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And laughter…loving Venus answered； 〃Proud Diomed； the son of
Tydeus； wounded me because I was bearing my dear son Aeneas； whom I
love best of all mankind； out of the fight。 The war is no longer one
between Trojans and Achaeans； for the Danaans have now taken to
fighting with the immortals。〃
〃Bear it； my child；〃 replied Dione； 〃and make the best of it。 We
dwellers in Olympus have to put up with much at the hands of men；
and we lay much suffering on one another。 Mars had to suffer when Otus
and Ephialtes； children of Aloeus； bound him in cruel bonds； so that
he lay thirteen months imprisoned in a vessel of bronze。 Mars would
have then perished had not fair Eeriboea； stepmother to the sons of
Aloeus； told Mercury； who stole him away when he was already well…nigh
worn out by the severity of his bondage。 Juno； again； suffered when
the mighty son of Amphitryon wounded her on the right breast with a
three…barbed arrow； and nothing could assuage her pain。 So； also；
did huge Hades； when this same man； the son of aegis…bearing Jove； hit
him with an arrow even at the gates of hell； and hurt him badly。
Thereon Hades went to the house of Jove on great Olympus； angry and
full of pain； and the arrow in his brawny shoulder caused him great
anguish till Paeeon healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the
wound； for Hades was not of mortal mould。 Daring； head…strong；
evildoer who recked not of his sin in shooting the gods that dwell
in Olympus。 And now Minerva has egged this son of Tydeus on against
yourself； fool that he is for not reflecting that no man who fights
with gods will live long or hear his children prattling about his
knees when he returns from battle。 Let； then； the son of Tydeus see
that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger than you
are。 Then shall his brave wife Aegialeia； daughter of Adrestus；
rouse her whole house from sleep； wailing for the loss of her wedded
lord； Diomed the bravest of the Achaeans。〃
So saying； she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her daughter with
both hands； whereon the pain left her； and her hand was healed。 But
Minerva and Juno； who were looking on； began to taunt Jove with
their mocking talk； and Minerva was first to speak。 〃Father Jove；〃
said she； 〃do not be angry with me； but I think the Cyprian must
have been persuading some one of the Achaean women to go with the
Trojans of whom she is so very fond； and while caressing one or
other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the gold pin
of the woman's brooch。〃
The sire of gods and men smiled； and called golden Venus to his
side。 〃My child；〃 said he； 〃it has not been given you to be a warrior。
Attend； henceforth； to your own delightful matrimonial duties； and
leave all this fighting to Mars and to Minerva。〃
Thus did they converse。 But Diomed sprang upon Aeneas； though he
knew him to be in the very arms of Apollo。 Not one whit did he fear
the mighty god； so set was he on killing Aeneas and stripping him of
his armour。 Thrice did he spring forward with might and main to slay
him； and thrice did Apollo beat back his gleaming shield。 When he
was coming on for the fourth time； as though he were a god； Apollo
shouted to him with an awful voice and said； 〃Take heed； son of
Tydeus； and draw off； think not to match yourself against gods； for
men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals。〃
The son of Tydeus then gave way for a little space； to avoid the
anger of the god； while Apollo took Aeneas out of the crowd and set
him in sacred Pergamus； where his temple stood。 There； within the
mighty sanctuary； Latona and Diana healed him and made him glorious to
behold； while Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a wraith in the
likeness of Aeneas； and armed as he was。 Round this the Trojans and
Achaeans hacked at the bucklers about one another's breasts； hewing
each other's round shields and light hide…covered targets。 Then
Phoebus Apollo said to Mars； 〃Mars； Mars； bane of men； blood…stained
stormer of cities； can you not go to this man； the son of Tydeus；
who would now fight even with father Jove； and draw him out of the
battle？ He first went up to the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand
near her wrist； and afterwards sprang upon me too； as though he were a
god。〃
He then took his seat on the top of Pergamus； while murderous Mars
went about among the ranks of the Trojans； cheering them on； in the
likeness of fleet Acamas chief of the Thracians。 〃Sons of Priam；〃 said
he； 〃how long will you let your people be thus slaughtered by the
Achaeans？ Would you wait till they are at the walls of Troy？ Aeneas
the son of Anchises has fallen； he whom we held in as high honour as
Hector himself。 Help me； then； to rescue our brave comrade from the
stress of the fight。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Then
Sarpedon rebuked Hector very sternly。 〃Hector；〃 said he； 〃where is
your prowess now？ You used to say that though you had neither people
nor allies you could hold the town alone with your brothers and
brothers…in…law。 I see not one of them here； they cower as hounds
before a lion； it is we； your allies； who bear the brunt of the
battle。 I have come from afar； even from Lycia and the banks of the
river Xanthus； where I have left my wife； my infant son； and much
wealth to tempt whoever is needy； nevertheless； I head my Lycian
soldiers and stand my ground against any who would fight me though I
have nothing here for the Achaeans to plunder； while you look on；
without even bidding your men stand firm in defence of their wives。
See that you fall not into the hands of your foes as men caught in the
meshes of a net； and they sack your fair city forthwith。 Keep this
before your mind night and day； and beseech the captains of your
allies to hold on without flinching； and thus put away their
reproaches from you。〃
So spoke Sarpedon； and Hector smarted under his words。 He sprang
from his chariot clad in his suit of armour； and went about among
the host brandishing his two spears； exhorting the men to fight and
raising the terrible cry of battle。 Then they rallied and again
faced the Achaeans； but the Argives stood compact and firm； and were
not driven back。 As the breezes sport with the chaff upon some
goodly threshing…floor； when men are winnowing… while yellow Ceres
blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the grain； and the chaff…
heaps grow whiter and whiter… even so did the Achaeans whiten in the
dust which the horses' hoofs raised to the firmament of heaven； as
their drivers turned them back to battle； and they bore down with
might upon the foe。 Fierce Mars； to help the Trojans； covered them
in a veil of darkness； and went about everywhere among them；
inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told him that when he saw Pallas；
Minerva leave the fray he was to put courage into the hearts of the
Trojans… for it was she who was helping the Danaans。 Then Apollo
sent Aeneas forth from his rich sanctuary； and filled his heart with
valour； whereon he took his place among his comrades； who were
overjoyed at seeing him alive； sound； and of a good courage； but
they could not ask him how it had all happened； for they were too