THE ILIAD.

BOOK V.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

Diomede is extraordinarily distinguished.  He kills Pandarus, who had violated the truce, and wounds first Venus and then Mars.

BOOK V.

Then Athenaean Pallas on the son
Of Tydeus,[1] Diomede, new force conferr’d
And daring courage, that the Argives all
He might surpass, and deathless fame achieve. 
Fires on his helmet and his shield around 5
She kindled, bright and steady as the star
Autumnal,[2] which in Ocean newly bathed
Assumes fresh beauty; with such glorious beams
His head encircling and his shoulders broad,
She urged him forth into the thickest fight. 10

    There lived a man in Troy, Dares his name,

The priest of Vulcan; rich he was and good,
The father of two sons, Idaeus this,
That, Phegeus call’d; accomplish’d warriors both. 
These, issuing from their phalanx, push’d direct 15
Their steeds at Diomede, who fought on foot. 
When now small interval was left between,
First Phegeus his long-shadow’d spear dismiss’d;
But over Diomede’s left shoulder pass’d
The point, innocuous.  Then his splendid lance 20
Tydides hurl’d; nor ineffectual flew
The weapon from his hand, but Phegeus pierced
His paps between, and forced him to the ground. 
At once, his sumptuous chariot left, down leap’d
Idaesus, wanting courage to defend 25
His brother slain; nor had he scaped himself
His louring fate, but Vulcan, to preserve
His ancient priest from unmixt sorrow, snatch’d
The fugitive in darkness wrapt, away. 
Then brave Tydides, driving off the steeds, 30
Consign’d them to his fellow-warriors’ care,
That they might lead them down into the fleet. 

    The valiant Trojans, when they saw the sons

Of Dares, one beside his chariot slain,
And one by flight preserved, through all their host 35
Felt consternation.  Then Minerva seized
The hand of fiery Mars, and thus she spake. 

    Gore-tainted homicide, town-battering Mars! 

Leave we the Trojans and the Greeks to wage
Fierce fight alone, Jove prospering whom he will, 40
So shall we not provoke our father’s ire. 

    She said, and from the fight conducted forth

The impetuous Deity, whom on the side
She seated of Scamander deep-embank’d.[3]

    And now the host of Troy to flight inclined 45

Before the Grecians, and the Chiefs of Greece
Each slew a warrior.  Agamemnon first
Gigantic Odius from his chariot hurl’d. 
Chief of the Halizonians.  He to flight
Turn’d foremost, when the monarch in his spine 50