He spake, and smote Minerva’s fringèd shield, The dreadful aegis, which not even Jove Could pierce with thunderbolts. The murderous Mars Smote it with his huge spear. She only stepped Backward a space, and with her powerful hand Lifted a stone that lay upon the plain, Black, huge, and jagged, which the men of old Had placed there for a landmark. This she hurled At Mars, and struck him on the neck; he fell With nerveless limbs, and covered, as he lay, Seven acres of the field: his armor clashed Around him in his fall; his locks all soiled Lay in the trodden dust. The goddess stood O’er him, and boasted thus with wingèd words:⁠—

“Fool that thou art, hast thou not learned how much The might I boast excels thine own, that thus Thou measurest strength with me? Now dost thou feel Thy mother’s curse fulfilled, who meditates Thy chastisement, since thou hast left the Greeks And joined the treaty-breaking sons of Troy.”