Whose little body lodged a mighty mind;
Foremost he pressed in glorious toils to share,
And scarce refrained when I forbade the war.
Alone, unguarded, once he dared to go,
And feast encircled by the Theban foe;
There braved and vanquished many a hardy knight;
Such nerves I gave him, and such force in fight.
Thou, too, no less hast been my constant care;
Thy hands I armed, and sent thee forth to war:
But thee or fear deters or sloth detains;
No drop of all thy father warms thy veins."
The chief thus answered mild: "Immortal Maid!
I own thy presence, and confess thy aid.
Not fear, thou knowest, withholds me from the plains,
Nor sloth hath seized me, but thy word restrains:
From warring gods thou badest me turn my spear,
And Venus only found resistance here.
Hence, goddess, heedful of thy high commands,
Loth I gave way, and warned our Argive bands:
For Mars, the homicide, these eyes beheld,
With slaughter red, and raging round the field."
Thus then 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."
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 snatched the reins, she lashed with all her force,
And full on Mars impelled the foaming horse:
But first to hide her heavenly visage, spread
Black Orcus' helmet[1] o'er her radiant head.
Just then gigantic Periphas lay slain,
The strongest warrior of the Ætolian train;
The god who slew him leaves his prostrate prize
Stretched where he fell, and at Tydides flies.
Now rushing fierce, in equal arms, appear
The daring Greek, the dreadful god of war!
Full at the chief, above his courser's head,
From Mars' s arm the enormous weapon fled:
Pallas opposed her hand, and caused to glance
- ↑ "The "helm of the unseen," making the wearer invisible.
