But thou, whom I encircle with my power,
Guard vigilant, and even bid thee forth
To combat with the Trojans, thou, thy limbs 965
Feel’st wearied with the toils of war, or worse,
Indulgest womanish and heartless fear. 
Henceforth thou art not worthy to be deem’d
Son of Oenides, Tydeus famed in arms. 

    To whom thus valiant Diomede replied. 970

I know thee well, oh Goddess sprung from Jove! 
And therefore willing shall, and plain, reply. 
Me neither weariness nor heartless fear
Restrains, but thine injunctions which impress
My memory, still, that I should fear to oppose 975
The blessed Gods in fight, Venus except,
Whom in the battle found thou badest me pierce
With unrelenting spear; therefore myself
Retiring hither, I have hither call’d
The other Argives also, for I know 980
That Mars, himself in arms, controls the war. 

    Him answer’d then the Goddess azure-eyed. 

Tydides!  Diomede, my heart’s delight! 
Fear not this Mars,[22] nor fear thou other power
Immortal, but be confident in me. 985
Arise.  Drive forth.  Seek Mars; him only seek;
Him hand to hand engage; this fiery Mars
Respect not aught, base implement of wrong
And mischief, shifting still from side to side. 
He promised Juno lately and myself 990
That he would fight for Greece, yet now forgets
His promise, and gives all his aid to Troy. 

    So saying, she backward by his hand withdrew

The son of Capaneus, who to the ground
Leap’d instant; she, impatient to his place 995
Ascending, sat beside brave Diomede. 
Loud groan’d the beechen axle, under weight
Unwonted, for it bore into the fight
An awful Goddess, and the chief of men. 
Quick-seizing lash and reins Minerva drove 1000
Direct at Mars.  That moment he had slain
Periphas, bravest of AEtolia’s sons,
And huge of bulk; Ochesius was his sire. 
Him Mars the slaughterer had of life bereft
Newly, and Pallas to elude his sight 1005
The helmet fixed of Ades on her head.[23]
Soon as gore-tainted Mars the approach perceived
Of Diomede, he left the giant length
Of Periphas extended where he died,
And flew to cope with Tydeus’ valiant son. 1010
Full nigh they came, when Mars on fire to slay
The hero, foremost with his brazen lance
Assail’d him, hurling o’er his horses’ heads. 
But Athenaean Pallas in her hand
The flying weapon caught and turn’d it wide, 1015
Baffling his aim.  Then Diomede on him
Rush’d furious in his turn, and Pallas plunged
The bright spear deep into his cinctured waist
Dire was the wound, and plucking back the spear
She tore him.  Bellow’d brazen-throated