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suffuse light over the earth； Jove called the gods in council on
the topmost crest of serrated Olympus。 Then he spoke and all the
other gods gave ear。 〃Hear me；〃 said he； 〃gods and goddesses；
that I may speak even as I am minded。 Let none of you neither
goddess nor god try to cross me； but obey me every one of you
that I may bring this matter to an end。 If I see anyone acting
apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans； he shall be beaten
inordinately ere he e back again to Olympus； or I will hurl
him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the
earth； where the gates are iron and the floor bronze； as far
beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth； that you may
learn how much the mightiest I am among you。 Try me and find out
for yourselves。 Hangs me a golden chain from heaven； and lay hold
of it all of you； gods and goddesses togethertug as you will；
you will not drag Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to
earth； but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with
earth and sea into the bargain； then would I bind the chain about
some pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid
firmament。 So far am I above all others either of gods or men。〃
They were frightened and all of them of held their peace； for he
had spoken masterfully； but at last Minerva answered； 〃Father；
son of Saturn； king of kings； we all know that your might is not
to be gainsaid； but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors；
who are perishing and ing to a bad end。 We will； however；
since you so bid us； refrain from actual fighting； but we will
make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may not all
of them perish in your displeasure。〃
Jove smiled at her and answered； 〃Take heart； my child；
Trito…born； I am not really in earnest； and I wish to be kind to
you。〃
With this he yoked his fleet horses； with hoofs of bronze and
manes of glittering gold。 He girded himself also with gold about
the body； seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot。
Thereon he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing loth
midway twixt earth and starry heaven。 After a while he reached
many…fountained Ida； mother of wild beasts； and Gargarus； where
are his grove and fragrant altar。 There the father of gods and
men stayed his horses； took them from the chariot； and hid them
in a thick cloud； then he took his seat all glorious upon the
topmost crests； looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships
of the Achaeans。
The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships； and
afterwards put on their armour。 The Trojans on the other hand
likewise armed themselves throughout the city； fewer in numbers
but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and
children。 All the gates were flung wide open； and horse and foot
sallied forth with the tramp as of a great multitude。
When they were got together in one place； shield clashed with
shield； and spear with spear； in the conflict of mail…clad men。
Mighty was the din as the bossed shields pressed hard on one
anotherdeathcry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers；
and the earth ran red with blood。
Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their
weapons beat against one another； and the people fell； but when
the sun had reached mid…heaven； the sire of all balanced his
golden scales； and put two fates of death within them； one for
the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans。 He took the balance
by the middle； and when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans
sank； the death…fraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon
the ground； while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards。 Then he
thundered aloud from Ida； and sent the glare of his lightning
upon the Achaeans； when they saw this； pale fear fell upon them
and they were sore afraid。
Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon； nor did the two
Ajaxes； servants of Mars； hold their ground。 Nestor knight of
Gerene alone stood firm； bulwark of the Achaeans； not of his own
will； but one of his horses was disabled。 Alexandrus husband of
lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head
where the mane begins to grow away from the skull； a very deadly
place。 The horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his
brain； and his struggles threw others into confusion。 The old man
instantly began cutting the traces with his sword； but Hector's
fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold
charioteer； even Hector himself； and the old man would have
perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark； and
with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him。
〃Ulysses；〃 he cried； 〃noble son of Laertes where are you flying
to； with your back turned like a coward？ See that you are not
struck with a spear between the shoulders。 Stay here and help me
to defend Nestor from this man's furious onset。〃
Ulysses would not give ear； but sped onward to the ships of the
Achaeans； and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the
thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of
Neleus。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃these young warriors are pressing you
hard； your force is spent； and age is heavy upon you； your squire
is naught； and your horses are slow to move。 Mount my chariot and
see what the horses of Tros can dohow cleverly they can scud
hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit。
I took them from the hero Aeneas。 Let our squires attend to your
own steeds； but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans； that
Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear。〃
Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words。 Thereon the
doughty squires； Sthenelus and kind…hearted Eurymedon； saw to
Nestor's horses； while the two both mounted Diomed's chariot。
Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on； they
were soon close up with Hector； and the son of Tydeus aimed a
spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them。 He
missed him； but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of
noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were
in his hands； so that he died there and then； and the horses
swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot。 Hector was greatly
grieved at the loss of his charioteer； but let him lie for all
his sorrow； while he went in quest of another driver； nor did his
steeds have to go long without one； for he presently found brave
Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus； and made him get up behind the
horses； giving the reins into his hand。
All had then been lost and no help for it； for they would have
been penned up in Ilius like sheep； had not the sire of gods and
men been quick to mark； and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt
which fell just in front of Diomed's horses with a flare of
burning brimstone。 The horses were frightened and tried to back
beneath the car； while the reins dropped from Nestor's hands。
Then he was afraid and said to Diomed； 〃Son of Tydeus； turn your
horses in flight； see you not that the hand of Jove is against
you？ To…day he vouchsafes victory to Hector； to…morrow； if it so
please him； he will again grant it to ourselves； no man； however
brave； may thwart the purpose of Jove； for he