In old Lycaon’s court, new made, new trimm’d to have been gone, Curtain’d, and arrast under foot; two horse to ev’ry one, That eat white barley and black oats, and do no good at all; And these Lycaon (that well knew how these affairs would fall) Charg’d, when I set down this design, I should command with here, And gave me many lessons more, all which much better were Than any I took forth myself. The reason I laid down Was but the sparing of my horse, since in a siegéd town I thought our horse-meat would be scant; when they were us’d to have Their manger full; so I left them, and like a lackey slave Am come to Ilion, confident in nothing but my bow That nothing profits me. Two shafts I vainly did bestow At two great princes, but of both my arrows neither slew, Nor this, nor Atreus’ younger son; a little blood I drew, That serv’d but to incense them more. In an unhappy star I therefore from my armoury have drawn those tools of war That day, when, for great Hector’s sake, to amiable Troy: I came to lead the Trojan bands. But if I ever joy, In safe return, my country’s sight, my wife’s, my lofty tow’rs, Let any stranger take this head, if to the fi’ry Pow’rs This bow, these shafts, in pieces burst, by these hands be not thrown; Idle companions that they are to me and my renown.” Æneas said: “Use no such words; for, any other way Than this, they shall not now be us’d. We first will both assay This man with horse and chariot. Come then, ascend to me, That thou may’st try our Trojan horse, how skill’d in field they be, And in pursuing those that fly, or flying, being pursued, How excellent they are of foot; and these, if Jove conclude The ’scape of Tydeüs again, and grace him with our flight, Shall serve to bring us safely off. Come, I’ll be first shall fight, Take thou these fair reins and this scourge; or, if thou wilt, fight thou, And leave the horses’ care to me.” He answer’d: “I will now Descend to fight, keep thou the reins, and guide thyself thy horse; Who with their wonted manager will better wield the force Of the impulsive chariot, if we be driv’n to fly, Than with a stranger; under whom they will be much more shy, And, fearing my voice, wishing thine, grow resty, nor go on To bear us off, but leave engag’d for mighty Tydeus’ son Themselves and us. Then be thy part thy one-hoof’d horses’ guide, I’ll make the fight, and with a dart receive his utmost pride.” With this the gorgeous chariot both, thus prepar’d, ascend And make full way at Diomed; which noted by his friend, “Mine own most-lovéd mind,” said he, “two mighty men of war I see come with a purpos’d charge; one’s he that hits so far With bow and shaft, Lycaon’s son; the other fames the brood Of great Anchises and the Queen that rules in amorous blood, Æneas, excellent in arms. Come up, and use your steeds, And look not war so in the face, lest that desire that feeds Thy great mind be the bane of it.” This did with anger sting The blood of Diomed, to see his friend, that chid the king