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that you and I are of a mind。 Enough； I will make you amends for
what I have said； and if any ill has now been spoken may the gods
bring it to nothing。〃
He then left them and went on to others。 Presently he saw the son
of Tydeus； noble Diomed； standing by his chariot and horses； with
Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him； whereon he began to
upbraid him。 〃Son of Tydeus；〃 he said； 〃why stand you cowering
here upon the brink of battle？ Tydeus did not shrink thus； but
was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe
so； at least； say they that saw him in battle； for I never set
eyes upon him myself。 They say that there was no man like him。 He
came once to Mycenae； not as an enemy but as a guest； in pany
with Polynices to recruit his forces； for they were levying war
against the strong city of Thebes； and prayed our people for a
body of picked men to help them。 The men of Mycenae were willing
to let them have one； but Jove dissuaded them by showing them
unfavourable omens。 Tydeus； therefore； and Polynices went their
way。 When they had got as far the deep…meadowed and rush…grown
banks of the Aesopus； the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy；
and he found the Cadmeans gathered in great numbers to a banquet
in the house of Eteocles。 Stranger though he was； he knew no fear
on finding himself single…handed among so many； but challenged
them to contests of all kinds； and in each one of them was at
once victorious； so mightily did Minerva help him。 The Cadmeans
were incensed at his success； and set a force of fifty youths
with two captainsthe godlike hero Maeon； son of Haemon； and
Polyphontes； son of Autophonusat their head； to lie in wait for
him on his return journey； but Tydeus slew every man of them；
save only Maeon； whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens。
Such was Tydeus of Aetolia。 His son can talk more glibly； but he
cannot fight as his father did。〃
Diomed made no answer； for he was shamed by the rebuke of
Agamemnon； but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said；
〃Son of Atreus； tell no lies； for you can speak truth if you
will。 We boast ourselves as even better men than our fathers； we
took seven…gated Thebes； though the wall was stronger and our men
were fewer in number； for we trusted in the omens of the gods and
in the help of Jove； whereas they perished through their own
sheer folly； hold not； then； our fathers in like honour with us。〃
Diomed looked sternly at him and said； 〃Hold your peace； my
friend； as I bid you。 It is not amiss that Agamemnon should urge
the Achaeans forward； for the glory will be his if we take the
city； and his the shame if we are vanquished。 Therefore let us
acquit ourselves with valour。〃
As he spoke he sprang from his chariot； and his armour rang so
fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have
been scared to hear it。
As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west
wind has lashed it into furyit has reared its head afar and now
es crashing down on the shore； it bows its arching crest high
over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all
directionseven so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans
march steadfastly to battle。 The chiefs gave orders each to his
own people； but the men said never a word； no man would think it；
for huge as the host was； it seemed as though there was not a
tongue among them； so silent were they in their obedience； and as
they marched the armour about their bodies glistened in the sun。
But the clamour of the Trojan ranks was as that of many thousand
ewes that stand waiting to be milked in the yards of some rich
flockmaster； and bleat incessantly in answer to the bleating of
their lambs； for they had not one speech nor language； but their
tongues were diverse； and they came from many different places。
These were inspired of Mars； but the others by Minervaand with
them came Panic； Rout； and Strife whose fury never tires； sister
and friend of murderous Mars； who； from being at first but low in
stature； grows till she uprears her head to heaven； though her
feet are still on earth。 She it was that went about among them
and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrow with even hand
between them。
When they were got together in one place shield clashed with
shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle。 The bossed
shields beat one upon another； and there was a tramp as of a
great multitudedeath…cry and shout of triumph of slain and
slayers； and the earth ran red with blood。 As torrents swollen
with rain course madly down their deep channels till the angry
floods meet in some gorge； and the shepherd on the hillside hears
their roaring from afareven such was the toil and uproar of the
hosts as they joined in battle。
First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans； Echepolus；
son of Thalysius； fighting in the foremost ranks。 He struck at
the projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his
brow； the point of bronze pierced the bone； and darkness veiled
his eyes； headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the
fight； and as he dropped King Elephenor； son of Chalcodon and
captain of the proud Abantes began dragging him out of reach of
the darts that were falling around him； in haste to strip him of
his armour。 But his purpose was not for long； Agenor saw him
haling the body away； and smote him in the side with his
bronze…shod spearfor as he stooped his side was left
unprotected by his shieldand thus he perished。 Then the fight
between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body； and they
flew upon each other like wolves； man and man crushing one upon
the other。
Forthwith Ajax； son of Telamon； slew the fair youth Simoeisius；
son of Anthemion； whom his mother bore by the banks of the
Simois； as she was ing down from Mt。 Ida； where she had been
with her parents to see their flocks。 Therefore he was named
Simoeisius； but he did not live to pay his parents for his
rearing； for he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax；
who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he was ing
on among the foremost fighters； the spear went right through his
shoulder； and he fell as a poplar that has grown straight and
tall in a meadow by some mere； and its top is thick with
branches。 Then the wheelwright lays his axe to its roots that he
may fashion a felloe for the wheel of some goodly chariot； and it
lies seasoning by the waterside。 In such wise did Ajax fell to
earth Simoeisius； son of Anthemion。 Thereon Antiphus of the
gleaming corslet； son of Priam； hurled a spear at Ajax from amid
the crowd and missed him； but he hit Leucus； the brave rade of
Ulysses； in the groin； as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius
over to the other side； so he fell upon the body and loosed his
hold upon it。 Ulysses was furious when he saw Leucus slain； and
strode in full armour through the front ranks till he was quite
close； then he glared round about him and took aim； and the
Trojans fell back as he did so。 His dart was not sped in vain；
for it struck Democoon； the bastard son of Priam； who had e to
him from Abydos； where he had charge of his father's mares。
Ulysses； infuriated by the death of his