the barb is withdrawn; but the hero puts up a brief prayer to his guardian goddess for strength yet to avenge him of his adversary, whose exulting boast he has just heard. Minerva hears. By some rapid celestial pharmacy she heals the wound at once, and gives him fresh strength and vigour, adding these words of encouragement and warning:—
"Go fearless onward, Diomed, to meet
The Trojan hosts; for I within thy breast
Thy father's dauntless courage have infused,
Such as of old in Tydeus' bosom dwelt,
Bold horseman, buckler-clad; and from thine eyes
The film that dimmed them I have purged away,[1]
That thou mayest well 'twixt gods and men discern.
If then some god make trial of thy force,
With other of the Immortals fight thou not;
But should Jove's daughter Venus dare the fray,
Thou need'st not shun at her to cast thy spear." (D)
With redoubled vigour and fury the hero returns to the battle; and again the Trojans' names, to each of which the poet contrives to give some touch of individual character, swell the list of his victims. Æneas marks his terrible career, and goes to seek for Pandarus. He points out to him the movements of the Greek champion, and bids him try upon his person the far-famed skill that had so nearly turned the fate of war in the case of Menelaus. Pandarus tells him of his late unsuccessful attempt, and declares his full belief
- ↑ The idea is borrowed by Milton in a well-known passage;—
"To nobler "sights
Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed
Which that false fruit, which promised clearer sight,
Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue
The visual nerve, for he had much to see."
—Par. Lost, xi. 411.
