Book V

BOOK V

Then Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Diomed, son of

Tydeus, that he might excel all the other Argives, and cover

himself with glory. She made a stream of fire flare from his

shield and helmet 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 bade him speed

into the thickest hurly-burly of the fight.

Now there was a certain rich and honourable man among the

Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was Dares. He had two

sons, Phegeus 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, he being on foot, while they fought from their

chariot. When they were close up to one another, Phegeus 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,

for it hit Phegeus on the breast near the nipple, and he fell

from his chariot. Idaeus did 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 Vulcan 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 when they saw the two sons of

Dares, 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, bloodstained stormer of cities, may we

not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out, and see

to which of the two Jove will vouchsafe the victory? Let us go

away, and thus avoid his anger."

So saying, she drew Mars out of the battle, and set him down upon

the steep banks of the Scamander. Upon this the Danaans drove the

Trojans back, and each one of their chieftains killed his man.

First King Agamemnon flung mighty Odius, captain of the Halizoni,

from his chariot. The spear of Agamemnon caught him on the 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

armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian, who had

come from Varne. Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right

shoulder as he was mounting his chariot, and the darkness of

death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car.