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was Hercules； my own brave and lion…hearted father； who came here
for the horses of Laomedon； and though he had six ships only； and
few men to follow him； sacked the city of Ilius and made a
wilderness of her highways。 You are a coward； and your people are
falling from you。 For all your strength； and all your ing from
Lycia； you will be no help to the Trojans but will pass the gates
of Hades vanquished by my hand。〃
And Sarpedon； captain of the Lycians； answered； 〃Tlepolemus； your
father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon's folly in refusing
payment to one who had served him well。 He would not give your
father the horses which he had e so far to fetch。 As for
yourself； you shall meet death by my spear。 You shall yield glory
to myself； and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds。〃
Thus spoke Sarpedon； and Tlepolemus upraised his spear。 They
threw at the same moment； and Sarpedon struck his foe in the
middle of his throat； the spear went right through； and the
darkness of death fell upon his eyes。 Tlepolemus's spear struck
Sarpedon on the left thigh with such force that it tore through
the flesh and grazed the bone； but his father as yet warded off
destruction from him。
His rades bore Sarpedon out of the fight； in great pain by the
weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound。 They were
in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of
drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly。
Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus；
whereon Ulysses was moved to pity； and panted for the fray as he
beheld them。 He doubted whether to pursue the son of Jove； or to
make slaughter of the Lycian rank and file； it was not decreed；
however； that he should slay the son of Jove； Minerva； therefore；
turned him against the main body of the Lycians。 He killed
Coeranus； Alastor； Chromius； Alcandrus； Halius； Noemon； and
Prytanis； and would have slain yet more； had not great Hector
marked him； and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit
of mail； filling the Danaans with terror。 Sarpedon was glad when
he saw him ing； and besought him； saying； 〃Son of Priam； let
me not be here to fall into the hands of the Danaans。 Help me；
and since I may not return home to gladden the hearts of my wife
and of my infant son； let me die within the walls of your city。〃
Hector made him no answer； but rushed onward to fall at once upon
the Achaeans and kill many among them。 His rades then bore
Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove's spreading oak tree。
Pelagon； his friend and rade； drew the spear out of his thigh；
but Sarpedon fainted and a mist came over his eyes。 Presently he
came to himself again； for the breath of the north wind as it
played upon him gave him new life； and brought him out of the
deep swoon into which he had fallen。
Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by
Mars and Hector； nor yet did they attack them； when they knew
that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated； but kept their
faces still turned towards the foe。 Who； then； was first and who
last to be slain by Mars and Hector？ They were valiant Teuthras；
and Orestes the renowned charioteer； Trechus the Aetolian
warrior； Oenomaus； Helenus the son of Oenops； and Oresbius of the
gleaming girdle； who was possessed of great wealth； and dwelt by
the Cephisian lake with the other Boeotians who lived near him；
owners of a fertile country。
Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling； she said
to Minerva； 〃Alas； daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable；
the promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he
had sacked the city of Ilius will be of no effect if we let Mars
rage thus furiously。 Let us go into the fray at once。〃
Minerva did not gainsay her。 Thereon the august goddess； daughter
of great Saturn； began to harness her gold…bedizened steeds。 Hebe
with all speed fitted on the eight…spoked wheels of bronze that
were on either side of the iron axle…tree。 The felloes of the
wheels were of gold； imperishable； and over these there was a
tire of bronze； wondrous to behold。 The naves of the wheels were
silver； turning round the axle upon either side。 The car itself
was made with plaited bands of gold and silver； and it had a
double top…rail running all round it。 From the body of the car
there went a pole of silver； on to the end of which she bound the
golden yoke； with the bands of gold that were to go under the
necks of the horses Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke；
eager for battle and the war…cry。
Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture； made with
her own hands； on to her father's threshold； and donned the shirt
of Jove； arming herself for battle。 She threw her tasselled aegis
about her shoulders； wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe；
and on it were Strife； and Strength； and Panic whose blood runs
cold； moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon；
grim and awful to behold； portent of aegis…bearing Jove。 On her
head she set her helmet of gold； with four plumes； and ing to
a peak both in front and behinddecked with the emblems of a
hundred cities； then she stepped into her flaming chariot and
grasped the spear； so stout and sturdy and strong； with which she
quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her。 Juno lashed
the horses on； and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open
of their own accordgates over which the Hours preside； in whose
hands are Heaven and Olympus； either to open the dense cloud that
hides them； or to close it。 Through these the goddesses drove
their obedient steeds； and found the son of Saturn sitting all
alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus。 There Juno stayed her
horses； and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn； lord of all。 〃Father
Jove；〃 said she； 〃are you not angry with Mars for these high
doings？ how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he has
destroyed to my great grief； and without either right or reason；
while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease
and setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief。 I
hope； Father Jove； that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard；
and chase him out of the battle。〃
And Jove answered； 〃Set Minerva on to him； for she punishes him
more often than any one else does。〃
Juno did as he had said。 She lashed her horses； and they flew
forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and sky。 As far as a
man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon；
so far can the loud…neighing horses of the gods spring at a
single bound。 When they reached Troy and the place where its two
flowing streams Simois and Scamander meet； there Juno stayed them
and took them from the chariot。 She hid them in a thick cloud；
and Simois made ambrosia spring up for them to eat； the two
goddesses then went on； flying like turtledoves in their
eagerness to help the Argives。 When they came to the part where
the bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty Diomed；
fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength and
endurance； there Juno stood still and raised a shout like that of
brazen…voiced Stentor； whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men
together。