Page 83 - the-iliad

Thus furiously did the battle rage between them. As for
the son of Tydeus, you could not say whether he was more
among the Achaeans or the Trojans. He rushed across the
plain like a winter torrent that has burst its barrier in full
flood; no dykes, no walls of fruitful vineyards can embank
it when it is swollen with rain from heaven, but in a moment
it comes tearing onward, and lays many a field waste that
many a strong man’s hand has reclaimed—even so were the
dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of
Tydeus, and many though they were, they dared not abide
his onslaught.
Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain
and driving the Trojans pell-mell before him, he aimed an
arrow and hit the front part of his cuirass near the shoul-
der: the arrow went right through the metal and pierced the
flesh, so that the cuirass was covered with blood. On this
the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph, ‘Knights Trojans,
come on; the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded, and he
will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was indeed
with me when I sped from Lycia hither.’
Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Di-
omed, who withdrew and made for the chariot and horses
of Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus. ‘Dear son of Capaneus,’
said he, ‘come down from your chariot, and draw the arrow
out of my shoulder.’
Sthenelus sprang from his chariot, and drew the ar-
row from the wound, whereon the blood came spouting
out through the hole that had been made in his shirt. Then
Diomed prayed, saying, ‘Hear me, daughter of aegis-bear-

The Iliad