλε δὲ πρόμον ἄνδραAs he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in the front rank,

534Αἰνείω ἕταρον μεγαθύμου Δηϊκόωντα the comrade of Aeneas,

535Περγασίδην, ὃν Τρῶες ὁμῶς Πριάμοιο τέκεσσι Deicoon son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam,

536τῖον, ἐπεὶ θοὸς ἔσκε μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι. for he was ever quick to place himself among the foremost.

537τόν ῥα κατʼ ἀσπίδα δουρὶ βάλε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων· The spear of King Agamemnon struck his shield and went right through it,

538ἣ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός, for the shield stayed it not.

539νειαίρῃ δʼ ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσε· It drove through his belt into the lower part of his belly,

540δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

541ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Δαναῶν ἕλεν ἄνδρας ἀρίστουςThen Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaans,

542υἷε Διοκλῆος Κρήθωνά τε Ὀρσίλοχόν τε, Crethon and Orsilochus.

543τῶν ῥα πατὴρ μὲν ἔναιεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Φηρῇ

544ἀφνειὸς βιότοιο, γένος δʼ ἦν ἐκ ποταμοῖο Their father was a rich man who lived in the strong city of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus,

545Ἀλφειοῦ, ὅς τʼ εὐρὺ ῥέει Πυλίων διὰ γαίης,

546ὃς τέκετʼ Ὀρτίλοχον πολέεσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα· whose broad stream flows through the land of the Pylians. The river begat Orsilochus,

547Ὀρτίλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔτικτε Διοκλῆα μεγάθυμον, who ruled over much people and was father to Diocles,

548ἐκ δὲ Διοκλῆος διδυμάονε παῖδε γενέσθην, who in his turn begat twin sons,

549Κρήθων Ὀρσίλοχός τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης. Crethon and Orsilochus,

550τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἡβήσαντε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν well skilled in all the arts of war. These,

551Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον ἅμʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἑπέσθην, when they grew up,

552τιμὴν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ went to Ilius with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and Agamemnon sons of Atreus,

553ἀρνυμένω· τὼ δʼ αὖθι τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψεν.

554οἵω τώ γε λέοντε δύω ὄρεος κορυφῇσιν and there they both of them fell.

555ἐτραφέτην ὑπὸ μητρὶ βαθείης τάρφεσιν ὕλης·

556τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἁρπάζοντε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα As two lions whom their dam has reared in the depths of some mountain forest to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and cattle till they get killed by the hand of man,

557σταθμοὺς ἀνθρώπων κεραΐζετον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὼ

558ἀνδρῶν ἐν παλάμῃσι κατέκταθεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ·

559τοίω τὼ χείρεσσιν ὑπʼ Αἰνείαο δαμέντε so were these two vanquished by Aeneas,

560καππεσέτην, ἐλάτῃσιν ἐοικότες ὑψηλῇσι. and fell like high pine-trees to the ground.

561τὼ δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall,

562βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ and made his way to the front,

563σείων ἐγχείην· τοῦ δʼ ὄτρυνεν μένος Ἄρης, clad in gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear,

564τὰ φρονέων ἵνα χερσὶν ὑπʼ Αἰνείαο δαμείη. for Mars egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed by Aeneas;

565τὸν δʼ ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱός, but Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang forward,

566βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων· περὶ γὰρ δίε ποιμένι λαῶν

567μή τι πάθοι, μέγα δέ σφας ἀποσφήλειε πόνοιο. fearing that the king might come to harm and thus bring all their labour to nothing;

568τὼ μὲν δὴ χεῖράς τε καὶ ἔγχεα ὀξυόεντα when,

569ἀντίον ἀλλήλων ἐχέτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι· therefore Aeneas and Menelaus were setting their hands and spears against one another eager to do battle,

570Ἀντίλοχος δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχι παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.

571Αἰνείας δʼ οὐ μεῖνε θοός περ ἐὼν πολεμιστὴς Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus.

572ὡς εἶδεν δύο φῶτε παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντε. Aeneas, bold though he was, drew back on seeing the two heroes side by side in front of him,

573οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν νεκροὺς ἔρυσαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

574τὼ μὲν ἄρα δειλὼ βαλέτην ἐν χερσὶν ἑταίρων, so they drew the bodies of Crethon and Orsilochus to the ranks of the Achaeans and committed the two poor fellows into the hands of their comrades.

575αὐτὼ δὲ στρεφθέντε μετὰ πρώτοισι μαχέσθην. They then turned back and fought in the front ranks.

576ἔνθα Πυλαιμένεα ἑλέτην ἀτάλαντον ἌρηϊThey killed Pylaemenes peer of Mars,

577ἀρχὸν Παφλαγόνων μεγαθύμων ἀσπιστάων. leader of the Paphlagonian warriors.

578τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος Menelaus struck him on the collar-bone as he was standing on his chariot,

579ἑσταότʼ ἔγχεϊ νύξε κατὰ κληῗδα τυχήσας· while Antilochus hit his charioteer and squire Mydon,

580Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Μύδωνα βάλʼ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα the son of Atymnius, who was turning his horses in flight.

581ἐσθλὸν Ἀτυμνιάδην· ὃ δʼ ὑπέστρεφε μώνυχας ἵππους· He hit him with a stone upon the elbow,

582χερμαδίῳ ἀγκῶνα τυχὼν μέσον· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶν and the reins, enriched with white ivory, fell from his hands into the dust.

583ἡνία λεύκʼ ἐλέφαντι χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν. Antilochus rushed towards him and struck him on the temples with his sword,

584Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξας ξίφει ἤλασε κόρσην·

585αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀσθμαίνων εὐεργέος ἔκπεσε δίφρου whereon he fell head first from the chariot to the ground.

586κύμβαχος ἐν κονίῃσιν ἐπὶ βρεχμόν τε καὶ ὤμους. There he stood for a while with his head and shoulders buried deep in the dust—

587δηθὰ μάλʼ ἑστήκει· τύχε γάρ ῥʼ ἀμάθοιο βαθείης·for he had fallen on sandy soil till his horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground,

588ὄφρʼ ἵππω πλήξαντε χαμαὶ βάλον ἐν κονίῃσι·

589τοὺς ἵμασʼ Ἀντίλοχος, μετὰ δὲ στρατὸν ἤλασʼ Ἀχαιῶν. as Antilochus lashed them and drove them off to the host of the Achaeans.

590τοὺς δʼ Ἕκτωρ ἐνόησε κατὰ στίχας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺςBut Hector marked them from across the ranks,

591κεκλήγων· ἅμα δὲ Τρώων εἵποντο φάλαγγες and with a loud cry rushed towards them,

592καρτεραί· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρα σφιν Ἄρης καὶ πότνιʼ Ἐνυώ, followed by the strong battalions of the Trojans. Mars and dread Enyo led them on,

593ἣ μὲν ἔχουσα Κυδοιμὸν ἀναιδέα δηϊοτῆτος, she fraught with ruthless turmoil of battle,

594Ἄρης δʼ ἐν παλάμῃσι πελώριον ἔγχος ἐνώμα, while Mars wielded a monstrous spear,

595φοίτα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν πρόσθʼ Ἕκτορος, ἄλλοτʼ ὄπισθε. and went about, now in front of Hector and now behind him.

596τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης· Diomed shook with passion as he saw them.

597ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ἀπάλαμνος ἰὼν πολέος πεδίοιο

598στήῃ ἐπʼ ὠκυρόῳ ποταμῷ ἅλα δὲ προρέοντι As a man crossing a wide plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great river rolling swiftly to the sea—

599ἀφρῷ μορμύροντα ἰδών, ἀνά τʼ ἔδραμʼ ὀπίσσω,he sees its boiling waters and starts back in fear—

600ὣς τότε Τυδεΐδης ἀνεχάζετο, εἶπέ τε λαῷ·even so did the son of Tydeus give ground.

601ὦ φίλοι οἷον δὴ θαυμάζομεν Ἕκτορα δῖον Then he said to his men, “My friends,

602αἰχμητήν τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέον πολεμιστήν· how can we wonder that Hector wields the spear so well?

603τῷ δʼ αἰεὶ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν, ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει· Some god is ever by his side to protect him,

604καὶ νῦν οἱ πάρα κεῖνος Ἄρης βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς. and now Mars is with him in the likeness of mortal man.

605ἀλλὰ πρὸς Τρῶας τετραμμένοι αἰὲν ὀπίσσω Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans,

606εἴκετε, μηδὲ θεοῖς μενεαινέμεν ἶφι μάχεσθαι. but give ground backwards, for we dare not fight with gods.”

607ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, Τρῶες δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθον αὐτῶν.As he spoke the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men,

608ἔνθʼ Ἕκτωρ δύο φῶτε κατέκτανεν εἰδότε χάρμης both in one chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus,

609εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντε, Μενέσθην Ἀγχίαλόν τε. heroes well versed in war.

610τὼ δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας· Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall; he came close up and hurled his spear,

611στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ, hitting Amphius the son of Selagus,

612καὶ βάλεν Ἄμφιον Σελάγου υἱόν, ὅς ῥʼ ἐνὶ Παισῷ a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much corn-growing land,

613ναῖε πολυκτήμων πολυλήϊος· ἀλλά ἑ μοῖρα but his lot had led him to come to the aid of Priam and his sons.

614ἦγʼ ἐπικουρήσοντα μετὰ Πρίαμόν τε καὶ υἷας. Ajax struck him in the belt;

615τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλεν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας, the spear pierced the lower part of his belly,

616νειαίρῃ δʼ ἐν γαστρὶ πάγη δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος, and he fell heavily to the ground.

617δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἐπέδραμε φαίδιμος Αἴας Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour,

618τεύχεα συλήσων· Τρῶες δʼ ἐπὶ δούρατʼ ἔχευαν but the Trojans rained spears upon him, many of which fell upon his shield.

619ὀξέα παμφανόωντα· σάκος δʼ ἀνεδέξατο πολλά. He planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear,

620αὐτὰρ ὃ λὰξ προσβὰς ἐκ νεκροῦ χάλκεον ἔγχος

621ἐσπάσατʼ· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he could not strip the goodly armour from his shoulders.

622ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσι. The Trojan chieftains, moreover,

623δεῖσε δʼ ὅ γʼ ἀμφίβασιν κρατερὴν Τρώων ἀγερώχων, many and valiant, came about him with their spears,

624οἳ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἔγχεʼ ἔχοντες, so that he dared not stay; great, brave and valiant though he was,

625οἵ ἑ μέγαν περ ἐόντα καὶ ἴφθιμον καὶ ἀγαυὸν they drove him from them and he was beaten back.

626ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.Thus, then, did the battle rage between them.

627ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην· Presently the strong hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus,

628Τληπόλεμον δʼ Ἡρακλεΐδην ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε the son of Hercules,

629ὦρσεν ἐπʼ ἀντιθέῳ Σαρπηδόνι μοῖρα κραταιή. a man both brave and of great stature, to fight Sarpedon;

630οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες so the two, son and grandson of great Jove,

631υἱός θʼ υἱωνός τε Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο, drew near to one another,

632τὸν καὶ Τληπόλεμος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε· and Tlepolemus spoke first. “Sarpedon,” said he,

633Σαρπῆδον Λυκίων βουληφόρε, τίς τοι ἀνάγκη “councillor of the Lycians,

634πτώσσειν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντι μάχης ἀδαήμονι φωτί; why should you come skulking here you who are a man of peace?

635ψευδόμενοι δέ σέ φασι Διὸς γόνον αἰγιόχοιο They lie who call you son of aegis-bearing Jove,

636εἶναι, ἐπεὶ πολλὸν κείνων ἐπιδεύεαι ἀνδρῶν for you are little like those who were of old his children.

637οἳ Διὸς ἐξεγένοντο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων· Far other was Hercules,

638ἀλλʼ οἷόν τινά φασι βίην Ἡρακληείην my own brave and lion-hearted father,

639εἶναι, ἐμὸν πατέρα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα· who came here for the horses of Laomedon,

640ὅς ποτε δεῦρʼ ἐλθὼν ἕνεχʼ ἵππων Λαομέδοντος and though he had six ships only, and few men to follow him,

641ἓξ οἴῃς σὺν νηυσὶ καὶ ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισιν sacked the city of Ilius and made a wilderness of her highways.

642Ἰλίου ἐξαλάπαξε πόλιν, χήρωσε δʼ ἀγυιάς· You are a coward,

643σοὶ δὲ κακὸς μὲν θυμός, ἀποφθινύθουσι δὲ λαοί. and your people are falling from you. For all your strength,

644οὐδέ τί σε Τρώεσσιν ὀΐομαι ἄλκαρ ἔσεσθαι and all your coming from Lycia,

645ἐλθόντʼ ἐκ Λυκίης, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι, you will be no help to the Trojans but will pass the gates of Hades vanquished by my hand.

646ἀλλʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοὶ δμηθέντα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσειν.”

647τὸν δʼ αὖ Σαρπηδὼν Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·And Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, answered,

648Τληπόλεμʼ ἤτοι κεῖνος ἀπώλεσεν Ἴλιον ἱρὴν “Tlepolemus,

649ἀνέρος ἀφραδίῃσιν ἀγαυοῦ Λαομέδοντος, your father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon’s folly in refusing payment to one who had served him well.

650ὅς ῥά μιν εὖ ἕρξαντα κακῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ,

651οὐδʼ ἀπέδωχʼ ἵππους, ὧν εἵνεκα τηλόθεν ἦλθε. He would not give your father the horses which he had come so far to fetch.

652σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐνθάδε φημὶ φόνον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν As for yourself,

653ἐξ ἐμέθεν τεύξεσθαι, ἐμῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντα you shall meet death by my spear. You shall yield glory to myself,

654εὖχος ἐμοὶ δώσειν, ψυχὴν δʼ Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ. and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds.”

655ὣς φάτο Σαρπηδών, ὃ δʼ ἀνέσχετο μείλινον ἔγχοςThus spoke Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus upraised his spear.

656Τληπόλεμος· καὶ τῶν μὲν ἁμαρτῇ δούρατα μακρὰ They threw at the same moment,

657ἐκ χειρῶν ἤϊξαν· ὃ μὲν βάλεν αὐχένα μέσσον and Sarpedon struck his foe in the middle of his throat;

658Σαρπηδών, αἰχμὴ δὲ διαμπερὲς ἦλθʼ ἀλεγεινή· the spear went right through, and the darkness of death fell upon his eyes.

659τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψε.

660Τληπόλεμος δʼ ἄρα μηρὸν ἀριστερὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ Tlepolemus’s spear struck Sarpedon on the left thigh with such force that it tore through the flesh and grazed the bone,

661βεβλήκειν, αἰχμὴ δὲ διέσσυτο μαιμώωσα

662ὀστέω ἐγχριμφθεῖσα, πατὴρ δʼ ἔτι λοιγὸν ἄμυνεν. but his father as yet warded off destruction from him.

663οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα δῖοι ἑταῖροιHis comrades bore Sarpedon out of the fight,

664ἐξέφερον πολέμοιο· βάρυνε δέ μιν δόρυ μακρὸν in great pain by the weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound.

665ἑλκόμενον· τὸ μὲν οὔ τις ἐπεφράσατʼ οὐδὲ νόησε

666μηροῦ ἐξερύσαι δόρυ μείλινον ὄφρʼ ἐπιβαίη

667σπευδόντων· τοῖον γὰρ ἔχον πόνον ἀμφιέποντες. They were in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly.

668Τληπόλεμον δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

669ἐξέφερον πολέμοιο· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus,

670τλήμονα θυμὸν ἔχων, μαίμησε δέ οἱ φίλον ἦτορ· whereon Ulysses was moved to pity,

671μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν and panted for the fray as he beheld them.

672ἢ προτέρω Διὸς υἱὸν ἐριγδούποιο διώκοι, He doubted whether to pursue the son of Jove,

673ἦ ὅ γε τῶν πλεόνων Λυκίων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο. or to make slaughter of the Lycian rank and file;

674οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ μεγαλήτορι μόρσιμον ἦεν it was not decreed, however,

675ἴφθιμον Διὸς υἱὸν ἀποκτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ· that he should slay the son of Jove;

676τώ ῥα κατὰ πληθὺν Λυκίων τράπε θυμὸν Ἀθήνη. Minerva, therefore,

677ἔνθʼ ὅ γε Κοίρανον εἷλεν Ἀλάστορά τε Χρομίον τε turned him against the main body of the Lycians. He killed Coeranus,

678Ἄλκανδρόν θʼ Ἅλιόν τε Νοήμονά τε Πρύτανίν τε. Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon,

679καί νύ κʼ ἔτι πλέονας Λυκίων κτάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς and Prytanis, and would have slain yet more,

680εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ· had not great Hector marked him,

681βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit of mail,

682δεῖμα φέρων Δαναοῖσι· χάρη δʼ ἄρα οἱ προσιόντι filling the Danaans with terror.

683Σαρπηδὼν Διὸς υἱός, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπε· Sarpedon was glad when he saw him coming, and besought him,

684Πριαμίδη, μὴ δή με ἕλωρ Δαναοῖσιν ἐάσῃς saying, “Son of Priam,

685κεῖσθαι, ἀλλʼ ἐπάμυνον· ἔπειτά με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν let me not be here to fall into the hands of the Danaans.

686ἐν πόλει ὑμετέρῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἔγωγε Help me,

687νοστήσας οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν and since I may not return home to gladden the hearts of my wife and of my infant son,

688εὐφρανέειν ἄλοχόν τε φίλην καὶ νήπιον υἱόν. let me die within the walls of your city.

689ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,” Hector made him no answer,

690ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν λελιημένος ὄφρα τάχιστα but rushed onward to fall at once upon the Achaeans and kill many among them.

691ὤσαιτʼ Ἀργείους, πολέων δʼ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.

692οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα δῖοι ἑταῖροι His comrades then bore Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove’s spreading oak tree.

693εἷσαν ὑπʼ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς περικαλλέϊ φηγῷ· Pelagon, his friend and comrade,

694ἐκ δʼ ἄρα οἱ μηροῦ δόρυ μείλινον ὦσε θύραζε drew the spear out of his thigh, but Sarpedon fainted and a mist came over his eyes.

695ἴφθιμος Πελάγων, ὅς οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος. Presently he came to himself again,

696τὸν δʼ ἔλιπε ψυχή, κατὰ δʼ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀχλύς· for the breath of the north wind as it played upon him gave him new life,

697αὖτις δʼ ἐμπνύνθη, περὶ δὲ πνοιὴ Βορέαο

698ζώγρει ἐπιπνείουσα κακῶς κεκαφηότα θυμόν. and brought him out of the deep swoon into which he had fallen.

699Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ὑπʼ Ἄρηϊ καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇMeanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by Mars and Hector,

700οὔτε ποτὲ προτρέποντο μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν nor yet did they attack them;

701οὔτε ποτʼ ἀντεφέροντο μάχῃ, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ὀπίσσω when they knew that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated,

702χάζονθʼ, ὡς ἐπύθοντο μετὰ Τρώεσσιν Ἄρηα. but kept their faces still turned towards the foe.

703ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον τίνα δʼ ὕστατον ἐξενάριξαν Who, then,

704Ἕκτωρ τε Πριάμοιο πάϊς καὶ χάλκεος Ἄρης; was first and who last to be slain by Mars and Hector?

705ἀντίθεον Τεύθραντʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ πλήξιππον Ὀρέστην, They were valiant Teuthras, and Orestes the renowned charioteer,

706Τρῆχόν τʼ αἰχμητὴν Αἰτώλιον Οἰνόμαόν τε, Trechus the Aetolian warrior, Oenomaus,

707Οἰνοπίδην θʼ Ἕλενον καὶ Ὀρέσβιον αἰολομίτρην, Helenus the son of Oenops, and Oresbius of the gleaming girdle,

708ὅς ῥʼ ἐν Ὕλῃ ναίεσκε μέγα πλούτοιο μεμηλώς, who was possessed of great wealth,

709λίμνῃ κεκλιμένος Κηφισίδι· πὰρ δέ οἱ ἄλλοι and dwelt by the Cephisian lake with the other Boeotians who lived near him,

710ναῖον Βοιωτοὶ μάλα πίονα δῆμον ἔχοντες. owners of a fertile country.

Lines 711–909

Diomed Wounds Ares

Hera and Minerva descend in Hera's chariot; with Minerva beside him, Diomed drives his spear into Ares himself, and the wounded god flees howling to Olympus to be healed.

711τοὺς δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ λευκώλενος ἭρηNow when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling,

712Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ, she said to Minerva,

713αὐτίκʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove,

714ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη, unweariable,

715ἦ ῥʼ ἅλιον τὸν μῦθον ὑπέστημεν Μενελάῳ

716Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι, the promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he had sacked the city of Ilius will be of no effect if we let Mars rage thus furiously.

717εἰ οὕτω μαίνεσθαι ἐάσομεν οὖλον Ἄρηα.

718ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς. Let us go into the fray at once.”

719ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.Minerva did not gainsay her. Thereon the august goddess,

720ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππους daughter of great Saturn, began to harness her gold-bedizened steeds.

721Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο·

722Ἥβη δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀχέεσσι θοῶς βάλε καμπύλα κύκλα Hebe with all speed fitted on the eight-spoked wheels of bronze that were on either side of the iron axle-tree.

723χάλκεα ὀκτάκνημα σιδηρέῳ ἄξονι ἀμφίς. The felloes of the wheels were of gold,

724τῶν ἤτοι χρυσέη ἴτυς ἄφθιτος, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε imperishable, and over these there was a tire of bronze,

725χάλκεʼ ἐπίσσωτρα προσαρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι· wondrous to behold. The naves of the wheels were silver,

726πλῆμναι δʼ ἀργύρου εἰσὶ περίδρομοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν· turning round the axle upon either side.

727δίφρος δὲ χρυσέοισι καὶ ἀργυρέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν The car itself was made with plaited bands of gold and silver,

728ἐντέταται, δοιαὶ δὲ περίδρομοι ἄντυγές εἰσι. and it had a double top-rail running all round it.

729τοῦ δʼ ἐξ ἀργύρεος ῥυμὸς πέλεν· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ From the body of the car there went a pole of silver, on to the end of which she bound the golden yoke,

730δῆσε χρύσειον καλὸν ζυγόν, ἐν δὲ λέπαδνα

731κάλʼ ἔβαλε χρύσειʼ· ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν Ἥρη with the bands of gold that were to go under the necks of the horses. Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke,

732ἵππους ὠκύποδας, μεμαυῖʼ ἔριδος καὶ ἀϋτῆς. eager for battle and the war-cry.

733αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιοMeanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture,

734πέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπʼ οὔδει made with her own hands, on to her father’s threshold,

735ποικίλον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν· and donned the shirt of Jove,

736ἣ δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο arming herself for battle. She threw her tasselled aegis about her shoulders,

737τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα. wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe,

738ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν and on it were Strife, and Strength,

739δεινήν, ἣν περὶ μὲν πάντῃ Φόβος ἐστεφάνωται, and Panic whose blood runs cold; moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon,

740ἐν δʼ Ἔρις, ἐν δʼ Ἀλκή, ἐν δὲ κρυόεσσα Ἰωκή, grim and awful to behold,

741ἐν δέ τε Γοργείη κεφαλὴ δεινοῖο πελώρου portent of aegis-bearing Jove.

742δεινή τε σμερδνή τε, Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο. On her head she set her helmet of gold, with four plumes,

743κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀμφίφαλον κυνέην θέτο τετραφάληρον and coming to a peak both in front and behind—decked with the emblems of a hundred cities;

744χρυσείην, ἑκατὸν πολίων πρυλέεσσʼ ἀραρυῖαν· then she stepped into her flaming chariot and grasped the spear,

745ἐς δʼ ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δʼ ἔγχος so stout and sturdy and strong,

746βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν with which she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her.

747ἡρώων, οἷσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη. Juno lashed the horses on,

748Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετʼ ἄρʼ ἵππους· and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord—

749αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι,gates over which the Hours preside,

750τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τε in whose hands are Heaven and Olympus,

751ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι. either to open the dense cloud that hides them, or to close it.

752τῇ ῥα διʼ αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους· Through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds,

753εὗρον δὲ Κρονίωνα θεῶν ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων and found the son of Saturn sitting all alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus.

754ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο. There Juno stayed her horses,

755ἔνθʼ ἵππους στήσασα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn,

756Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον Κρονίδην ἐξείρετο καὶ προσέειπε· lord of all. “Father Jove,” said she,

757Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ Ἄρῃ τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα “are you not angry with Mars for these high doings?

758ὁσσάτιόν τε καὶ οἷον ἀπώλεσε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he has destroyed to my great grief,

759μὰψ ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος, οἳ δὲ ἕκηλοι and without either right or reason,

760τέρπονται Κύπρίς τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease and setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief.

761ἄφρονα τοῦτον ἀνέντες, ὃς οὔ τινα οἶδε θέμιστα;

762Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά τί μοι κεχολώσεαι, αἴ κεν Ἄρηα I hope, Father Jove, that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard,

763λυγρῶς πεπληγυῖα μάχης ἐξαποδίωμαι; and chase him out of the battle.”

764τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·And Jove answered, “Set Minerva on to him,

765ἄγρει μάν οἱ ἔπορσον Ἀθηναίην ἀγελείην,

766ἥ ἑ μάλιστʼ εἴωθε κακῇς ὀδύνῃσι πελάζειν. for she punishes him more often than any one else does.”

767ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,Juno did as he had said. She lashed her horses,

768μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην and they flew forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and sky.

769μεσσηγὺς γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος.

770ὅσσον δʼ ἠεροειδὲς ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν As far as a man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon,

771ἥμενος ἐν σκοπιῇ, λεύσσων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον, so far can the loud-neighing horses of the gods spring at a single bound.

772τόσσον ἐπιθρῴσκουσι θεῶν ὑψηχέες ἵπποι.

773ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Τροίην ἷξον ποταμώ τε ῥέοντε, When they reached Troy and the place where its two flowing streams Simois and Scamander meet,

774ἧχι ῥοὰς Σιμόεις συμβάλλετον ἠδὲ Σκάμανδρος,

775ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη there Juno stayed them and took them from the chariot.

776λύσασʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, περὶ δʼ ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευε· She hid them in a thick cloud,

777τοῖσιν δʼ ἀμβροσίην Σιμόεις ἀνέτειλε νέμεσθαι. and Simois made ambrosia spring up for them to eat; the two goddesses then went on,

778αἳ δὲ βάτην τρήρωσι πελειάσιν ἴθμαθʼ ὁμοῖαι flying like turtledoves in their eagerness to help the Argives.

779ἀνδράσιν Ἀργείοισιν ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαυῖαι·

780ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι When they came to the part where the bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty Diomed,

781ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ βίην Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο

782εἰλόμενοι λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance,

783ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν, there Juno stood still and raised a shout like that of brazen-voiced Stentor,

784ἔνθα στᾶσʼ ἤϋσε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη

785Στέντορι εἰσαμένη μεγαλήτορι χαλκεοφώνῳ, whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men together.

786ὃς τόσον αὐδήσασχʼ ὅσον ἄλλοι πεντήκοντα· “Argives,” she cried; “shame on cowardly creatures,

787αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι κάκʼ ἐλέγχεα εἶδος ἀγητοί· brave in semblance only;

788ὄφρα μὲν ἐς πόλεμον πωλέσκετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς, as long as Achilles was fighting,

789οὐδέ ποτε Τρῶες πρὸ πυλάων Δαρδανιάων if his spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves outside the Dardanian gates,

790οἴχνεσκον· κείνου γὰρ ἐδείδισαν ὄβριμον ἔγχος·

791νῦν δὲ ἑκὰς πόλιος κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχονται. but now they sally far from the city and fight even at your ships.”

792ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.With these words she put heart and soul into them all,

793Τυδεΐδῃ δʼ ἐπόρουσε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· while Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus,

794εὗρε δὲ τόν γε ἄνακτα παρʼ ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν whom she found near his chariot and horses,

795ἕλκος ἀναψύχοντα τό μιν βάλε Πάνδαρος ἰῷ. cooling the wound that Pandarus had given him.

796ἱδρὼς γάρ μιν ἔτειρεν ὑπὸ πλατέος τελαμῶνος For the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight of his shield irritated the hurt:

797ἀσπίδος εὐκύκλου· τῷ τείρετο, κάμνε δὲ χεῖρα, his arm was weary with pain,

798ἂν δʼ ἴσχων τελαμῶνα κελαινεφὲς αἷμʼ ἀπομόργνυ. and he was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood.

799ἱππείου δὲ θεὰ ζυγοῦ ἥψατο φώνησέν τε· The goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his horses and said,

800ἦ ὀλίγον οἷ παῖδα ἐοικότα γείνατο Τυδεύς. “The son of Tydeus is not such another as his father.

801Τυδεύς τοι μικρὸς μὲν ἔην δέμας, ἀλλὰ μαχητής· Tydeus was a little man, but he could fight,

802καί ῥʼ ὅτε πέρ μιν ἐγὼ πολεμίζειν οὐκ εἴασκον and rushed madly into the fray even when I told him not to do so.

803οὐδʼ ἐκπαιφάσσειν, ὅτε τʼ ἤλυθε νόσφιν Ἀχαιῶν When he went all unattended as envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans,

804ἄγγελος ἐς Θήβας πολέας μετὰ Καδμείωνας· I bade him feast in their houses and be at peace;

805δαίνυσθαί μιν ἄνωγον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἕκηλον· but with that high spirit which was ever present with him,

806αὐτὰρ ὃ θυμὸν ἔχων ὃν καρτερὸν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ he challenged the youth of the Cadmeans,

807κούρους Καδμείων προκαλίζετο, πάντα δʼ ἐνίκα and at once beat them in all that he attempted,

808ῥηϊδίως· τοίη οἱ ἐγὼν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦα. so mightily did I help him.

809σοὶ δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παρά θʼ ἵσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω, I stand by you too to protect you,

810καί σε προφρονέως κέλομαι Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι· and I bid you be instant in fighting the Trojans;

811ἀλλά σευ ἢ κάματος πολυᾶϊξ γυῖα δέδυκεν but either you are tired out, or you are afraid and out of heart,

812ἤ νύ σέ που δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον· οὐ σύ γʼ ἔπειτα

813Τυδέος ἔκγονός ἐσσι δαΐφρονος Οἰνεΐδαο. and in that case I say that you are no true son of Tydeus the son of Oeneus.

814τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·” Diomed answered, “I know you, goddess,

815γιγνώσκω σε θεὰ θύγατερ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο· daughter of aegis-bearing Jove,

816τώ τοι προφρονέως ἐρέω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω. and will hide nothing from you. I am not afraid nor out of heart,

817οὔτέ τί με δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον οὔτέ τις ὄκνος, nor is there any slackness in me.

818ἀλλʼ ἔτι σέων μέμνημαι ἐφετμέων ἃς ἐπέτειλας· I am only following your own instructions;

819οὔ μʼ εἴας μακάρεσσι θεοῖς ἀντικρὺ μάχεσθαι you told me not to fight any of the blessed gods;

820τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἀτὰρ εἴ κε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη but if Jove’s daughter Venus came into battle I was to wound her with my spear.

821ἔλθῃσʼ ἐς πόλεμον, τήν γʼ οὐτάμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ. Therefore I am retreating,

822τοὔνεκα νῦν αὐτός τʼ ἀναχάζομαι ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλους and bidding the other Argives gather in this place,

823Ἀργείους ἐκέλευσα ἀλήμεναι ἐνθάδε πάντας· for I know that Mars is now lording it in the field.

824γιγνώσκω γὰρ Ἄρηα μάχην ἀνὰ κοιρανέοντα.” “Diomed, son of Tydeus,

825τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·” replied Minerva, “man after my own heart,

826Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ fear neither Mars nor any other of the immortals,

827μήτε σύ γʼ Ἄρηα τό γε δείδιθι μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον for I will befriend you. Nay,

828ἀθανάτων, τοίη τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιτάρροθός εἰμι· drive straight at Mars, and smite him in close combat;

829ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐπʼ Ἄρηϊ πρώτῳ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους, fear not this raging madman,

830τύψον δὲ σχεδίην μηδʼ ἅζεο θοῦρον Ἄρηα villain incarnate, first on one side and then on the other.

831τοῦτον μαινόμενον, τυκτὸν κακόν, ἀλλοπρόσαλλον, But now he was holding talk with Juno and myself,

832ὃς πρῴην μὲν ἐμοί τε καὶ Ἥρῃ στεῦτʼ ἀγορεύων saying he would help the Argives and attack the Trojans;

833Τρωσὶ μαχήσεσθαι, ἀτὰρ Ἀργείοισιν ἀρήξειν, nevertheless he is with the Trojans,

834νῦν δὲ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ὁμιλεῖ, τῶν δὲ λέλασται. and has forgotten the Argives.”

835ὣς φαμένη Σθένελον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,With this she caught hold of Sthenelus and lifted him off the chariot on to the ground.

836χειρὶ πάλιν ἐρύσασʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐμμαπέως ἀπόρουσεν·

837ἣ δʼ ἐς δίφρον ἔβαινε παραὶ Διομήδεα δῖον In a second he was on the ground,

838ἐμμεμαυῖα θεά· μέγα δʼ ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων whereupon the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the side of Diomed.

839βριθοσύνῃ· δεινὴν γὰρ ἄγεν θεὸν ἄνδρά τʼ ἄριστον.

840λάζετο δὲ μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη· The oaken axle groaned aloud under the burden of the awful goddess and the hero;

841αὐτίκʼ ἐπʼ Ἄρηϊ πρώτῳ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους. Pallas Minerva took the whip and reins,

842ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Περίφαντα πελώριον ἐξενάριζεν and drove straight at Mars.

843Αἰτωλῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον Ὀχησίου ἀγλαὸν υἱόν· He was in the act of stripping huge Periphas,

844τὸν μὲν Ἄρης ἐνάριζε μιαιφόνος· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη son of Ochesius and bravest of the Aetolians.

845δῦνʼ Ἄϊδος κυνέην, μή μιν ἴδοι ὄβριμος Ἄρης. Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armour,

846ὡς δὲ ἴδε βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης Διομήδεα δῖον, and Minerva donned the helmet of Hades,

847ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Περίφαντα πελώριον αὐτόθʼ ἔασε that he might not see her; when, therefore,

848κεῖσθαι ὅθι πρῶτον κτείνων ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν, he saw Diomed,

849αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰθὺς Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο. he made straight for him and let Periphas lie where he had fallen.

850οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες, As soon as they were at close quarters he let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke,

851πρόσθεν Ἄρης ὠρέξαθʼ ὑπὲρ ζυγὸν ἡνία θʼ ἵππων

852ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ μεμαὼς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλέσθαι· thinking to take Diomed’s life,

853καὶ τό γε χειρὶ λαβοῦσα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη but Minerva caught the spear in her hand and made it fly harmlessly over the chariot.

854ὦσεν ὑπὲκ δίφροιο ἐτώσιον ἀϊχθῆναι.

855δεύτερος αὖθʼ ὡρμᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης Diomed then threw,

856ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ· ἐπέρεισε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη and Pallas Minerva drove the spear into the pit of Mars’s stomach where his under-girdle went round him.

857νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα ὅθι ζωννύσκετο μίτρῃ·

858τῇ ῥά μιν οὖτα τυχών, διὰ δὲ χρόα καλὸν ἔδαψεν, There Diomed wounded him,

859ἐκ δὲ δόρυ σπάσεν αὖτις· ὃ δʼ ἔβραχε χάλκεος Ἄρης tearing his fair flesh and then drawing his spear out again.

860ὅσσόν τʼ ἐννεάχιλοι ἐπίαχον ἢ δεκάχιλοι

861ἀνέρες ἐν πολέμῳ ἔριδα ξυνάγοντες Ἄρηος. Mars roared as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in the thick of a fight,

862τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὸ τρόμος εἷλεν Ἀχαιούς τε Τρῶάς τε and the Achaeans and Trojans were struck with panic,

863δείσαντας· τόσον ἔβραχʼ Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο. so terrible was the cry he raised.

864οἵη δʼ ἐκ νεφέων ἐρεβεννὴ φαίνεται ἀὴρAs a dark cloud in the sky when it comes on to blow after heat,

865καύματος ἐξ ἀνέμοιο δυσαέος ὀρνυμένοιο,

866τοῖος Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης even so did Diomed son of Tydeus see Mars ascend into the broad heavens.

867φαίνεθʼ ὁμοῦ νεφέεσσιν ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν. With all speed he reached high Olympus,

868καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θεῶν ἕδος αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον, home of the gods, and in great pain sat down beside Jove the son of Saturn.

869πὰρ δὲ Διὶ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο θυμὸν ἀχεύων,

870δεῖξεν δʼ ἄμβροτον αἷμα καταρρέον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς, He showed Jove the immortal blood that was flowing from his wound, and spoke piteously,

871καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· saying, “Father Jove, are you not angered by such doings?

872Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ ὁρῶν τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα;

873αἰεί τοι ῥίγιστα θεοὶ τετληότες εἰμὲν We gods are continually suffering in the most cruel manner at one another’s hands while helping mortals;

874ἀλλήλων ἰότητι, χάριν ἄνδρεσσι φέροντες.

875σοὶ πάντες μαχόμεσθα· σὺ γὰρ τέκες ἄφρονα κούρην and we all owe you a grudge for having begotten that mad termagant of a daughter,

876οὐλομένην, ᾗ τʼ αἰὲν ἀήσυλα ἔργα μέμηλεν. who is always committing outrage of some kind.

877ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ We other gods must all do as you bid us,

878σοί τʼ ἐπιπείθονται καὶ δεδμήμεσθα ἕκαστος· but her you neither scold nor punish;

879ταύτην δʼ οὔτʼ ἔπεϊ προτιβάλλεαι οὔτέ τι ἔργῳ, you encourage her because the pestilent creature is your daughter.

880ἀλλʼ ἀνιεῖς, ἐπεὶ αὐτὸς ἐγείναο παῖδʼ ἀΐδηλον· See how she has been inciting proud Diomed to vent his rage on the immortal gods.

881ἣ νῦν Τυδέος υἱὸν ὑπερφίαλον Διομήδεα

882μαργαίνειν ἀνέηκεν ἐπʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι. First he went up to the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist,

883Κύπριδα μὲν πρῶτον σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ, and then he sprang upon me too as though he were a god.

884αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ αὐτῷ μοι ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος·

885ἀλλά μʼ ὑπήνεικαν ταχέες πόδες· ἦ τέ κε δηρὸν Had I not run for it I must either have lain there for long enough in torments among the ghastly corpses,

886αὐτοῦ πήματʼ ἔπασχον ἐν αἰνῇσιν νεκάδεσσιν,

887ἤ κε ζὼς ἀμενηνὸς ἔα χαλκοῖο τυπῇσι. or have been eaten alive with spears till I had no more strength left in me.”

888τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς.Jove looked angrily at him and said, “Do not come whining here,

889μή τί μοι ἀλλοπρόσαλλε παρεζόμενος μινύριζε. Sir Facing-both-ways.

890ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν· I hate you worst of all the gods in Olympus,

891αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε. for you are ever fighting and making mischief.

892μητρός τοι μένος ἐστὶν ἀάσχετον οὐκ ἐπιεικτὸν You have the intolerable and stubborn spirit of your mother Juno:

893Ἥρης· τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημʼ ἐπέεσσι· it is all I can do to manage her,

894τώ σʼ ὀΐω κείνης τάδε πάσχειν ἐννεσίῃσιν. and it is her doing that you are now in this plight:

895ἀλλʼ οὐ μάν σʼ ἔτι δηρὸν ἀνέξομαι ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα· still, I cannot let you remain longer in such great pain; you are my own offspring,

896ἐκ γὰρ ἐμεῦ γένος ἐσσί, ἐμοὶ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ· and it was by me that your mother conceived you; if, however,

897εἰ δέ τευ ἐξ ἄλλου γε θεῶν γένευ ὧδʼ ἀΐδηλος you had been the son of any other god,

898καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἦσθα ἐνέρτερος Οὐρανιώνων. you are so destructive that by this time you should have been lying lower than the Titans.”

899ὣς φάτο, καὶ Παιήονʼ ἀνώγειν ἰήσασθαι.He then bade Paeeon heal him,

900τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Παιήων ὀδυνήφατα φάρμακα πάσσων whereon Paeeon spread pain-killing herbs upon his wound and cured him,

901ἠκέσατʼ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι καταθνητός γʼ ἐτέτυκτο. for he was not of mortal mould.

902ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπὸς γάλα λευκὸν ἐπειγόμενος συνέπηξεν As the juice of the fig-tree curdles milk, and thickens it in a moment though it is liquid,

903ὑγρὸν ἐόν, μάλα δʼ ὦκα περιτρέφεται κυκόωντι, even so instantly did Paeeon cure fierce Mars.

904ὣς ἄρα καρπαλίμως ἰήσατο θοῦρον Ἄρηα. Then Hebe washed him,

905τὸν δʼ Ἥβη λοῦσεν, χαρίεντα δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε· and clothed him in goodly raiment,

906πὰρ δὲ Διὶ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων. and he took his seat by his father Jove all glorious to behold.

907αἳ δʼ αὖτις πρὸς δῶμα Διὸς μεγάλοιο νέοντοBut Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomene,

908Ἥρη τʼ Ἀργείη καὶ Ἀλαλκομενηῒς Ἀθήνη now that they had put a stop to the murderous doings of Mars,

909παύσασαι βροτολοιγὸν Ἄρηʼ ἀνδροκτασιάων. went back again to the house of Jove.