And then the valiant Diomed replied:— “I know thee, goddess, daughter of great Jove The Aegis-bearer; therefore will I speak Freely and keep back nothing. No base fear Unmans me, nor desire of ease; but well I bear in mind the mandate thou hast given. Thou didst forbid me to contend with gods, Except that if Jove’s daughter, Venus, joined The battle, I might wound her with my spear. But now I have withdrawn, and given command That all the Greeks come hither; for I see That Mars is in the field and leads the war.”
Again the blue-eyed Pallas, answering, said:— “Tydides Diomed, most dear of men, Nay, fear thou nothing from this Mars, nor yet From any other of the gods; for I Will be thy sure defence. First urge thy course Full against Mars, with thy firm-footed steeds. Engage him hand to hand; respect him not, The fiery, frantic Mars, the unnatural plague Of man, the fickle god, who promised me And Juno, lately, to take part with us Against the Trojans and befriend the Greeks. Now he forgets, and joins the sons of Troy.”
She spake, and laid her hand on Sthenelus, To draw him from the horses; instantly He leaped to earth; the indignant deity Took by the side of Diomed her place; The beechen axle groaned beneath the weight Of that great goddess and that man of might. Then Pallas seized the lash and caught the reins, And, urging the firm-footed coursers, drave Full against Mars, who at that moment slew Huge Periphas, the mightiest one of all The Aetolian band—Ochesius’ famous son. While bloody-handed Mars was busy yet About the slain, Minerva hid her face In Pluto’s helmet,