Him answer’d thus Æneas, chief of Troy: “Speak thou not thus; our fortunes shall not change Till thou and I, with chariot and with horse, This chief encounter, and his prowess prove; Then mount my car, and see how swift my steeds. Hither and thither, in pursuit or flight, From those of Tros descended, scour the plain. So if the victory to Diomed, The son of Tydeus, should by Jove be giv’n, We yet may safely reach the walls of Troy. Take thou the whip and reins, while I descend To fight on foot; or thou the chief engage, And leave to me the conduct of the car.” Whom answer’d thus Lycaon’s noble son: “Æneas, of thy horses and thy car Take thou the charge; beneath th’ accustomed hand, With more assurance would they draw the car, If we from Tydeus’ son be forced to fly; Nor, struck with panic, and thy voice unheard, Refuse to bear us from the battle-field; So should ourselves be slain, and Tydeus’ son In triumph drive thy horses to the ships. But thou thy horses and thy chariot guide, While I his onset with my lance receive.” Thus saying, on the car they mounted both, And tow’rd Tydides urg’d their eager steeds. Them Sthenelus beheld, the noble son Of Capaneus, and to Tydides cried: “Oh son of Tydeus, dearest to my soul, Two men I see, of might invincible, Impatient to engage thee; Pandarus, Well skill’d in archery, Lycaon’s son; With him, Æneas, great Anchises’ son, Who from immortal Venus boasts his birth. Then let us timely to the car retreat, Lest, moving thus amid the foremost ranks, Thy daring pay the forfeit of thy life.” To whom brave Diomed with stern regard: “Talk not to me of flight! I heed thee not! It is not in my nature so to fight With skulking artifice and faint retreat; My strength is yet unbroken; I should shame To mount the car; but forward will I go To meet these chiefs’ encounter; for my soul Pallas forbids the touch of fear to know. Nor shall their horses’ speed procure for both A safe return, though one escape my arm. This too I say, and bear my words in mind; By Pallas’ counsel if my hap should be To slay them both, leave thou my horses here, The reins attaching to the chariot-rail, And seize, and from the Trojans to the ships Drive off the horses in Æneas’ car; From those descended, which all-seeing Jove On Tros, for Ganymede his son, bestow’d: With these may none beneath the sun compare. Anchises, King of men, the breed obtain’d By cunning, to the horses sending mares Without the knowledge of Laomedon. Six colts were thus engender’d: four of these In his own stalls he rear’d; the other two Gave to Æneas, fear-inspiring chief: These could we win, our praise were great indeed.” Such converse while they held, the twain approach’d, Their horses urg’d to speed; then thus began, To Diomed, Lycaon’s noble son: