Page 88 - the-iliad

Anchises, while his mother is Venus. Mount the chariot and
let us retreat. Do not, I pray you, press so furiously forward,
or you may get killed.’
Diomed looked angrily at him and answered: ‘Talk not
of flight, for I shall not listen to you: I am of a race that
knows neither flight nor fear, and my limbs are as yet un-
wearied. I am in no mind to mount, but will go against
them even as I am; Pallas Minerva bids me be afraid of no
man, and even though one of them escape, their steeds shall
not take both back again. I say further, and lay my saying
to your heart—if Minerva sees fit to vouchsafe me the glory
of killing both, stay your horses here and make the reins
fast to the rim of the chariot; then be sure you spring Ae-
neas’ horses and drive them from the Trojan to the Achaean
ranks. They are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros in
payment for his son Ganymede, and are the finest that live
and move under the sun. King Anchises stole the blood by
putting his mares to them without Laomedon’s knowledge,
and they bore him six foals. Four are still in his stables, but
he gave the other two to Aeneas. We shall win great glory if
we can take them.’
Thus did they converse, but the other two had now driven
close up to them, and the son of Lycaon spoke first. ‘Great
and mighty son,’ said he, ‘of noble Tydeus, my arrow failed
to lay you low, so I will now try with my spear.’
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him.
It struck the shield of the son of Tydeus; the bronze point
pierced it and passed on till it reached the breastplate.
Thereon the son of Lycaon shouted out and said, ‘You are