The Iliad of Homer - The Original Classic Edition. Homer Homer

upon the ground, And the warm life came issuing from the wound. His lance bold Thoas at the conqueror sent,

       Deep in his breast above the pap it went, Amid the lungs was fix'd the winged wood, And quivering in his heaving bosom stood: Till from the dying chief, approaching near, The AEtolian warrior tugg'd his weighty spear:

       Then sudden waved his flaming falchion round,

       And gash'd his belly with a ghastly wound;

       The corpse now breathless on the bloody plain, To spoil his arms the victor strove in vain;

       The Thracian bands against the victor press'd, A grove of lances glitter'd at his breast.

       Stern Thoas, glaring with revengeful eyes, In sullen fury slowly quits the prize.

       Thus fell two heroes; one the pride of Thrace, And one the leader of the Epeian race;

       Death's sable shade at once o'ercast their eyes, In dust the vanquish'd and the victor lies.

       With copious slaughter all the fields are red,

       And heap'd with growing mountains of the dead. Had some brave chief this martial scene beheld, By Pallas guarded through the dreadful field; Might darts be bid to turn their points away,

       And swords around him innocently play;

       The war's whole art with wonder had he seen, And counted heroes where he counted men. So fought each host, with thirst of glory fired, And crowds on crowds triumphantly expired. [pg 082]

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       Map of the Plain of Troy. [pg 083]

       BOOK V. ARGUMENT.

       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 meantime 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.

       But Pallas now Tydides' soul inspires,143

       Fills with her force, and warms with all her fires, Above the Greeks his deathless fame to raise, And crown her hero with distinguish'd praise. High on his helm celestial lightnings play,

       His beamy shield emits a living ray;

       The unwearied blaze incessant streams supplies, Like the red star that fires the autumnal skies, When fresh he rears his radiant orb to sight, And, bathed in ocean, shoots a keener light. Such glories Pallas on the chief bestow'd,

       Such, from his arms, the fierce effulgence flow'd:

       Onward she drives him, furious to engage,

       Where the fight burns, and where the thickest rage. The sons of Dares first the combat sought,

       A wealthy priest, but rich without a fault; [pg 084]

       In Vulcan's fane the father's days were led, The sons to toils of glorious battle bred;

       These singled from their troops the fight maintain, These, from their steeds, Tydides on the plain. Fierce for renown the brother-chiefs draw near, And first bold Phegeus cast his sounding spear, Which o'er the warrior's shoulder took its course, And spent in empty air its erring force.

       Not so, Tydides, flew thy lance in vain,

       But pierced his breast, and stretch'd him on the plain.

       Seized with unusual fear, Idaeus fled,

       Left the rich chariot, and his brother dead. And had not Vulcan lent celestial aid,

       He too had sunk to death's eternal shade; But in a smoky cloud the god of fire Preserved the son, in pity to the sire.

       The steeds and chariot, to the navy led, Increased the spoils of gallant Diomed.

       Struck with amaze and shame, the Trojan crew,

       Or slain, or fled, the sons of Dares view;

       When by the blood-stain'd hand Minerva press'd

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       The god of battles, and this speech address'd: "Stern power of war! by whom the mighty fall, Who bathe in blood, and shake the lofty wall! Let the brave chiefs their glorious toils divide; And whose the conquest, mighty Jove decide: While we from interdicted fields retire,