Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which
fell just in front of Diomed’s horses with a flare of burning
brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried to back beneath
the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor’s hands. Then he was
afraid and said to Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, turn your horses in
flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against you? To-day he
vouchsafes victory to Hector; to-morrow, if it so please him, he will
again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave, may thwart the
purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than any.”
Diomed answered, “All that you have said is true; there is a grief
however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will talk
among the Trojans and say, ‘The son of Tydeus fled before me to
the ships.’ This is the vaunt he will make, and may earth then
swallow me.”
“Son of Tydeus,” replied Nestor, “what mean you? Though Hector
say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not
believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you
have laid low.”
So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle,
and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector rained their
darts after them. Hector shouted to him and said, “Son of Tydeus,
the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as regards your place
at table, the meals they give you, and the filling of your cup with
wine. Henceforth they will despise you, for you are become no
better than a woman. Be off, girl and coward that you are, you shall
not scale our walls through any Hinching upon my part; neither
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