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phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus； and many
though they were； they dared not abide his onslaught。
Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving
the Trojans pell…mell before him； he aimed an arrow and hit the
front part of his cuirass near the shoulder： the arrow went right
through the metal and pierced the flesh； so that the cuirass was
covered with blood。 On this the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph；
〃Knights Trojans； come on； the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded； and
he will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was indeed with me
when I sped from Lycia hither。〃
Thus did he vaunt； but his arrow had not killed Diomed； who withdrew
and made for the chariot and horses of Sthenelus； the son of Capaneus。
〃Dear son of Capaneus；〃 said he； 〃come down from your chariot； and
draw the arrow out of my shoulder。〃
Sthenelus sprang from his chariot； and drew the arrow from the
wound； whereon the blood came spouting out through the hole that had
been made in his shirt。 Then Diomed prayed； saying； 〃Hear me； daughter
of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； if ever you loved my father well
and stood by him in the thick of a fight； do the like now by me； grant
me to come within a spear's throw of that man and kill him。 He has
been too quick for me and has wounded me； and now he is boasting
that I shall not see the light of the sun much longer。〃
Thus he prayed； and Pallas Minerva heard him； she made his limbs
supple and quickened his hands and his feet。 Then she went up close to
him and said； 〃Fear not； Diomed； to do battle with the Trojans； for
I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus。
Moreover； I have withdrawn the veil from your eyes； that you know gods
and men apart。 If； then； any other god comes here and offers you
battle； do not fight him； but should Jove's daughter Venus come；
strike her with your spear and wound her。〃
When she had said this Minerva went away； and the son of Tydeus
again took his place among the foremost fighters； three times more
fierce even than he had been before。 He was like a lion that some
mountain shepherd has wounded； but not killed； as he is springing over
the wall of a sheep…yard to attack the sheep。 The shepherd has
roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his flock； so he takes
shelter under cover of the buildings； while the sheep；
panic…stricken on being deserted； are smothered in heaps one on top of
the other； and the angry lion leaps out over the sheep…yard wall。 Even
thus did Diomed go furiously about among the Trojans。
He killed Astynous； and shepherd of his people； the one with a
thrust of his spear； which struck him above the nipple； the other with
a sword… cut on the collar…bone； that severed his shoulder from his
neck and back。 He let both of them lie； and went in pursuit of Abas
and Polyidus； sons of the old reader of dreams Eurydamas： they never
came back for him to read them any more dreams； for mighty Diomed made
an end of them。 He then gave chase to Xanthus and Thoon； the two
sons of Phaenops； both of them very dear to him； for he was now worn
out with age； and begat no more sons to inherit his possessions。 But
Diomed took both their lives and left their father sorrowing bitterly；
for he nevermore saw them come home from battle alive； and his kinsmen
divided his wealth among themselves。
Then he came upon two sons of Priam； Echemmon and Chromius； as
they were both in one chariot。 He sprang upon them as a lion fastens
on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is feeding in a
coppice。 For all their vain struggles he flung them both from their
chariot and stripped the armour from their bodies。 Then he gave
their horses to his comrades to take them back to the ships。
When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks； he went
through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find
Pandarus。 When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said；
〃Pandarus； where is now your bow； your winged arrows； and your
renown as an archer； in respect of which no man here can rival you nor
is there any in Lycia that can beat you？ Lift then your hands to
Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so masterfully
about； and has done such deadly work among the Trojans。 He has
killed many a brave man… unless indeed he is some god who is angry
with the Trojans about their sacrifices； and and has set his hand
against them in his displeasure。〃
And the son of Lycaon answered； 〃Aeneas； I take him for none other
than the son of Tydeus。 I know him by his shield； the visor of his
helmet； and by his horses。 It is possible that he may be a god； but if
he is the man I say he is； he is not making all this havoc without
heaven's help； but has some god by his side who is shrouded in a cloud
of darkness； and who turned my arrow aside when it had hit him。 I have
taken aim at him already and hit him on the right shoulder； my arrow
went through the breastpiece of his cuirass； and I made sure I
should send him hurrying to the world below； but it seems that I
have not killed him。 There must be a god who is angry with me。
Moreover I have neither horse nor chariot。 In my father's stables
there are eleven excellent chariots； fresh from the builder； quite
new； with cloths spread over them； and by each of them there stand a
pair of horses； champing barley and rye； my old father Lycaon urged me
again and again when I was at home and on the point of starting； to
take chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in
battle； but I would not listen to him； it would have been much
better if I had done so； but I was thinking about the horses； which
had been used to eat their fill； and I was afraid that in such a great
gathering of men they might be ill…fed； so I left them at home and
came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and arrows。 These it
seems； are of no use； for I have already hit two chieftains； the
sons of Atreus and of Tydeus； and though I drew blood surely enough； I
have only made them still more furious。 I 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 fire… such 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。