Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the
Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the
thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of
Neleus. “Sir,” said he, “these young warriors are pressing you
hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire
is naught, and your horses are slow to move. Mount my chariot
and see what the horses of Tros can do- how cleverly they can scud
hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit. I took
them from the hero Aeneas. Let our squires attend to your own
steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector
may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear.”
Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words. Thereon the
doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind-hearted Eurymedon, saw to
Nestor’s horses, while the two both mounted Diomed’s chariot.
Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they
were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a
spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them. He
missed him, but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of
noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were in
his hands, so that he died there and then, and the horses swerved
as he fell headlong from the chariot. Hector was greatly grieved at
the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow, while he
went in quest of another driver; nor did his steeds have to go long
without one, for he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son
of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the horses, giving the reins
into his hand.
All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have been
penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the sire of gods and men
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