elf 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.]

"Mars! Mars! man-slaughterer, gore-tainted, wall-batterer! wouldst not
thou now, meeting this man, the son of Venus, withdraw him from the
battle, who would even now cope with father Jove? First, indeed, in
close combat, he wounded Venus in the hand, at the wrist; but then he
assailed me, like unto a god."

Thus having spoken, he sat down on lofty Pergamus; but destructive Mars
aroused the ranks of the Trojans, going through them, assimilating
himself to Acamus, the swift leader of the Thracians, and thus he
harangued the Jove-nourished sons of Priam:

"Ye sons of Priam, Jove-nourished king, how long will ye suffer the
people to be slain by the Greeks? Is it until they fight around the
well-made gates? A hero lies prostate, whom we honoured equally with
noble Hector, the son of magnanimous Anchises. But come, let us rescue
from the assault our exce