of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his brazen
spear, eager to take away his life. It then the azure-eyed goddess
Minerva having caught in her hand, turned from the chariot, so as to be
borne away in vain. But next Diomede, valiant in the din of war, made
the attack with his brazen spear; and Pallas Minerva firmly fastened it
in his lowest flank, where he was girt with his belt. In that very part
striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin, and drew out the
spear again. Then roared brazen Mars, as loud as nine or ten thousand
men roar in war, joining the strife of battle. And then fear seized the
terrified Greeks and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars, insatiate of war.

And as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a heavy-blowing wind
arising from heat; such did brazen Mars appear to Diomede, son of
Tydeus, going amid the clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached
lofty Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat near Saturnian Jove,
grieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing down from
the wound, and complaining, he spoke winged words:

"Father Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these violent deeds? Ever,
of a truth, are we deities suffering most grievous woes from the
machinations of each other, and [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We
all are indignant with thee;[232] for thou hast begotten a mad,
pernicious daughter, to whom evil works are ever a care. For all the
other gods, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto thee each of
us is subject. But her thou restrainest not by words, nor by any act,
but dost indulge her, since thou thyself didst beget this destructive
daughter. Who now has urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus,
to rage against the immortal gods. Venus he first wounded, in close
fight, in the hand at the wrist; and, equal to a god, he afterwards
rushed on myself; but my swift feet withdrew me; [otherwise] I should
certainly for a long time have endured woes there amidst the dreadful
heaps of slain, or living should have been exhausted by the strokes of
the brass."

[Footnote 232: Or, "through thee we are all at variance," taking
[Greek: soi] as put for [Greek: dia se] with Lesbonax, [Greek:
peoi schem]. p. 186; Hesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and the
Scholiast.]

Him sternly regarding, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: "Complain not to
me, inconstant one, sitting by me: for thou art most hateful to me, of
all the gods that posse