I own thy presence, and confess thy aid.

Not fear, thou know'st, withholds me from the plains,

Nor sloth hath seized me, but thy word restrains:

From warring gods thou bad'st me turn my spear,

And Venus only found resistance here.

Hence, goddess! heedful of thy high commands,

Loth I gave way, and warn'd our Argive bands:

For Mars, the homicide, these eyes beheld,

With slaughter red, and raging round the field."

Then thus Minerva:--"Brave Tydides, hear!

Not Mars himself, nor aught immortal, fear.

Full on the god impel thy foaming horse:

Pallas commands, and Pallas lends thee force.

Rash, furious, blind, from these to those he flies,

And every side of wavering combat tries;

Large promise makes, and breaks the promise made:

Now gives the Grecians, now the Trojans aid."(159)

She said, and to the steeds approaching near,

Drew from his seat the martial charioteer.

The vigorous power the trembling car ascends,

Fierce for revenge; and Diomed attends:

The groaning axle bent beneath the load;

So great a hero, and so great a god.

She snatch'd the reins, she lash'd with all her force,

249

The Iliad of Homer