our　prowess？　Come；　my　good　fellow；　stand　by　my　side　and　help　me；　we
  shall　be　shamed　for　ever　if　Hector　takes　the　ships。〃
  And　Diomed　answered；　〃Come　what　may；　I　will　stand　firm；　but　we　shall
  have　scant　joy　of　it；　for　Jove　is　minded　to　give　victory　to　the
  Trojans　rather　than　to　us。〃
  With　these　words　he　struck　Thymbraeus　from　his　chariot　to　the
  ground；　smiting　him　in　the　left　breast　with　his　spear；　while　Ulysses
  killed　Molion　who　was　his　squire。　These　they　let　lie；　now　that　they
  had　stopped　their　fighting；　the　two　heroes　then　went　on　playing
  havoc　with　the　foe；　like　two　wild　boars　that　turn　in　fury　and　rend　the
  hounds　that　hunt　them。　Thus　did　they　turn　upon　the　Trojans　and　slay
  them；　and　the　Achaeans　were　thankful　to　have　breathing　time　in　their
  flight　from　Hector。
  They　then　took　two　princes　with　their　chariot；　the　two　sons　of
  Merops　of　Percote；　who　excelled　all　others　in　the　arts　of
  divination。　He　had　forbidden　his　sons　to　go　to　the　war；　but　they　would
  not　obey　him；　for　fate　lured　them　to　their　fall。　Diomed　son　of
  Tydeus　slew　them　both　and　stripped　them　of　their　armour；　while　Ulysses
  killed　Hippodamus　and　Hypeirochus。
  And　now　the　son　of　Saturn　as　he　looked　down　from　Ida　ordained　that
  neither　side　should　have　the　advantage；　and　they　kept　on　killing　one
  another。　The　son　of　Tydeus　speared　Agastrophus　son　of　Paeon　in　the
  hip…joint　with　his　spear。　His　chariot　was　not　at　hand　for　him　to　fly
  with；　so　blindly　confident　had　he　been。　His　squire　was　in　charge　of　it
  at　some　distance　and　he　was　fighting　on　foot　among　the　foremost
  until　he　lost　his　life。　Hector　soon　marked　the　havoc　Diomed　and
  Ulysses　were　making；　and　bore　down　upon　them　with　a　loud　cry；　followed
  by　the　Trojan　ranks；　brave　Diomed　was　dismayed　when　he　saw　them；　and
  said　to　Ulysses　who　was　beside　him；　〃Great　Hector　is　bearing　down　upon
  us　and　we　shall　be　undone；　let　us　stand　firm　and　wait　his　onset。〃
  He　poised　his　spear　as　he　spoke　and　hurled　it；　nor　did　he　miss　his
  mark。　He　had　aimed　at　Hector's　head　near　the　top　of　his　helmet；　but
  bronze　was　turned　by　bronze；　and　Hector　was　untouched；　for　the　spear
  was　stayed　by　the　visored　helm　made　with　three　plates　of　metal；
  which　Phoebus　Apollo　had　given　him。　Hector　sprang　back　with　a　great
  bound　under　cover　of　the　ranks；　he　fell　on　his　knees　and　propped
  himself　with　his　brawny　hand　leaning　on　the　ground；　for　darkness　had
  fallen　on　his　eyes。　The　son　of　Tydeus　having　thrown　his　spear　dashed
  in　among　the　foremost　fighters；　to　the　place　where　he　had　seen　it
  strike　the　ground；　meanwhile　Hector　recovered　himself　and　springing
  back　into　his　chariot　mingled　with　the　crowd；　by　which　means　he
  saved　his　life。　But　Diomed　made　at　him　with　his　spear　and　said；
  〃Dog；　you　have　again　got　away　though　death　was　close　on　your　heels。
  Phoebus　Apollo；　to　whom　I　ween　you　pray　ere　you　go　into　battle；　has
  again　saved　you；　nevertheless　I　will　meet　you　and　make　and　end　of
  you　hereafter；　if　there　is　any　god　who　will　stand　by　me　too　and　be
  my　helper。　For　the　present　I　must　pursue　those　I　can　lay　hands　on。〃
  As　he　spoke　he　began　stripping　the　spoils　from　the　son　of　Paeon；　but
  Alexandrus　husband　of　lovely　Helen　aimed　an　arrow　at　him；　leaning
  against　a　pillar　of　the　monument　which　men　had　raised　to　Ilus　son　of
  Dardanus；　a　ruler　in　days　of　old。　Diomed　had　taken　the　cuirass　from
  off　the　breast　of　Agastrophus；　his　heavy　helmet　also；　and　the　shield
  from　off　his　shoulders；　when　Paris　drew　his　bow　and　let　fly　an　arrow
  that　sped　not　from　his　hand　in　vain；　but　pierced　the　flat　of
  Diomed's　right　foot；　going　right　through　it　and　fixing　itself　in　the
  ground。　Thereon　Paris　with　a　hearty　laugh　sprang　forward　from　his
  hiding…place；　and　taunted　him　saying；　〃You　are　wounded…　my　arrow　has
  not　been　shot　in　vain；　would　that　it　had　hit　you　in　the　belly　and
  killed　you；　for　thus　the　Trojans；　who　fear　you　as　goats　fear　a　lion；
  would　have　had　a　truce　from　evil。〃
  Diomed　all　undaunted　answered；　〃Archer；　you　who　without　your　bow　are
  nothing；　slanderer　and　seducer；　if　you　were　to　be　tried　in　single
  combat　fighting　in　full　armour；　your　bow　and　your　arrows　would　serve
  you　in　little　stead。　Vain　is　your　boast　in　that　you　have　scratched　the
  sole　of　my　foot。　I　care　no　more　than　if　a　girl　or　some　silly　boy　had
  hit　me。　A　worthless　coward　can　inflict　but　a　light　wound；　when　I　wound
  a　man　though　I　but　graze　his　skin　it　is　another　matter；　for　my
  weapon　will　lay　him　low。　His　wife　will　tear　her　cheeks　for　grief　and
  his　children　will　be　fatherless：　there　will　he　rot；　reddening　the
  earth　with　his　blood；　and　vultures；　not　women；　will　gather　round　him。〃
  Thus　he　spoke；　but　Ulysses　came　up　and　stood　over　him。　Under　this
  cover　he　sat　down　to　draw　the　arrow　from　his　foot；　and　sharp　was　the
  pain　he　suffered　as　he　did　so。　Then　he　sprang　on　to　his　chariot　and
  bade　the　charioteer　drive　him　to　the　ships；　for　he　was　sick　at　heart。
  Ulysses　was　now　alone；　not　one　of　the　Argives　stood　by　him；　for　they
  were　all　panic…stricken。　〃Alas；〃　said　he　to　himself　in　his　dismay；
  〃what　will　become　of　me？　It　is　ill　if　I　turn　and　fly　before　these
  odds；　but　it　will　be　worse　if　I　am　left　alone　and　taken　prisoner；
  for　the　son　of　Saturn　has　struck　the　rest　of　the　Danaans　with　panic。
  But　why　talk　to　myself　in　this　way？　Well　do　I　know　that　though　cowards
  quit　the　field；　a　hero；　whether　he　wound　or　be　wounded；　must　stand
  firm　and　hold　his　own。〃
  While　he　was　thus　in　two　minds；　the　ranks　of　the　Trojans　advanced
  and　hemmed　him　in；　and　bitterly　did　they　come　to　me　it。　As　hounds
  and　lusty　youths　set　upon　a　wild　boar　that　sallies　from　his　lair
  whetting　his　white　tusks…　they　attack　him　from　every　side　and　can　hear
  the　gnashing　of　his　jaws；　but　for　all　his　fierceness　they　still　hold
  their　ground…　even　so　furiously　did　the　Trojans　attack　Ulysses。
  First　he　sprang　spear　in　hand　upon　Deiopites　and　wounded　him　on　the
  shoulder　with　a　downward　blow；　then　he　killed　Thoon　and　Ennomus。　After
  these　he　struck　Chersidamas　in　the　loins　under　his　shield　as　he　had
  just　sprung　down　from　his　chariot；　so　he　fell　in　the　dust　and　clutched
  the　earth　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand。　These　he　let　lie；　and　went　on
  to　wound　Charops　son　of　Hippasus　own　brother　to　noble　Socus。　Socus；
  hero　that　he　was；　made　all　speed　to　help　him；　and　when　he　was　close　to
  Ulysses　he　said；　〃Far…famed　Ulysses；　insatiable　of　craft　and　toil；
  this　day　you　shall　either　boast　of　having　killed　both　the　sons　of
  Hippasus　and　stripped　them　of　their　armour；　or　you　shall　fall　before
  my　spear。〃
  With　these　words　he　struck　the　shield　of　Ulysses。　The　spear　went
  through　the　shield　and　passed　on　through　his　richly　wrought　cuirass；
  tearing　the　flesh　from　his　side；　but　Pallas　Minerva　did　not　suffer
  it　to　pierce　the　entrails　of　the　hero。　Ulysses　knew　that　his　hour
  was　not　yet　come；　but　he　gave　ground　and　said　to　Socus；　〃Wretch；　you
  shall　now　surely　die。　You　have　stayed　me　from　fighting　further　with
  the　Trojans；　but　you　shall　now　fall　by　my　spear；　yielding　glory　to
  myself；　and　your　soul　to　Hades　of　the　noble　steeds。〃
  Socus　had　turned　in　flight；　but　as　he　did　so；　the　spear　struck　him
  in　the　back　midway　between　the　shoulders；　and　went　right　through　his
  chest。　He　fell　heavily　to　the　ground　and　Ulysses　vaunted　over　him
  saying；　〃O　Socus；　son　of　Hippasus　tamer　of　horses；　death　has　been
  too　quick　for　you　and　you　have　not　escaped　him：　poor　wretch；　not
  even　in　death　shall　your　father　and　mother　close　your　eyes；　but　the
  ravening　vultures　shall　enshroud　you　with　the　flapping　of　their　dark
  wings　and　devour　you。　Whereas　even　though　I　fall　the　Achaeans　will
  give　me　my　due　rites　of　burial。〃
  So　saying　he　drew　Socus's　heavy　spear　out　of　his　flesh　and　from
  his　shield；　and　the　blood　welled　forth　when　the　spear　was　withdrawn　so
  that　he　was　much　dismayed。　When　the　Trojans　saw　that　Ulysses　was
  bleeding　they　raised　a　great　shout　and　came　on　in　a　body　towards
  him；　he　therefore　gave　ground；　and　called　his　comrades　to　come　and
  help　him。　Thrice　did　he　cry　as　loudly　as　man　can　cry；　and　thrice　did
  brave　Menelaus　hear　him；　he　turned；　therefore；　to　Ajax　who　was　close
  beside　him　and　said；　〃Ajax；　noble　son　of　Telamon；　captain　of　your
  people；　the　cry　of　Ulysses　rings　in　my　ears；　as　though　the　Trojans　had
  cut　him　off　and　were　worsting　him　while　he　is　single…handed。　Let　us
  make　our　way　through　the　throng；　it　will　be　well　that　we　defend　him；　I
  fear　he　may　come　to　harm　for　all　his　valour　if　he　be　left　without
  support；　and　the　Danaans　would　miss　him　sorely。〃
  He　led　the　way　and　mighty　Ajax　went　with　him。　The　Trojans　had
  gathered　round　Ulysses　like　ravenous　mountain　jackals　round　the
  carcase　of　some　homed　stag　that　has　been　hit　with　an　arrow…　the　stag
  has　fled　at　full　speed　so　long　as　his　blood　was　warm　and　his
  strength　has　lasted；　but　when　the　arrow　has　overcome　him；　the　savage
  jackals　devour　him　in　the　shady　glades　of　the　forest。　Then　heaven
  sends　a　fierce　lion　thither；　whereon　the　jackals　fly　in　terror　and　the
  lion　robs　them　of　their　prey…　even　so　did　Trojans　many　and　brave
  gather　round　crafty　Ulysses；　but　the　hero　stood　at　bay　and　kept　them
  off　with　his　spear。　Ajax　then　came　up　with　his　shield　before　him
  like　a　wall；　and　stood　hard　by；　whereon　the　Trojans　fled　in　all
  directions。　Menelaus　took　Ulysses　by　the　hand；　an