The Iliad (Audiobook) by Homer - Book 5

Book 5: Diomedes' Aristeia (Great Deeds)
Diomedes, empowered by Athena, becomes a nearly unstoppable force. He even wounds two gods, Aphrodite and Ares.
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents the Iliad by Homer. Section five
of the Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. Book
five the exploits of Diomed, who, though wounded by Pandarus,
continues fighting. He kills Pandarus and wounds Eneus. Venus rescues Aeneus,

(00:22):
but being wounded by Diomed, commits him to the care
of Apollo and goes to Olympus, where she is tended
by her mother Dione. Mars encourages the Trojans, and Aeneas
returns to the fight cured of his wound. Minerva and
Juno help the Achaeans, and, by the advice of the former,
Diomed wounds Mars, who returns to Olympus to get cured.

(00:47):
Then Pallas Minerva put valor into the heart of Diomed,
son of Tideus, that he might excel all the other
archives and cover himself with glory. She made a stream
of fire flare from his shield and help. But like
the star that shines most brilliantly in summer after its
bath in the waters of Oceanus, even such a fire
did she kindle upon his head and shoulders. As she

(01:09):
bat him speed into the thickest hurly burly of the fight.
Now there was a certain rich and honorable man among
the Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was Dari's.
He had two sons, Pegius and Idaeus, both of them
skilled in all the arts of war. These two came
forward from the main body of Trojans and set upon Diomed,

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he being on foot, while they fought from their chariot.
When they were close up to one another, Figius took
aim first, but his spear went over Diomed's left shoulder
without hitting him. Diomed then threw and his spear sped
not in vain. Fred hid Phegeus on the breast near
the nipple, and he fell from his chariot. Edeus did

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not dare to bestride his brother's body, but sprang from
the chariot and took to flight, or he would have
shared his brother's fate. Whereon Falcan saved him by wrapping
him in a cloud of darkness, that his old father
might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief. But the son
of Tydeus drove off with the horses and bade his
followers take them to the ships. The Trojans were scared

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when they saw the two sons of Daris, one of
them in fright and the other lying dead by his chariot.
Minerva therefore took Mars by the hand and said, Mars, Mars,
bane of men, blood stained stormer of cities, May we
not now leave the Trojans in Niki and Sta fight
it out, and to see which of the two jove
will vouchsafe the victory. Let us go away and thus

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avoid his anger. So saying, she drew Mars out of
the battle, and set him down upon the steep banks
of the s Commander. Upon their the Danaan strove the
Trojans back, and each one of their chieftains killed his man. First,
King Agamemnon flung Mighty Odious, captain of the Halizoni from
his chariot. The spear of Agamemnon caught him on the

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broad of his back just as he was turning in flight.
It struck him between the shoulders and went right through
his chest, and his armor rang rattling round him as
he fell heavily to the ground. Then Idromenaeus killed Faesus,
son of Borus, the Meonian, who had come from Varni.
Mighty Idomeneus spared him on the right shoulder as he

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was mounting his chariot, and the darkness of death enshrouded him.
As he fell heavily from the car. The squire of
it Ameneus spoiled him of his armor, while Menelaeus, son
of Atreus, killed Scamandrius, son of Strophius, a mighty huntsman
and keen lover of the chase. Diana herself had taught
him how to kill every kind of wild creature that

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is bred in mountain forests. But neither she nor his
famed skill in archery could now save him, for the
spear of Menelaeus struck him in the back as he
was flying. It struck him between the shoulders and went
right through his chest, so that he fell headlong, and
his armor rang rattling round him. Marione then killed Feryicleus,
the son of Tecton, who was the son of Hermon,

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a man whose hand was skilled in all manner of
gunning workmanship, for Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him. He
it was that made the ships for Alexandros, which were
the beginning of all mischief and brought evil alike. Both
on the Trojans, and on Alexandras himself, for he heeded
not the decrees of heaven. Mariones overtook him as he
was flying and struck him on the right buttock. The

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point of the spear went through the bone into the bladder,
and death came upon him as he cried aloud and
fell forward on his knees. Mege Is moreover slew Pedaeus,
son of Antenor, who though he was a bast that
had been brought up bo Theano as one of her
own children for the love she bore her husband. The
son of Phileus, got close up to him and drove

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a sphere into the nape of his neck that went
under his tongue all among his teeth. So he bit
the cold bronze and fell dead in the dust. And Eurypolus,
son of Yuaimon, killed his spare Or, the son of
noble Dollopian, who had been made priest to the river's
commander and was honored among the people as though he
were a god. Iurrippulus gave him chase as he was

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flying before him, smote him with his sword upon the
arm and lopped his strong hand from off it. The
bloody hand fell to the ground, and the shades of
death with fate that no man can withstand, came over
his eyes. Thus furiously did the battle rage between them.
As for the son of Tydeus, you could not say

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whether he was more among the Achaeans or the Trojans.
He rushed across the plain like a winter torrent that
has burst its barrier in full flood. No dike, snow
walls of fruitful vineyards can embank it when it has
swollen with rain from heaven. But in a moment it
comes tearing onwards and lays many a field waste that
many a strong man's hand has reclaimed. Even so with

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the dense 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 plane and driving the Trojan's
pell mell before him, he aimed an arrow and hit
the front part of his cairass, near the shoulder. The
arrow went right through the metal and pierced the flesh,

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so that the cairass was covered with blood. On this
the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph nights Trojans. Come on,
the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded. He will not
hold out much longer. If King Apollo was indeed with
me when I sped from Lysia, hither thus did he vaunt.
But his arrow had not killed Diomed, who withdrew and

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made for the chariot and horses of Thethenelus, the son
of Capaneus, dear son of Kapenau, 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,

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hear me, daughter of egis bearing jove unweariable. If ever
you of 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 Manova heard him.

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She made his limb supple, and quickened his hands and 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 Tedious. 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

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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 Tedious
again took his place among the foremost fighters, three times
more fierce even than he had been before. He was
like a lion. That's some mountain. Shepherd is wounded but
not killed, as he is springing over the wall of

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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 sheepyard wall even thus did Diomed
go furiously about among the Trojans. He killed Astinus and

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hypeiaon 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 when in pursuit of Arbas
and Pelidas, sons of the old reader of dreams Eurydemus,
they never came back for him to read them any
more dreams. For mighty Diomed made an end of them.

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He gave them chase to Xanthus and Thoon, the two
sons of Phenops, 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 fathers sorrowing bitterly, for
he never more saw them come home from battle alive,
and his kinsmen divided his wealth among themselves. Then he

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came upon two sons of Priam Mechemon 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 armor from their bodies. Then
he gave their horses to his comrades to take them

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back to the ships. When Anea saw him, thus making
havoc among the ranks, he went through the fight amid
the reign of spears to see if he could find Pandarus.
When he had found the brave son of Lsaon, 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 rivaled you, Nor is there any lysia that

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can beat you. Left. 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 has set his hand against them in
his displeasure. And the son of Lasaion, answered Aeneas, I

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take him for none other than the son of tideous.
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 arrows aside when it had hit him. I

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have taken name at him already and hit him on
the right shoulder. My arrow went through the breast piece
of his carass, and I made sure I should send
him scurrying to the world below. But it seems that
I have not killed him. There must be a God
who was angry with me. Moreover, I have neither horse
nor chariot. In my father's stable. There are eleven excellent chariots,

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fresh from the builder, quite new, with cloths spread out
over them, and by each of them there stand a
pair of horses, champing, barley and rye. My old father,
la say. I 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.

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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 Willis, armed only with my bow and arrows. These,
it seems, are of no use, for I have already
hit two chieftains, the son of Atreus and of Tideus,
And though I drew blood, surely enough, I have only

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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 may someone cut off my head then and there.
If I do not break the bow and set it
on hot fire, such pranks as it plays me aneas

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answered say, no more things will not men 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 tross can speed
hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or flight.
If Jove again Vouchsafe's glory to the son of Tideous,
they will carry us safely back to the city. Take

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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, Aneas
replied the son of Lacion, Take the reins and drive.
If we have to fly before the sons of Tidious,
the horses will go better for their own driver. If
they miss the sound of your voice when they expect it,

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they may be frightened and refuse to take us out
of the fight. The son of Tedious will then kill
both of us and take the horses. Therefore, do them yourself,
and I will be ready for him with my spear.
Then they mounted the chariot and drove full speed towards
the son of Tedious. Stenelus, son of Capaneus, saw them
coming and said to Diomed Diomed, son of Tidious, man

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after my own heart, I see two heroes speeding towards you,
both of them men of might, the one the skillful
archer Pandarus, son of lycaon the other Aeneus, whose sire
is Anchics while his mother is Venus, mount the chariot
and let us retreat. Do not, I pray you press
her furiously forward, or you may get killed. Diomed looked

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angrily at him and answered, talk not to flight, for
I shall not listen to you. I am of a
race that knows neither flight nor fear, and my limbs
are as yet unwearied. I am in no mind to mount,
but will go against them, even as I am palace.
Minerve forbids me be afraid of no man. And even
though one of them escape, their steed, shall not take
both back again. I say further, and lay my saying

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to your heart. If minervasees fit to vouchsafe me the
glory of killing both, stay your horses here and make
the reins fast to the rim of the chariot. Then
be sure you spring Aeneas horses and drive them from
the Trojan to the Achaean ranks. They are of the
stock that Great Jove gave to Tros in payment for
his son Ganymede, and are the finest that live and

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move under the sun. King Anchises stole the blood by
putting his mares to them. Without Lammidan's knowledge, and they
bore him six folds. Four are still in his stables,
but he gave the other two to Aeneas, we shall
win great glory if we can take them. Thus did
they converse, but the other two had now driven up
close to them, and the son of Lycaon spoke first,

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great and mighty son said, he of noble tedious, My
arrow failed to lay you low, so I will now
try you with my spear. He poised his spear as
he spoke, and hurled it from him. It struck the
shield of the son of Tydeus. The bronze point pierced
it and passed on till it reached the breastplate. Thereon,
the son of la San shouted and said, you are

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hit clean through the belly. You will not stand for long,
and the glory of the fight is mine. But diomed
all undismayed, made answer, you have missed, not hit, and
before you too see the end of this matter, one
or other of you shall glut Tough shielded Mars with
his blood. With this he hurled his spear, and Minerva

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guided it on to Pandarus's nose near the eye. It
went crashing in among his white teeth, the bronze point
cut through the roof of his tongue, coming out under
his chin, and his glistening armor rang rattling round him.
As he fell heavily to the ground. The horses started
aside for fear, and he was reft of life and strength.

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Aeneas sprang from his chariot, armed with shield and spear,
Fearing lest the Achaean should carry off the body, he
bestrode it as a lion in the pride of strength,
with shield and spear before him, and a cry of
battle on his lips, resolute to kill the first it
should dare face him. But the son of Tideous caught
up a mighty stone, so huge and great that, as
men now are, it would take two to lift it. Nevertheless,

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he bore it aloft were these unaided, and with this
he struck ane As on the groin where the hip
turns in the joint that is called the cup bone.
The stone crushed this joint and broke both the sinews,
while its jagged edge tore away all the flesh. The
hero fell on his knees and propped himself with his
hand resting on the ground, till the darkness of night

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fell upon his eyes, and now a Neeus king of men,
would have perished then, and there had not his mother,
Jove's daughter Venus, who had conceived him by anchises, when
he was heard in cattle, been quick to mark and
thrown her two white arms about the body of her
dear son. She protected him by covering him with the
fold of her own fair garment, lest some darayan should

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drive a spear into his breast and kill him. Thus
then did she bear dear son out of the fight.
But the son of Capannaeus was not unmindful of the
orders that diomed had given him. He made his own
horses fast away from the hurly burly by binding the
reins to the rim of the chariot. Then he sprang
upon Aeneas's horses and drove them from the Trojan to

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the Achaean ranks. When he had so done, he gave
them over to his chosen comrade, Diepolus, whom he valued
above all others as the one who was most like
minded with himself, to take them on to the ships.
He then remounted his own chariot, seized the reins, and
drove with all speed in search of the son of Titius. Now,
the son of Titius, was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess,

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spear in hand, for he knew her to be feeble,
and not one of those goddesses that can laud it
among men in battle, like Minerva or Eno, the waster
of cities. And when at last, after a long chase,
he caught her up, he flew at her and thrust
his spear into the flesh of her delicate hand. The
point tore through the ambrosial robe which the graces had
woven for her, and pierced the skin between her wrist

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and the part of her hand, so that the immortal
blood or akor that flows in the veins of the
blessed gods came pouring from the wound. For the gods
do not eat bread nor drink wine, hence they have
no blood such as ours, and are immortal. Venus screamed
aloud and let her son fall, But Phoebus Apollo caught
him in his arms and hid him in a cloud

(18:21):
of darkness, lest some darnaan should drive a spear into
his breast and kill him. And Diamed shouted out as
he left her. Daughter of Jove leave war and battle alone?
Can you not be contented with beguiling silly women? If
you meddle with fighting, you will get what will make
you shudder at the very name of war. The goddess

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went dazed and discomfited away and Iris fleet. As the
wind drew her from the throng, in pain and with
her fair skin all besmirched. She found fierce Mars waiting
on the left of the battle, with his spear and
his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud, whereon she
fell on her knees before her brother and implored him
to let her have his horses. Dear brothers, she cried,

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save me, and give me your horses to take me
to Olympus, whether gods dwell, I am badly wounded by
a mortal, the son of Tydeus, who would now fight
even with father Jove. Thus she spoke, and Mars gave
her his gold but distant steeds. She mounted the chariot,
sick and sorry at heart, while Iras sat beside her

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and took the reins in her hand. She lashed her
horses on, and they flew forwards nothing loath, till in
a trice they were at high Olympus, where the gods
have their dwelling. There. She stayed them, unloosed them from
the chariot, and gave them their ambrosial forage. But Venus
flung herself on to the lap of her mother, Dione,
who threw her arms about her and caressed her, saying,

(19:47):
which of their heavenly beings has been treating you in
this way, as though you had been doing something wrong
in the face of day and laughter? Loving Venus answered
proud diomed, the son of Tydeus, wounded me because I
was bearing my dear son Anias, whom I love best
of all mankind, out of the fight. The war is
no longer one between Trojans and Achaeans, for the Danaeans

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have now taken to fighting with the immortals. Bear it,
my child, replied Dionian, 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 Alasis, bound him in cruel bonds, so that

(20:32):
he lay thirteen months imprisoned in a vessel of bronze.
Mars would have then perished, had not fair erebea step
mother to the sons of Alais told Mercury, who stole
him away when he was ready well nigh worn out
by the severity of his bondage. Juno again suffered when
the mighty son of Emphytron wounded her on the right

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breast with a three barbed arrow, and nothing could assuage
her pain. So also did huge Hades, when this same man,
the son of Eage of sparing 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. To

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Paon healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the wound.
For Hades was not of mortal, mold, daring, headstrong evildoer
who recked not of his sin in shooting the gods
that dwell in Olympus. A nowm Minerva has egged this
son of Tydeus On against yourself, fool that he is,
for not reflecting that no man who fights with God's

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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, Agalia, 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

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wiped the ikor from the wrist of her daughter with
both hands, whereupon 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 Achaian women to

(22:24):
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 golden 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

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attend henceforth to your own delightful matrimonial duties, and leave
all this fighting to Mars under Minerva. Thus did they converse,
but Diomed sprang upon ane As, though he knew him
to be in the very arms of a hollow. Not
one whit did he fear the mighty God. So set
was he unkilling Aneas and stripping him of his armor.

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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 Tydius,
and draw off. Think not to match yourself against gods,
for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own

(23:29):
with the immortals. The son of Tydeus then gave way
for a little space to avoid the anger of the gods,
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

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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 Phoebe Apollo
said to Mars, Mars, Mars, bane of men, blood stained
stormer of cities, Can you not go to this man,

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the son of Tydeus, who would now fight even with
Father Jove, and draw him out of the battle. Efirst
went up to the Ceprian 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

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in the likeness of Fleetacamas, 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 aneas the
son of Anchises has fallen, he whom we held in
as high honor as hector himself, help me then to

(24:55):
rescue our brave comrade from the stress of the flight.
With these words he put heart and soul into them all.
Then Sarpadan 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

(25:17):
see not one of them here. They cowered as hounds
before a lion, and as we your allies, who bear
the brunt of the battle. I have come from Afar,
even from Lysia 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

(25:39):
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 defense of their wives. See
that you fall not into the hands of your foes,
as men caught in the misses of a net, and
they sack your fair city. Forthwith, keep this before your
mind night and day, and beseech the captains of your

(26:01):
allies to hold on without flinching, and thus put away
their reproaches from you, so spoke Sarpadon, and hectors smarted
under his words. He sprang from his chariot, clad in
his suit of armor, and went about among the best,
brandishing his two spears, exhorting the men to fight, and
raising the terrible cry of battle. Then they rallied and

(26:24):
again faced the Achaeans. But the Argives stood compact and firm,
and were not driven back. As the breezes spot 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

(26:45):
dust which the horses, who raised to the firmament of heaven.
As their drivers turned them back to battle, and they
bore down with might upon the foe fears 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,

(27:05):
he was to put courage into the hearts of the Trojans,
for it was she who was helping the Danaeans. Then
Apollo sent Aeneus forth from his rich sanctuary and filled
his heart with valor. 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

(27:26):
busy with the turmoil raised by Mars and by Strife,
who raged insatiably in their midst The two Ajaxes, Mulysses
and Diomed cheered the Danaeans on, fearless of the fury
and onset of the Trojans. They stood as still as
clouds which the son of Saturnus spread upon the mountain
tops when there is no air, and fierce boreous slips

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with the other boisterous winds, whose shrill blasts scatter the
clouds in all directions. Even so did the Danaeans stand,
firm and unflinching against the Trojans. The son of Atreus
went up among them and exhorted, my friends, said, he
quittch yourselves like brave men, and shunned dishonor in one
another's eyes amid the stress of battle. They that shunned

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his honor more often lived than get killed. But they
that flee save neither life nor name. As he spoke,
he hurled his spear and hit one of those who
were in the front rank, the comrade of Aeneas, Daichoon,
son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans held in no less
honor than the sons of Priam, for he was ever
quick to place himself among the foremost. The spear of

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King Agamemnon struck his shield and went right through it,
for the shields stayed it not. It drove through his
belt into the lower part of his belly, and his
armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to
the ground. Then Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaeans,
Grethon and or Silicus. Their father was a rich man
who lived in the strong city of Fair and was

(28:54):
descended from the river Alpheus, whose broad stream flows through
the land of the Paralians, the river Begat or Silicus,
who ruled over much people, and was father of Diocles,
who in his turn begat Two sons, Crethon and Orsilicus,
well skilled in all the arts of war. These, when
they grew up, went to Ilius with the argive fleet

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in the cause of Menelaeus and Agamemnon, sons of Atreus.
And there though both of them fell as two lions
whom their dam has rid in the depths of some
mountain forest, to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and
cattle till they get killed by the hand of man.
So were these two sons vanquished by Aeneus, and fell

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like high pine trees to the ground. Brave Menelaeus pitied
them in their fall, and made his way to the front,
clad in gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear, for Mars
egged him on to do so, with intent that he
should be killed by Aeneus. But Antilochus, the son of Nestor,
saw him and sprang forward, fearing that the king might
come to harm and thus bring all their labor to nothing.

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When therefore Neeus and Menelaeus were setting their hands and
spears against one another, eager to do battle, Antilochus placed
himself by the side of Menelaeus. Aeneas bold, though he
was drew back on seeing the two heroes side by
side in front of him. So they drew the bodies
of Crathon and Ousilicus to the ranks of the Achaeans,
and committed the two poor fellows into the hands of

(30:20):
their comrades. Then they turned back and fought in the
front ranks. They killed Pylemones, peer of Mars, leader of
the Paphlagonian warriors. Menelaeus struck him on the collar bone
as he was standing on his chariot, while Antilochus hit
his charioteer and squire Mydon, the son of Atymnius, who
was turning his horses in flight. He hit him with

(30:42):
a stone upon the elbow, and the reins, enriched with
white ivory, fell from his hands into the dust. Antilachus
rushed towards him and struck him on the temples with
his sword, whereon he fell head first from the chariot
to the ground. There he stood for a while with
his head and shoulders buried deep in the dust, for
he had fallen on sandy soil till his horse has

(31:02):
kicked him and laid him flat on the ground. As
Antilochus lashed them and drove them off to the host
of the Achaeans. But Hector marked them from across the ranks,
and with a loud cry, rushed towards them, followed by
the strong battalions of the Trojans. Mars and Dreadenyo led
them on. She fraught with ruthless turmoil of battle, while
Mars wielded a monstrous spear and went about down in

(31:25):
front of Hector, and now behind him. Diomed shook with
passion as he saw them. As a man crossing a
wide plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink
of some great river, rolling swiftly to the sea, he
sees its boiling waters and starts back in fear. Even
so did the son of Tedious give ground. Then he
said to his men, my friends, how can we wonder

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that Hector wields the spear so well? Some God is
ever by his side to protect him, and now Mars
is with him in the likeness of mortal man. Keep
your faces therefore towards the Trojans, but give grin and backwards,
for we dare not fight with gods. As he spoke,
the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men,
both in one chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus, heroes well versed

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in war. Ajax, son of Talamon, pitied them in their fall.
He came close up and hurled his spear, hitting Ampheus,
the son of Salagus, a man of great wealth who
lived in Paesus and owned much corn growing land. But
his lot had led him to come to the aid
of Priam and his sons. Ajax struck him in the belt.
The spear pierced the lower part of his body, and

(32:33):
he fell heavily to the ground. Then Ajax ran towards
him to strip him of his armor, but the Trojans
reigned spears upon him, many of which fell upon his shield.
He planted his heels upon the body and drew out
his spear, but the darts pressed so heavily upon him
that he could not strip the goodly armor from his shoulders.
The Trojan chieftains. Moreover, many and valiant came about him

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with their spears, so that he dared not stay great,
brave and valiant though he was, they drove him from them,
and he was beaten back. Thus then did the battle
rage between them. Presently, the strong hand of Fate impelled Clepolemus,
the son of Hercules, a man both brave and of
great stature to fight Sarpedon. So the two son and

(33:17):
grandson of great Jove drew near to one another, and
Clepolamus spoke first. Sarpedon said he, counselor of the Lycians,
why should you come skulking here, you, who are a
man of peace? They lie who call you son of
ages bearing Jove, for you are little like those who
were of old his children. Far other was Hercules, my

(33:38):
own brave and lion arted father, who came here for
the horses of Laomedon, and though he had six ships
only and few men to follow him, sacked the city
of Ilias and made a wilderness of her highways. You
are a coward, and your people are falling from you.
For all your strength and all your coming from Lysia,
you will be no help to the Trojans, but will

(33:59):
pass the gates of adies vanquished by my hand. And Sarpadon,
captain of the Lycian's, answered, Clepalamus, your father overthrew Ilius
by reason of Layo Maidan's folly in refusing payment to
one who had served him well. He would not give
your father the horses which he had come so far
to fetch as for yourself, you shall meet death by

(34:21):
my spear. You shall yield glory to myself and your
soul to hades of the noble steeds. Thus spoke Sarpadon,
and Clepalamus abraised his spear. They threw at the same moment,
and Sarpadon struck his foe in the middle of his throat.
The spear went right through, and the darkness of death
fell upon his eyes. Clepalamus's spear struck Sarpadon on the

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right thigh with such force that it tore through the
flesh and grazed the bone. But his father, as yet
warded off destruction from him. His comrades bore Sarpedon out
of the fight in great pain by the weight of
the spear that was dragging from his wound. They were
in such hasten stress as they bore him, that no
one thought of drawing the spear from his thigh so
as to let him walk uprightly. Meanwhile, the Achaeans carried

(35:07):
off the body of Clepalamus, whereon Ulysses was moved to
pity and panted for the fray. As he beheld them,
he darted whether to pursue the son of Jove, or
to make slaughter of the Lysian rank and file. It
was not decreed, however, that he should slay the son
of Jove. Minerva therefore turned him against the main body
of the Lycians. He called Karanus, Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon,

(35:33):
and Pritanus, and would have slain yet more had not
Great Hector marked him and sped to the front of
the fight, clad in his suit of mail, filling the
Danaeans with terror. Sarpaton was glad when he saw him coming,
and besought him, saying, son of Priam, let me not
be here to fall into the hands of the Danaeans.
Help me, and since I may not return home to

(35:54):
gladden the hearts of my wife and of my infant son,
let me die within the walls of your city. Hector
made him no answer, but rushed onward to fall at
once upon the Achaeans and kill many among them. His
comrades then bore Sarpadon away and laid him beneath Jove's
spreading oak tree. Pelagon, his friend and comrade, drew the

(36:15):
spear out of his thigh, but Sarpadon fainted and a
mist came over his eyes. Presently he came to himself again,
for the breath of the north wind, as it played
upon him, gave him new life and brought him out
of the deep swoon into which he had fallen. Meanwhile,
the Argives were neither driven towards their ship by Mars
and Hector, nor yet did they attack them. When they

(36:38):
knew that Mars was with the Trojans, they retreated, but
kept their faces still turned towards the foe, who then
was first and who last to be slain by Mars
and Hector. They were valiant Touthras and Orestes, the renarned
charioteer Trechus, the Aetolian warrior Oeno Mars Helenus, the son
of Ianops and Orespius of the gleaming Girdle, who is

(37:00):
possessed of great wealth and dwelt by the Sephesian Lake,
with the other Boetians who lived near him, owners of
a fertile country. Now, when the goddess Juno saw the
Argives thus falling, she said to Minerva Alas, daughter of
Aegis bearing Jove, unweariable the promise we made Menilaeus that
he should not return till he had sacked the city

(37:23):
of Ilius. Will be of no effect if we let
Mars rage. Thus, furiously let us go into the fray
at once, Minerva did not gainsay Thereon the August, goddess
daughter of Great Saturn, began to Harna's her gold bedizened steeds.
He be with all speed fitted on the eight spoked
wheels of bronze that were on either side of the

(37:45):
iron axle tree. The pelows of the wheels were of gold, imperishable,
and over these there was a tire of bronze, wondrous
to behold. The knaves of the wheels were silver, turning
round the axle upon either side the car. Its elf
was made of plaited bands of gold and silver, and
it had a double top rail running all round it.

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From the body of the car there went a pole
of silver, on to the end of which she bound
the golden yoke with the bands of gold that were
to go under the necks of the horses. Then Juno
put her steeds under the yoke, eager for battle and
the war cry. Meanwhile, Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture,
made with her own hands, on to her father's threshold

(38:26):
and donned the shirt of Jove. Arming herself for battle,
she threw her tasseled egis about her shoulders, wreathed rowned
with rout as with a fringe, and on it was
strife and strength and panic, whose blood runs cold. Moreover,
there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon, grim
and awful to behold. Portent of Vejis, bearing Jove on

(38:50):
her head, she set her helmet of gold with four plumes,
and coming to a peak both in front and behind,
decked with the emblem of a hundred cities. Then she
stepped into a flaming chariat and grasped the spear so
stout and sturdy and strong with which she quells the
ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed the
horses on, and the gates of heavens bellowed as they

(39:12):
flew open of their own accord, gates over which the
hours preside, in whose hands are Heaven and Olympus, either
to open the dense cloud that hides them or to
close it. Through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds
and found the son of Saturn sitting all alone on
the topmost ridges of Olympus. There Juno stayed her horses

(39:34):
and spoke to Jove, the son of Saturn, Lord of
all father. Jove said, she, are you not angry with
Mars for these high doings? How great and goodly a
host of the Achaeans he has destroyed, to my great grief,
and without either right or reason, while the Cyprian and
Apollo are enjoying at all at their ease, and setting

(39:55):
this unrighteous madmen unto do further mischief. I hope the
Jove that you will not be angry if I hit
Mars hard and chase him out of the battle. And
Jove answered, set Minerva under him, for she punishes him
more often than any one else does. Juno did as
he had said. She lashed her horses, and they flew

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forward nothing loth midway between earth and sky, as far
as a man can see when he looks out upon
the sea from some high beak, and so far can
the loud, neighing horses of the gods spring at a
single bound. When they reached Troy and the place where
its two flowing streams Samoas and Scamander meat, there Juno
stayed them and took them from the chariot. She hid

(40:40):
them in a thick cloud, and Semoas made Ambrosia spring
up for them to eat. The two goddesses then went
on flying like turtle doves in their eagerness to help
the Argives. When they came to the part where the
bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty diomed
fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength in endurance.

(41:01):
There Juno stood still and raised her shout like that
of brazen voiced stent Or, whose cry was as loud
as that of fifty men together, Ah Gives. She cried,
shame on cowardly creatures, brave in semblance, only as long
as Acelles was fighting. If his spear was so deadly
that the Trojans dared not show themselves outside the Dardanian gates.

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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 the Nervus 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.

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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 Titius is not such another as his father.
Titius 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

(42:06):
envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmians, I
bad 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 Cadmians and at once
beat them, and 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.

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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 Tedious. The son
of Onaeus Diomed answered, I know you, Goddess, daughter of
Ages 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.

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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 lauding it in the field. Diomed,
son of Tideous, replied Minerva. Man after my own heart,

(43:11):
fear neither Mars nor any other of the immortals, for
I will befriend you. Nay, drive straight at Mars and
smite him in close combat. 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,

(43:34):
he is with the Trojans and has forgotten the Argives.
With this, she caught hold of Thenalus 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

(43:56):
reins and drove straight at Mars. He was in the
act of stripping huge Periphas, son of Orcasus and bravest
of the Italians. Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armor,
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 Periphers lie where he had fallen.

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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 maneuver 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,

(44:41):
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, there
was a dark cloud in the sky when it comes
on to blow after heat. Even so did Iamed, son
of Tedious, see Mars ascend into the broad heavens with

(45:04):
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,

(45:26):
while helping mortals. And we all owe you a grudge
for having forgotten that mad termagant of a daughter, who
was always committing 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 as she has been inciting

(45:46):
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 on
a run for it. I must either have lain them
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

(46:10):
and said, do not come 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,

(46:30):
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 Paon heal him. Whereon
Paon spread pain killing herbs upon his wound, and cured him,

(46:54):
for he was not of mortal mold as the juice
of the fig tree curdles milk and thickens it in
a moment, though it is liquid. Even so instantly did
Paon cure fierce Mars. Then he bewashed him and clothed
him in goodly raiment, and he took his seat by
his father Jove, all glorious to behold. But Juno of

(47:14):
Argos and Minerva of Alcmene, now that they had put
a stop to the murderous doings of Mars, went back
again to the house of Jove. End of Section five
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