He said: the white-arm’d Queen with joy obey’d; She urg’d her horses; nothing loth, they flew Midway between the earth, and starry Heav’n: Far as his sight extends, who from on high Looks from his watch-tow’r o’er the dark-blue sea, So far at once the neighing horses bound. But when to Troy they came, beside the streams Where Simois’ and Scamander’s waters meet, The white-arm’d Goddess stay’d her flying steeds, Loos’d from the car, and veil’d in densest cloud. For them, at bidding of the river-God, Ambrosial forage grew: the Goddesses, Swift as the wild wood-pigeon’s rapid flight, Sped to the battle-field to aid the Greeks. But when they reach’d the thickest of the fray, Where throng’d around the might of Diomed The bravest and the best, as lions fierce, Or forest-boars, the mightiest of their kind, There stood the white-arm’d Queen, and call’d aloud, In form of Stentor, of the brazen voice, Whose shout was as the shout of fifty men: “Shame on ye, Greeks, base cowards! brave alone In outward semblance; while Achilles yet Went forth to battle, from the Dardan gates The Trojans never ventur’d to advance, So dreaded they his pond’rous spear; but now Far from the walls, beside your ships, they fight.” She said: her words their drooping courage rous’d. Meanwhile the blue-ey’d Pallas went in haste In search of Tydeus’ son; beside his car She found the King, in act to cool the wound Inflicted by the shaft of Pandarus: Beneath his shield’s broad belt the clogging sweat Oppress’d him, and his arm was faint with toil; The belt was lifted up, and from the wound He wip’d the clotted blood: beside the car The Goddess stood, and touch’d the yoke, and said: “Little like Tydeus’ self is Tydeus’ son: Low was his stature, but his spirit was high: And ev’n when I from combat rashly wag’d Would fain have kept him back, what time in Thebes He found himself, an envoy and alone, Without support, among the Thebans all, I counsell’d him in peace to share the feast: But by his own impetuous courage led, He challenged all the Thebans to contend With him in wrestling, and o’erthrew them all With ease; so mighty was the aid I gave. Thee now I stand beside, and guard from harm, And bid thee boldly with the Trojans fight. But, if the labours of the battle-field O’ertask thy limbs, or heartless fear restrain, No issue thou of valiant Tydeus’ loins.” Whom answer’d thus the valiant Diomed: “I know thee, Goddess, who thou art; the child Of aegis-bearing Jove: to thee my mind I freely speak, nor aught will I conceal. Nor heartless fear, nor hesitating doubt, Restrain me; but I bear thy words in mind, With other of th’ Immortals not to fight: But should Jove’s daughter, Venus, dare the fray, At her I need not shun to throw my spear. Therefore I thus withdrew, and others too Exhorted to retire, since Mars himself I saw careering o’er the battle-field.”