Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
out of heart, nor is there any slackness in me. I am only following
your own instructions; you told me not to fight any of the blessed
gods; but if Jove’s daughter Venus came into battle I was to wound
her with my spear. Therefore I am retreating, and bidding the other
Argives gather in this place, for I know that Mars is now lording it
in the field.”
“Diomed, son of Tydeus,” replied Minerva, “man after my own
heart, fear neither Mars nor any other of the immortals, for I will
befriend you. Nay, drive straight at Mars, and smite him in close
combat; fear not this raging madman, villain incarnate, first on one
side and then on the other. But now he was holding talk with Juno
and myself, saying he would help the Argives and attack the
Trojans; nevertheless he is with the Trojans, and has forgotten the
Argives.”
With this she caught hold of Sthenelus and lifted him off the chariot
on to the ground. In a second he was on the ground, whereupon
the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the side of
Diomed. The oaken axle groaned aloud under the burden of the
awful goddess and the hero; Pallas Minerva took the whip and
reins, and drove straight at Mars. He was in the act of stripping
huge Periphas, son of Ochesius and bravest of the Aetolians.
Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armour, and Minerva
donned the helmet of Hades, that he might not see her; when,
therefore, he saw Diomed, he made straight for him and let
Periphas lie where he had fallen. As soon as they were at close
quarters he let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke,
thinking to take Diomed’s life, but Minerva caught the spear in her
hand and made it fly harmlessly over the chariot. Diomed then
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