Page 145 - the-iliad

fell headlong from the chariot. Hector was greatly grieved
at the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow,
while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his steeds
have to go long without one, for he presently found brave
Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up be-
hind the horses, giving the reins into his hand.
All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would
have been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the sire of
gods and men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flam-
ing thunderbolt which fell just in front of Diomed’s horses
with a flare of burning brimstone. The horses were fright-
ened and tried to back beneath the car, while the reins
dropped from Nestor’s hands. Then he was afraid and said
to Diomed, ‘Son of Tydeus, turn your horses in flight; see
you not that the hand of Jove is against you? To-day he
vouchsafes victory to Hector; to-morrow, if it so please him,
he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave,
may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than
any.’
Diomed answered, ‘All that you have said is true; there is
a grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hec-
tor will talk among the Trojans and say, ‘The son of Tydeus
fled before me to the ships.’ This is the vaunt he will make,
and may earth then swallow me.’
‘Son of Tydeus,’ replied Nestor, ‘what mean you? Though
Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and Darda-
nians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty
warriors whom you have laid low.’
So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of

1 The Iliad