Dire need enforc’d them to avert their wives’ and children’s harms. All gates flew open; all the host did issue, foot and horse, In mighty tumult; straight one place adjoin’d each adverse force. Then shields with shields met, darts with darts, strength against strength oppos’d; The boss-pik’d targets were thrust on, and thunder’d as they clos’d In mighty tumult; groan for groan, and breath for breath did breathe, Of men then slain, and to be slain; earth flow’d with fruits of death. While the fair morning’s beauty held, and day increas’d in height, Their jav’lins mutually made death transport an equal freight, But when the hot meridian point, bright Phœbus did ascend, Then Jove his golden balances did equally extend, And, of long-rest-conferring death, put in two bitter fates For Troy and Greece; he held the midst; the day of final dates Fell on the Greeks; the Greeks’ hard lot sunk to the flow’ry ground, The Trojans’ leapt as high as heav’n. Then did the claps resound Of his fierce thunder; lightning leapt amongst each Grecian troop; The sight amaz’d them; pallid fear made boldest stomachs stoop, Then Idomen durst not abide, Atrides went his way, And both th’ Ajaces; Nestor yet, against his will did stay, That grave protector of the Greeks, for Paris with a dart Enrag’d one of his chariot horse; he smote the upper part Of all his skull, ev’n where the hair, that made his foretop, sprung. The hurt was deadly, and the pain so sore the courser stung, (Pierc’d to the brain) he stamp’d and plung’d. One on another bears, Entangled round about the beam; then Nestor cut the gears With his new-drawn authentic sword. Meanwhile the fi’ry horse Of Hector brake into the press, with their bold ruler’s force; Then good old Nestor had been slain, had Diomed not espy’d, Who to Ulysses, as he fled, importunately cried: “Thou that in counsels dost abound, O Laertiades, Why fly’st thou? Why thus, coward-like, shunn’st thou the honour’d prease? Take heed thy back take not a dart. Stay, let us both intend To drive this cruel enemy, from our dear agéd friend.” He spake, but wary Ithacus would find no patient ear, But fled forthright, ev’n to the fleet. Yet, though he single were, Brave Diomed mix’d amongst the fight, and stood before the steeds Of old Neleides, whose estate thus kingly he areeds: “O father, with these youths in fight, thou art unequal plac’d, Thy willing sinews are unknit, grave age pursues thee fast, And thy unruly horse are slow; my chariot therefore use, And try how ready Trojan horse, can fly him that pursues, Pursue the flier, and ev’ry way perform the varied fight; I forc’d them from Anchises’ son, well skill’d in cause of flight. Then let my squire lead hence thy horse; mine thou shalt guard, whilst I, By thee advanc’d, assay the fight, that Hector’s self may try If my lance dote with the defects, that fail best minds in age, Or finds the palsy in my hands, that doth thy life engage.” This noble Nestor did accept, and Diomed’s two friends,