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brazen…voiced Stentor； whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men
together。 〃Argives；〃 she cried； 〃shame on cowardly creatures；
brave in semblance only； as long as Achilles was fighting； if his
spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves
outside the Dardanian gates； but now they sally far from the city
and fight even at your ships。〃
With these words she put heart and soul into them all； while
Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus； whom she found
near his chariot and horses； cooling the wound that Pandarus had
given him。 For the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight
of his shield irritated the hurt： his arm was weary with pain；
and he was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood。 The
goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his horses and said； 〃The
son of Tydeus is not such another as his father。 Tydeus was a
little man； but he could fight； and rushed madly into the fray
even when I told him not to do so。 When he went all unattended as
envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans； I bade him feast
in their houses and be at peace； but with that high spirit which
was ever present with him； he challenged the youth of the
Cadmeans； and at once beat them in all that he attempted； so
mightily did I help him。 I stand by you too to protect you； and I
bid you be instant in fighting the Trojans； but either you are
tired out； or you are afraid and out of heart； and in that case I
say that you are no true son of Tydeus the son of Oeneus。〃
Diomed answered； 〃I know you； goddess； daughter of aegis…bearing
Jove； and will hide nothing from you。 I am not afraid nor out of
heart； nor is there any slackness in me。 I am only following your
own instructions； you told me not to fight any of the blessed
gods； but if Jove's daughter Venus came into battle I was to
wound her with my spear。 Therefore I am retreating； and bidding
the other Argives gather in this place； for I know that Mars is
now lording it in the field。〃
〃Diomed； son of Tydeus；〃 replied Minerva； 〃man after my own
heart； fear neither Mars nor any other of the immortals； for I
will befriend you。 Nay； drive straight at Mars； and smite him in
close bat； fear not this raging madman； villain incarnate；
first on one side and then on the other。 But now he was holding
talk with Juno and myself； saying he would help the Argives and
attack the Trojans； nevertheless he is with the Trojans； and has
forgotten the Argives。〃
With this she caught hold of Sthenelus and lifted him off the
chariot on to the ground。 In a second he was on the ground；
whereupon the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the
side of Diomed。 The oaken axle groaned aloud under the burden of
the awful goddess and the hero； Pallas Minerva took the whip and
reins； and drove straight at Mars。 He was in the act of stripping
huge Periphas； son of Ochesius and bravest of the Aetolians。
Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armour； and Minerva donned
the helmet of Hades； that he might not see her； when； therefore；
he saw Diomed； he made straight for him and let Periphas lie
where he had fallen。 As soon as they were at close quarters he
let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke； thinking
to take Diomed's life； but Minerva caught the spear in her hand
and made it fly harmlessly over the chariot。 Diomed then threw；
and Pallas Minerva drove the spear into the pit of Mars's stomach
where his under…girdle went round him。 There Diomed wounded him；
tearing his fair flesh and then drawing his spear out again。 Mars
roared as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in the thick of a
fight； and the Achaeans and Trojans were struck with panic； so
terrible was the cry he raised。
As a dark cloud in the sky when it es on to blow after heat；
even so did Diomed son of Tydeus see Mars ascend into the broad
heavens。 With all speed he reached high Olympus； home of the
gods； and in great pain sat down beside Jove the son of Saturn。
He showed Jove the immortal blood that was flowing from his
wound； and spoke piteously； saying； 〃Father Jove； are you not
angered by such doings？ We gods are continually suffering in the
most cruel manner at one another's hands while helping mortals；
and we all owe you a grudge for having begotten that mad
termagant of a daughter； who is always mitting outrage of some
kind。 We other gods must all do as you bid us； but her you
neither scold nor punish； you encourage her because the pestilent
creature is your daughter。 See how she has been inciting proud
Diomed to vent his rage on the immortal gods。 First he went up to
the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist； and then
he sprang upon me too as though he were a god。 Had I not run for
it I must either have lain there for long enough in torments
among the ghastly corpses； or have been eaten alive with spears
till I had no more strength left in me。〃
Jove looked angrily at him and said； 〃Do not e whining here；
Sir Facing…both…ways。 I hate you worst of all the gods in
Olympus； for you are ever fighting and making mischief。 You have
the intolerable and stubborn spirit of your mother Juno： it is
all I can do to manage her； and it is her doing that you are now
in this plight： still； I cannot let you remain longer in such
great pain； you are my own offspring； and it was by me that your
mother conceived you； if； however； you had been the son of any
other god； you are so destructive that by this time you should
have been lying lower than the Titans。〃
He then bade Paeeon heal him； whereon Paeeon spread pain…killing
herbs upon his wound and cured him； for he was not of mortal
mould。 As the juice of the fig…tree curdles milk； and thickens it
in a moment though it is liquid； even so instantly did Paeeon
cure fierce Mars。 Then Hebe washed him； and clothed him in goodly
raiment； and he took his seat by his father Jove all glorious to
behold。
But Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalene； now that they had
put a stop to the murderous doings of Mars； went back again to
the house of Jove。
BOOK VI
Glaucus and DiomedThe story of Bellerophon
Hector and Andromache。
THE fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it
would； and the tide of war surged hither and thither over the
plain as they aimed their bronze…shod spears at one another
between the streams of Simois and Xanthus。
First； Ajax son of Telamon； tower of strength to the Achaeans；
broke a phalanx of the Trojans； and came to the assistance of his
rades by killing Acamas son of Eussorus； the best man among
the Thracians； being both brave and of great stature。 The spear
struck the projecting peak of his helmet： its bronze point then
went through his forehead into the brain； and darkness veiled his
eyes。
Then Diomed killed Axylus son of Teuthranus； a rich man who lived
in the strong city of Arisbe； and was beloved by all men； for he
had a house by the roadside； and entertained every one who
passed； howbeit not one of his guests stood before him to save
his life； and Diomed killed both him and his squire Calesius； who
was then his charioteerso the pair passed beneath the earth。
Euryalus killed Dresus and Opheltius； and then went in