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did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band
of Trojans to Ilius in Hector's service； and if ever I get home
again to set eyes on my native place； my wife； and the greatness
of my house； may some one cut my head off then and there if I do
not break the bow and set it on a hot firesuch pranks as it
plays me。〃
Aeneas answered； 〃Say no more。 Things will not mend till we two
go against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a
trial of arms。 Mount my chariot； and note how cleverly the horses
of Tros can speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or
flight。 If Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they
will carry us safely back to the city。 Take hold； then； of the
whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight； or else do
you wait this man's onset while I look after the horses。〃
〃Aeneas；〃 replied the son of Lycaon； 〃take the reins and drive；
if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go
better for their own driver。 If they miss the sound of your voice
when they expect it they may be frightened； and refuse to take us
out of the fight。 The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and
take the horses。 Therefore drive them yourself and I will be
ready for him with my spear。〃
They then mounted the chariot and drove full…speed towards the
son of Tydeus。 Sthenelus； son of Capaneus； saw them ing and
said to Diomed； 〃Diomed； son of Tydeus； man after my own heart； I
see two heroes speeding towards you； both of them men of might
the one a skilful archer； Pandarus son of Lycaon； the other；
Aeneas； whose sire is Anchises； while his mother is Venus。 Mount
the chariot and let us retreat。 Do not； I pray you； press so
furiously forward； or you may get killed。〃
Diomed looked angrily at him and answered： 〃Talk not of flight；
for I shall not listen to you： I am of a race that knows neither
flight nor fear； and my limbs are as yet unwearied。 I am in no
mind to mount； but will go against them even as I am； Pallas
Minerva bids me be afraid of no man； and even though one of them
escape； their steeds shall not take both back again。 I say
further； and lay my saying to your heartif Minerva sees fit to
vouchsafe me the glory of killing both； stay your horses here and
make the reins fast to the rim of the chariot； then be sure you
spring Aeneas' horses and drive them from the Trojan to the
Achaean ranks。 They are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros
in payment for his son Ganymede； and are the finest that live and
move under the sun。 King Anchises stole the blood by putting his
mares to them without Laomedon's knowledge； and they bore him six
foals。 Four are still in his stables； but he gave the other two
to Aeneas。 We shall win great glory if we can take them。〃
Thus did they converse； but the other two had now driven close up
to them； and the son of Lycaon spoke first。 〃Great and mighty
son；〃 said he； 〃of noble Tydeus； my arrow failed to lay you low；
so I will now try with my spear。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him。 It struck
the shield of the son of Tydeus； the bronze point pierced it and
passed on till it reached the breastplate。 Thereon the son of
Lycaon shouted out and said； 〃You are hit clean through the
belly； you will not stand out for long； and the glory of the
fight is mine。〃
But Diomed all undismayed made answer； 〃You have missed； not hit；
and before you two see the end of this matter one or other of you
shall glut tough…shielded Mars with his blood。〃
With this he hurled his spear； and Minerva guided it on to
Pandarus's nose near the eye。 It went crashing in among his white
teeth； the bronze point cut through the root of his tongue；
ing out under his chin； and his glistening armour rang
rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground。 The horses
started aside for fear； and he was reft of life and strength。
Aeneas sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear；
fearing lest the Achaeans should carry off the body。 He bestrode
it as a lion in the pride of strength； with shield and spear
before him and a cry of battle on his lips resolute to kill the
first that should dare face him。 But the son of Tydeus caught up
a mighty stone； so huge and great that as men now are it would
take two to lift it； nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease
unaided； and with this he struck Aeneas on the groin where the
hip turns in the joint that is called the 〃cup…bone。〃 The stone
crushed this joint； and broke both the sinews； while its jagged
edges tore away all the flesh。 The hero fell on his knees； and
propped himself with his hand resting on the ground till the
darkness of night fell upon his eyes。 And now Aeneas； king of
men； would have perished then and there； had not his mother；
Jove's daughter Venus； who had conceived him by Anchises when he
was herding cattle； been quick to mark； and thrown her two white
arms about the body of her dear son。 She protected him by
covering him with a fold of her own fair garment； lest some
Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him。
Thus； then； did she bear her dear son out of the fight。 But the
son of Capaneus was not unmindful of the orders that Diomed had
given him。 He made his own horses fast； away from the
hurly…burly； by binding the reins to the rim of the chariot。 Then
he sprang upon Aeneas's horses and drove them from the Trojan to
the Achaean ranks。 When he had so done he gave them over to his
chosen rade Deipylus； whom he valued above all others as the
one who was most like…minded with himself； to take them on to the
ships。 He then remounted his own chariot； seized the reins； and
drove with all speed in search of the son of Tydeus。
Now the son of Tydeus was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess；
spear in hand； 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； and when at last after a long chase he
caught her up； he flew at her and thrust his spear into the flesh
of her delicate hand。 The point tore through the ambrosial robe
which the Graces had woven for her； and pierced the skin between
her wrist and the palm of her hand； so that the immortal blood；
or ichor； that flows in the veins of the blessed gods； came
pouring from the wound； for the gods do not eat bread nor drink
wine； hence they have no blood such as ours； and are immortal。
Venus screamed aloud； and let her son fall； but Phoebus Apollo
caught him in his arms； and hid him in a cloud of darkness； lest
some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him；
and Diomed shouted out as he left her； 〃Daughter of Jove； leave
war and battle alone； can you not be contented with beguiling
silly women？ If you meddle with fighting you will get what will
make you shudder at the very name of war。〃
The goddess went dazed and disfited away； and Iris； fleet as
the wind； drew her from the throng； in pain and with her fair
skin all besmirched。 She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of
the battle； with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a
cloud； whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and
implored him to let her have hi