Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
and most in number were gathered about mighty Diomed, fighting
like lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance, there Juno
stood still and raised a shout like that of brazen-voiced Stentor,
whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men together. “Argives,” she
cried; “shame on cowardly creatures, brave in semblance only; as
long as Achilles was fighting, fi his spear was so deadly that the
Trojans dared not show themselves outside the Dardanian gates,
but now they sally far from the city and fight even at your ships.”
With these words she put heart and soul into them all, while
Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus, whom she found
near his chariot and horses, cooling the wound that Pandarus had
given him. For the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight
of his shield irritated the hurt: his arm was weary with pain, and he
was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood. The goddess laid
her hand on the yoke of his horses and said, “The son of Tydeus is
not such another as his father. Tydeus was a little man, but he
could fight, and rushed madly into the fray even when I told him
not to do so. When he went all unattended as envoy to the city of
Thebes among the Cadmeans, I bade him feast in their houses and
be at peace; but with that high spirit which was ever present with
him, he challenged the youth of the Cadmeans, and at once beat
them in all that he attempted, so mightily did I help him. I stand by
you too to protect you, and I bid you be instant in fighting the
Trojans; but either you are tired out, or you are afraid and out of
heart, and in that case I say that you are no true son of Tydeus the
son of Oeneus.”
Diomed answered, “I know you, goddess, daughter of aegisbearing
Jove, and will hide nothing from you. I am not afraid nor
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