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gainsaid； but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors； who are
perishing and coming 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 another…
death… cry 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 do… how 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 is far stronger than any。〃
Diomed answered； 〃All that you have said is true； there is a grief
however which pierces me to the very heart； for Hector will talk among
the Trojans and say； 'The son of Tydeus fled before me to the
ships。' This is the vaunt he will make； and may earth then swallow
me。〃
〃Son of Tydeus；〃 replied Nestor； 〃what mean you？ Though Hector say
that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him；
nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low。〃
So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle；
and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector rained their
darts after them。 Hector shouted to him and said； 〃Son of Tydeus；
the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as regards your place at
table； the meals they give you； and the filling of your cup with wine。
Henceforth they will despise you； for you are become no better than
a woman。 Be off； girl and coward that you are； you shall not scale our
walls through any Hinching upon my part； neither shall you carry off
our wives in your ships； for I shall kill you with my own hand。〃
The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his
horses round again and fight him。 Thrice did he doubt； and thrice
did Jove thunder from the heights of。 Ida in token to the Trojans that
he would turn the battle in their favour。 Hector then shouted to
them and