Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 5

Page 11

She spoke, and with her palms wiped off the ichor from her hand: the hand was healed, and the severe pains mitigated. But then Minerva and Juno looking on, provoked Saturnian Jove with heart-cutting words; but amidst them azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus began speaking:

"Father Jove, wilt thou indeed be angry with me on account of what I shall say? Surely it must be that Venus, inspiring some one of the Grecian women with a desire of accompanying the Trojans, whom now she exceedingly loves, while caressing one of those fair-robed Grecian women, has torn her delicate hand against a golden buckle."

Thus she spoke: but the father of men and gods smiled, and having called, he thus accosted golden Venus:

"Not to thee, daughter mine, are intrusted warlike works; but do thou confine thyself to the desirable offices of marriage, and all these things shall be a care to swift Mars and to Minerva."

Thus they, indeed, were speaking such things to each other. But Diomede, doughty in the din of battle, rushed upon Aeneas, conscious that Apollo himself held over him his hands. But he revered not the mighty god, for he always longed to slay Aeneas, and despoil him of his glorious armour. Thrice then, immediately, he rushed on, eager to slay him, and thrice Apollo repelled his shield with violence; but when at length the fourth time he rushed on, like a god, the far-darting Apollo menacing terribly, addressed him: "Consider, O son of Tydeus, and retire, nor wish to think things equal with the gods; for the race of the immortal gods and of men walking on the earth is in nowise similar."

Thus he spoke: but the son of Tydeus retired a little, biding the wrath of far-darting Apollo. But Apollo placed Aeneas apart from the crowd, in sacred Pergamus, where his temple was.[214] Latona and shaft-rejoicing Diana healed him in the mighty shrine, and adorned him with glory. But silver-bowed Apollo formed a phantom like unto Aeneas himself and such in arms. Around the phantom the Trojans and the noble Greeks smote on each others' breasts the well-battered ox-hide shields, and the light bucklers. Then at length Phoebus Apollo addressed impetuous Mars:

[Footnote 214: "On the Trojan citadel of Pergamus itself was a temple of Apollo, Diana and Latona; and hence Homer represents these three deities protecting the falling city."—Mueller, Dorians, vol. i. p. 248.]

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