He said, and shaking his long-shadow’d spear,
Dismiss’d it. Forceful on the shield it struck
Of Diomede, transpierced it, and approach’d325
With threatening point the hauberk on his breast.
Loud shouted Pandarus—Ah nobly thrown!
Home to thy bowels. Die, for die thou must,
And all the glory of thy death is mine.
Then answer thus brave Diomede return’d330
Undaunted. I am whole. Thy cast was short.
But ye desist not, as I plain perceive,
Till one at least extended on the plain
Shall sate the God of battles with his blood.
He said and threw. Pallas the spear herself335
Directed; at his eye fast by the nose
Deep-entering, through his ivory teeth it pass’d,
At its extremity divided sheer
His tongue, and started through his chin below.
He headlong fell, and with his dazzling arms340
Smote full the plain. Back flew the fiery steeds
With swift recoil, and where he fell he died.
Then sprang Æneas forth with spear and shield,
That none might drag the body;[11] lion-like
He stalk’d around it, oval shield and spear345
Advancing firm, and with incessant cries
Terrific, death denouncing on his foes.
But Diomede with hollow grasp a stone
Enormous seized, a weight to overtask
Two strongest men of such as now are strong,350
Yet he, alone, wielded the rock with ease.
Full on the hip he smote him, where the thigh
Rolls in its cavity, the socket named.
He crushed the socket, lacerated wide
Both tendons, and with that rough-angled mass355
Flay’d all his flesh, The Hero on his knees
Sank, on his ample palm his weight upbore
Laboring, and darkness overspread his eyes.
There had Æneas perish’d, King of men,
Had not Jove’s daughter Venus quick perceived360
His peril imminent, whom she had borne
Herself to Anchises pasturing his herds.
Her snowy arras her darling son around
She threw maternal, and behind a fold
Of her bright mantle screening close his breast365
From mortal harm by some brave Grecian’s spear,
Stole him with eager swiftness from the fight.
Nor then forgat brave Sthenelus his charge
Received from Diomede, but his own steeds
Detaining distant from the boisterous war,370
Stretch’d tight the reins, and hook’d them fast behind.
The coursers of Æneas next he seized
Ardent, and them into the host of Greece
Driving remote, consign’d them to his care,
Whom far above all others his compeers375
He loved, Deipylus, his bosom friend
Congenial. Him he charged to drive them thence
Into the fleet, then, mounting swift his own,
Lash’d after Diomede; he, fierce in arms,
Pursued the Cyprian Goddess, conscious whom,380
Not Pallas, not Enyo, waster dread
Of cities close-beleaguer’d, none of all
Who o’er the battle’s bloody course preside,
But one of softer kind and prone to fear.
When, therefore, her at length, after long chase385
Through all the warring multitude he reach’d,
With his protruded spear her gentle hand
He wounded, piercing through her thin attire
Ambrosial, by themselves the graces wrought,
Her inside wrist, fast by the rosy palm.390
Blood follow’d, but immortal; ichor pure,
Such as the blest inhabitants of heaven
May bleed, nectareous; for the Gods eat not
Man’s food, nor slake as he with sable wine
Their thirst, thence bloodless and from death exempt.395
She, shrieking, from her arms cast down her son,
And Phœbus, in impenetrable clouds
Him hiding, lest the spear of some brave Greek
Should pierce his bosom, caught him swift away.
Then shouted brave Tydides after her—400
Depart, Jove’s daughter! fly the bloody field.
Is’t not enough that thou beguilest the hearts
Of feeble women? If thou dare intrude
Again into the war, war’s very name
Shall make thee shudder, wheresoever heard.405
He said, and Venus with excess of pain
Bewilder’d went; but Iris tempest-wing’d
Forth led her through the multitude, oppress’d
With anguish, her white wrist to livid changed.
They came where Mars far on the left retired410
Of battle sat, his horses and his spear
In darkness veil’d. Before her brother’s knees
She fell, and with entreaties urgent sought
The succor of his coursers golden-rein’d.
Save me, my brother! Pity me! Thy steeds415
Give me, that they may bear me to the heights
Olympian, seat of the immortal Gods!
Oh! I am wounded deep; a mortal man
Hath done it, Diomede; nor would he fear
This day in fight the Sire himself of all.420
Then Mars his coursers gold-caparison’d
Resign’d to Venus; she, with countenance sad,
The chariot climb’d, and Iris at her side
The bright reins seizing lash’d the ready steeds.
Soon as the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods,425
They reach’d, wing-footed Iris loosing quick
The coursers, gave them large whereon to browse
Ambrosial food; but Venus on the knees
Sank of Dione, who with folded arms
Maternal, to her bosom straining close430
Her daughter, stroked her cheek, and thus inquired.
My darling child! who? which of all the Gods
Hath rashly done such violence to thee
As if convicted of some open wrong?