If ever me, propitious, or my sire Thou hast in furious fight help’d heretofore, Now aid me also. Bring within the reach140 Of my swift spear, Oh grant me to strike through The warrior who hath check’d my course, and boasts The sun’s bright beams for ever quench’d to me![8] He prayed, and Pallas heard; she braced his limbs, She wing’d him with alacrity divine,145 And, standing at his side, him thus bespake. Now Diomede, be bold! Fight now with Troy. To thee, thy father’s spirit I impart Fearless; shield-shaking Tydeus felt the same. I also from thine eye the darkness purge150 Which dimm’d thy sight[9] before, that thou may’st know Both Gods and men; should, therefore, other God Approach to try thee, fight not with the powers Immortal; but if foam-born Venus come, Her spare not. Wound her with thy glittering spear.155 So spake the blue-eyed Deity, and went, Then with the champions in the van again Tydides mingled; hot before, he fights With threefold fury now, nor less enraged Than some gaunt lion whom o’erleaping light160 The fold, a shepherd hath but gall’d, not kill’d, Him irritating more; thenceforth the swain Lurks unresisting; flies the abandon’d flock; Heaps slain on heaps he leaves, and with a bound Surmounting all impediment, escapes;165 Such seem’d the valiant Diomede incensed To fury, mingling with the host of Troy. Astynoüs and Hypenor first he slew; One with his brazen lance above the pap He pierced, and one with his huge falchion smote170 Fast by the key-bone,[10] from the neck and spine His parted shoulder driving at a blow. Them leaving, Polyides next he sought And Abas, sons of a dream-dealing seer, Eurydamas; their hoary father’s dreams175 Or not interpreted, or kept concealed, Them saved not, for by Diomede they died. Xanthus and Thöon he encounter’d next, Both sons of Phænops, sons of his old age, Who other heir had none of all his wealth,180 Nor hoped another, worn with many years. Tydides slew them both; nor aught remain’d To the old man but sorrow for his sons For ever lost, and strangers were his heirs. Two sons of Priam in one chariot borne185 Echemon next, and Chromius felt his hand Resistless. As a lion on the herd Leaping, while they the shrubs and bushes browse, Breaks short the neck of heifer or of steer, So them, though clinging fast and loth to fall,190 Tydides hurl’d together to the ground, Then stripp’d their splendid armor, and the steeds Consigned and chariot to his soldiers’ care. Æneas him discern’d scattering the ranks, And through the battle and the clash of spears195 Went seeking godlike Pandarus; ere long Finding Lycaon’s martial son renown’d, He stood before him, and him thus address’d. Thy bow, thy feather’d shafts, and glorious name Where are they, Pandarus? whom none of Troy200 Could equal, whom of Lycia, none excel. Come. Lift thine hands to Jove, and at yon Chief Dispatch an arrow, who afflicts the host Of Ilium thus, conquering where’er he flies, And who hath slaughter’d numerous brave in arms,205