Page 93 - the-iliad

battle. Let, then, the son of Tydeus see that he does not have
to fight with one who is stronger than you are. Then shall
his brave wife Aegialeia, daughter of Adrestus, rouse her
whole house from sleep, wailing for the loss of her wedded
lord, Diomed the bravest of the Achaeans.’
So saying, she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her
daughter with both hands, whereon the pain left her, and
her hand was healed. But Minerva and Juno, who were look-
ing on, began to taunt Jove with their mocking talk, and
Minerva was first to speak. ‘Father Jove,’ said she, ‘do not
be angry with me, but I think the Cyprian must have been
persuading some one of the Achaean women to go with the
Trojans of whom she is so very fond, and while caressing
one or other of them she must have torn her delicate hand
with the gold pin of the woman’s brooch.’
The sire of gods and men smiled, and called golden Ve-
nus to his side. ‘My child,’ said he, ‘it has not been given you
to be a warrior. Attend, henceforth, to your own delightful
matrimonial duties, and leave all this fighting to Mars and
to Minerva.’
Thus did they converse. But Diomed sprang upon Ae-
neas, though he knew him to be in the very arms of Apollo.
Not one whit did he fear the mighty god, so set was he on
killing Aeneas and stripping him of his armour. Thrice did
he spring forward with might and main to slay him, and
thrice did Apollo beat back his gleaming shield. When he
was coming on for the fourth time, as though he were a god,
Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said, ‘Take
heed, son of Tydeus, and draw off; think not to match your-

The Iliad