Page 80 - the-iliad

BOOK V

hen Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Di-
Tomed, son of Tydeus, that he might excel all the other
Argives, and cover himself with glory. She made a stream of
fire flare from his shield and helmet like the star that shines
most brilliantly in summer after its bath in the waters of
Oceanus—even such a fire did she kindle upon his head
and shoulders as she bade him speed into the thickest hurly-
burly of the fight.
Now there was a certain rich and honourable man
among the Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was
Dares. He had two sons, Phegeus and Idaeus, both of them
skilled in all the arts of war. These two came forward from
the main body of Trojans, and set upon Diomed, he being
on foot, while they fought from their chariot. When they
were close up to one another, Phegeus took aim first, but
his spear went over Diomed’s left shoulder without hitting
him. Diomed then threw, and his spear sped not in vain,
for it hit Phegeus on the breast near the nipple, and he fell
from his chariot. Idaeus did not dare to bestride his broth-
er’s body, but sprang from the chariot and took to flight, or
he would have shared his brother’s fate; whereon Vulcan
saved him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness, that his
old father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief; but
the son of Tydeus drove off with the horses, and bade his