helmet on his head; nor, aiming did he miss.
But brass wandered from brass, nor did it reach the white skin; for the
threefold oblong helmet stopped it, which Phoebus Apollo had given him.
Hector hastily retired to a distance, and was mingled with the crowd.
And he (Hector) falling upon his knee, remained so, and supported
himself with his strong hand against the earth, whilst dark night
overshadowed his eyes. But whilst the son of Tydeus was following after
the impulse of the spear far through the foremost combatants, where it
was fixed in the earth, Hector, in the meantime, breathed again, and
springing again into his chariot, drove into the crowd, and avoided
black death. And valiant Diomede, rushing upon him with his spear,
addressed him:

"Dog, thou hast escaped indeed death at present, although destruction
approached near thee. Now again has Phoebus Apollo rescued thee, to whom
thou art wont to offer prayers, advancing into the clash of spears. But
I will assuredly make an end of thee, meeting thee again, if perchance
any one of the gods be an ally to me. Now, however, I will go against
others, whomsoever I can find."

He said, and slew the spear-renowned son of Paeon. But Paris, the husband
of fair-haired Helen, leaning against a pillar, at the tomb of the
deceased hero, Dardanian Ilus, the aged leader of the people, bent his
bow against the son of Tydeus, the shepherd of the people. Whilst he was
removing the variegated corslet from the breast of gallant Agastrophus,
the shield from his shoulders, and his heavy casque, he (Paris) in the
meantime was drawing back the horn of his bow, and struck him on the
broad part of the right foot, nor did the weapon escape in vain from his
hand; and the arrow went entirely into the ground. And he, laughing very
joyfully, sprang from his ambuscade, and boasting, spoke:

"Thou art struck, nor has the weapon escaped me in vain. Would that,
striking thee in the lower part of the groin, I had deprived thee of
life. Thus, indeed, would the Trojans have respired from destruction,
who now are thrilled with horror at thee, as bleating goats at the
lion."

But him valiant Diomede, undismayed, addressed:

"Archer, reviler, decked out with curls, woman's man, if now in arms
thou wouldst make trial of me, hand to hand, thy bow should not avail
thee, and numerous arrows[376] whereas now, having grazed the broad part
of my foot, thou boastest thus. I regard it not, as though a woman h