Well might the deeds achieved that day deserve
His praise, who through that bloody field might pass
By sword or spear unwounded, by the hand
Of Pallas guarded from the weapon’s flight;
For many a Trojan, many a Greek, that day
Prone in the dust, and side by side, were laid.
The acts of Diomed.
Diomed, assisted by Pallas, performs wonders in this
day’s battle. Pandarus wounds him with
an arrow, but the goddess cures him, enables him to
discern gods from mortals, and prohibits him from contending
with any of the former, excepting Venus. AEneas
joins Pandarus to oppose him, Pandarus is killed,
and AEneas in great danger but for the assistance
of Venus; who, as she is removing her son from the
fight, is wounded on the hand by Diomed. Apollo
seconds her in his rescue, and, at length, carries
off AEneas to Troy, where he is healed in the temple
of Pergamus. Mars rallies the Trojans, and assists
Hector to make a stand. In the mean time AEneas
is restored to the field, and they overthrow several
of the Greeks; among the rest Tlepolemus is slain by
Sarpedon. Juno and Minerva descend to resist Mars;
the latter incites Diomed to go against that god;
he wounds him, and sends him groaning to heaven.
The first battle continues through this book.
The scene is the same as in the former.
Such strength, and courage then to Diomed,
The son of Tydeus, Pallas gave, as rais’d,
’Mid all the Greeks, the glory of his name.
Forth from his helm arid shield a fiery light
There flash’d, like autumn’s star, that
brightest shines
When newly risen from his ocean bath.
So from the warrior’s head and shoulders flash’d
That fiery light, as to the midst he urg’d
His furious course, where densest masses fought.
There was one Dares ’mid the Trojan host,
The priest of Vulcan, rich, of blameless life;
Two gallant sons he had, Idaeus nam’d,
And Phegeus, skill’d in all the points of war.
These, parted from the throng, the warrior met;
They on their car, while he on foot advanc’d.
When near they came, first Phegeus threw his spear;
O’er the left shoulder of Tydides pass’d
The erring weapon’s point, and miss’d
its mark.
His pond’rous spear in turn Tydides threw,
And not in vain; on Phegeus’ breast it struck,
Full in the midst, and hurl’d him from the car.
Idaeus from the well-wrought chariot sprang,
And fled, nor durst his brother’s corpse defend.
Nor had he so escap’d the doom of death,
But Vulcan bore him safely from the field,
In darkness shrouded, that his aged sire
Might not be wholly of his sons bereav’d.
The car Tydides to his comrades gave,
And bade them to the ships the horses drive.
