The great in battle, Diomed, replied:⁠— “Truly, O ancient man, thou speakest well; But this it is that grieves me to the heart⁠— That Hector to the Trojan host will say, ‘I put to flight Tydides, and he sought Shelter among his ships.’ Thus will he boast Hereafter; may earth open then for me!”

And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, rejoined:⁠— “What, son of warlike Tydeus, hast thou said? Though Hector call thee faint of heart and weak, The Trojans and Dardanians, and the wives Of the stout-hearted Trojans armed with shields, Whose husbands in their youthful prime thy hand Hath laid in dust, will not believe his words.”

Thus having said, he turned the firm-paced steeds Rearward, and mingled with the flying crowd. And now the Trojans and their leader gave A mighty cry, and poured on them a storm Of deadly darts, and crested Hector raised His thundering voice and shouted after them:⁠—