On the chariot of Diomedes did old Nestor then mount; in his hands he took the reins, and he lashed the horses. In furious gallop they came to meet Hector, and Diomedes hurled his spear. But the spear passed Hector, and in the breast of his brave charioteer was it buried, so that he fell to the ground and there he died. Upon the men of Troy might defeat then have come, but in his hands Zeus took a thunderbolt, and right in front of the horses of Diomedes it burst in awful flames, making the horses in desperate panic rear backwards. ‘Zeus himself fighteth against thee, Diomedes!’ cried Nestor. ‘Let us flee, for no man is so great in might that he can fight against the will of Zeus.’ ‘Thou speakest truth, old man,’ said Diomedes, ‘yet sore grief it is to my heart to think that some day the boast of Hector may be, “To his ships fled Diomedes, driven before me.” May the earth swallow me up on that day!’ ‘Hector may call thee coward,’ said Nestor, ‘yet no son of Troy will believe him, nor any of the widows of these men whom thou hast slain.’ Then did Nestor wheel the horses and flee, while thick the spears and darts from the Trojan host followed him. And above the din of battle rose the voice of Hector: ‘Behold the hero of the Greeks! Hero no longer art thou! Begone, feeble girl! poor puppet!’ Furiously did Diomedes listen to his taunts, and fain would he have turned back and tried to slay him. But three times did Zeus send peals of his thunder rolling down from the mountain-top, and to the Trojans was it a sign of victory, and fear did it send into the hearts of the Greeks. Then did Hector call on his men to be of good courage, for with them fought Zeus, the Thunderer. And to his horses he called: ‘On, now, Bayard, and Whitefoot, and Flame of Fire, and Brilliant! Forget not how Andromache hath cared for and tended you! Make haste that we may seize from old Nestor his shield of gold, and strip Diomedes of his gorgeous breastplate!’ Onward, then, dashed his chariot, while the Trojans followed him, driving the Greeks in headlong flight before them. Soon had the Greek ships been burned and the long war ended, had not Hera put it into the heart of Agamemnon to arouse the Greeks and force them on to battle. ‘Shame on you, ye Greeks!’ he cried. ‘What hath come of all your boasting?’ Then did he pray to Zeus that even now he would grant the victory to the Greeks. And his prayer was heard by Zeus, who sent a portent in answer. For there came, winging through the sky, an eagle with a young fawn in its talons. By the altar of Zeus did the eagle drop the fawn, and the Greeks took the sign to mean the favour of Zeus, and afresh they went to battle. Then did gallant warrior slay warrior as brave as himself, and hero fall before hero.