Might darts be bid to turn their points away,
And swords around him innocently play;
The war's whole art with wonder had he seen,
And counted heroes where he counted men.

So fought each host, with thirst of glory fir'd, And crowds on crowds triumphantly expir'd.

THE

FIFTH BOOK

OF THE

ILIAD.

THE ARGUMENT.

THE ACTS OF DIOMED.

DIOMED, assisted by Pallas, performs wonders in this day's battle. Pandarus wounds him with an arrow, but the goddess cures him, euables him to discern gods from mortals, and prohibits him from contending with any of the former, excepting Venus. Eneas joins Pandarus to oppose him; Pandarus is killed, and Æneas in great danger but for the assistance of Venus; who, as she is removing her son from the fight, is wounded on the hand by Diomed. Apollo se. conds her in his rescue, and at length carries off Eneas to Troy, where he is healed in the temple of Pergamus. Mars rallies the Trojans, and assists Hector to make a stand. In the mean time Æneas is restored to the field, and they over throw several of the Greeks; among the rest Tlepolemus is slain by Sarpedon. Juno and Minerva descend to resist Mars; the latter incites Diomed to go against that god; he wounds him, and sends him groaning to Heaven.

The first battle continues through this book. The scene is the same as in the former.

THE

ILIAD.

BOOK V.

BUT Pallas now Tydides' soul inspires,
Fills with her force, and warms with all her fires,
Above the Greeks his deathless fame to raise,
And crown her hero with distinguish'd praise.
High on his helm celestial lightnings play,
His beamy shield emits a living ray ;

The' unwearied blaze incessant streams supplies,
Like the red star that fires the' autumnal skies,
When fresh he rears his radiant orb to sight,
And, bath'd in ocean, shoots a keener light.
Such glories Pallas on the chief bestow'd,
Such, from his arms, the fierce effulgence flow'd:
Onward she drives him, furious to engage,
Where the fight burns, and where the thickest rage.
The sons of Dares first the combat sought,
A wealthy priest, but rich without a fault;
In Vulcan's fane the father's days were led,
The sons to toils of glorious battle bred;

These singled from their troops the fight maintair.
These, from their steeds, Tydides on the plain.
Fierce for renown the brother-chiefs draw near,
And first bold Phegeus cast his sounding spear,

Which o'er the warrior's shoulder took its course,
And spent in empty air its erring force.
Not so, Tydides, flew thy lance in vain,

But pierc'd his breast, and stretch'd him on the plain.
Seiz'd with unusual fear, Idæus fled,

Left the rich chariot, and his brother dead.
And had not Vulcan lent celestial aid,
He too had sunk to death's eternal shade;
But in a smoky cloud the god of fire
Preserv'd the son, in pity to the sire.
The steeds and chariot, to the navy led,
Increas'd the spoils of gallant Diomed.

Struck with amaze and shame, the Trojan crew,
Or slain, or fled, the sons of Dares view;
When by the blood-stain'd hand Minerva press'd
The god of battles, and this speech address'd.

Stern power of war! by whom the mighty fall Who bathe in blood, and shake the lofty wall! Let the brave chiefs their glorious toils divide; And whose the conquest, mighty Jove decide: While we from interdicted fields retire, Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging sire.' Her words allay the' impetuous warrior's heat, The god of arms and martial maid retreat ; Remov'd from fight, on Xanthus' flowery bounds They sat, and listen'd to the dying sounds.

Meantime, the Greeks the Trojan race pursue, And some bold chieftain every leader slew : First Odius falls, and bites the bloody sand, His death ennobled by Atrides' hand; As he to flight his wheeling car address'd, The speedy javelin drove from back to breast. In dust the mighty Halizonian lay,

His arms resound, the spirit wings its way.